14 Friday 7th May, 2010

Petes vs South Africa end PoW rugby dream match BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) - Paceman Morne Morkel claimed today three in his first over and returned 4-20 as South Africa beat St. Peter’s College will Afghanistan by 59 runs Wednesday confront Prince of Wales to advance to the Super Eights College in a Singer stage at the Twenty20 World President’s Trophy League Cup. Rugby Tournament fixture at The Afghanistan top order col- Havelock Park this evening. lapsed early at Kensington Oval According to Prince of before it was dismissed for a total Wales College officials, the of 80 runs from 16 overs in reply to match was earlier scheduled South Africa’s 139-7. to be played on Saturday, but South Africa joins India in the was brought forward to Friday. The reason for the Super Eights stage from Group C. rescheduling of the match Paceman Dale Steyn dismissed was due to the unavailability Noor Ali for a duck and of the earlier venue which Mohammad Shahzad for two, both was Royal College Sports caught behind by wicketkeeper Complex. Mark Boucher. The teams- Morkel continued the rout. In St. Peter’s College-Steve his first over, he had Afghanistan Nelson, Salin Mendis, captain Nowroz Mangal edged to Chathuranga Mendis, Asitha first slip for 1, Karim Sadiq caught Krishan, Soyuru Anthony, at backward point for 2 and Raees Asitha Ratnayake, Shenal Ahmadzai caught behind off a top- Dias, Keith Gurusinghe, edged for 4. Rizwan Meedin, Banuka In this photo taken April 24, 2010, young boys watch an English Premier League soccer match at the Prisons Hall in Nairobi, Kenya. Morkel later claimed Nanayakkara, Banuka Peiris, The World Cup starts in Africa for the first time in little over a month, and soccer fans from Algeria to Zimbabwe are turning their gaze for a duck, caught Lakith Perera, Dhanushka toward host nation South Africa with a swell of continental pride. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) at second slip. Ranjan, Sandun Herath, Tailender Miwais Ashraf top- Kevin Wimaladasa, Dulaj scored for Afghanistan with an Perera, Ravindu Peiris, Chamith Madurawela, Devin aggressive 23 off 25 balls, while Fonseka, Srinath Perera, Hassan struck 22 off 21 deliveries Shan Weerakkody, Isuru Africa fills with pride, hope in a ninth- stand of 33. Both Alwis. batsmen stroked a boundary and Prince of Wales-Kavindu two sixes before they were dis- Parakum (Captain), missed by Charl Langeveldt, who Gayashan Nissanka, Ashen finished with figures of 3-12. Surendra, Tarindu Bandara, as World Cup looms After slumping to 14-6, Kalinga Lahiru, Enoj Peiris, BY JASON STRAZIUSO Of the six African teams, bookmakers give ry for Africa,” said Joana Joaquim Covane, Afghanistan looked destined for the Janith de Mel, Viraj NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - A dozen young Ivory Coast the best odds, but at 30-1 it is far a housewife living in Maputo, Mozambique. lowest ever Twenty20 international Isuranga, Kanishka boys stood at the edge of a football field, one behind the favorites named by the Kenyan “I’m going with my husband to watch at total when it slid to 32-8. This tour- boys. least one of the games in Nelspruit, near Sandanath, Pivituru that looks typically African - patchy grass at nament was Afghanistan’s first Wijeratne, Randika Alwis, the edges, dark red dirt in the middle. That didn’t stop Kanga from predicting our country.” Asked who they thought would win the victory for Ivory Coast. Businesses expect a boost. Momodou taste of cricket at the elite level, Randika Warnapura, K.H. World Cup, the boys shouted the familiar “We’re going far. We’re even going to Omar Jallow recently bought a new large- having started the qualifying run Randeepa, Yasiru Kanchana, names: Brazil. England. Spain. beat Brazil. You heard it here first,” he screen TV for the video club he owns in through zonal competitions. Tanuja Weerasinghe, M.D. Last to go was Dennis Njoroge. said. “The Elephants are going to make us Gambia, where the moneymaker is selling After South Africa was sent in Sanjaya, K.C Fernando, D.W. “Nigeria,” the shy 15-year-old boy said. proud. They’re going to make all of Africa a seat in front of a TV for customers who to bat, Jacques Kallis top-scored Attygalle, R.D.C Dhananjaya, The other dozen boys burst out in proud.” don’t own one. with 34 off 33 balls. Captain P.L Chandrasiri, Dinuka applause. Africa, particularly its most troubled The coach of Algeria’s national team, communities, could use a shot of pride. Rabah Saadane, said his players feel “a Graeme Smith made 27, J.P. Hettiarachchi, T.R Nimalasiri Why Nigeria? “Because the World Cup is in Africa,” he said. The continent is the poorest in the world, huge pride and huge responsibility” not Duminy 25 and Albie Morkel 23. The