Late City Edition

Tuesday 27th October , 2009

Asian Athletics Championship Leave only lbws Amarasekara to defend 400 metre title by Reemus Fernando to umpires, says The Athletics Association of yesterday announced the team including Prasanna Amarasekara for the forthcoming Asian Athletic Championship to be held in Guangzhou, China next month. Tendulkar AA sources said that Amarasekara, who returned to athletics after serving a Umpires should be left to technology in to make the sions can be relied on television jail term for an alleged human smug- adjudge only leg-before decisions umpire’s task more accurate. X-ray technology called “hot gling case had been given the green while technology takes care of “It is tough for the umpires to spots” which clearly illustrates light by the Sports Ministry.Earlier, the the rest, according to Indian bat- watch the no-balls and watch the first point of contact of the Sports Ministry declined to endorse ting legend Sachin Tendulkar. what’s happening in the front,” he ball — either pad or bat. Amarasekara’s inclusion in the team, Tendulkar, 36, who begins his was quoted as saying on the ‘India “They should use the hot spot despite the AA making an appeal after 21st year in international cricket Today’ website. for bat-pad decisions, so the main the sprinter responded with an out- next month, even advocated rotat- “For basic line decisions, like umpire has to make only the leg- standing show in his come back at the recently concluded National Athletics ing on-field umpires every ses- no-balls and run outs, you must before calls,” he said. “I’m quite Championship. sion of a Test match to give them have a laser or something like happy with the hot spot because The defending champion in the adequate rest, but denounced the that. Something like what you that establishes the contact. men’s 400 meters at the Asian referral system. have in tennis to decide serves. “For caught behind and all, Championship, Amarasekara is the only Tendulkar, a veteran of 159 “You can call it (a no-ball) with the hot spot will come. Close-in athlete in the 22 member team to have Tests and 431 one-day internation- a machine.” catches, again the hot spot will won an individual medal at the last edi- als, said he was in favour of more Tendulkar said bat-pad deci- come. You don’t need a machine tion in Amman, Jordan. While for clean bowled, so only the leg- Amarasekara won gold in the 400 before decisions is what the metres, Susanthika Jayasinghe won two umpire has to concentrate on.” golds in sprint events at the last edition. Tendulkar, the world’s most Amarasekara will be defending his prolific batsman, said three on- 400 metre gold and will also compete in field umpires should be nominat- the 4x400 metre relay where Rohitha Pushpakumara, Yasasiri Ajith, U. G. ed so that they can take turns to Wickramasinghe, K. K. K. Seneviratne rest for a session of a Test. and Dilan Aloka are the other athletes. But he did not support the new Col. S. B. Madugalle will be the man- referral system, where umpires ager of the team, while Sajith Jayalala get help from a colleague watch- will be the coach. Roshini Bowatte will ing television replays to adjudi- be the lady chaperon while Ranjith cate on close decisions. Aluvihare will be the assistant manager. “I’m not particularly happy The Asian Athletics Championship with the referrals because I’m not will be worked off from November 10 to convinced of the TV angles,” he President Mahinda Rajapakse is seen trying his hand at a round of 14 in Guangzhou, the venue for next said. “I wasn’t happy when we year’s Asian Games. squash at the Squash Complex of Nalanda College. The President The team is due to leave on first went through it (on the tour declared the new squash courts at Nalanda College open yesterday. of Sri Lanka last year). November 9. Sachin Tendulkar Pic by Sudath Silva. The team: Men: Shehan Ambepitiya (100m, 200m), S. M. Weerasuriya (100m, 200m), Rohitha Pushpakumara (400m, 4x400m), Under-19 Cricket Prima Champions Trophy T. P. K. Mendis (800m), Chaminda Wijekoon (1500m), H. P. Y. Ajith (400m Arthavidu cracks hurdles), Indika Bandara (3000m St. Weerasinghe ends century chase), M. G. C. N. Gamage (Triple unbeaten 100 for Jump), Mohamed Sameer (Decathlon), U. G. Wickramasinghe (4x400m), K. K. K. Seneviratne (4x400m), W. A. C. D. Aloka Thurstan drought for Colombo in big win (4x400m), Manjula Kumara (High jump), An unbeaten century (in 91 balls) laced by Reemus Fernando Colombo North ‘B’ 173 Prasanna Amarasekara (400m, 4x400m) with eight fours and four sixes from Women: Achala Dias (100m, all out (44.2) Avishka Prabodha Arthavidu and half-centuries 4x100m), D. D. P. Priyadharshani (200m, St. Joseph’s College Peiris 36, Senura from Javed Siyambalapitiya and Shehan 4x100m), Chandrika Subahshini (400m, Kamileen helped Thurstan College post a all-rounder Muditha Amarasinghe 21, Dushan 4x100m), N. M. C. Dilrukshi (800m), D. A. commanding 348 for seven declared Weerasinghe ended a cen- Perera 45; Tharindu S. Samanmali (1500m), N. C. D. on the first day of their Under-19 match tury drought for Colombo Karunaratne 4/42, Muditha Priyadharshani (Long jump and against St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota teams with a cracking Weerasinhge 2/20, Shehan 4x100m), Shashiprabha Jayasinghe at Reid Avenue yesterday. century and picked up Perera 2/35 (4x100m) and Priyangika Madumanthi In reply St. Anthony’s were 36 for one at two early wickets to help (High jump). close. Colombo North ‘A’ record Colombo South ‘B’ in five Scores: a 106 run victory over wickets win Thurstan 348 for 7 decl in 81.2 overs (Prabodha Arthavidu 100n.o, Javed Colombo North ‘B’ in the Madushan Tissera appointed Siyambalapitiya 75, Shehan Kamileen 71, Prima Champions Trophy Ravichandrakumar and Udara Munasinghe 25, Kaveen Silva 23; Adil Under-15 match played at Vishwa Jayasanka shared to MCC Cricket Riyal 5/142) Kotahena yesterday. six wickets between them St. Anthony’s 36 for 1 in 17 overs Left-hander as Colombo South ‘B’ regis- Committee Weerasinghe top scored tered a five wickets victory Former Sri Lanka Buddhika hits quick-fire 74 runs for with 118 runs (127 balls) over Ratnapura after Michael Tissera, Mahinda inclusive of 19 fours and restricting the home team Rumesh Buddhika hit 74 in 55 balls along with some other three sixes and combined to a paltry 74 runs in their inclusive of 15 fours for Mahinda College to leading international post 101 for three wickets at close in reply to Sachin Hewawasam for a Prima Champions Trophy cricket figures, were Prince of Wales College 246 for nine valuable second Under-15 match played at named as members of declared in their match which commenced stand of 144 runs for Public Ground Ratnapura Marylebone Cricket at Moratuwa yesterday. Colombo North ‘A’ team to yesterday. Club World Cricket Isuru Thilina and Shehan Jayasuriya post a commanding 279 Scores: Committee. were the top scorers for Cambrians with 52 runs in their allotted 50 Josephian all rounder Muditha Weerasinghe is in action against Colombo Ratnapura 74 all out Tissera (70), cap- Tissera runs each. overs. (37.5) Udith Ashan 18; tained Sri Lanka before North ‘B’ in the Prima Champions Trophy match played at Kotahena yes- the country gained Test status and after Scores: While Hewawasam Madushan terday. Weerasinghe top scored with 118 runs for Colombo North ‘A’ and retirement held several key positions at Prince of Wales 