Thursday 19th January, 2012 13 SLAF paddlers refuse media interviews leads England The table tennis Senior Nationals will be worked off in Peradeniya on January 21 and 22 and reigning national champions Roshan Sirisena (Men) and Ishara Madurangi (Women) are expected to steal the honours as they are the top seeds in their respective divisions in the singles event. by 96 runs in 1st Test Both players represent Sri Lanka Air Force and when The Island went to the DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Anderson had provided immediate with both using their feet against Swann training centre at which these players prac- — Pakistan openers Mohammad Hafeez SCOREBOARD success with the second new ball, induc- to hit some attractive boundaries. tice to obtain their views on the upcoming and Taufeeq Umar hit contrasting half- ing Asad Shafiq to get a big edge while England twice came close to dismiss- nationals, this writer was in for a surprise. centuries to steer their team to a 96-run England 1st Innings 192 on 16 and Pakistan’s lead was 39 runs. ing Hafeez, but Bell missed a sharp run Bathed in sweat and hitting the ping pong lead over England with three wickets in Pakistan 1st Innings Adnan Akmal, who will resume on 24, out chance and Chris Tremlett couldn’t ball hard during a practice session at the hand by stumps Wednesday on the sec- (Overnight 42 without loss) was on 9 when Kevin Pietersen dropped hang on to a diving catch off a mistimed newly built sports facility at Lalith ond day of the first test. a hard chance in the covers after hook shot. Athulathmudali MV,in Hena Road Mount Led by Hafeez’s chancy 88 and Umar’s Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Swann 88 England bowlers had toiled without Umar completed his half-century with Lavinia, were champions Sirisena and solid 58, Pakistan reached 288-7 in reply Taufeeq Umar b Broad 58 much success in the first two sessions. his ninth four when he hit Tremlett Maduranga. A friendly chat with Sirisena to England’s 192 at Dubai International Azhar Ali c Prior b Broad 1 Hafeez escaped a run out on 44 and through the covers, before Bell’s throw turned sour when he refused to grant an Stadium. Younis Khan lbw b Trott 37 was also dropped on 52 before falling lbw from square leg narrowly missed the interview stating that Air Force regulations “We are very much in control of this Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Swann 52 when he missed Swann’s full-pitched stumps with Hafeez well short of the didn’t permit him to talk to the media with- game (and) with two spinners in our side Asad Shafiq c Prior b Anderson 16 delivery while attempting a sweep short- crease. out obtaining prior permission from the Air we have a very good chance to win the Adnan Akmal 24 ly after lunch. Hafeez hit 11 fours and Hafeez had another lucky escape Force hierarchy.The response from test match,” Hafeez said. “We have col- Abdur Rehman b Anderson 4 also lofted Swann over wide long on for shortly after completing his half-century Madurangi was the same when asked lected enough runs to dominate this test, the lone six of the match so far. — also including nine boundaries — whether she wished to talk about her plans and hopefully tomorrow we will stretch Extras: (2b, 4lb, 2nb) 8 England — unbeaten in its last nine when Tremlett’s desperate dive at wide for the nationals. our lead.” TOTAL: (for 7 wickets) 288 test series — found something to cherish mid-on saw the ball pop out of his hands. Air Force table tennis coach Lalith Offspinner Saeed Ajmal’s career-best Overs: 104.3. in the middle session as part-time medi- Broad, who bowled sharply in his sec- Priyantha when approached said he couldn’t 7-55 on Tuesday had bundled out top- Fall of wickets: 1-114, 2-128, 3-176, um-pacer Jonathan Trott forced Younis ond spell, ended the 114-run partnership do much about making the players talk to ranked England on a pitch favorable for 4-202, 5-231, 6-283, 7-288. Khan to play across the line to trap the by dismissing Umar off the next delivery. the press and added, “they need to obtain . Still to bat: Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, former Pakistan skipper lbw on 37. It was the Pakistan opening pair’s permission from the Air Force to speak to Misbah-ul-Haq (52) frustrated England Aizaz Cheema. Earlier, Stuart Broad claimed two fifth