Wednesday 19th 14 November, 2008 Under-19 Federer has tough Bad light forces a draw to a close contest at Moratuwa start and tough by Reemus Fernando Chasing 162 to win, Prince of Wales, who were bowled out for 85 in the first innings were 131 for eight at close before bad light forced a draw to their Inter- finish to 2008 School Under-19 match against Isipatana College at Moratuwa yester- day. After being bowled out for 85 in reply to Isipatana College’s 171 runs, the Wimbledon more important Cambrians fought back hard to pick up seven Pathana for 15 runs but a valiant eighth partnership of 52 to Federer than No. 1 runs between Supun Amila and KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia Wimbledon finals to Nadal, who Chamara Waduge prevented further col- (AP) - Swiss star Roger Federer says overtook him for the No. 1 ranking. lapse and helped the visitors make a winning Wimbledon is more impor- But Federer won the Olympic dou- sporty declaration at 75 for nine. tant to him than regaining his No 1 bles gold, then his fifth straight U.S. Chasing the target, the Cambrians ranking. Open to pull within one of Pete were well set at 100 for three wickets at “Wimbledon is something spe- Sampras’ Grand Slam record. one stage, but collapsed after Dilan cial. There is no substitute for it,” “While I would also love to beat Federer told reporters Monday, on Pete Sampras’ Grand Slam record of Chandima and Buddhika Alwis depart- the eve of an exhibition match in 14 titles, and also to regain my No. 1 ed for 56 and 24 runs respectively. Kuala Lumpur, billed as the ranking, I place winning another Earlier, Sakuntha Premaratne “Showdown of Champions.” Wimbledon title above all else,” said picked up six wickets to rattle the home Others playing Tuesday night are Federer. side to a lowly 85 runs. James Blake, ranked tenth, and two McEnroe, who also attended the Scores: former Wimbledon champions, John news conference, said he is excited Isipatana 171 all out (84.3) Pranama McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. The quar- to be playing in a match that will tet will play two singles matches and showcase “two generations of play- Sri Vimukthi 54, Thivanka Ranasinghe one doubles. ers in action.” 46, Ravindu Jayawardena 23, Himas Federer is currently ranked No. 2 “Players nowadays are so fast Dilashan 23; Buddhika de Alwis 4/43, behind Spain’s Rafael Nadal, after and hit the ball even more powerful Nuwantha Peiris 2/11 and 75 for nine spending a record 237 consecutive than during my time,” said decl (32.2) Supun Amila 25, Chamara weeks at the top. He lost to fourth- McEnroe, also a former world No. 1, Waduge 32; Mohomed Hassim 4/11, ranked Andy Murray in the Masters and winner of seven Grand Slam Malshan Mendis 3/22 Cup in Shanghai on Friday, ham- singles titles. pered by the sore back that had “I also believe that there are per- Prince of Wales 19 for three forced him out of the Paris Masters sonalities in the men’s game, much overnight 85 all out (33.3) Dilan two weeks ago. more than in the women’s. We must Chandima 14; Sakuntha Premaratne Top seed Roger Federer of Switzerland squats on the court while waiting for Andy Murray Federer began the year recover- capitalize on this as we can bring 6/36, Thivanka Ranasinghe 3/06 and 131 ing from a bout of mononucleosis. more fans to the game,” said for 8 at close (37.5) Dilan Chandima 56, to serve during their game in the 2008 Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, China Friday He lost the French Open and McEnroe. Nov.14, 2008. Murray defeated Federer 4-66, 7-66, 7-55. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) Buddhika Alwis 24; Madushan Soysa 3/24, Anushka Deemantha 2/27. by Nick Mulvenney tion that 2008 might have been the it in Shanghai with a back injury and a prising. Normally he loses like seven beginning of the end for the Swiss stomach upset, put a positive spin on matches a year, which is ridiculous.” Buwaneka hammers 122 SHANGHAI, Nov 17 - Novak master. his 11th season as a professional. Losing finalist Nikolay Djokovic’s Masters Cup triumph “The fact is that he’s one of the “I was happy I could win the U.S. Davydenko, who has an 0-12 career in 89 balls marked the end of a four-year best—maybe even the best player— Open for the fifth straight year,” he record against his fellow 27-year-old Shanghai sojourn for the tournament that this sport has ever had,” said said. “I’m looking forward to next year Federer, said the new generation of Opener Buwaneka Ekanayake and might also have brought down the world number three Djokovic, whose to go for six. young players like Djokovic and cracked an 89-ball 122 runs inclusive of curtain on the Roger Federer era at the victory on Sunday brought him to “It’s been a good year. But tough to Murray were now a threat to Federer, 23 fours and one six, while Hemal start