The Island, Wednesday 1st March, 2006 Sri Lanka- first Test day one Full marks to Ashraful

CHITTAGONG, debut against Sri per , SCOREBOARD Bangladesh, Feb 28, Lanka in Colombo in who scored just six off (AFP) - Mohammad 2001, once again 50 deliveries. Bangladesh Ashraful struck a showed his liking for Mashud, next man Javed Omar c Samaraweera b Malinga 4 Nafees Iqbal b Bandara 34 sparkling ton as their bowlers as he (16) and Bangladesh put up a played both pace and lbw b Bandara 29 Ashraful all fell in the Shahriar Nafees b Maharoof 27 gritty display on the spin with ease. last session to spinner c Tharanga b Muralitharan 136 opening day of the first He smashed 15 fours Muttiah Khaled Mashud lbw b Muralitharan 6 Test against Sri Lanka and three sixes during Muralitharan, who is Alok Kapali c Tharanga b Muralitharan 16 here on Tuesday. his 186-ball knock and playing his 100th Test. Mohammad Rafique b Malinga 17 The 21-year-old pro- got to his third century Ashraful lofted a 11 duced a well-paced in 30 Tests with a love- ball towards mid- Syed Rasel b Malinga 1 knock of 136 that ly pulled four off pace- , where Upul Enamul Haque not out 1 enabled Bangladesh to man Lasith Malinga. Tharanga took a well- Extras (b11, lb4, w3, nb15) 33 Total (for nine ) 315 reach 315-9 at stumps Ashraful was judged catch. after electing to bat. Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-76, 3-81, 4-145, 5-210, 6-248, 7- involved in two useful Earlier, Bandara Shahadat Hossain (12) partnerships that 293, 8-308, 9-314 struck two quick and Enamul Haque boosted the total after Bowling: Malinga 16-3-55-3, Maharoof 11-3-37-1, blows before lunch. (one) were the not out a double strike from Fernando 17-4-50-0, Muralitharan 31-8-85-3, Bandara He bowled Nafees 13-0-61-2, Dilshan 2-0-12-0 batsmen at close. leg-spinner Malinga Iqbal (34) off the last Overs: 90 Bangladesh, who Bandara had pushed ball of his first over Toss: Bangladesh have lost all their five them on to the back and then trapped - Umpires: Asad Rauf (PAK) and Steve Bucknor (WIS) previous Tests against foot. tain Habibul Bashar Sri Lanka, made a posi- Ashraful added 65 (29) lbw with the first had added 72 in just Omar (four) fell to tive start in the two- for the fourth wicket ball of his next as over 26 overs but Lasith Malinga. match series, scoring with Shahriar Nafees Bangladesh fell from a Malinga pegged back The second Test 300 on a single day of a (27) and dominated a comfortable 76-1 to 81- the home side with will be held in the Test for the first time. 64-run stand for the 3. the quick dismissals northern city of Ashraful, who fifth with former skip- slammed a century on Iqbal and Bashar after opener Javed Bogra from March 8.