first World Cup in Africa starts in a held back by malnutrition, dirty water, HIV, only to Africa but to the Arab world as Afghanistan fast bowler Hamid little over a month, and football fans from malaria and corruption. well. Algeria is the only World Cup qualifi- Hassan returned the best figures of Algeria to Zimbabwe are turning their gaze A recent visit to Nairobi West Prison - er from an Arab nation. Chrys toward host South Africa with a swell of conti- where Njoroge and his friends played on “The whole Arab world will be looking 3-21, while legspinner Samiullah nental pride. the prison-yard field, and where their par- at us,” Saadane said. “And this cup holds Shenwari conceded just 14 runs in Guneratne TT Billboards in Liberia read “For the Love of ents work - showed how hundreds of thou- special symbolism, because it’s being held four overs. the game. We can’t wait. Let’s go 2010.” In sands of Africans will watch the World on our own continent. We don’t feel like the South Africa raced to 45-1 off from May 7-9 Ivory Coast, 2010 is the year of the Elephants, Cup. home team, but nearly.” the team’s mascot. In Cameroon, street signs Sixty people, prison workers and family Maureen Abbia, a 25-year-old actress in four overs as Smith smacked four The Chrys Guneratne tout the “Indomitable Lions.” Kenya Airways’ members, gathered inside a recreation Cameroon, plans to watch all the matches fours and a six off 14 balls before Memorial Open Ranking in-flight magazine calls the coming tourna- room on a recent Saturday to watch “because this is an African feast.” falling to offspinner Nabi. table tennis will be held at ment “Africa’s greatest moment of football his- Manchester United beat Tottenham in the “Who says this time, Africa, land of A.B. de Villiers and Kallis the S.Thomas’ College Mount Premier League. They crowded in front of wisdom and myth, cannot grab the trophy tory.” added 32 before De Villiers was Lavinia gymnasium from “Finally the World Cup has come to two huge TVs. now that it is competed for on its own May 7-9, according to a press Africa,” said Benjamin Kanga, a teacher read- In Akobo, Sudan - described by the U.N. soil?” she asked. for 17 off Mangal, and release issued by the Table ing the sports pages at a news stand in as the hungriest place on earth - men play The boys at Nairobi West Prison are a Kallis was caught by wicketkeeper Tennis Association of Sri Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s capital. “It’s about time, football daily on a field of dust. The town little less optimistic, or perhaps their grasp Shahzad off Hassan. Lanka. because football is a unifying force, a reconcil- hosts thousands of refugees fleeing vio- of football is a little more worldly. Njoroge The left-handers Morkel and lence and seeking food, and people are only remembers as an 11-year-old watching the According to the release ing force, something we Africans need to think Duminy shared a stand of 43 off 25 marginally aware that the World Cup is 2006 World Cup final with his mother, when the seeded players in the about right now.” Africa has six nations in the World Cup, coming, resident Peter Yien said. He does- Italy beat France on penalties. His favorite balls toward the end to lift the men’s and women’s cate- from the continent’s Arabic-speaking north- n’t expect to watch any matches. The town player is Manchester United defender Rio tempo. Duminy, who hit two sixes gories are as follows- ern rim, its English and French-speaking west of thousands has only one TV. Ferdinand, who will start at the back for off 21 balls, was Hassan’s third Men’s Singles- Rohan and English-speaking south. Given a pop quiz It’s precisely that kind of dire scene England at the World Cup. Njoroge’s friend, wicket when he drove firmly to Sirisena, B.N.B Jayasinghe, as his friends dribbled balls nearby,Njoroge that has many Africans so filled with pride 15-year-old Kevin Obadha, likes Brazil mid- extra cover and was caught. Dinesh Deshappriya, R.M.L correctly named five: Algeria, Ghana, Ivory to host a sporting event that arouses pas- fielder Ronaldinho. Chathuranga Coast, Nigeria and South Africa. He missed sions around the world. Fans clutching $10 Like Njoroge, Obadha pegs Nigeria as Brief scores: South Africa Women’s Singles-Nuwani only Cameroon. tickets to early matches are already driving Africa’s best team. But can they make it to 139 for 7 (Kallis 34, Hamid 3-21) Nawodya, Ishara Madurangi, No African team has made the World Cup toward Africa’s southern tip. the final? Afghanistan 80 (M Morkel 4-20, Srimali Wimalaratne, final, but more African players are playing for “No one expected that one day Africa “I don’t think so,” he said. Langeveldt 3-12) Nirmani Silva (RN) European clubs, adding to Africa’s skill base. could host the World Cup, so this is a victo-

