14 Wednesday 29th December, 2010

BY DEREK PRINGLE offences by the International the replay room. Australia twice Cricket Council on three separate benefited from such a move on n a day of grit and grind occasions. their recent tour of India, which that saw Jonathan Trott at Privately, Ponting has no time probably explains Ponting’s equa- Ohis cussed best as he racked for the Referral System, nimity when Prior, on 5 at the up a fine hundred, it was but he must have known that he time, was let off after Johnson’s inevitable frictions would flare up Ponting relives was questioning the umpire’s foot was shown to be a fraction of as England took hold of this decision (unacceptable in such an an inch over the back edge of the fourth Test. overt and aggressive way), and line. Less surprising, was that Ricky not a point of process in a system Prior went on to finish the day Ponting should be at the centre of he despises. He was misguided too strongly, but it was Trott, scoring them, a despairing captain in des- if he thought the perceived slight his fifth hundred in his 17th Test, perate need of a cause to keep his street might bring sympathy from a pub- who took the game and surely the him and his team going until a lic increasingly disillusioned at series, away from Australia. bitter end that cannot now be far the prospect of losing an Ashes Rarely a man to draw gasps of away for either. series at home. Instead of support admiration for his strokes, you Ponting has enjoyed a glorious over beastly bad luck, ABC cannot but admire Trott for his career as a player but his tenure Radio’s forum was jammed with dedication to long occupation of as captain has been littered with listeners registering their disgust. the crease. Arriving at the crease controversy and a near paranoid brawler days TV technology further tested during the sixth over of play, after sense of injustice, with the street his patience when it revealed that Alastair Cook had edged Peter brawler of his early years never Trott and Matt Prior, whose 158- Siddle to first slip, he ground really being banished. The run stand for the sixth Australia’s bowlers down with a savoury parts of Australian surely buried any Ashes hopes studied defence and a trusty bot- aggression have been imported by still harboured by optimistic tom hand after first Siddle and many cricket teams around the Australians, were after then Johnson, with Siddle’s safe world, but like the rake who cher- others had deemed them to be so. hands abetting the latter at long ry-picks the more comely of the Trott was looking a permanent leg, threatened to limit the size squire’s daughters, what is left is fixture at the crease until some England’s lead. rarely pretty as Ponting, no doubt sloppy running with Paul It was an old-fashioned Test frustrated by his team’s inadequa- Collingwood, and fine throw from knock, Trott’s three figures cies, showed when he questioned Ponting, looked like it had caught brought up in 221 balls with only the umpire’s decision. him short of the crease. his sixth four. With Simon Katich The incident happened when Australia’s cricketers certainly hors de combat, Australia have England were 259-3 and Kevin thought it was out and each ran to nobody to bat like that and play Pietersen one short of his 50. long-on to mob their leader. But the situation as well as the ball, Ryan Harris was bowling and the replay, which the umpires can and it has cost them dear. Pietersen got in a tangle driving call for, gave Trott in by a hairline, Paul Collingwood used to be on the up, though he appeared to and he went on his merry way able to do that for England but at miss the ball, which darted churning out runs in the same the moment he appears unable to between bat and pad. Brad Haddin way Farmer Giles might plough a play a forward defensive with any appealed, with conviction, but field – with inevitable efficiency. conviction. Out for eight, after he there wasn’t a peep from the Prior’s reprieve, after he flirted miscued a hook off Johnson, a bowler. But with Trott and with a wide one from Mitchell mistake repeated by Ian Bell six Pietersen’s stand reaching 90, Johnson and was caught behind, overs later, he is hanging back Australia were desperate for a caused confusion at least to the