The Island, Friday 5th May, 2006 EurAsia Cricket Series Pakistan ‘A’ pulverise Tendulkar signs 40M Sri Lanka ‘A’ Opener Mohammad Hafeez scored a swashbuckling unbeaten century (105), and captain Hasan Raza an undefeated half century (62), as Pakistan ‘A’ compre- hensively beat Sri Lanka ‘A’ by eight wickets in a ‘winner takes it all’ EurAsia Cricket Series match at the Zayed dollar contract Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. NEW DELHI, May 4, 2006 (AFP) - “He’s still the nation’s youth icon and assessed next week, may be available for scorers’ list. Pakistan ‘A’ will now meet India ‘A’ in International advertising major Saatchi he’s still considered by cricket pundits as the four Test matches against the West Tendulkar is also the world’s leading the final today. and Saatchi has secured the marketing the world’s best batsman. The value he Indies starting on June 2. one-day batsman, with 14,146 runs in 362 Chasing 210 to win the Pakistanis rights for Indian cricketer Sachin commands comes from the respect and The Mumbai star was delighted to be matches. achieved the target with 4.4 overs to Tendulkar for 40 million dollars, officials love people feel for him.” associated with his new agents. The recent dip in form - he averaged and media said on Thursday. Shanthakumar declined to confirm “I’ve entrusted Iconix with manag- just over 20 in his last 11 Tests - and the spare. Iconix, the newly-formed marketing media speculation that the three-year ing my affairs and have confidence in its spate of injuries raised fears Earlier, Sri Lanka ‘A’ failed to capi- branch of Saatchi, signed Tendulkar, one deal was worth 1.8 billion rupees (40 mil- ability to provide requisite continuity to Tendulkar’s career may be coming to an talise on a fine 89-run third wicket stand of the sport’s leading batsmen, after his lion dollars). the brands I am associated with,” end. between Malintha Warnapura (49) and 10-year contract with the US-based “The amount mentioned is a nice Tendulkar said in a statement. He was even jeered off the field in Kaushal Silva (41) and were bowled out WorldTel expired last year. sum, but I am not going to say more,” he Tendulkar, who has scored a record his home city of Mumbai in March after for 209 in 41 overs. “It’s great to have a legend like said. 35 Test and 39 one-day centuries during a making one and 34 in the final Test Sri Lanka ‘A’ captain Avishka Sachin as the first client of Iconix,” said Tendulkar, who is recovering from a remarkable 16-year career, enjoys fanati- against England which the tourists won Gunawardene won the toss and chose to V. Shantakumar, the chief executive offi- shoulder surgery, and has bees strug- cal fan following in India and across the to square the series 1-1. bat first. But the Sri Lankans soon found cer and managing director of Saatchi’s gling with his form, missed the recent cricket world. However, many contemporary greats themselves in trouble, having lost the Indian operations. one-day series at home against England His 10,469 Test runs put him in like Lara were not willing to write off wickets of Gunawardene (1) and the fel- “Sachin is more than just a cricket and will also sit out of the five one-day- fourth place behind West Indian captain Tendulkar. “Form is temporary, class is low opener Ian Daniel (14). Warnapura player,” he said. “He’s a role model for ers in the West Indies later this month. Brian Lara and Australians Allan permanent,” the 37-year-old Lara said and Silva came together when the score- young and old India, Shanthakumar said. The 33-year-old, whose fitness will be Border and Steve Waugh in the all-time recently. board read 31-2 and the pair began the repair work. Although both players had their share of luck, they put Sri Lanka in a strong position. When Silva fell for 41 (55 balls, 5x4) in the 23rd over Sri Lanaka Michael Roberts on Cricket had reached 120. In the very next ball Sri Dr. Michael Roberts Professor of May 9th at 5:30 pm. Dr. Roberts is the Injured Serena will miss Lanka ‘A’ lost Chamara Silva for nought Anthropology, University of Adelaide author of several books on Sri Lanka as Umar Gul yoked him. Thereafter, Sri