Button leads wide-open F1 to Europe and Spanish GP BY PAUL LOGOTHETIS peting right at the front,” said “(We’re) definitely not rapt with the the season, or even after Bahrain, that I MADRID (AP) - Formula One arrives in Schumacher, a six-time Spanish GP win- results. We’ve left some change on the would have scored 40 points and three top Europe this weekend with defending ner. table, there’s no question about it,” five finishes, I would have been more than champion Jenson Button leading a wide- Schumacher’s former Benetton boss Webber, who has 28 points, said on the happy,” the Polish driver said. “The next open championship and Michael Flavio Briatore thinks things will just get BBC website. “We just need to make sure race will be another big test for us Schumacher desperately looking to mend harder for Schumacher in one of the most we have clean weekends and roll every- because the return to Europe is usually a a so-far disappointing return. competitive of seasons. thing together.” turning point in the season with many Button, coming off his second victory “I don’t know how he can recover. The Red Bull has not produced a version teams planning big upgrades to their of the season for McLaren at the Chinese competition is fierce,” Briatore said. “I’ve of McLaren’s F-duct, an aerodynamic cars.” Grand Prix, enters the Spanish GP with 60 always said that it would be difficult for device that produces greater speed on Transport chaos brought on by the points, ahead of a pursuing pack of six him to stay ahead of Rosberg. You can’t straights. Ferrari has done more work on volcanic ash over Europe has had less rivals within 20 points. come back in such a competitive sport it since China and plans on trying it out at effect than first feared. However Virgin “At the moment I’ve just had my head after four or five years.” Friday’s practice sessions before deciding has been unable to install a larger fuel down and focusing at every race we get to Teammate Rosberg has improved whether to race with it. tank on Lucas di Grassi’s car, so again because it’s been nonstop,” Button said. with each race and comes to the Circuit de “Red Bull is higher up in the stand- risks running out of fuel before the finish. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg is sec- Catalunya feeling “extremely motivated.” ings and has a lot of speed but on the A bigger tank has been added to the car of ond with 50 points, one better than “I am hoping for a better race in track we’re catching them, while his senior teammate Timo Glock. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Button’s Barcelona than I had in China and, of McLaren knows how to bring out their Sauber will hope its Ferrari engine teammate Lewis Hamilton, while course, I would not mind having had bet- cars just right without too much pressure, failures have been sorted out as it seeks Sebastian Vettel, Felipe Massa and Robert ter results so far,” the German driver said. but we do too,” said Alonso, who opened its first points, while Toro Rosso is Kubica lurk close behind. Although Red Bull arrives with ques- the season with a win. “Ferrari is still the aiming at reaching the last qual- Schumacher, however, doesn’t. tions over how to transform its qualifying favorite for the championship.” ifying session for Sunday’s The seven-time champion needs a pace into stronger race performances, it Alonso, a winner in his home race in 66-lap race. Force India is sharp improvement if he is to get into title can be reassured that the past nine 2006, expects Saturday’s qualifying to be targeting its first podium calculations. Mercedes has made a major Spanish GP winners have started from the key this weekend, which leaves Red of the season. aerodynamic upgrade since China, hoping pole position. Bull as favorite, again. Newcomers Lotus, to boost results for the 41-year-old German, Vettel, who has 45 points, has started “Historically you need to start at the Spain-based Hispania, who has tallied just 10 points after a three- on pole in three races so far, but has won front,” the Spanish driver said. “Starting and Virgin are yet to year absence from the sport. only in Malaysia after teammate Mark pole position gives you best chance to win score points but will be “Our step forward in Barcelona will Webber topped qualifying there. But relia- the race.” hoping some aerody- be bigger than you can make at each race bility continues to hamper Red Bull’s Kubica, with 40 points, has been the namic upgrades allow during the flyaways but it would not be progress to becoming a serious challenger surprise of the season for Renault. them to close the gap realistic to expect us to suddenly be com- for the championship. “If you had said to me at the start of to the established teams. Jenson Button