deep in his crease, the sure sign of breakthrough and Haddin rushed batsman, who was marching off a player struggling to pick up the up making the referral sign to in high dudgeon when Dar told ball as quickly as he once did. umpire , something him to wait while he checked Lack of confidence can be Ponting reaffirmed a few Johnson’s had not bowled a front- behind that, but so can age, and at foot no-ball. 34, England may have seen the moments later. Reaching boiling point: Ricky Ponting argues his case with umpire Aleem Dar. None of the technology, Snicko, A recent playing condition, best of Collingwood as a Test Hot Spot, or Super Slo-mo, sug- screen – revealed on Hot Spot but by Marais Erasmus, the third transferred his gripe to Pietersen brought in by the International cricketer and it wouldn’t be a sur- gested Pietersen had hit the ball, not within six inches of where umpire. All that did was spark a and then the other umpire, Tony Cricket Council, it allows prise if both he and Ponting call it yet Ponting seemed to persuade ball actually passed bat – was lengthy, unseemly and unaccept- Hill. It isn’t the first time he has umpire’s suspicious that a bowler a day after Sydney. himself that a dull white mark enough to send him on his way. able complaint from Ponting that broken cricket’s protocols and in may have been flirting with the near the bottom inside edge of It wasn’t and Dar’s original not lasted several minutes, with lots the past he’s been charged and front crease, to check on the ball’s (C) The Telegraph Group, Pietersen’s bat seen on the giant out decision was correctly upheld of finger pointing, before he fined with Level One and Two legitimacy with their colleague in , 2010

BY ROSHEN STEELMAN position at the Middle Asia Basketball Year-end Review Championship to qualify for the FIBA Asian Premier OD Cricket Every year it is expected to have ups Tournament. They defeated Pakistan, and downs in any sport and nothing was dif- Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan in that tour- ferent in this year too. If we consider the nament. Chamara, Chinthaka overall performance of the country and glob- Basketball takes The girls’ U-18 Youth Team also per- ally in sport, it could be considered that we formed well participating in a few overseas guide Bloomfield to had another year that saw a lot of ups and basketball tournaments. downs. The fact that the history repeats is a However Ajith Kuruppu, Vice President emphatic win famous saying and in this year, 2010, too, one step forward of the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, the statement looked to have been true. But speaking to ‘The Island’ said their main when it comes to basketball in Sri Lanka, we focus would be on the National youth teams BY REVATA S. can consider that the sport made one step in the upcoming year. above par when compared with its past for- School Tournaments – SILVA tunes. It was not the best year for the Sri Sri Lanka The major highlight of this year turned Lanka Schools Basketball Association out to be the significant increase in the bas- (SLSBA) as they did not manage to stick to prospect for the ketball tournaments. The national players their original tournament schedule due to a forthcoming World and even the ‘B’ Division players had a long registration fee dispute between the Cup, Chamara run during the latter part of the year without Basketball Federation and the SLSBA. Silva, paired up much time gaps in between tournaments. The SLSBA were unable to conduct a with Chinthaka The year began with the National single tournament for six months during the Jayasinghe for a Basketball Tournament. The 47th Nationals, middle of the year due to this registration 148-run sixth wicket which was scheduled to be held in 2009, fee scenario. was conducted by the Sri Lanka Basketball However the SLSBA conducted its U-15 partnership in 25.3 Chinthaka Federation early this year. The pressure was Tournament of 2009 this year and the U-17 overs to guide their Jayasinghe on the Mercantile Services to retain their title Tournament of 2010. St. Benedict’s College, club Bloomfield over Colombo District who denied Kotahena beating Royal College, Colombo C&AC to a 15-run win under the Mercantile Services recording their 10th