14 Monday 7th February, 2011 BY JOSEPH WILSON passed a record that had stood for so long," Messi (164) into sole possession of fourth place on the said. club career scoring list, trailing Cesar Rodriguez Letter BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Barcelona earned Pep Guardiola's team has outscored its oppo- (235), Laszlo Kubala (196) and Josep Samitier a record 16th straight win in the Spanish league nents 60-6 during the winning run that is the 10th (178). by beating Atletico Madrid 3-0 with a Lionel longest in European history. "Messi is the best player I have ever seen," Messi hat trick on Saturday. Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez said Sanchez Flores. "He is the Di Stefano of the Why no investigation? The historic win provisionally lifted Flores left striker Diego Forlan out of the start- 21st century." Barcelona 10 points clear of Real Madrid at the ing 11 and reinforced his midfield with former Messi said he wasn't "worried about leading top of the table ahead of its fierce rival's match Barcelona youth academy product Fran Merida. all scorers in Spain. What concerns me is that the against Real Sociedad on Sunday. But the move did not pay off, as Barcelona con- team continues to play like this and maintains its Messi decided the contest with two goals trolled the ball from the opening whistle. distance over the rest of the field." before the half-hour mark and added a third in Atletico resisted until Messi broke through Barcelona set a club record of 28 games with- the second half. for the two-time defending champions in the 17th. out a loss earlier this season and stayed on pace Barcelona's streak surpassed the 15 wins by Messi cut back from the right flank across to break a whole set of other records, including Alfredo Di Stefano's Real Madrid 50 years ago. the edge of the area, leaving behind three defend- season points total, victories in a season, goals "It is an honor for this team to have sur- ers before firing a left-footer into the right corner scored and fewest goals allowed. of David De Gea's goal. Earlier, Levante handed Villarreal its first Suraj Dandeniya Kapila Dandeniya Several cricket com- sports organizations mentators and others have should have competent written about the misman- Finance Directors or agement, nepotism and Managers and other rele- corruption at SLC and it is vant administrators who strange that not even an may not have played any investigation has been international cricket, if Messi's second goal was product of a great loss this season at El Madrigal Stadium with a 1-0 held to find out the truth that is a requirement team buildup. After Antonio Lopez touched it but win, and Athletic Bilbao beat 10-man Sporting of these allegations if any. under the present act. All could not clear, Pedro Rodriguez linked up with Gijon 3-0 to move into fifth place ahead of The previous minister of such important officers David Villa, who slipped the ball between two Espanyol, which lost 3-2 at Almeria. sports, I remember him should be interviewed by defenders for Messi to punch in. Villarreal had previously dropped only two saying that the “SLC is the Sports Ministry and "We would not be who we are without Messi points at home, but Levante's line of five defend- one of the most corrupt their terms and conditions on our team," said Guardiola. "To be a great team ers succeeded in disrupting the "Yellow organizations in Sri should be fixed and in you need to have a standout player. We have won Submarine's" normally potent attack, and Lanka.” Unfortunately, place. This will, to a large 16 games because we have Messi." Valmiro "Valdo" Lopes scored the visitors' winner before he could take any extent, eliminate these With Forlan coming on after the restart, in the 49th minute. action to find out the true allegations and annual Atletico had a good beginning to the second half Villarreal remained in third place, but let situation at SLC, he was audits carried out in time and Barcelona center back Gerard Pique saved a escape a great chance to close on Real Madrid, moved out to another min- by the Auditor General. strike by Filipe Luis on the goal line in the 53rd. which stayed six points clear. istry! If the salaries that I would also like to De Gea swatted a Messi header over the At San Mames Stadium, David Lopez put are being paid to a couple suggest that the blessings crossbar in the 73rd, but six minutes later Messi Bilbao in front in the 16th from the penalty spot, of the chairman's of all Sri Lankans have pounced to tap in a ball that De Gea blocked but Gaizka