Viewing Rugby Through the Eyes of a Scribe
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Wednesday 22nd December, 2010 15 Memorable 2010 Cricketing Moments (3) BY REX CLEMENTINE World Cup game against Bangladesh in still 12 overs left. Pietermaritzburg in 2003. This hat-trick There was a sudden slump and it all hat-trick in cricket is a was unique as it was recorded off the started with the run out of captain M.S. rare phenomenon that it first three balls of the match. Dhoni who was dismissed in the last ball Ahas happened only on 27 On June 20th this year, Maharoof of the 38th over when Chamara times in ODI cricket. Even joined the two illustrious Sri Lankan Kapugedara was successful with a direct though Test cricket has been cricketers becoming the third man to hit. played for over hundred years, take a hat-trick (Nuwan Zoysa is the Maharoof then came on for the sec- the longer form of the game only Sri Lankan to take a hat-trick in ond over of his new spell and got going has seen only 38 such Test cricket) when he performed the immediately by having Ravindra Jadeja instances. feat against India in Dambulla during in trouble when the batsman walked Sri Lankan fans had an the Asia Cup. across and was trapped leg before wick- opportunity to see a hat-trick Sri Lanka had long prayed for a fast et. Then next man in Praveen Kumar being recorded this year when bowling all-rounder, a component succes- dragged one onto the stumps to put him Farveez Maharoof ran through sive Sri Lankan coaches felt will serve on a hat-trick. The game was witnessed India’s lower middle order in the team well particularly when they by a fairly big crowd and as Zaheer Khan Dambulla and his was the first travel overseas playing in conditions faced the hat-trick ball there was quite on Sri Lankan soil since which suit fast bowlers. Farveez an expectation and the prayers were Chaminda Vaas’ effort against Maharoof had been long earmarked as a answered when he edged one to Kumar Zimbabwe at SSC in future Sri Lankan prospect while at Sangakkara and Maharoof went berserk. 2001. schools and he graduated to the national As Maharoof completed the hat-trick Farveez Maharoof side immediately from school when he it seemed as if the selectors had been appeals on his way was chosen to play in Zimbabwe. spot on saying that he was ideally suited to a hat-trick during He had progressed smoothly before he for conditions at Dambulla. the Asia Cup tourna- began to be He went onto complete a five wicket ment against India down with haul, only the second time he had taken at Dambulla injuries, partic- five wickets or more in an ODI and was International ularly in named Man of the Match. between or dur- India lost four wickets in four balls Stadium. The all- Captain Kumar Sangakkara ing some of Sri and slumped from 189 for four to 189 for rounder in June this reminded that preparation is Lanka’s crucial eight and were bowled out for 209 in year became only the campaigns. 42.3 overs. Sri Lanka had no trouble in second Sri Lankan to extremely vital for an inter- Around the chasing the target and got home with take a hat-trick in same time seven wickets and more than 12 overs to ODI cricket after national cricketer when he Angelo Mathews spare. Chaminda Vaas and emerged and it “It’s something that I didn’t plan. I Lasith Malinga. said,“Farveez, over the last looked as if am really happy with what I have done. Mathews, anoth- This particular venue suits my style of 18 months has realised that er Sri Lanka bowling. It was one of those days where under-19 cap- all what I did went perfectly well and tain, had more hopefully, I’d be able to keep that up in nothing comes easy.You to offer than times to come,” Maharoof said speaking Maharoof forc- to journalists after the game. have to work hard and if ing the former “There was not much of assistance Wesleyite out of from the wicket. I just bowled a good someone’s working harder the side. length. It was one of those days where it Then the just happens for you. For example, that than you, you’ve got to match arrival of hat-trick ball, I thought I would bowl Thissara Perera, there and I bowled and it just happened. that, not just on the field, off another fast Day time it doesn’t do much but it does bowling all- help bowlers under lights,” he added. the field as well. Training and rounder, pushed Captain Kumar Sangakkara remind- him completely ed that preparation is extremely vital preparation is the key.” out of the radar for an international cricketer when he and his selec- said, “Farveez, over the last 18 months tion to the Asia has realised that nothing comes easy. Cup squad this You have to work hard and if someone’s Overall, there have been just two hat- year came as a massive surprise. He had working harder than you, you’ve got to tricks recorded in Sri Lanka with the played his last ODI more than a year ago match that, not just on the field, off the first such effort coming from Pakistani and hadn’t done anything startling to field as well. Training and preparation all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, who achieved regain his place in the side. is the key.” the feat in Galle in 2000 in a Test Match The selectors were asked about the Although he did well in that particu- when he dismissed Romesh thinking behind and journalists were lar game, the final was a disappoint- Kaluwitharana, Rangana Herath and told that Maharoof was ideally suited for ment for Maharoof as much as for Sri Nuwan Zoysa in successive balls in Sri conditions in Dambulla. Lanka as he failed to take a wicket and Lanka’s first innings of the second Test. His comeback was against Pakistan, a contributed with just ten runs with the Then Chaminda Vaas achieved a hat- game that Sri Lanka won comfortably, bat. Fielding has never been his forte trick in an ODI against Heath Streak’s but Maharoof contributed just one run and once again he came up with a poor Zimbabwe followed by Lasith Malinga with the bat and failed to pick up a wick- effort on the field in the final. six years later during a stunning spell et. Although the selectors said that the where he did even better by claiming But he was a revelation when he conditions at Dambulla ideally suited four wickets in four balls in a World played the game against India a week him, he was overlooked for the tri- Cup game against South Africa in later. Sri Lanka had opted to field first, nation ODI competition that involved Guyana that Sri Lanka almost won. but India didn’t encounter many prob- New Zealand and India following the Vaas also claimed a hat-trick in a lems as they reached 189 for four with Asia Cup at the same venue. BY RAVI NAGAHAWATTE by that time represented Mauritius scenario, it must be said that the when some parties obtained an at rugby sevens. When people who argument that the coach must be enjoining order to halt the final, For some people in Sri Lanka, migrate return, they indicate in no willing to do his best with the between Royal and St. Peter’s. rugby, despite being a spectator uncertain terms that the future squad named by the national selec- The spirit of sport that was lost sport, is not doing too well. They’ll will be rosy for the islanders. tion committee also holds weight. was found again when an old boy also find enough reason to frown at However, in sport, these hopes will This is why selections for rugby of St. Peter’s, a deputy solicitor rugby despite it having a regular only turn to reality if players like sevens provided matter for many general, pointed out that the slot on television, during week- Nigel continue to be available for controversial newspaper articles. injunction order was against the ends. selection, come 2011. If Sri Lanka has seen two three Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football The little success the islanders Some time during the 2010 quarters who have made every- Association and not against the had at the Asian 5 nations is also rugby season, this writer had the body sit up and take note in recent two schools in the final and hence played down by some. They say we good fortune of interviewing times, they are Pradeep Liyanage a friendly match could be have beaten Singapore (Sri Lanka Kamal Jayawardene who is now and Fazil Marija. Both made lots of arranged. A game of rugby was beat Singapore in the final) before part of the coaching team at news this year, but unfortunately organised and played in all its and it’s no big achievement. Sri Hisham Abdeen’s Rugby Academy. for the wrong reasons. Liyanage excitement. This rejuvenated the Lanka’s juniors finished third in ‘Kamal Sir’ has produced many quit after disputing the training deflated spirits of spectators who the ASIAD and beat South Korea, national caps and when this writer methods used for players, while had gathered in numbers to wit- the second consecutive win inside asked how many, he said, ‘Putha Marija tried to get clearance to ness the final.