Wednesday 24th November, 2010 15

Security holds up play… BY REX CLEMENTINE There have been previous cases of lightening, animals and even streak- nly 37 overs of the scheduled 98, ers holding up play, but on Tuesday on the opening day of the second OTest Match between Sri Lanka during the first day’s play of the sec- and West Indies, were possible due to a ond Test Match between Sri Lanka wet outfield and bad light at R. and West Indies, there was the Premadasa Stadium yesterday. Sri unique case of security holding up Lanka first after winning the play as two security officers of SLC’s toss were 84 for a loss of three security firm marched up mid pitch when bad light stopped play just after to provide protection to the playing tea. surface. The security personal had Play was delayed by nearly two hours due to a soggy outfield and the game got made a misjudgment of the tea break underway only after lunch and, after an and as players watched in bemuse- extended afternoon session, only eight ment, Asad Rauf gave them balls were possible after tea due to bad the marching orders. (Pic by Eranga light. Jayawardene) The game has been played in an under-construction venue that has been under renovation for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup. Little over 200 spec- tators witnessed the game with the secu- rity officers outnumbering spectators. After Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat first under over- cast conditions, Kremer Roach, who bowled well in the Galle Test, troubled the Sri Lankan batsmen again with con- siderable movement and pace. Tillekeratne Dilshan on four was the first to fall when he tried to work a full delivery from Roach on the on-side, but was cleaned up with the total on ten. Sri Lanka recover Sangakkara was lucky to survive a chance when on two as his opposite number, Darren Sammy put down a chance at third slip to deny Roach a sec- SCOREBOARD ond . Roach struck again later in his first to post 84/3 Sri Lanka innings spell when he forced Tharanga T. Paranavithana c Bravo b Roach 16 Paranavithana to edge onto to second Jayawardene to edge one that fell short The first sign of any aggression from Indies further advantage. Sri Lanka’s 50 T. Dilshan b Roach 4 slip where Dwayne Bravo took a com- of first slip and two balls later had his the hosts was evident when Roach came in the 26th over and by tea, they fortable catch. K. Sangakkara not out 25 man when he bowled the 33-year-old returned for a fresh spell just before tea. had progressed to 81 for three. Play was Captain Sammy bowled a marathon M. Jayawardene b Sammy 2 through the gate for two. Samaraweera hooked one from him for a called off with Sri Lanka on 84 for three spell from the Maligawatta End —an Sri Lanka were in trouble at 34 for six, over the fine-leg fielder. as just eight deliveries were possible T. Samaraweera not out 26 uninterrupted spell of 17 overs— and in three and Thilan Samaraweera together The game has been played on a after the tea break. Extras: (1b, 4lb, 1nb, 5w) 11 the process accounted for the prize wick- with skipper Sangakkara did the hard newly laid wicket that offered some Sangakkara (25) was involved in an et of Mahela Jayawardene. TOTAL: (for 3 wickets) 84 work in negotiating the threat posed by carry for the faster bowlers and both unbroken 50-run stand for the fourth In his seventh over, Sammy forced Overs: 37.2. the new ball bowlers. batsmen batted watchfully to deny West wicket with Samaraweera (26). Batting time: 160 minutes. Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-31, 3-34. After Kremer Roach had done the the pitch. Guarding the pitch from whom, been defeated is being asked repeatedly, man getting better off from the deal after To bat: Angelo Mathews, Prasanna early damage, Kumar Sangakkara and maybe one question, but the whole secu- but SLC has not come up with sufficient he recently ‘blasted’ Tour Organising offi- Jayawardene, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Samaraweera cut down the rity mess is the laughing stock in cricket- answers. cials’ proposal to cut down on the board’s strokes and were grinding out the bowl- ing circles these days. Although a retired Army General now security budget. Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, ing. Some may have thought it was bor- Since the current Cricket Interim attached to SLC was blamed for the sub- He may have cut down on travel, but Ajantha Mendis. ing, but it was real old fash- who can stop Bowling: Roach 10-4-24-2, Sammy 17- ioned . Due to the him from earn- 6-25-1 (1nb), Bravo 7.2-3-21-0 (5w), delayed start, tea had been Security, the chiefest enemy of cricketing mortals ing a fast buck? Benn 3-1-9-0. rescheduled at 3:10 pm, And the worst, Toss: Sri Lanka whereas it was initially scheduled for 2:40 Committee took office they have hired stantial costs incurred on security, it has he boasts that the new Minister is his Umpires: Richard Kettleborough, pm. And on the dot, at 2:40 pm, as play- security services from one particular pri- now emerged that a powerful figure within friend too? ers changed ends at the end of an over, vate firm at the cost of millions of rupees. the board may be benefitting from the To quote William Shakespeare, England, Asad Rauf, . two security men marched mid pitch and The question of spending so much on deal. This infamous brother from a very “Security is the cheiefest enemy of mor- TV Umpire: Steve Davis, Australia, took positions close to the wicket to guard security at a time when terrorism has famous cricketing family is said to be the tals.” Match Referee: Alan Hurst, Australia.

