Friday 16th January, 2009

Standard Chartered GROE Marathon India to play two ODIs in , three Bogahawatte in India will play five one-day inter- nationals and a Twenty20 game in its 17-day tour of later this month, the cricket board said takes one day Thursday. The first two one-day internation- als will be played at Rangiri Dambulla Stadium while the rest of the matches will be played in Colombo, according to an itinerary released by the board. at a time The tour was finalized earlier this week to make up for India’s canceled by Reemus Fernando Singapore legs clocked 03:13:03 hours and visit to Pakistan this month. That tour 03:06:53 respectively. Sri Lanka will have was called off in the wake of the Sri Lanka Navy’s Anuradhi to beat Indonesian runners by big mar- Mumbai terrorist attacks in Bogahawatte who will anchor the third gins in the Mumbai and Hong Kong legs November in which at least 164 people leg of the Standard Chartered ‘Greatest if they are to retain the title they won last died. Race on Earth’ (GROE) marathon series year. After the canceling its tour to in the Mumbai Marathon on Sunday said Asked what her feelings of represent- Pakistan, the Indian cricket board is in an interview with ‘The Island’ that ing the country, the two time Colombo seeking more fixtures for its team as she will not burden herself by setting Marathon champion said, “It is with lot its commercial revenue is linked to the impossible targets but would keep in of pride that I take part in this marathon number of games it plays. mind the duty she has towards the team for the second time. I am proud that I rep- An extra test and Twenty20 match and the country when she competes. resent Sri Lanka and the Navy that is have been added to the itinerary for its “I have trained hard at Nuwara Eliya helping the country eliminate from its tour to New Zealand in March. during the past several weeks and I feel I shores one of the world’s deadliest ter- Sri Lanka has already agreed to can do well. But I have not set targets rorist organizations and have achieved so play three one-day internationals with beyond my capacity. And I will do accord- many victories towards achieving the Pakistan starting Jan. 21, and will play ing to the way the day two tests later in February - to fill the demands. You can’t really gap created by India’s cancellation of predict what timing you its tour. are going to achieve. I The schedule: will not burden myself 1st ODI- Jan.28 Dambulla with impossible targets. 2nd ODI- Jan.30 Dambulla It’s a long 42 kilometer 3rd ODI- Feb.2 Colombo race,” said Bogahawatte 4th ODI- Feb.5 Colombo who produced the best 5th ODI- Feb.8 Colombo timing of the South T20 International- Feb.10 Colombo Asian and Middle East region in the women’s category at the last goal.” year’s Mumbai Marathon. While produc- Hailing from Nawalapitiya, ing the best timing of the region in the Bogahawatte commenced marathons just Honours even at GROE third leg she was also in the first three years ago. She won the second place ten to finish the race among thousands of on her debut National Sports Festival Asgiriya after Jaleel international competitors. Marathon and was placed third in the picks six for Asked what plans she has to take the next two years in 2007 and 2008. Sri Lanka women’s team to the top of the Incidentally, Bogahawatte won the by Rukshan Razak region, she said, “I will always have in Colombo Marathon in successive years in Trinity skipper Rushan Jaleel mind what is at stake. If I do well it will 2006 and 2007 and lost a hat trick when enjoyed yet another good outing as he be good for the team. If I fail, that will she was beaten by a Kenyan runner last picked up six for 52 in their inter- school fixture against Dharmaraja have a big effect on the team.” year.However she was the first among Sri College at the Asgiriya International Bogahawatte’s performance is crucial for Lankan in the same race. Cricket Stadium yesterday. the country’s women’s team to defend the A women sailor, attached to the Sri Exchanges were quite even on day regional championship they won last Lanka Navy she produced her best tim- one as Trinity, who restricted the year. Sri Lanka’s four member women’s ing of 2.56 hours in the 2007 edition of the Rajans for 194 runs slumped to 105 for team won the South Asian and Middle Colombo Marathon. Taken to long dis- six and finished the day on 152 for East regional championship last year. tance running in the last year of her eight. This year the organizers have includ- schooling at Balika Vidyalaya, Mohamed Sajid top scored for ed Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Nawalapitiya she was first coached by Trinity with 54 while Sandun Brunei, Philippines and Vietnam also in Norbert Perera and currently is trained Weerakkody hit an impressive 69 for the visitors. to the South Asian region. After the first by Bandula Witharana. Paceman Nuwan Karunaratne two legs of the GROE marathon in The 26-year-old has represented the picked up 4 for 26 for the Rajans while Nairobi and Singapore, Sri Lanka country in cross country events in Japan, off-spinner Akila Jayasundara picked women’s team is placed second behind Nepal and Bangladesh and full up 3 for 45 for Trinity. Indonesia, who are 16.52 minutes ahead. marathons in Singapore and India and in Dharamaraja College 194 all out Chandrawathi Marasinghe and Ruvina the 10,000 meters in the South Asian Picture shows Anuradhi Bogahawatte finishing the Colombo Marathon in its in 46.4 overs (Sanjaya Kalubowila 34, Deepani who ran the Nairobi and Games. 