The Island, Friday 10th March, 2006 Tharanga’s ton saving grace for Sri Lanka BOGRA, Bangladesh, March 9 The Sri Lankan captain found himself (AFP) - Upul Tharanga slammed an in the middle after a twin strike from SCOREBOARD impressive maiden century to help Sri paceman Shahadat Hossain had rocked Lanka take a handy first innings lead the middle order. Bangladesh 1st innings 234 (H. Bashar 69; M. over Bangladesh in the second and final Hossain removed Thilan Muralitharan 5-79) Test here on Thursday. Samaraweera and Sri Lanka struggled Sri Lanka 1st innings (Overnight: 25-2) The elegant left-hander struck a time- after resuming on 25-2. M. Vandort lbw b Rasel 0 ly 160 not out as Sri Lanka, who were The seamer struck with the last ball of U. Tharanga not out 160 struggling on 43-4 at one stage, stretched his first over of the day as Samaraweera M. Bandara c N. Iqbal b Shahadat Hossain 2 their innings to 302-8 on the second day in (20) went for a drive but edged the ball to T. Samaraweera c Mashud b Shahadat Hossain 20 reply to the home side’s 234. wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud. K. Sangakkara lbw b Shahadat Hossain 0 The 21-year-old opener smashed 19 Hossain, who had dismised Malinga M. Jayawardene c Rahim b Ashraful 49 fours and two sixes as Sri Lanka gained a Bandara on the first day,picked up anoth- T. Dilshan b Rafique 33 68-run lead with two wickets still intact. er wicket with the first ball of his next F. Maharoof c Mashud b Haque jnr 7 Lasith Malinga was keeping him compa- over when vice-captain Sangakkara D. Fernando lbw b Haque jnr 5 ny. Tharanga, whose highest in two pre- (zero) was given lbw. vious Tests was 47 on debut against India Tharanga remained composed even as L. Malinga not out 12 in Ahmedabad last year, had earlier wickets fell at the other end. After the Extras (b-5 lb-3 nb-4 w-2) 14 added 124 crucial runs for the fifth wick- century stand with Jayawardene, he Total (for 8 wickets, 101 overs) 302 et with captain Mahela Jayawardene added 65 for the sixth wicket with Fall of wickets: 1-4 2-13 3-43 4-43 5-167 6-232 7- (49). Tillakaratne Dilshan (33). 251 8-263 Jayawardene hit seven fours off 105 Dilshan was bowled by Mohammad To bat: M. Muralitharan balls before he was out playing a pull shot Rafique while Farveez Maharoof (seven) Bowling to Mushfiqur Rahim at deep mid-wicket, and Dilshara Fernando (five) fell in quick S. Rasel 19-8-42-1 (nb-3 w-2) S. Hossain 20-2-81-3 giving part-time leg-spinner Mohammad succession to the other left-arm spinner M. Rafique 32-9-84-1 E. Haque jnr 26-3-71-2 (nb-1) Ashraful a wicket off his first ball. Enamul Haque. M. Ashraful 4-1-16-1 100th Battle of the North Jaffna Central make 210 ‘The 100th Battle of the North’ annual big match between Jaffna Central College and St. John’s College got under- way at the Central College ground yester- day. Batting first Jaffna Central scored 210 runs and in reply St. John’s were three for no loss. A Royal reply to Premier League cricket Thomian declaration semis from today by Reemus Fernando Nizam Mazahir helped S. Thomas’ recover Premier League cricket semi-finals from a disappointing 2-29 to 104-2. While will start today with SSC meeting Colts Royal College, in reply to S. Thomas’ 278 Perera top scored with 58 runs including 11 CC at CCC grounds and Chilaw Marians for 8 declared, posted one of their best first fours Mazahir struck 46 runs before being SC taking on Ragama CC at P. Sara wicket stands of recent times as openers caught by Mawjood off the bowling of Stadium. Sukitha Senarathne and Malinga Wijeratne. After Danushka Colombage and These four-day encounters were earli- Maligaspe hammered an unfinished 104 Rayendra Karunaratne chipped in with 37 er scheduled to start yesterday, but fol- runs before stumps were drawn on the first and 31 runs respectively a brave and lowing the postponement of quarterfinal day of their 127th Battle of the Blues which unbeaten 57 runs by Shivanth fixtures last week, the semis were put off commenced at SSC ground yesterday. Gnanaskandan, the big-match debutant, by a day. The Royal pair hit the first 50 runs in 33 took the Thomians past 250-mark. They balls. More aggressive Senaratne struck a eventually declared at 278 for 8. Sri Lanka’s opening batsman Upul Tharanga flicks one to the fence on his way to an impressive maid- quick fire 57 runs inclusive of 8 fours and a Gnanaskandan’s unbeaten 57 runs