S. Africa get 231-run lead vs. Pakistan Japan edge out HK to bag Asian Games rugby gold, Sri Lanka 6th ABU DHABI, United Arab South Africa had looked set to force Japan took home the gold Japan saw away India’s edged out host China 21-14 in against Thailand. Emirates (AP) - South Africa have an early end to the innings on a very medal with a close win challenge with ease (26-5) and the third place play-off. But Sri Lanka were out- built a lead of 231 with nine second- flat pitch when Dale Steyn managed to against Hong Kong, but Sri then shrugged off stiff resist- Sri Lanka showed a lot of classed by Malaysia 27-7 in innings wickets remaining after Abdur get Misbah-ul-Haq (77) leg before with Lanka lost its way after some ance from South Korea (28-15) promise in last morning’s the play-off for the fifth and Rehman’s maiden Test fifty helped the first ball of the day after Pakistan initial sparks to finish sixth before edging out Hong Kong play, losing a nerve-tingling sixth positions. India fin- Pakistan avoid the follow-on on the had resumed at 317-6. at the Asian Games rugby 7’s (28-21) in the final showdown. encounter against Hong ished 7th beating Thailand fourth day of the second and final Test. However, a 59-run partnership for event at the Guangzhou According to sources from Kong (19-14). The ‘Lions’ (22-7) in the play-off for the Pakistan was all out for 434 the ninth wicket between Rehman (60) Tuesday, 150 runs short of South and debutante Tanveer Ahmed (30) University Town Main China, the Bronze medal later came back roaring, seventh and eighth positions. Africa’s first-innings total. The Proteas took Pakistan well past the follow-on Stadium yesterday. went to the Koreans who with a thrilling 21-17 win (RN) then reached 81-1 after losing Alviro mark of 384. Petersen (35) at the stroke of tea. anything about the skirmish. “I just try to do my best in my performance. I don’t pay Koreans together on attention to, or care about the Ryder to miss India one-dayers situation,” Kwon said through a translator. “My goal at this NAGPUR, India (AP) - New innings and 198 runs. Asian Games, and my only Zealand’s team manager says middle- Currie says “Ryder is flying back Asian Games podium goal, was to win the gold order batsman Jesse Ryder will miss his home and will not be available for the medal. team’s one-day cricket series in India one-day series.” “It is not only for my own because of a calf injury. Ryder was hurt during the first Test BY MIN LEE aspirations but also for our Dave Currie made the announce- at Ahmedabad. A useful seamer, Ryder great leader.” ment Tuesday after Ryder used a run- could not bowl in the subsequent match- GUANGZHOU, China After the news conference, ner while batting in the second innings es in Hyderabad and Nagpur. (AP) - Two South and North Yun told South Korea’s Yonhap of the third and final Test between the India and New Zealand are due to Korean athletes shook hands and stood side-by-side on the news agency that at least sides. play a five-match one-day series starting regarding archery,the Korean New Zealand lost to India by an Nov. 28. Asian Games medal podium on Tuesday as their countries athletes “have always been on waged a deadly military skir- good terms.” mish. “I was hoping Un Sil would In the women’s individual reach the gold medal match, LONDON (AP) - Novak Djokovic archery competition, South and when she ended up in the Djokovic to will lead the Serbian team in the Korea’s Yun Ok-hee won gold, bronze medal contest, I was Davis Cup final against France next beating Cheng Ming of China cheering for her,” Yun said. “In month. in the final, with Kwon Un Sil archery,we always say hello to lead Serbia in The International Tennis of North Korea securing the each other and talk to each Federation says Viktor Troicki, Janko bronze medal. other. Whatever is happening Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic were Yun walked over to Kwon back home is between the two Davis Cup final also selected by Serbia for the Dec. 3-5 with the South Korean flag governments and that doesn’t matches on an indoor hard court in draped over her shoulders affect us at all.” Belgrade. after winning the competition, Tension escalated when The French team will be led by and the North Korean gave her South Korea accused North Gael Monfils and also include a friendly pat on the back. Korea of bombarding a South Michael Llodra, Gilles Simon and Kwon, wearing a red team Korean island near their dis- Arnaud Clement. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga jacket, and Yun, with a multi- puted western border Tuesday, is out with a knee injury. colored team top, both stood setting buildings ablaze and Djokovic, at No. 3, is the highest with their hands behind their killing at least two marines. ranked player in the final. He has won backs before the medals were South Korea said it all five of the singles matches he has presented. But when Yun was returned fire and scrambled played to lead Serbia to its first ever introduced to the crowd, she fighter jets in response, and final. stopped to shake hands with said the “inhumane” attack on Serbia has beaten the United Kwon before proceeding to get civilian areas violated the 1953 States, Croatia and Czech Republic to the gold medal. armistice halting the Korean earn a match-up against nine-time Neither athlete wanted to War. The two sides technically Davis Cup champion France. comment on the political ten- remain at war because a peace sion on their divided peninsula treaty was never negotiated. in a later news conference, There was no evidence of Serbia’s Novak Djokovic plays a where organisers tried to animosity between the delega- return to Czech Republic’s Tomas restrict questions. tions at the archery range as Berdych during a round robin Yun said she didn’t care competition progressed. After about the political tension and she’d won the bronze medal singles tennis match at the ATP South Korea’s gold medallist Yun Ok-hee holds her National World Tour Finals at the O2 declined to answer questions, playoff, Kwon and her coach flag as bronze medallist Kwon Un Sil of North Korea walks spent time in the same rest Arena in London, Monday, Nov. saying “We are supposed to get questions relevant to the com- past after the medal ceremony for the women’s individual area and exchanged greetings 22. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) petition only.” archery finals at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, with two South Korean team Kwon said she didn’t know Tuesday, Nov. 23. (AP Photo/Greg Baker) officials.