Toquero doubled the lead in the 27th, and nephews are correct, these already been bestowed on could not hold. Llorente scored his 13th this season to cap two guys must be having our cricketers. Now leave Messi has 40 goals in 33 games in all the win in the 74th. Bilbao has won four some special skills them alone to work out competitions and his 24 league goals straight games for the first time unknown to the corporate their strategies without put him two ahead of Real 1997. or professional sectors in burdening them because Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo for At Juegos Mediterraneos this country. I do not think in cricket, a team needs a Spain's leading scorer. With Stadium, Marcelo Silva, that the shareholders even lot of luck in addition to 167 goals for Barcelona in Kalu Uche, Hernan of large conglomerates their skills. I therefore all competitions, Messi Bernardello put Almeria would approve such fan- wish them the best of luck moved past Josep Escola ahead 3-0 in 18 minutes. tastic monthly salaries to to win the World Cup. I Joan Verdu and sub- even their CEOs. feel that the chances of stitute Alvaro Vazquez I suppose that the them getting some useful FC Barcelona's Lionel cut the deficit for present minister of sports practice with the West Messi from Argentina Espanyol, but Almeria will sort out these matters Indies team could be scut- holds the ball after held on for its second after the World Cup is won tled by the weather Gods home win. by our cricketers. and let us all appeal to the his hat trick against Also, Getafe downed Atletico Madrid dur- I am writing this to sug- weather Gods to relent Deportivo La Coruna 4-1, gest to the minister to and allow our cricketers to ing a Spanish La Liga while Mallorca drew 1-1 at review the Sports Law to show their prowess by soccer match at the Osasuna and Racing ensure that the adminis- winning the World Cup. Camp Nou stadium in Santander drew 1-1 at tration of SLC and other P. S. Mahawatte Barcelona, Spain, Zaragoza. Adrian Colunga scored Saturday, Feb. 5, twice and Nicolas "Miku" Fedor 2011. added another goal before half- (AP Photo/Manu time for Getafe. Fernandez) Pedro Rios sealed the win in the 57th, and Ivan "Riki" Sanchez-Rico I will be back – Mohammad Amir scored Deportivo's consolation goal in the 69th with a penalty. As Mohammad Amir has been everything and if left the Qatar Financial I don't play it I have noth- Centre in Doha Saturday ing. I left education to play evening, having just been cricket and I have nothing banned for five years, he other than cricket." was surrounded by a Naturally not much Under-19 School Cricket small, but scarily enthusi- was said on the case itself. astic group of Pakistan Throughout he veered fans. They had waited between tenuous hope and most of the day outside despair, with nothing in Deshan and Anuk shine for Sebs and when he appeared, between. "For a cricketer they flooded around him, whose life is cricket, this BY REEMUS FERNANDO an early end to the match with eight 53, Chanutha Wickramasinghe 32, in their Under-19 match which chanting his name, slam- is like destroying their ming the ICC, telling him life," he said. Immediately overs still remaining. Alwis picked Harith Wanigarachchi 59; Anuk de ended at Kegalle, on Sunday. to be strong and when he added, "One shouldn't An unbeaten century by Deshan up four wickets for two runs, in an Alwis 6/48, Wishwa Fernando 2/29) Scores: they had nothing else, lose hope because in life if Dias and a match bag of 10 wickets impressive spell of nine overs to and 60 for 8 at close in 24 overs Gurukula 191 all out in 48.4 shouting 'Pakistan Allah closes one door, he by spinner Anuk de Alwis were the complete a match bag of 10 wickets. (Deshan Jeyakumar 16; Wishwa overs (Lisula Lakshan 45, Hashan Zindabad'. But they were opens hundred others." highlights on the second day for St. Scores: Fernando 2/21, Anuk de Alwis 4 Dumindu 29, Madushan so intense that Amir even- He couldn't say what he Sebastian’s College who lost on the St. Sebastian’s 142 all out in for 2 runs, Rusiru Gunathilaka Chathuranga 49n.o., Dulaj tually had to go back had learnt from it all. One question he'd be first innings in their match against 44.4 overs (Luke Jayadewa 34, 2/06) Shaminda 20; Rajitha Ranathunga inside, like he was Justin down, the next not Isipatana College in the Under-19 Rusiru Gunathilaka 15, Charith 4/62, Roshan Subasinghe 2/38, Bieber and the up, but not so tournament match which ended at Fernando 31, Anuk de Alwis 19; Nivanka hat-trick Nimasha Durumandalawa 2/16) fans, 13-year-old down.