century stand in tests, surpassing the media”. The Island journalist went to further with his 11th half-century in 13 Bowling: James Anderson 23.3-7-57- quick wickets to give England some hope countrymen Sadiq Mohammad-Majid the training centre where SLAF paddlers tests since being appointed captain in of getting back into the match before Khan (4) and Saeed Anwar-Aamir Sohail practiced after informing coach Priyantha 2010, before England hit back with two 2, Chris Tremlett 20-6-48-0 (1nb), lunch. (4). the previous day about his intended visit to wickets just before stumps. Stuart Broad 26-6-72-2 (1nb), Graeme Bowling round the wicket, Broad “I didn’t know about that (record), but the training centre the next day.It’s a shame Captain Andrew Strauss won his first Swann 27-3-89-2, Jonathan Trott 8-2- clean bowled Umar as the left-hander obviously now I am very happy about it that Priyantha, being a former top official of of two television referrals after New 16-1. played down the wrong line. The fast and will try to extend it further,” Hafeez the TTASL and one time Sri Lanka coach, Zealand umpire Billy Bowden had Toss: England bowler found a thin edge to dismiss said. failed to find a solution to the problem at turned down Graeme Swann’s (2-89) lbw Umpires: Billy Bowden, New Zealand, Azhar Ali for 1 just before lunch, and England has not won a test on the sub- hand which denied much needed media pub- appeal against Misbah. and Bruce Oxenford, Australia. ultimately finished with figures of 2-72. continent after conceding a first-innings licity to table tennis players. James Anderson (2-57) brought some TV Umpire: Steve Davis, Australia. Umar and Hafeez batted with aggres- lead in 12 years. The two times it has The TTASL, the organizer of the senior relief for England on an otherwise frus- sion against the England seamers after achieved the feat have both been against nationals, when told about the incident pre- trating day by bowling Abdur Rehman in Match referee: Javagal Srinath, India. resuming overnight at 42 without loss. Pakistan — in 1961 at and 2000 at ferred to stay tightlipped. (RN) the last over of the day. The pair added 48 inside the first hour, Karachi. Priyantha wins veterans singles crown Novices badminton today The Novices Badminton Former national champion Lalith Priyantha won the Championships organized by the Sri Veteran’s men’s singles at the Ashok Mottomull Melvani Lanka Badminton Association Memorial Veterans Table Tennis Championships which (SLBA) will be held today (January were worked off at the newly built Indoor Stadium of Lalith Athulathmudali College. 19) at the SLBA courts in Colombo. According to a release issued by the Table Tennis Matches will commence at 2.30pm. Association of Sri Lanka (TTASL), Priyantha, representing (RN) Butterfly Table Tennis Club, beat M.M.M Lafeer of Veteran’s Table Tennis Association. Priyantha won the match 3/0 (11/ 04, 11/08, 11/06) The championships were conducted by the TTASL. (RN)

A cricket tournament was organized with the intention of enhancing enthusi- asm and to motivate officials of the Ministerial Security Division of the Sri Lanka Police at Independence Square recently. The joint champions at the tournament receive the championship trophy from SSP T. B. Samsudeen. (Pic by Gamini Munasinghe)

Premier Tier ‘A’ League Silva and Jayaratne take Colts past 250 The 93-run stand between Roshen Silva and Ishan Jayaratne for the ninth wicket helped Colts CC to post a total over 250 in their Premier League Tier ‘A’ match against Bloomfield which commenced at Reid Avenue yesterday. Colts CC deciding to bat first lost wickets at regular intervals and as a result the score read 157 for eight wick- ets at one stage. But Silva and Jayaratne sharing a vital stand kept Bloomfield bowlers at bay. Number five bat Silva scored 105 runs (4x7, 6x3) off 153 deliveries before being run out while Jayaratne was unbeaten on 53 at the end of the innings. In reply Bloomfield were 26 for one wicket at stumps. Brief Scores: Colts CC 266 all out in 75.4 overs (Roshen Silva 105, Ishan Jayaratne 53 n.o., Malinda Warnapura 23, Chathura Peiris 22, Dilruwan Perera 20; Suraj Randiv 4/70, Tharanga Lakshitha 2/65, Vishwa Fernando 2/52, Upul Indrasiri 1/61) Bloomfield 26 for one wicket in 12 overs (Dilshan Munaweera 12, Nadeera Nawela 11 n.o.; Sajeewa Weerakoon 1/02) (RS)