off with. Tough to end. So obvi- particularly when he was not fully season-ending championships. within 10 points of Federer in the Munaweera scored an unbeaten fifty for ously a little bit of mixed feelings. But fit. Federer had played in the previous rankings. Dharmaraja College, Kandy to post a “But he’s reached a certain point I think it gives me the opportunity to “He’s already been number one for seven Masters Cups and the last five commanding 232 for eight declared on finals, losing out only in 2005 when when certain players start to win start over all new again next year.” many years,” said Russia’s world the first day of their match against David Nalbandian came back to beat against him, and then you lose a little World number four Murray, who number five. “He can’t play good for the injured Swiss in a fifth set bit of the confidence with the loss. The along with his fellow 21-year- old all his life. There are some really Rahula College, Matara at Uyanwatte tiebreak. other players start believing more that Djokovic will be looking to break the young players coming up, 21, 22 years Stadium Matara yesterday. This week, though, the 13-times they can win. Federer-Nadal duopoly next year, old. They’re fast, have very good con- In reply, Rahula were 70 for three at said talk of terminal decline was pre- centration and are physically better. grand slam winner bowed out in the “For him it’s a big challenge to come close. back next year. It’s still not over. Roger mature. “Because I see that Federer is not group stage for the first time when, Scores: is the second in the world and he’s “He’s still playing great,” said the physically perfect at the moment. hampered by injury and illness, he lost Dharmaraja 323 for 8 decl (63) a titanic clash with Briton Andy intending to get the top spot back next Scot. That’s why the other players have Buwaneka Ekanayake 122, Ramesh Murray. year.” “Nadal’s had one of the best years more chance to beat him.” That was his 15th defeat in a season in tennis over the last 20 years and The Masters Cup will take place in Yapabandara 33, Rahula Ekanayake 43, when he lost his world number one BACK INJURY he’s still not that far behind him. London next year and the Qizhong Hemal Munaweera 50 n.o; K.G. ranking and beloved Wimbledon title Federer, who started the season suf- He’s maybe lost a few more matches arena will host a new Masters series Prasadika 2/29, Y.D. Chathuranga 2/82, than normal but it’s not totally sur- tournament. to Rafael Nadal, prompting specula- fering from glandular fever and ended P.M. Ekanayake 2/63 Rahula 70 for 3 (18) P.M. Ekanayake SA turn to Fletcher to 29, R.M. Uyanhewa 26 n.o. PCB is ruining Chandimal hits half-century beat Australia for Ananda Skipper Dinesh Chandimal scored a South Africa has turned to Ashes-winning former half century for Ananda College to post England coach Duncan Fletcher for help on its three- Pakistan cricket –Yousuf 166 for four after Ruvinda Shamen and tour to Australia next month. KARACHI, Pakistan ul-Haq - defeated in test matches and 9,242 how well he takes along all Fletcher has been hired as a consultant and is Matheesha Perera shared seven wickets (AP) - Suspended star bats- Hyderabad Heroes in the runs in one-day interna- the senior and junior play- to restrict D.S. Senanayake College to expected to assist South Africa coach Mickey Arthur man Mohammad Yousuf ICL final. tionals, was also not happy ers.” and his team with tips on how to beat the world No.1 criticized the Pakistan Yousuf, a veteran of 79 with the attitude of Yousuf insisted that he 148 in their match commenced at team. Cricket Board on Monday tests and 269 one-day inter- . “I have noth- could still play all the three Ananda Mawatha yesterday. Cricket South Africa said in a statement on Monday for banning players com- nationals, rejoined the ICL ing personal against him, forms of the game - tests, Scores: that the Zimbabwean would start immediately as the peting in the non-sanc- earlier this month, prompt- but in the Pakistan team one-day and - for DSS 148 all out (54.2) Nadun team prepares for a Test series against Bangladesh that tioned Indian Cricket ing the PCB to suspend the senior players are not another two to three years. Pathirana 36 n.o, Malith starts on Wednesday. League, saying they were him. given due respect,” he said. “I am among the top in “Duncan will spend three days with us before each Wickramasinghe 31, Charith jeopardizing the future of Yousuf signed for the “I was never consulted both test and one-day Satharasinghe 28; Ruvinda Shamen of the two tests against Bangladesh and will then spend the sport. ICL last year, but the PCB in any cricketing matter cricket rankings so how 12 days with us in Australia ahead of the opening Test “Why are they ruining convinced him not to play while on the other hand can someone say I am