Friday 4th January, 2008 15

by Rex Clementine tional as he made 80 in his last Test innings against ri Lanka’s progress in quality bowling and didn’t 2007 as a cricket team deserve the send off he got. Swas rapid and in One- Day cricket they were only 100 for Vaas, World second to Australia and a 2- Record for Murali and 0 defeat against the World more champions in the Test retirements series down under prevent- Sri Lanka’s very next ed them from moving a few Test, against England in steps upwards in the longer Kandy was to be the swan- version of the game too. song for Sanath There were quite a few Jayasuriya, who highlights too. 2007 saw announced his retirement ’s grad- form . And ual rise to stardom and that Jayasuriya, like Atapattu, resulted in youngsters from made his mark finishing everywhere, whether it in his career with a massive Hobart, Antigua or Kandy impact. finding an able left-hander Playing his last Test to substitute Brian Lara, innings, Jayasuriya hit six who had retired in 2007 as successive fours in a James their favourite player. Anderson over and equaled And as Kookabura the world record held by would admit, their stocks West Indian Chris Gayle. had high demand at the Jayasuriya was dis- expense of those of say missed for 78 and after his MRF. whirlwind knock But before going into announced his retirement personal milestones, let’s from Test cricket. He summarize the year that retired as Sri Lanka’s high- was. est run scorer in Tests. This was the year where Sri Lanka won the Sri Lanka was voted by the game by 88 runs to take a 1- players, umpires and Match 0 lead in the three match Referees for the Spirit of series. That game had Cricket award. The year other milestones too as ace saw them reaching the final paceman of the World Cup; the became only the third Sri speaks to the umpires and agrees to send his batsmen down in complete darkness to help officials finish the World Cup final retirements of two stal- Lankan to play 100 Test and save the tournament from becoming an absolute farce. Sri Lanka went onto win the Spirit of Cricket Award, presented by the ICC for fair play. warts of Sri Lankan crick- matches after Jayasuriya et; and and Muralitharan. Murali along meanwhile, went past with that of as the high- and many other moments. est wicket taker in the While Atapattu’s departure world when he dismissed created quite a stir, Highs and lows England middle order bats- Jayasuriya’s was emotional man Paul Collingwood. and losing the two premier openers within the space of Sanga and Mahela in one Test match was a bitter great touch blow for the country. Above Overall, it was a stun- all, ning year for Kumar reclaimed the world record of 2007 Sangakkara. He was not for the highest number of only Sri Lanka’s, but the wickets from Shane Warne. hope. And they played bril- severe criticism. The game heavily by an innings and world’s best batsman in 2007 was also emotional as Starting with a bang liant cricket. They had no was reduced to 38 overs due County stints 40 runs in Brsibane, but 2007, as he scored 968 runs coach Tom Moody, after Sri Lanka started things problems breezing past to early rain and the Several Sri Lankans they fought back admirably in just seven Tests averag- guiding the team to the with a bang in the new Bermuda, Bangladesh and Duckworth and Lewis sys- were also selected to play in Hobart in the next Test. ing 138:22 and all four of World Cup final, quit as the year. Playing New Zealand India in the first round and tem came into play after county cricket this year. It was during the his hundreds were big ones country’s cricket coach soon after the new year in that match against the more rain during Sri Kumar Sangakkara made Brisbane Test that former (200, 222*, 192 and 152). He together assistant coach Auckland in a One-Dayer, Indians forced the opposi- Lanka’s run chase. The his county debut for Marvan Atapattu would have been the owner Trevor Penny and fitness they reached 262 for six in tion out of the tournament. umpires misinterpreted the Warwickshire while had a dig at the selectors. of the unique record of trainer C.J. Clarke. 50 overs with Jayasuriya In the Super Eights, Sri rules and the final became Muttiah Muralitharan Atapattu had been over- three successive double Team manager Michael hammering 70 in just 44 Lanka were thrilling to a farce when match offi- returned to Old Trafford to looked for the entire World hundreds, before he was Tissera resigned and an balls with seven bound- watch. They made it clear cials insisted that the play for Lancashire. Cup tournament and had- spectacularly dismissed for entire new management aries and five sixes. His earlier on that they are one teams needed to return on Chaminda Vaas was cho- n’t played any internation- 192 by umpire Rudi took over the affairs of the hammering just demoral- of the title contenders by the reserve day to play the sen by Middlesex. Lasith al cricket since then, and Koertzen in Hobart in team. ized the opposition and taking the game against remaining three overs after Malinga had a short stint he was ushered in at the November. Off the field, there were New Zealand were bowled South Africa that was des- play was held up due to bad for Kent while Sanath last moment after the coun- Mahela Jayawardene’s quite a few incidents too. out for just 73 in 26.3 overs, tined for a one-sided win light. Jayasuriya was chosen as try’s Sports Minister form wasn’t bad either. His The war of words between their lowest score in ODIs for the opposition to the With the total on 215 for Lancashire’s overseas play- Gamini Lokuge intervened. aggregate was actually bet- the Chairman of the and the defeat margin of wire. At 206 for five, South eight in 36 overs, Sri Lanka er replacing