Depleted England face Test of character in India NAGPUR, Feb 28, Fletcher described as a England last won the their key players is England (from): 2006 (AFP) - England “tough” tour. Test series in India in unfortunate,” said Andrew Flintoff (capt), coach Duncan Fletcher “It is not an ideal 1984-85 when David Dravid. Andrew Strauss, said he was expecting preparation for the first Gower’s team tri- “Having played with Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, his injury-hit side to Test of a series, but it umphed 2-1. them (Flintoff, Paul Collingwood, show courage in adver- gives a few good oppor- Ashes hero Andrew Harmison and , sity in the opening Test tunities to others,” Flintoff has been Pietersen) and seen the Geraint Jones, Ian against India here on Fletcher told reporters named of a kind of character they Blackwell, Shaun Udal, Wednesday. Tuesday. depleted England side, are, I have no doubt , The tourists, “It is going to be a but Fletcher said he was England will be a strong Matthew Hoggard, attempting to win the very difficult tour for hopeful the all-rounder and competitive side.” Monty Panesar, Liam first Test series in India us. It is a challenge for would do the job well. India (from): Rahul Plunkett, Matt Prior, in 21 years, suffered a each individual but the Flintoff will be lead- Dravid (capt), Virender Owais Shah, James major blow when they boys are keen to do well ing the team for the first Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Anderson. lost vice captain in India. The morale is time in Tests. Sachin Tendulkar, Ashraful drives one to the fence on his way to a century (136). - AFP Photo. Marcus Trecothick for high and you never India captain Rahul Venkatsai Laxman, personal reasons, and know what things can Dravid said his team Suresh Raina, skipper Michael do to players. could not afford to take Mohammad Kaif, Maliyadeva 207/9 vs Dharmapala Vaughan and paceman “We had not beaten England lightly because Mahendra Dhoni, Irfan by Reemus Fernando Holy Cross beat Samdun Nilanga 2/21) overs (Praveena Perera 45, Simon Jones to knee (in an Ashes the tourists had quality Pathan, Anil Kumble, Skipper Sameera Zoysa top Rukshan Fernando 38, Vineetha injuries. series) for a long time, players in Flintoff, fast Harbhajan Singh, Henegama Central scored (41) for Maliyadeva Padmalal 32; Nilushan Nonis 28; The key trio were but we managed to do bowler Steve Harmison Rudra Pratap Singh, After restricting Henegama Easy for forced to return home, that (at home last year). and batsman Kevin Piyush Chawla, College as they put on 207 for 9 Central to 176, Holy Cross President’s College Sarath Madusanka 2/31) leaving their team in We believe we can do it Pietersen. Vikram Singh, on the first day of their inter- cruised to a 6-wicket victory with President’s College, Kotte disarray on what here also.” “What happened to Sreesanth. schools encounter against 16 overs to spare in their match recorded an easy 58-run victory Askar (71) guides Dharmapala MV, Pannipitiya played at Holy Cross ground yes- over St. Thomas’ College, Kotte Lumbini which began at Welagedara terday. in their match played at Sri Lumbini on the back of a fine ground yesterday. Henegama Central 176 in Jayawardenapura Kotte ground half century by Mohamed Askar Royal row over Games Maliyadeva 207 for 9 at close 42.3 overs (Susil Kumara 37, yesterday. (71) registered a two-wicket vic- (Sameera Soysa 41, Rajitha Udeni Priyashan 26, Niranjan President’s College 219 in tory over Carey College in their ‘snub’ to Queen Elizabeth Ratnayake 39, Dasun Madumal Madusanka 24; Pasan Buddhika 49.4 overs (Shashimal match played at Railway ground SYDNEY, Feb 28, 2006 (AFP) watching around the world,” Flint 30, Gihan Ayantha 38 n.o; Rasika 3/14, Supun Tharanga 2/17) Edirisinghe 49, Charith yesterday. - A row broke out in Australia said. Madusanka 6/72) vs Dharmapala. Holy Cross 179 for 4 in 33.2 Mampitiya 74, Anura Carey 144 in 48.2 overs (V. Tuesday over a decision to drop But the Australian Republican Schools limited overs (Akila Lasantha 51, Suresh Kariyawasam 32, G. Vonhart