246 for 9 decl in 74.4 scored 54 runs inclusive Ravichandrakumar 3/20, overs (Isuru Thilina 52, Shehan Jayasuriya picked up two wickets. (Pic by Kamal Bogoda) , including of seven fours, left han- Vishwa Jayasanka 3/18 52, Buddhika Alwis 46, Sithum Fernando 31, Chairman, National Selection Nuwantha Perera 30; Udara Jayasanka 2/48, der Yashan Samarasinghe added a Colombo South ‘B’ 76 for 5 (13.3) Committee and Manager of the Kaushalya Gajasinghe 2/56, Nimesh quick 38 laced with three sixes and Lure Jaydewa 21, Janith Vimukthi National cricket team from 2005 to 2007. Thrikawala 2/27) three fours in just 29 balls for their 18n.o; Dilka Supun 4/24 Introducing the new panelists, the Mahinda 101 for 3 in 21 overs (Rumesh side to reach the eventual total for the Chairman of the MCC World Cricket Buddhika 74) loss of seven wickets. Galle end first round unbeaten Committee, Tony Lewis said, “The posi- Weerasinghe’s century was only the Galle ended the first round unbeat- tion of the MCC’s World Cricket Bandaranaike 289, St. Thomas’ 92/2 second ton of the tournament and the en as Maduka Vimukthi top scored Committee is one of absolute independ- After Viraj Dharmaratne and Ramesh ence; indeed we lay claim to being the first for the Colombo teams. His centu- with 62 runs for them to record a five Fernando scored half-centuries for only true independent voice in world Bandaranaike College to post 289 runs, ry came in 118 balls which was quite wicket victory over Matara District in cricket, free from considerations of pol- Rajitha Ranaweera also hit 50 runs for St. contrasting to the way he reached his- their Prima Champions Trophy match itics, money and race. Every decision Thomas’ College, Matara to post 92 for two half century. The opener consumed played at Uyanwatte Stadium yester- we make is solely in the interest of wickets at close on the first day of their just 48 balls for his half-century as it day. cricket and cricketers.” match which commenced at Gampaha yes- came in fours and sixes. He scored ten Scores: The MCC World Cricket Committee terday. fours and two sixes for his fifty. chipping in with two wickets. Matara 222 for 9 (50) Vihanga comprises; Tony Lewis (Chairman), Scores: In reply Colombo North ‘B’ were Dushan Perera was the top scorer Madusanka 55, Dilshan Sanjuka 37, Michael Atherton, Mike Brearley, Geoff Bandaranaike 289 all out in 80 overs bowled out for 173 runs with paceman for the losers with 45 runs. Harsha Rajapakse 36, S. Kahandugoda Boycott, Mike Gatting, Alec Stewart – (Viraj Dharmaratne 70, Ramesh Fernando Tharindu Karunaratne being the pick Scores: 26; Hasitha Madushan 3/46, Ramesh all former England captains, former 64, Pasindu Jayasinghe 39, Asiri Bandara 26, Test umpire David Shepherd, Martin of the bowlers with four wickets. Left Colombo North ‘A’ 279 for 7 (50) Mendis 2/27 Gayan Kulatunga 23; Ruwantha Kellepotha Crowe, Tony Dodemaide, Rahul Dravid, 5/129, Lahiru Madusanka 3/62, Kasun armers Tharindu Karunaratne and Muditha Weerasinghe 118, Sachin Galle 224 for 5 (41.5) Maduka Andy Flower, Majid Khan, Anil Kumble, Kanakaratne 2/23) Weerasinghe shared four early wickets Hewawasam 54, Yashan Samarasinghe Vimukthi 62, Rishika Theekshana 38, Shaun Pollock, Barry Richards, Dave St. Thomas’ 92 for 2 in 18 overs (Rajitha to get rid of their opponents’ top order 38; Avishka Peiris 2/37, Ramindu Yohan Rashmika 22; Chalanaka Richardson, Courtney Walsh, Steve Ranaweera 50, Dilan Wickramasinghe 21n.o) before Shehan Perera joined the party Kumarasinghe 3/40 Priyantha 2/41 Waugh and Michael Tissera.

Published by Upali Newspapers (Private) Limited, 223, Bloemendhal Road, Colombo 13 and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Tuesday 27th October, 2009