Muralitharan Atapattu top scored in ter than that of Cricket Interim Committee 189 runs was their worst in Africa just needed three chasing 281 was out of the for three weeks. Sri Lanka’s first innings Sangakkara as he scored Jayantha Dharmadasa and one-dayers. runs to win the game and equation. Sri Lanka’s cap- with 51 and when he was 982 runs at 98:20, but he Chairman of the Selection Sri Lanka returned was mak- tain Mahela Jayawardene, Things go wrong called in for the media had played one game more Committee continued and from New Zealand squaring ing the ball speak with a though won many acco- in Australia briefing after play on day than Sangakkara. allegedly top government the Test series 1-1 and the magical spell where he lades for the way he con- Things went terribly three, he hit out. One In the series against officials had to intervene ODIs 2-2. On their return, picked up four wickets in ducted himself. He agreed wrong for the Sri Lankans reporter asked him England, Jayawardene was after de Mel told this paper they played a hastily four balls, first time ever in to send down his batsmen when they toured whether it was tough in superb touch. He scored ‘Woe be the day none crick- arranged four match ODI ODIs. in complete darkness (no Australia. First, they made returning to the side after 195 in the second Test at eters govern the sport,’ a competition with India just His burst reduced South floodlights were available), a blunder by not selecting 18 months. He lashed out, SSC and in the final game hint directed at before the World Cup. The Africa to 207 for nine and provided Ponting bowled their best pace attack for criticizing the selection in Galle made an unbeaten Dharmadasa. De Mel was- tournament was vital as it eventually an edge by his slower bowlers and his the series opener in committee and the punch double hundred. At SSC he n’t spared either; address- gave the selectors a last Robin Petersen let the gesture helped the ICC to Brisbane. Lasith Malinga line was ‘a bunch of mup- went past Jayasuriya as ing a media conference in minute look in at some of Africans off the hook. save its face as the game had become one of the pets headed by a joker’. the highest run getter for Brisbane, Atapattu the players. They were the second was finished off in extraor- most feared bowlers in After the Hobart game, Sri Lanka in Tests and in attacked him calling the best team after Australia in dinary circumstances. world cricket and by not Atapattu announced his the next game went past selection committee ‘a A fantastic World Cup the competition. The way Australia won the World playing him they made a retirement from interna- Aravinda de Silva as the bunch of muppets headed Sri Lanka went to the in which the final was Cup, but the Sri Lankans costly blunder. tional cricket. Atapattu’s highest century maker for by a joker’. West Indies with a lot of played, though, came in for won many hearts. Sri Lanka were beaten departure was quite emo- Sri Lanka.

SLNG wins Judo Championship ! Under 15 - Inter-Provincial Cricket Tournament Final The Sri Lankan National Gajaba Regiment were run- Guard won the Championship ners-up with 23 points and with 52 points at the Sri Ordnance were third with 12 Record win for Western Province South Lanka Army Inter-Regiment points. Western Province South, cap- each. The Western Province South Under 15 Cricket Team Judo Championship which Major General W. U. B. tained by Chamod Pathirana of In the second innings was worked off at Panagoda, Edirisinghe was the chief S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, too Western Province South recently.Meanwhile, the guest. registered a convincing first made good with a total of innings win over Western 215 for 6 wickets declared Province North-Gampaha in the with Gihan Hondamunige Under-15 Inter-Provincial (51), Dirk Muller (87) and Cricket Tournament final, Anuja Fernando scoring 34. played recently at the P. Western Province South Saravanamuttu International Cr- was coached by veteran icket Stadium. cricketer Hemal Mendis Batting first, Western assisted by J. C. Gamage Province South made a mam- and B. H. Randeniya. moth total of 429 for 6 wickets in SCORES: 90 overs and thereby established Western Province a record in Provincial Cricket South - 1st Innings history. 429 for 06 wickets in 90 Seated (L-R): Thilak Ferando (Umpire), Nilochana Perera, B. H. Rendeniya Charith Fernando compiled a overs - Charith Ferando 115 (Asst. Coach), Charitha Fernando, Hemal Mendis (Head Coach), Chamod superb unbeaten century (115 n.o., Gihan Hondamunige Pathirana (Captain), Thusith Silva (Vice Captain), J. C. Gamage (Asst. Coach), n.o.) along with half centuries 68, Chamod Deshan Dias and Ruchira Palliyaguruge (Umpire). Standing (L-R): Dirk Muller, from Gihan Hondamunige (68), Wickremesinghe 71, Chamod Wickremasinghe, Sanjaya Bandara, Nilaksha Fernando, Sidath Chamod Wickremaisnghe (71), Nilochana Perera 76, Anuja Jayaweera, Anuja Fernando, Gihan Hondamunige, Kavindu Priyadasun, Amila Nilochana Perera (76) and skip- Fernando 30, Chamod Aponsu, Oshadi Fernando and Paul Keegal. per Chamod Pathirana (50 n.o.). Pathirana 50 n.o.. Thanura R.M. Rajapaksha of Sri Lanka National Guard (R) receives Western Province North- Fernando 01/102, Sameera 104 All Out - Oshadi 2nd Innings the overall champions trophy from Major General W. U. B. Gampaha were bundled out for a Fernando 01/96. Fernando 02/14, Amila Aponso 215 for 06 wickets - Gihan Eadirisinghe at the Sri Lanka Army Inter-Regiment Judo lowly 104. Chartih Fernando and Western Province North- 03/14, Charith Fernando 03/22. Hondamunige 51, Dirk Muller 87, Championship held recently. Amila Aponso took three wickets Gampaha - 1st Innings Western Province South - Anuja Fernando 34.