suc- won the U-15 ‘A’ Division Tournament while Duckworth and Lewis Method over cessive victory in the 46th Nationals. the Colombo International School, Kandy Ragama CC in Colombo on Tuesday (Dec. The Mercantile Services first won this defeating De La Salle College, Mutwal won 28). championship in 2000 and went on to win it the ‘B’ Division title. nine years in a row until Colombo District D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo The home team, Bloomfield, lost five for denied them a 10th successive victory by came up with an impressive performance to 63, when chasing a competitive 286 to win, winning the final at the 46th Nationals last win the U-17 Tournament beating Azar including the wicket of the old warhorse time. The Mercantile, captained by Chamath Central, Kandy. Sanath Jayasuriya, who is eying for his Danawanse, defeated Colombo District 62- According to Rev Bro. Joseph sixth successive World Cup campaign at 53 under lights at the Police Park to win the Chamath Danawanse, on front left, who had an impressive year 2010, seen here Jayakanthan, Secretary, SLSBA, they were age 41, got out for naught in their innings’ coveted title this time. expecting to hold the reaming 2010 age receiving the overall championship award after his team Mercantile Services fifth ball, being lbw off Kaushal The Mercantile Services women’s team, won the 47th National Basketball Championship early 2010. Danawanse, who group tournaments early 2011 and finish off led by Premila Fernando, continued their the 2011 tournaments before December Weeraratne. led Sampath Bank for seven basketball titles out of seven tourneys, continued unbeaten run winning their 10th successive next year. Silva amid calamity struck five fours National championship title, also beating his good form as Captain. Captaining Sampath in the Mercantile Tournament Mercantile Tournaments – and a six in his 98-ball 81 as the right-hand- Colombo District 62-34 in a one-sided and Carlton SC in the Club Tournament, he managed to guide his teams to vic- The Mercantile 2010 calendar saw three ed T20 International all-rounder encounter. tory in every single tournament he played this year. (Files) basketball tournaments being conducted. Jayasinghe whacked three fours and seven Club Tournaments – They were League, Knockout and Semi- sixes in a blistering 94, made in just 86 The 2nd Annual Carlton Basketball of the year, led Carlton SC to a memorable Mercantile Basketball Tournament and league Basketball Tournaments, which was balls. Tournament, conducted by Carlton Sports victory over defending champions Colombo Carlton SC in the club tournament, he man- won by Sampath Bank. Usually Sampath Club under the guidance of ‘Tharunyata Basketball Club. aged to guide his teams to victory in every and DFCC always enter finals of the Earlier, Ian Daniel and Lahiru Hetak’ movement, without much doubt Danawanse, who led Sampath Bank for single tournament he played this year. Mercantile Tournaments but the Nations Thirimanne made 140 in 28 overs for the became the best inter-club BB tournament seven basketball title wins out of seven tour- International Tournaments – Trust Bank created an impact this year second wicket for Ragama helping them to of the year. neys including one in Maldives in 2009, con- Sri Lanka basketball found its golden reaching two finals out of three mercantile 285 for nine in 50 overs. Daniel was run out tinued his good form as a Captain as well as moment in international level in 2010 when Chamath Danawanse, who was appoint- tournaments. Hatton National Bank also on 99 after facing 106 balls (4x6, 6x3). a forward player. Captaining Sampath in the its boys’ Under-18 team won the runner-up ed as the National Captain during the middle was impressive during the year. Thirimanne took 105 balls for his 78. According to the previous schedule announced on Dec. 16 by SLC, the organis- Royal, Panadura take first day’s honours ers, this match was to be held last Monday (Dec. 27) at Thurstan grounds, Colombo Thurstan 84 all out in 34.5 overs (Harith Aponsu picks up six 3/08, Irshad Umer 2/11, Sameer Ahamed BY REEMUS FERNANDO alongside four other games. This season’s Dias 18, Kavindu Avishka 15 n.o.; Dushan Opener Deshan Dias scored unbeaten 75 2/14, Pradeep Ananda 