2007 edition. Thikshana Wedagedara 28, Sandun Weerakkody 69, Hemal Munaweera 17, Ruchira Dandeniya 11, Akila Jayasundara 3 for 45, Rushan Jaleel 6 Royal Challenge International for 52) Trinity College 152 for 8 in 47 A nervous final for Sri Lankans Chess Championship overs (Sameera Wijesuriya 17, Dinuk Weeraratne 11, Mohamed Sajid 54, Akila Jayasundara 10, Rushan Jaleel Sri Lanka may have two play- beat the minnows in the final Athula Russell 18, Nuwan Karunaratne 4 for 26) ers who have played in two World two ODIs. Cup finals and several others who Sri Lanka’s bowlers have have featured in many other big done well in recent times and takes clear lead events, but the favourites will be it’s their batting that has National Champ, Athula Russell, beat Maris Stella nervous today in the tri-nation remained a concern and the Prasanna Krishna of India to maintain his final against Bangladesh at team will be looking forward to unbeaten run at the inaugural Royal chal- Mirpur. The tourists will have to a good performance by the bats- lenge International chess Championship on top play to their best ability and men and to return home with currently underway at the Royal College Union Auditorium. ensure there aren’t any hiccups their heads held high. by Roshen Steelman Russell beat Krishna to take a full point after they were stunned by Sri Lanka (From) Heshan Silva, Dushmantha lead after 7 rounds. Young Lahiru Chamira and Vimukthi Dassanayake Bangladesh in their last group Mahela Jayawardene Munasinghe of Ananda College continuing shared nine wickets between them as game. Bangladesh won without (Captain), Kumar Sangakkara, a dream run against higher ranked players Maris Stella College, much trouble and their better net Sanath Jayasuriya, Dilhara beat Ruchira Dissanayake to take sole pos- restricted Joseph Vaz College, run rate gave them a place in the Fernando, Thilina Kandamby, session of second place with 6 points. Wennappuwa to 167 runs after they final ahead of Zimbabwe, who Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Krishna, Lahiru Hapuarachchi (who chose to bat in their inter-school had defeated Bangladesh in the Kulasekara, Farveez Maharoof, beat Luxman Wijesuriya), Rasheen De under-19 match that started at curtain-raiser of the tournament. Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Silva and Chandana Wijekoon (who drew Kadirana yesterday. Sri Lankan captain Mahela Mendis, Jehan Mubarak, their encounter), L.N. Perera (who been In reply, Maris Stella were 119 for Keshan Egodage) and C.K.D. Fonseka (who Jayawardene, who lost the toss in Muttiah Muralitharan, Upul four at stumps. beat Mihiranga Jayawardena) are all on 5.5 the game against Bangladesh and paid been already named as the captain for Tharanga and Thilan Thushara. Scores: points. Joseph Vaz 167 all out in 46.5 overs the price as the early movement trou- the three match ODI series in Pakistan, Bangladesh (From) The tournament is being held over 9 (Kashyapa Rodrigo 70, Ramesh Lakmal bled his batsmen in an overs reduced a defeat here will certainly put pressure Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), rounds, is sponsored by Hewlett-Packard 18, Heshan Silva 3/23, Vimukthi game is under tremendous pressure to on the right-handed batsman, who Enamul Haque, Junaid Siddique, and Mobitel and organized by the Blue and Dassanayake 3/40 Dushmantha return home with the trophy after some became the first Sri Lankan captain to Mahbubul Alam, Mahmudullah, Gold Chess Club in conjunction with the Chamira 3/43) poor performance in ODI cricket in lose a home series to India and England Mashrafe Mortaza, Mehrab Hossain, Royal College Chess Club. Maris Stella 119/4 in 37 overs recent times. over the last 15 months. Recently Sri Mushfiqur Rahim, Naeem Islam, The prize giving and closing ceremony (Malinda Samarasekara 40, Dasun While there’s no immediate danger Lanka managed a 5-0 whitewash against Nazmul Hossain, Raqibul Hasan, Rubel will be held at 4.00pm on Wednesday, Gamage 49 n.o., Aravinda Ratnayake to Jayawardene’s captaincy as he has Zimbabwe in Harare, but struggled to Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal. January 14, 2009 at the venue itself. 15, M. Wijesinghe 2/37)

Friday 16th January, 2009