will deliver a lecture on “Reflections on history and two books on cricket titled Lanka ‘A’ lost wickets at regular inter- cricket over the years: Sri Lanka and “Crosscurrents: Sri Lanka and Australia Wimbledon, French Open vals. Gayan Wijekoon (17), Jeewantha Beyond” at the ICES Auditorium, 2, at Cricket” and “Forces & Strands in Sri Kulatunga (2) and Upul Chandana (6) fell Kynsey Terrace Colombo-8 on Tuesday, Lanka’s Cricket history.” in quick succession and Sri Lanka ‘A’ slumped to 184-8. Only some brave hit- ting from number nine batsman, Dilhara Lokuhettige (33 runs in 30 balls, 2x4, 3x6) enabled Sri Lanka ‘A’ to go past the 200 Vaughan and Harmison run mark. Warnapura’s 71-ball knock included six boundaries. ruled out of Sri Lanka Test Sri Lanka ‘A’ 209 in 41 overs (Malintha Warnapura 49, Koushal Silva Sri Lanka received a double boost ue as stand-in captain, although man- 41, Dilhara Lokuhettige 33; Umar Gul ahead of next week’s first Test with agement are worried by the all- 2/45, Samiullah Khan 2/22, Yasir Arafat England on Wednesday as the hosts lost rounder’s workload. 2/54, Mansoor Amjad 2/84) both captain Michael Vaughan and lead- But Flintoff denied the job provided Pakistan ‘A’ 211 for 2 in 45.2 overs ing paceman Steve Harmison for the an extra burden. (Mohammad Hafeez 105 n.o, Hassan Raza match. “I got an opportunity in India which I 62 n.o) n.o Both failed the mark set by Chairman enjoyed but to do so at the home of crick- of selectors David Graveney, which was et would be fantastic,” said Flintoff. they had to play in at least one four-day “I enjoy being involved in the game Championship game - neither has played and it’s been quite an easy side to cap- Sri Lanka climb up since the tour of India. tain - captaining your country can’t be a “Neither Michael nor Steve are in burden.” contention,” confirmed an ECB Vaughan’s replacement in the batting rugby rankings spokesman. looks like being a choice between two Both left the India tour early, players. Following Sri Lanka’s 30-0 win over China Vaughan with a knee injury and Paul Collingwood stood in for in their Asian Zone Rugby World Cup qualify- Harmison before the third Test with a Vaughan in Pakistan and India, scoring ing match on Saturday, the country has shin problem. a maiden Test century in the first Test in climbed up in the world rankings, a Rugby The squad to face Sri Lanka at Lord’s Nagpur. Union communiqué stated on Wednesday. will be named on Sunday, four days And Alastair Cook, who hit a century Accordingly, Sri Lanka is placed 40th before the match begins. on debut in the same match, is also as at May 1. With the latest win, the country Vaughan, who has returned to run- pushing for a place in the line-up. has overtaken Asian countries such as ning and batting in the nets, lost his last Graveney and fellow selectors Arabian Gulf, Chinese Taipei, China, chance to make the squad when he failed Duncan Fletcher and Geoff Miller must Kazakhstan etc in the rankings. to make the starting line-up for also patch up the pace-bowling attack Yorkshire’s match with Sussex, while with James Anderson already out with a All credit should go to the National team Harmison’s county Durham have no back injury. management, coaching staff and the players Championship game this week. Simon Jones, who has a scan on his who have done Sri Lanka proud by winning Andrew Flintoff, who led England to a injured left knee on Thursday, is highly five games in a row in the Asian Zone RWC 1-1 series tie in India, is likely to contin- unlikely to figure. (AFP) Qualifiers, the media release further said. For their next engagement Sri Lanka will travel to Hong Kong. Hinds fires University side to win over Zimbabwe MCA Premier League cricket ST JOHN’S, May 4, 2006 (AFP) - A century from dented the confidence of the young touring side, Easy for E-WIS left-hander Ryan Hinds helped the University of the when Hinds hit 15 fours and one six in his knock E-WIS coasted to a seven-wicket win over West Indies Vice Chancellor’s XI to complete a and the little known Walton struck 14 boundaries to Nawaloka Group in their Singer-MCA Premier five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in their limited- pave the way for victory. League cricket tournament match played at overs tour match on Wednesday. Xavier Marshall, who also has his sights set on Bloomfield grounds on Wednesday. Hinds, who is eyeing a recall to the West Indies a recall to the Caribbean side, struck 10 fours and Having bowled out their opponents for 134 in side, hit an undefeated 117 and shared an unbro- one six in 54. 