not 4/43, Matheesha Perera 3/43, Ruchira at Perth,” Arthur said. the future of Pakistan in the rebel Twenty20 com- look at (Indian captain fit for twenty20 cricket,” Herath 2/29 “He will add a great deal of value to our plans and cricket?” Yousuf asked petition so that he could Mahendra Singh) Dhoni, Yousuf said. Ananda 166 for 4 (43) Udesh preparations, particularly with his experience of hav- reporters. “There are play- continue playing for the Yousuf is currently Nadeeranga 15, Praboda Seneviratne 22, ing been a successful coach against Australia.” ers in the ICL like Imran national team. ranked third in the Dinesh Chandimal 63, Sachin Devage 29; Fletcher coached England to a memorable home Farhat, Imran Nazir and “The previous International Cricket Charith Jayampathi 2/39. Ashes series win over Australia in 2005. , who can (cricket) board mis- Council’s test rankings However he was unable to repeat the feat when still play for Pakistan.” guided me by say- behind West Indies’ Australia dominated his team and reclaimed the Ashes Aside from suspending ing that I could not Shivnarine Chanderpaul Malindu picks up seven, on home soil in the 2006-07 season. (AAP) him, Yousuf is in dispute play for Pakistan and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Ratnayage bags 11 with the PCB over money if I joined ICL,” Sangakkara. In 50- as it is demanding he Yousuf said. overs-a-side cricket, 15-year-old right arm leg-spinner return 10 million rupees He later tried Yousuf is ranked Malindu Perera picked up seven wickets Sri Rahula on first innings ($124,000) it spent on the to join the official- eighth. to restrict Dharmaloka College to 184 batsman’s legal case in ly sanctioned and guide Bandaranaike College to a by Rukshan Razak India involving his con- Indian Premier tract negotiations with League, a Twenty20 first innings victory while Madusanka Sri Rahula College, Katugastota led by 48 runs in the rival Twenty20 leagues. competition which is Ratnayake bagged eleven wickets for first innings to take major honours against Gurukula “What I fail to under- supported by the Dharmaloka in their Inter-School match MV, Kelaniya and thus recorded their fourth consecu- stand is that the PCB is not Board of Control for ended before the schedule time due to tive first innings win in the inter-school cricket tour- worried about the future of Cricket in India, but the rain at Gampaha yesterday. nament match that concluded at Peradeniya yesterday. Pakistan cricket and its ICL blocked the move by Scores: Sri Rahula after a steady start posted 203 all out players, it is only worried filing a breach of contract Bandaranaike 238 all out (67) before restricting the visitors for 155 runs. about the money,” Yousuf case in an Indian court. Then, Sri Rahula displayed an equally commend- said. “The previous board Samitha Maduranga 57, Dinuka Nalitha able performance in their second essay that included a The PCB suspends all also told me that it would 44 n.o, Salinda Wickramasinghe 28, solid knock of 64 by Nimesha Wanasundara to amass Pakistan players who play look after all the court Malindu Perera 26, Asiri Bandara 22; 169 for 6 at close. in the ICL. cases,” Yousuf said. Madusanka Ratnayake 5/43, D.H. Meanwhile, Amith Thilakaratne of Sri Rahula, who , Rana Yousuf’s differences Kulatunga 2/33 and 138 all out (39.3) displayed a praiseworthy all-round performance and S. Naved, Taufiq Umar and with the board and Viraj Dharmaratne 65, Shanaka Dulaj Devinda of Gurukula with a healthy half ton excelled Hasan Raza are the other the team manage- 42; Madusanka Ratnayake 6/50 for the two teams. Pakistani cricketers who ment began last Sri Rahula College 203 all out (76.2) and 169 for 6 have been banned by the year when he Dharmaloka 69 for 5 overnight 184 (54) Nimesha Wanasundara 64, Amith Thilakaratne 35, PCB for joining the rebel was dropped all out (54) P.Samaraweera 18, Rashmila Chathuranga Dikkumbura 33 n.o; Aruna Sampath 15, league. from the first Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Yousuf addresses a news conference in Perera 42 n.o, S. Kulatunga 20; Malindu S. Nivanka 3 for 29, R. Kottagoda 2 for 53 Yousuf returned from Twenty20 World Karachi, Pakistan Monday, Nov 17, 2008. Suspended star batsman Perera 7/53 and 40 for 5 at close (11.4) Gurukula Vidyalaya 155 all out (67.4) S. Divanka India on Monday a day Cup in South Mohammad Yousuf criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday for U. Madusanka 10; Lasitha Premasiri 50, R. Kottagoda 18, T. Lakshitha 21, Amith after his team Lahore Africa. banning all its players competing in the non-ssanctioned Indian Cricket 3/17, Viraj Dharmaratne 2/20. Thilakaratne 3 for 60, Sunimal Dissanayake 3 for 33. Badshahs - led by former Yousuf, scor- Pakistan captain Inzamam- er of 6,770 runs League. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)