14 Monday 16th January, 2006

Sixes assault Hewitt bows to was premeditated Federer dominance – Afridi World number four has acknowledged that Roger Federer is TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS the overwhelming favourite to lift the Lammer v Roddick title. Udomchoke v Nalbandian Hewitt reached the final in 2005, but Ljubicic v Guccione the prospect of meeting the world num- Henman v Tursunov ber one in this year's semi-finals has left the Australian downbeat. "He's beaten me in our last nine handed. I'd better find out because I matches, so you work it out," he said. don't want to be facing someone very "I think Roger's got to go down as one unknown." of the biggest favourites of all time this Neither Federer nor Hewitt, who year." opens against Robin Vik of the Czech Federer's hopes of winning the crown Republic, are in action on Monday. for a second time increased with the That leaves second seed Andy withdrawals of defending champion Roddick to take centre stage when he Marat Safin, world number two Rafael faces Swiss qualifier Michael Lammer. Nadal and US Open finalist Andre The American is looking to banish Agassi. memories of his last Grand Slam per- But the Swiss star is not concerned formance, when he crashed out of the about shouldering the burden of expec- US Open in the first round. tation. "The US Open was probably the "I'm used to it - it really doesn't mat- biggest disappointment I've ever had in Pakistan batsman Shahid Afridi ter," said the 24-year-old. and that put a bit of a sour note revealed he made a conscious attempt to Federer has admitted he knows noth- on the year," he said. hit six sixes in a single over on Saturday. ing about his first-round opponent "That was a downer, but it was a big Afridi went 6, 6, 6, 6, 2, 1 against Denis Istomin. learning experience - maybe that loss Harbhajan Singh on day two of the first The 19-year-old Uzbek is ranked 195 was actually a little bit of a blessing in disguise." Test against India, as Pakistan racked in the world and won a wildcard after Tony Roche tries to teach world number one and title favourite Roger Federer something he does- David Nalbandian, who shocked up the runs on a placid Lahore . winning the 2005 Asian n't already know Federer in the Masters Cup final in He said: "Before the over began I told Championships. "That could be good, it could be bad - all. November, is also in action on Monday my partner Kamran Akmal 'I am going "I cannot tell you one thing about we'll find out soon. I tried to ask around "I have no clue about him, how old he against Thailand's Danai Udomchoke. for six sixes' so he had said 'good luck'. him," said Federer. a bit about him, and no one knew him at is, how he looks, if he's left or right- (BBC Sport) "I tried to hit the fifth one over the mid-on area but the ball turned so it ended up going straight." Nobody has ever hit six sixes in a Australian Open practice pix Test match before. Afridi was eventually dismissed for 103 as Pakistan declared on 679-7, but India had little difficulty in their reply, reaching 65-0. Afridi said: "Great performances from so many of my team-mates gave me the opportunity to play my own game which is what I like. "The wicket is very good for . "Maybe our fast bowlers will find some reverse swing but India have a very strong batting line-up and are good against spinners so let's see." India coach Greg Chappell said: "The only way we're going to make sure the game's safe is to bat for a long time so we need some guys to get some big scores. "With the attack we took into the game we were hoping to bat first. That was our best chance to win the game on this wicket. "I think we are going to see some pret- Martina Hingis is one of 10 Grand Slam win- World number four Maria Sharapova creates a Lleyton Hewitt carries Australian hopes but Defending champion Serena Williams shrugs ty flat in this series so we're ners and eight players to have held the num- flutter with a new range of T-shirts featuring even he concedes that Federer is "one of the off worries about her fitness. "If I didn't like going to have to look at things." ber one ranking in Melbourne. some intriguing captions. biggest favourites of all time." my chances, I wouldn't be here." (BBC Sport)