40.2 overs, E-WIS reached the target for the loss of ken century sixth wicket stand with Chadwick Anthony Ireland, playing his first match for only three wickets in 20.3 overs. Indika Senaratne Walton, as the University side successfully chased Zimbabwe on the tour after recovering from a bro- top scored for them with 59. 325 to win with 23 balls to spare. ken hand sustained six weeks ago, was the most Nawaloka Group 134 in 40.2 overs (U. Zimbabwe opening batsman Piet Rinke had successful bowler for the visitors with three wickets Weerasinghe 24, P. Jayawardena 21, R. Fernando warmed up for this weekend’s third and fourth One- for 52 runs from 8.1 overs. Former world number one Serena That could put her in position to 21 n.o.; Udara Varuna 3/25) day Internationals against West Indies at Earlier, Rinke cracked 14 fours and two sixes to Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam play in the US Open, where she won her E-WIS 135 for 5 in 20.3 overs ((Indika Senaratne Georgetown with a purposeful 113 that lifted the help Zimbabwe post what appeared a challenging champion, said Wednesday she will first major title in 1999. 59, P. Seneviratne 27) visitors to 324 for four from their allocation of 50 total at the Jolly Beach Resort ground. miss Wimbledon and the French Open Williams took nine months off in Seylan by 33 runs overs. Rinke received good support from Brendan this year because of a chronic left knee July of 2003 after winning Wimbledon. Seyaln Bank registered a 33-run victory over injury. She returned in March of 2004 and won The Vice Chancellor’s XI, however, further Taylor, who struck seven fours and two sixes in 80, Janashakti Insurance at Colts grounds on The 24-year-old American is only 2- a tournament in Miami. and Charles Coventry with 54. Wednesday. 1 this season, reaching the third round Williams won four Grand Slam The Zimbabweans wing their way to the On the back of two half centuries by Chanaka of the Australian Open in a title titles in a row starting at the 2002 Guyana capital on Thursday for the weekend’s Wijesinghe (51) and Damith Indiak (58), the bankers defence in her only appearance so far French Open and also captured matches, trailing 0-2 in the ODI series, after los- posted 200 in 44.5 overs. Then they shot out their ing the first two games at the Antigua Recreation this year. Wimbledon in 2003 as well as the 1999 “These past few months have been US Open and 2005 Australian Open. opponents for 167 in 35.2 overs as Ganganath Ground last weekend by five wickets and 98 runs. very frustrating for me personally, as I The announcement came on the Ratnayake captured 3 for 15. Dilhara Fernando and BRIEF SCORES have had to take this time off to fully same day that her sister Venus Thilina Thushara accounted for two wickets apiece. Zimbabwe: 324 for five off 50 overs (Piet Rinke mend from a chronic knee injury,” Williams, the reigning Wimbledon Seylan 200 in 44.5 overs (G. Ratnayake 25, 113, Brendon Taylor 80, Charles Coventry 54; Williams said. champion, won her first match of 2006 Chanaka Wijesinghe 51, Damith Indiak 58, Thilina Richard Kelly 2-46) “What I can tell you today based on at the Warsaw Open. She had played Thushara 35; Nandika Ranjith 2/40, R. Dias 2/45, M. UWI Vice Chancellor’s XI: 325 for five off 46.1 what I am being told by my doctors is only two matches since a US Open Madusanka 2/25, S. Rajapakse 2/35) overs (Ryan Hinds 117no, Chadwick Walton that I should be in a position to be play- quarter-final loss last year. Janashakti 167 in 35.2 overs (D. Ranaweera 32, 67no, Xavier Marshall 54; Anthony Ireland 3-52) ing again by the end of this summer.” (AFP) C. Fernando 57, N. Ranjith 20; D. Fernando 2/25, T. Thushara 2/57 G Ratnayake 3/15)