Disanayake 55, P. Perera 20; the British national anthem, “God Movement’s national director, Tharuka 36, Eranga Harshana 3/26, D. Tennakoon 3/29) Duminda Thalakotunna 2/15, Save the Queen”, from the open- Allison Henry, said Games organ- overs cricket 30, Dinesh Ranga 29 n.o; Susila St. Thomas’ Kotte 161 in Sujith Nikethana 2/20, Mahesh ing ceremony of the isers had made the correct deci- Commonwealth Games — sion. Supun’s double Kumara 2/44, Prabath Manujaya 41.3 overs (R. Peiris 16, D. Deepal 2/28) despite the fact that Queen “The Commonwealth Games sinks Asoka 2/44) Tennakoon 17, S. Kumara 28; Lumbini 145 for 8 in 34.2 Elizabeth II will be present. organisers have made a logical Right arm leg spinner Supun Rajitha Chathuranga 2/18, T. overs (Mohamed Askar 71, The monarch, who is head of decision. After all it is an Devinda, with impressive figures Siripiyaratana rout Perera 3/34, Hemantha Perera Hasantha Chathuranga 22; P. the Commonwealth and remains Australian event,” Henry said. “I of 5 for 19 and a colourful 50 not St. Benedict’s 2/43) Prasanga 3/42, I. Sampath 3/32) head of state of this former British think more Australians know the out including two sixes and five After posting 191 runs in 38 colony, will officially open the words to Advance Australia Fair Vineetha shines for Zahira shock S. Thomas’ games in Melbourne on March 15 rather than God Save the Queen.” fours, guided Ananda Sastralaya overs Siripiyaratana bowlers did but “Advance Australia Fair” will Buckingham Palace has said it to an easy 9-wicket victory over well to skittle out St. Benedict’s to De Mazenod Brilliant half centuries by M. be the only anthem played, is “more than happy” with the Asoka Vidyalaya in their Elephant a paltry 110 runs and gain a huge All-round performance of Isham (90) and H. M. Farhan (85) organisers said. decision to play only the Lemonade limited overs league 81-run victory in their match Vineetha Padmalal who took 5/37 helped Zahira College record a The decision has pitted Australian anthem, the national tournament match at Baddegana played at Padukka yesterday. and scored 32 helped De shocking 48-run victory over S. Australia’s monarchists, who call AAP news agency reported. yesterday. Siripiyaratana 191 37.3 Mazenod College record a four- Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia in it a snub to the queen, against Australia, which was first set- Asoka Vidyalaya 120 in 42 overs (Rukshan Ranga 48, R.S. wicket victory over Royal their match played at Moors republicans who have long tled by Britain as a penal colony Mapolage 26, M.P. Kumara 29, College, Panadura in their match ground on Monday. pressed for her to be replaced as more than 200 years ago, held a overs (C. Perera 44; Isuru Zahira 235 for 8 in 50 overs head of state by an Australian. failed referendum on becoming a Ratnakumara 2/28, Supun Douglas Thilak 22; A. Perera played at Kalutara yesterday. Australians for a Constitutional republic in 1999 and much of the Devinda 5/19, Janith Dilshan 5/29, R. Ranaweera 2/28,P. Royal, Panadura 166 in 33.3 (M. Isham 90, H. M. Farhan 85; Monarchy convenor David Flint steam drained from the republi- 2/22) Vindana 2/31) overs (Suneth Chandima 34, K. Bamunuarachchi 3/41, S. said it was the queen’s 80th year can cause. Ananda Sastralaya 121 for 1 St. Benedict’s 110 in 34.4 Ruwan Chinthaka 33, Sarath Gunaratne 2/45) and the visit may be her last to The Commonwealth is an in 23.3 overs (Supun Devenda 50 overs (S. Nandimal 27, K. Madusanka 34; Vineeta S. Thomas’ 187 for 9 in 50 Australia. association of 53 countries, main- n.o, Pawan Dileepa 32 n.o, Dilan Madusanka 20, R. Ranaweera Padmalal 5/37, Samith Silva (S. Pussegolla 57, H. Fernando “It seems ungracious, not so ly former British colonies, with 1.8 Sandagirigoda 20) 25; Asela Aluthge 2/26, Thanusha 2/36) 36; N. Perera 23; M.N.M. much even to the queen, but peo- billion citizens, about 30 percent Lakmal 3/30, M.P. Kumara 2/11, De Mazenod 167 for 6 in 31.4 Mickram 3/31, M.G. Isham 2/37) ple at the ceremony and those of the world’s population.

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