Chamara Silva cracks 108 for Sebs Netball coach Hyacinth’s husband dies

Former Sri Lanka International Chamara Silva hit Hettiarachchi 2-0) Jeewantha Kulatunge 46, Rashan Peiris 50, Nirmal Upali Jayalath (48), Deputy Director, Urban Development Authority (Rest an elegant 108 as Sebastianites piled up a mammoth Sanath (54) for Bloomfield Wickremaratne 55, Ranga Dias 3-58, Pradeep Houses), who was husband of former Sri Lanka and Singapore national netball 350 for 8 by stumps on day-two of their rain ruined Ex-Sri Lanka Test captain Sanath Jayasuriya Jayaprakash 2-44) vs Tamil Union coach Hyacinth Wijeysinghe, died due to a sudden ailment. Premier League match against Kurunegala YCC made 54 as Bloomfield were 133 for 5 by the close of Funeral will be held today at 4 p.m. at Kotikawatta General Cemetary. Cortege which begun at Moratuwa on Sunday. a rain curtailed second day’s play in their match Police SC sitting pretty leaves residence, No.417/3, Belagama Road, Kelanimulla, Mulleriyawa New Town. Silva who faced 149 balls struck nine fours as he against Moors SC at Braybrooke Place on Sunday. Police SC were in control of their rain-hit match added 115 runs for the sixth wicket with all-rounder Chief Scores: against Air Force SC by stumps of day-two at Police Charitha Buddika Fernando who made 41. Bloomfield first innings 133 for 5 wkts. at close Park on Sunday. Chief Scores: (Sanath Jayasuriya 54, Malinda Thotuwilage 21, Chief Scores: SLRFU to introduce new Sebastianites first innings 350 for 8 wkts. at close Thilina Kandamby 22) vs Moors SC Police SC first innings 187 all out (Supun Nirmala (Chamara Silva 108, Charitha Buddika Fernando 41, 64, Ravindra Wimalasiri 28, Chaminda Liyanage 19, Amal Peiris 44, Sumalka Perera 41, Prasanna Ravin Nirmal 15, Sahan Wijesekera 12, Dhammika League format? Jayawardena 25, Milinda Siriwardene 29 n.o., Ajith Premier League Rajapakse 12, Anura Priyantha 15, Chamila The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union “But the SLRFU will be the final Ekanayake 3-99, Muditha Maduwantha 2-59) vs Gamage 2-35, Umal Irandika 2-22, Suwanji (SLRFU) has called for an urgent meeting authority of the tournament. We want the Kurunegala YCC Madanayake 3-46) of all Division-I clubs next week to finalise clubs to play the main League tourna- SSC gain first innings win Air Force SC first innings 47 for 5 wkts. at close the format of the 2006 Premier League ment in three different tiers to reduce SSC had obtained first innings points over tournament, Chief Executive Officer one-sided games as has been the case up CCC on the driving seat (Abuthahir Rizan 18, Mohammed Shazmil 2-26) Ragama CC by stumps of day-two of their rain-hit (CEO) Dilroy Fernando, told ‘the Island’. to now”. CCC were set force an outright win over Singha match at Maitland Place on Sunday. The meeting is scheduled to be held on Fernando added that each ‘A’ Division SC, Ambalangoda by the close of the second day of Wickremarathne 67 n.o. for Badureliya SC Chief Scores: January 18 (Wednesday) at the SLRFU club has been told to appoint a nominee their rain marred match began at Maitland Crescent An unbroken ninth wicket stand of 76 runs Ragama CC first innings 155 all out (Chanaka head office, Colombo 7. for the meeting and was confident the on Sunday. between skipper Hemantha Wickremarathna (67 Wijesinghe 31, Dushantha Ranatunge 39, “We (SLRFU) have an intention of clubs will approve the new format which Chief Scores: n.o.) and Suranjith Silva (38 n.o.) enabled Badureliya Kaushalya Weerarathne 27, Dhammika Prasad 5- allowing clubs to conduct the tournament could offer stiff competition and quality Singha SC first innings (o/n 19 for 2 wkts.) 80 all SC to score 249 for 8 wickets by stumps on day-two 39, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 2-26) according to their wishes” he said. that are fare to spectators. out (Arunathanthree 31, Sathpath Kelum 5-18, of their rain-ruined match against BRC at BRC SSC first innings 163 for 1 wicket at close Gamini Chandrakumara 4-14) and 115 for 6 wkts. at grounds yesterday. (Tharanga Paranavithana 75 n.o., Avishka close (T. M. Sampath 31, M. Soyza 28, P. Chief Scores: Gunawardene 36, R. Fernando 44 n.o.) Weerarathne 25 n.o., Sathpath Kelum 2-20, S. Badureliya SC first innings 249 for 8 wkts. at Hussey’s one-day average streets ahead of rivals Boralessa 2-35) close (Nuwan Shiroman 20, Damitha Hunukumbura Sarath Jayawardene 68 for Panadura SC BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 15, 2006 nomenal career average that now stands CCC first innings 175 for 7 wkts. dec. (A. 31, Sudeepa Perera 28, Hemantha Wickremarathna Panadura SC were 181 for 9 by stumps on day- (AFP) - Australian Michael Hussey’s at 142.2 from 23 matches. Jayasinghe 54, Nisal Randika 30, T. Mendis 27, W. 67 n.o., Suranjith Silva 38 n.o., Priyankara Silva 4- two of their rain-hit match against Lankan CC begun one-day international average is now England’s Kevin Pietersen ranks sec- Raveendra 3-37, U. Weerasinghe 2-57) 69, Duncan Arnolda 2-46) vs BRC more than twice his nearest rival’s after ond on the list with 888 runs from 25 at Panadura Esplanade yesterday. another outstanding innings against matches at 68.31 while former Australian Chief Scores: Marians in control NCC on top against Galle CC South Africa in their tri-series clash at international Michael Bevan (6,912 runs Panadura SC first innings 181 for 9 wkts. at close Chilaw Marians SC were on top against Saracens Galle CC, replying to NCC first innings total of the Brisbane Cricket Ground on Sunday. at 53.58) is third. (Sarath Jayawardene 68, Nadeera Nawala 28, SC by stumps of day-two of their match began at 219 for 7 declared, were struggling at 70 for 3 by the Hussey, nicknamed ‘Mr Cricket’, West Indian great Sir Viv Richards Surendra Kumara 18, Lahiru Fernando 16 n.o., Free Trade Zone (FTZ) grounds Katunayake on close of day-two of their rain-hit match begun at helped rescue the Australian innings lies in equal fifth position after a 187- Rasika Priyadarshana 2-39, Nelum Kumara 2-43, Sunday. Maitland Place on Sunday. with 73 from 107 balls to maintain a phe- match career yielded 6,721 runs at 47. Chandana Pushpalal 2-32, Sanahasa Fernando 2- Chief Scores: Chief Scores: 21) vs Lankan CC Chilaw Marians SC first innings 300 for 6 wkts. NCC first innings 219 for 7 wkts. dec. (Kosala Dec. (Mahela Udawatte 84, Janaka Gunerathne 62, Kulasekera 61 n.o., Kanchana Gunewardene 46, Rashan, Nirmal hit half tons for Colts CC Mirza dreams of a Grand Slam Charith Sylvester 48, Hasantha Fernando 41, Akalanka Ganegama 36, Sahan Wijerathna 28, Defending champions Colts CC were 243 for 7 by Nimesh Perera 22, Gayan Wijekoon 21 n.o., Ruchira Thilina Thushara Mirando 26, Amila Rathnayake 5- MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan 15, 2006 (AFP) player, expectations come with the package," the close of the second day of their rain marred Palliyaguru 2-70, Pradeep Nishantha 2-82, Malinga 68, Rodney Pradeep 2-32) - Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza oozes she said. match against Tamil Union at Havelock Park. Surappulige 2-85) Galle CC first innings 70 for 3 wkts. at close confidence and is even daring to dream that "I think it just in a way motivates me because Chief Scores: Saracens SC 33 for 4 wkts. at close (Dilip (Primal Buddika 26 n.o., Amila Ratnayake 10 n.o., she will one day win a Grand Slam, motivated I know there are so many people backing me. Colts CC first innings 243 for 7 wkts. at close Fernando 12 n.o., Kasun Bodeesha 19, Dinuk Akalanka Ganegama 3-23). by being Asia's great new hope. Before it was just India, but now it's the whole of (Shantha Kalavitigoda 32, Sajith Fernando 27, "I think as an athlete, not only as a tennis Asia that's backing me."