2/02) Royal College, Panadura took first day’s Vimukthi 5/41, Ruchira Tharindra 2/25) runs helping St. Sebastian’s College to post Zahira 329 for 7 wkts at close in 66 overs Premier Tier ‘A’ and ‘B’ One-day tourney honours as they came back strongly to restrict 22 wkts fall on day-1 at Ananda 142 for two at close after spinner Amila (Imraz Rafi 119, Shehan Jainudeen 67, was to begin firstly on Dec. 5 and then on established cricket-playing school Thurstan Mawatha Aponsu restricted D. S. Senanayake College Mohamed Dilshad 73, Ishan Fawsi 30 n.o.; Dec. 11, but eventually got off on Dec 27. College to 84 runs after being bowled out for Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda were to 184 with a six-wicket haul on the first day of Tamesh Heshan 3/78, Nadun Iresha 2/38). The tournament bears a special signifi- 117 on the first day of their Under-19 cricket 20 for two wickets in their 2nd innings, still their U-19 match which began at Moratuwa cance because it paves the way for some play- encounter which began at Reid Avenue, trailing by 25 runs at stumps, on the first day yesterday. Sara Trophy Cricket ers to convince the national selectors so as to of their U-19 match against Ananda College at Scores: Colombo yesterday. enter the Sri Lanka ODI side with nearly fifty Deciding to bat first, Royal were bowled Ananda Mawatha yesterday. While spinner DSS 184 all out in 57.5 overs (Saveen Sebastianites in huge win days to go to the ICC , com- out for 117 runs but in reply, the home team Sachithra Perera continued his impressive Cyril 62, Akila Weerasinghe 28, Harith Sebastianites SC recorded a huge 103- were skittled out for a paltry 84 runs as off- form at home taking a five-wicket haul, skipper Maduwantha 20; Amila Aponsu 6/30) run victory over Matugama CC as Lakshan de ing up in February next year in the subconti- spinner Dushan Vimukthi completed a five- Geshan Wimaladharma St. Sebastian’s 142 Silva and Jerald Bennett impressed for them nent. wicket haul. top-scored with 54 for Under-19 School Cricket for 2 wkts in 30 overs with half centuries in the Sara Trophy limited- The next round of the two-week long The school from Panadura, who are new Ananda to post 126 (Deshan Dias 75 n.o., overs tournament match played at Panadura Premier OD tournament is to be held tomor- comers to Division-I tournament, later took a runs. Oshan Perera 24, Rusiru Gunathilaka 29 n.o.) Esplanade yesterday. row. lead of 106 runs with seven wickets remaining Scores: Zahira in command as Rafi hits ton Scores: Brief Scores: Dharmasoka 81 all out in 37.2 overs Skipper Imraz Rafi top-scored with 119 Sebastianites 265 all out in 48.5 overs in their second innings at stumps as Damindu Ragama CC 285 for 9 wkts in 50 overs (I. Ashan scored an unbeaten 50, laced with six (Sanura Helambage 17; Sachithra Perera while Shehan Jainudeen and Mohamed (Lakshan de Silva 56, Jerald Bennett 80, fours. 5/21, Geshan Wimaladharma 2/22) and 20 for Dilshad put on a first wicket stand of 125 runs Sanjaya Chathuranga 34, Chamath Perera Daniel 99, L. Thirimanne 78; Suraj Randiv 3-68, Scores: 2 wkts at close in 4 overs (Nilusha for Zahira College to post 329 for seven at 45; Sameera Ruwantha 3/28, Sujan Mayura Saman Jayantha 1-11, Sanath Jayasuriya 1-37) Royal, Panadura 117 all out in 32 overs Uththamadasa 16 n.o.) close after restricting St. John’s College, 3/64, Asanka Chandana 2/58) Bloomfield (won the toss and needed to (Ruchira Tharindra 22, Dushan Vimukthi 18; Ananda 126 all out in 39.4 overs (Geshan Nugegoda to scanty 67 on the first day of their Matugama CC 162 all out in 42.2 overs pass 253 in 46.1 overs) 267 for 6 wkts in 46.1 Sachithra Wijesinghe 5/53, Prabodha Wimaladharma 54, Ushan Gunathilaka 22, match which started at Maradana yesterday. (Nuwan Chinthaka 34, Dhammika overs (C. Jayasinghe 94, C. Silva 81 n.o., Arthavidu 2/22) and 73 for 3 wkts at close in Pasindu Madushan 15; Chamath Gunasinghe Scores: Wickramanayake 28, Hemantha Fonseka 24; Dilshan Munaweera 30; Kaushalya 3/35, Gihan Mihiranga 2/21, Duminda St. John’s, Nugegoda 67 all out in 29.2 Chathuranga Somapala 2/26, Chamath 33 overs (Damindu Ashan 50 n.o.) Weeraratne 3-43, Lakmal Perera 2-48). Kannangara 2/28) overs (Lahiru Udara 23; Mohamed Basith Perera 2/33, Dananjaya Fernando 3/21).