includ- en century during the second day of the second Test match against Bangladesh at Bogra yesterday. Mahanama stun huge six while Maligaspe patiently but ed 7 fours and a massive six. – Pic. Farjana K. Godhuly, AFP. stylishly gathered his 37 runs with 5 fours. Thurstan The pair gave a little respite to opposition bowlers. Pacemen Peiris and SCOREBOARD Asian Central Zone Men’s Volleyball Championship Bamunuarachchi suffered heavily in the S. Thomas’ 1st Innings by Reemus Fernando first six overs as the Royalists scored at N. Perera c F. Ahamed b Mawjood 58 After restricting Thurstan to a meagre will. Bamunuarachchi’s first three overs S. Pussegolla lbw Fernando 03 Sri Lanka find India too 126 runs, Mahanama coasted home for cost him 27 runs and he was immediately A. Peiris c Siriwardena b F. Ahamed 12 the loss of 8 wickets in a low scoring replaced by Nizam Mazahir who managed N. Mazahir c Mawjood b Wijerathne 46 inter-school limited overs match played to bowl his four overs for the day for 22 D. Colombage b Fernando 37 hot to handle at Thurstan ground yesterday. runs. Royal, though slowed down a bit with R. Karunaratne c Perera b Fernando 31 Thurstan 126 all out in 41.1 overs (H. the introduction of slow bowlers, S. Gnanaskandan not out 57 After their disappointing outing in inside the Sri Lanka court as they Perera 31, C. Wickramaratne 22, G. Colombage and Gnanaskandan, managed R de Silva lbw Fernando 00 the first match against rival Pakistan, a showed no mercy to the opponents. Kumara 23; H. de Silva 2/22, C. Perera to score past 100-run mark before the J. Thahir c Punchihewa b Wijeratne 20 rejuvenated Indian volleyball team On the other hand, Sri Lanka having 2/33, I. Abeysekara 3/20) stumps were drawn on the first day.A total D. Fernando not out 05 landed a three straight set win against recorded a comprehensive three Mahanama 127 for 8 in 44.1 overs (H. of 382 runs were scored for the day for the Extras (N 3, W 2, lb 4) 09 host Sri Lanka in a closely contested straight set win against Maldives in Fernando 33, M. Perera 23; K. Elvitigala loss of 8 wickets. Total (8 wickets declared in 79 over) 278 tussle at the Asian Central Zone Men’s their opening encounter did everything 3/33, R. Ukwatta 2/16, S. Perera 2/20) Earlier, S. Thomas’ skipper Navin DNB K. Bamunuarachchi Volleyball Championship at the possible to avert a comprehensive Perera won the toss and decided to bat first. FoW 1-7, 2-29, 3-104, 4-130, 5-188, 6-199, 7-199, Sugathadasa indoor courts yesterday. defeat. But they found the lads from the Wesley beat Basilika But they lost their first wicket with just 8-261 India won 25-17, 23-25 and 18-25 in a neighbouring country too hot to handle. game that lasted only 75 minutes. Meanwhile, Maldives suffered a yet Ishan Jayaratne and Anoj seven runs on the board. Soon they Bowling; Fernando 16-02-70-04, F. Ahamed 05-00- slumped to 29-2. 26-01, Abeykoon 05-01-19-00, Punchihewa 15-06- India, probably the number one team another three straight set defeat Katapearachchi struck 46 and 42 runs in the South Asian region, were armed against Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan beat respectively to guide Wesley College to a The season’s second highest run scorer 25-00, Senarathne 01-00-10-00, Wijerathne 20-00- Shashreeka Pussegolla, who entered the 49-02, H. Mawjood 13-02-65-01, Nanayakkara 02- with several six-footers, whose power- the moderate Maldives 25-19, 25-15 and 2-wicket victory over Basilica College in ful blows landed like thunderbolts right 25-17. another limited overs match at Ragama battle with 1000 runs under his belt, was 00-10-00 yesterday. the first to depart for three, leg before to a Royal 1st Innings Basilica 131 all out in 44 overs (T. deceptive delivery of Charith Fernando S. Senarathne not out 59 Indika 38, M. Afeez 15, S. Nandana 15; who later finished with 4-70. Incidentally, M. Maligaspe not out 37 England struggle on rain-hit day Tariq Naziar 3/24) he was the best bowler of their last year’s Extras (N 1, W 1, lb 2, b 4) 8 Mohali, India (BBC): England failed to build on Wesley 133 for 8 in 24 overs (Ishan limited overs encounter. Pussegolla was Total (for no wickets in 21 overs) 104 some good foundations against India on a disrupted SCOREBOARD Jayarathne 46, Anoj Katapearachchi 42, soon followed by A. Peiris (12). Bowling: Peiris 06-01-32-00, Bamunuarachchi 03- first day in the second Test at Mohali yesterday.