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Late City Edition Wednesday 18th January, 2012 Lack of playing time? Sri Lanka post Serena has overcome that at Aussie Open before MELBOURNE, Australia — Serena Williams knows better than most what it competitive 266 takes to win a Grand Slam title without the REX CLEMENTINE REPORTING FROM BLOEMFONTEIN smoothest of preparation. The 13-time Grand Slam champion ri Lanka put on their best batting performance in the series to keep appears in the Australian Open which Stheir chances alive when they put S. Africa 75 for 3 began Monday still troubled by a sprained on 266 for nine in the third ODI of the South Africa in their reply were left ankle that needs regular ice treatment. five-match series against South Africa three down for 75 in their 16th over. It means she has played two competitive here at Springbok Park in Bloemfontein Lasith Malinga had clean bowled both matches — at the Brisbane International — yesterday. Graeme Smith and Colin Ingram to since losing the U.S. Open final in A 94-runs stand for the opening wicket turn the match in the tourists’ favour September. set the tone for the Sri Lankan innings as Upul Tharanga smashed 58 runs off 65 at the time we went to press last night. “Two is plenty for me, for sure,” she said balls with five fours and two sixes. with a knowing smile on Saturday. Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan, who had Dilshan’s knock looked uncharacteris- In 2007, Williams won the third of her been dismissed for successive ducks in tic as his first boundary came in the 18th five Australian Open titles after a similar the series, could have been dismissed over when he pulled Morne Morkel. leadup. She missed the end of the previous before reaching double figures, but A. B. Another came in the same over when he season following the U.S. Open and man- de Villiers put down a difficult chance off played his favourite scoop shot, but it aged three matches at the start of the year the first delivery of J. P. Duminy. was cut short soon when he attempted to While De Villiers also put down a clear Duminy, but found Dale Steyn at before heading to Melbourne. Her overall deep backward square leg. fitness was under severe scrutiny as she The dismissal of Jayawardene in the toiled early on but she went on to beat an in- 36th over with the total on 184 made Sri form Maria Sharapova in the final. Lanka promote Nuwan Kulasekara at Williams, who has twice won the number six. Australian Open without playing any warmup tournaments, doesn’t plan on let- SCOREBOARD ting injury stop her contending this time Sri Lanka around. U. Tharanga c Ingram b Peterson 58 “I really tested my moving today for the T. Dilshan c Steyn b Duminy 33 first time [since Brisbane] so I feel a lot bet- K. Sangakkara run out (Du Plessis) 38 ter with it,” she said. “I’ll kind of know D. Chandimal c Smith b MMorkel 36 more tonight, you know, because today is M. Jayawardene run out Ingram 15 the first day I really like really, really, really N. Kulasekara b MMorkel 40 pushed it. chance off Nuwan Kulasekara when he A. Mathews c Petersen b Tsotsobe 15 “But overall I feel really good.” was on two and Albie Morkel missed K. Kulasekara run out Tsotsobe 19 Williams isn’t the only one of the expect- another off Mahela Jayawardene, overall L. Malinga b Steyn 2 ed title contenders in Melbourne to be man- South Africa’s fielding was outstanding aging an injury, even though the season has with Sri Lanka’s top two batsmen being R. Herath not out 1 hardly begun. run out falling to direct hits. Extras: (1lb, 7w, 1nb) 9 Francois du Plessis, considered by TOTAL: (for 9 wickets) 266 Defending champion Kim Clijsters South Africans as the best fielder in the Overs: 50. retired in the semifinals of the Brisbane world, sent Sangakkara back with a Fall of wickets: 1-94, 2-102, 3-154, 4-183, tournament with muscle spasms in her left superb piece of fielding when Dinesh 5-192, 6-220, 7-259, 8-262, 9-266. hip. Before that, she hadn’t played since Chandimal slashed hard at a Lonwabo Did not bat: Dhammika Prasad. Upul Tharanga, Sri Lanka’s highest run-scorer (58 in 65 balls) yesterday, leaves a August because of an abdominal injury. Tsotsobe delivery and set off for a single, Pronouncing herself fully recovered but du Plessis at point dived to his left to Bowling: Morkel 9-0-65-2, Tsotsobe 10-0- ball during their 3rd ODI against South Africa in Bloemfontein, South Africa, from the hip problem, Clijsters said injuries stop the ball and then threw down the 40-1 (2w), Steyn 10-0-55-1 (1w), Duminy 5- Tuesday, Jan. 17. (AP Photo/Johan Pretorius) were inevitable with the type of game stumps with a direct hit with 0-26-1 (1w), Morkel 2-0-9-0 (1w), Peterson which she and Williams play. Sangakkara miles short. 10-0-45-1 (1nb, 1w), du Plessis 4-0-25-0. Although many expected the spin bowlers and Sri Lanka were The former captain had looked good Kulasekara to play a few shots, the regretting not having the services of “I think we’re both very strong girls,” Toss: Sri Lanka having reached 38 off 37 balls that dismissals of Dinesh Chandimal and a second specialist spinner. The she said. “The way we move and play, every Umpires: Johan Cloete, South Africa, included a glorious cover drive off Dale Angelo Mathews forced him to tourists played an unchanged side shot that we hit is with our full body. That and Nigel Llong, England. Steyn. rethink the plans and find the gaps while South Africa made two changes puts a lot of pressure on certain body parts. Jayawardene, yet to score a half-centu- TV umpire: Billy Doctrove, West Indies. instead. He ended with an impressive by bringing in Alviro Petersen and “So I’m not going to sit here and say, ry in the series, was another batsman Match referee: Jeff Crowe, New 40 off 38 balls with a four and a six. Colin Ingram for Hashim Amla and ‘look, tennis is a perfectly healthy sport who fell for a direct hit. He made 15. Zealand. There was plenty of assistance for Jacques Kallis. when you do it on a top level,’ because it’s not. The movements are not always that nat- ural.” Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki isn’t Dilshan Munaweera overlooked! renowned for a game based on power, but Sports Minister to inquire she too is one of the walking wounded. As BY CHAMILA KARAWITA for the 20-member squad for overlooked and this time it she targets a first Grand Slam title, the the Sri Lanka ‘A’ series begin- has happened over the selec- Danish player is hoping her left wrist injury It is puzzling as to why ning on Jan. 27 against tour- tion of four mediocre bats- will have recovered in time for her opening Dilshan Munaweera, who has ing England ‘A’. men. It is unclear on what match. about cricket crisis been an extremely successful Munaweera has been show- grounds those four batsmen “It makes you a bit scared,” said A Sports Ministry media release said yesterday that opening batsman for a long ing notable success as an have been picked for the opener for the past four years squad for the forthcoming Wozniacki, who was injured in a semifinal Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has instructed the time, has been overlooked by the National cricket selectors but has been continuously series. loss at the Sydney International. “I had newly elected Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Chairman Upali some pain, but it’s going away. I’m confident Dharmadasa to submit a report in one week’s time on the that on Monday it will be current cricket crisis. 100 percent ready.” Sri Lanka’s National cricket team, now in South Africa, - (AP) were on the verge of suffering their fourth successive One- Cricketers’ brand value crumbles day International series defeat by yesterday to receive BY HIMANI CHANDNA GURTOO reconsidering the extension and er, stood up in defence of their continuous criticism from fans and critics alike. Most of renewal of agreements for fur- prized client. their main batsmen failed to perform reasonably well in The defeat at Perth can cost ther endorsements,” said Navin “Dhoni has asked for a break Khemka, vice-president, and he is being honest,” said recent series while the unity of the National team too was MS Dhoni and his boys dear, lit- ZenithOptimedia, an advertising Arun Pandey, president, Rhiti questioned. erally and ‘figuratively’. Media analysts, brand experts and media-buying firm that Sports, the agency that handles After studying the present situation, proposals needed and sports marketing agencies manages Toshiba, a brand the Indian cricket captain’s to be made on short, medium and long term solutions, believe the abject capitulation of endorsed by Sachin Tendulkar. brand engagements. “What else Aluthgamage has informed Dharmadasa, according to the the Indian cricket team Down Dhoni has recently hinted can a brand expect from their above release. Under will shave off that he may prefer not ambassador — a truthful and to play Test cricket honest person.” Dharmadasa was elected as SLC Chairman uncon- about a fifth of their brand endorsement after 2013, two years Other players’ brand man- tested on Jan. 3. He was subsequently subject to criticism values.

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