The Island, Friday 7th July, 2006 Sorry, Ladies! We bow our heads to the young Ladies of Ladies College, Colombo! Zidane The Women’s Water Polo League 2006 final between Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo and Ladies College, Colombo was a closely contested affair and ended in a 5-4 win for Visakha. accomplishes In the Leisureland attachment of ‘The Island’ published on July 5, it was inad- vertently stated that Visakha had won 4- 0. mission for France We deeply regret the error.

Every World Cup needs a real star to Angelo slams double place it in the pantheon of great events and Zidane may well prove that man, yet ton in England this semi-final revolved so much around by Reemus Fernando Ronaldo, whose dynamic display will sure- Former Josephian all-rounder and Sri ly see him voted Young Player of the World Cup tomorrow. Lanka Under-19 World Cup captain Angelo Straight-backed and determined, Mathews, who is now playing for Casual Ronaldo had been met by a wall of abuse Nomads CC, in England, struck a monumental from Bavarian banshees, caustic whistles 202 runs in an English Division I Club tourna- following the United winger wherever he ment match, recently. went. When he was tackled by Vieira or The right hander clobbered twenty fours Claude Makelele, the Allianz audience and fourteen sixes and his second hundred cackled with delight. came in just 36 balls. When he threaded two first-half shots Mathews, through Stanmore Cricket Club, wide, again the guffaws rolled around this received a five month sports scholarship to the atmospheric ground. Yet, to his credit, UK, just after he completed the last school Ronaldo just demanded the ball as the cricket season. crowd mockingly demanded his head. The 19-year-old was nursing an injury dur- Clearly Ronaldo’s reputation for games- ing the Under-19 World Cup. Family sources France’s Zinedine Zidane shoots from the penalty spot to score against Portugal during their World manship, the wink at Scolari when said that he has overcome the injury and was Cup 2006 semi-ffinal soccer match in Munich July 5, 2006. (REUTERS/Jerry Lampen, GERMANY) Rooney imploded, and the tendency to looking forward to joining a local club on his tumble at the slightest touch had alienated return to the island, in a few months. the charismatic Brazilian. the German public. Maybe Rooney could n the crazy world of football, the best So it is the distinctly uncharismatic summon the Allianz crowd as witnesses in player at the wondrous Allianz Arena Raymond Domenech, France’s coach, who his defence at today’s Fifa disciplinary Ram Ratnavale Basketball Ilast night was the most vilified and travels to Berlin to plot the outwitting of hearing. ultimately, the most crestfallen. Derided Marcello Lippi and his determined Italian Man of the match: Christiano Ronaldo The great irony in all this first-half Delmege ‘A’ beat Sampath and defeated, ran him- team. France, even with Zidane pulling (Portugal) pantomime villainy was that the most self into the ground in a vain attempt to the strings, and Henry gliding about, will controversial moment came from Henry,a stop France reaching Sunday’s World Cup sportsman celebrated for fair play. Just Bank in close tussle final against Italy in Berlin. after the half-hour mark, Florent Malouda Delmege Group ‘A’ overcame Sampath Ronaldo could not thwart Zinedine pushed the ball across the edge of the area Bank 86-83 in a closely contested Ram Zidane, whose 33rd-minute penalty settled towards Henry and a nightmare unfolded Ratnavale Memorial Trophy Basketball a disappointing semi-final. Wayne for Portugal. Tournament ‘A’ Division clash at Otters court, Rooney’s Portuguese bug-bear could not The Arsenal striker took the ball in his on Wednesday evening. The tournament is prevent the French from making a second stride and nudged it past Carvalho; as being conducted by the Mercantile Services final in three attempts, providing the Henry flowed on, like the mighty Seine, he Basketball Association. chance of a glorious last hurrah for received the slightest of taps on the ankle. The winners led 47-31 at lemons. Zidane and the sun kings of France. As contact goes, the force was more feath- Prageeth Pushpakumara (31), Roshan Ronaldo certainly could not silence the er duster than chainsaw but down Henry Gunasekera (16) and Diluk Himantha (10) bol- wails of derision that pursued him all went. stered Delmege’s points tally while Heshan evening, following his infamous wink And up stepped Zidane, off a short run, Premachandra (21), Tissa Chathuranga (23) after Rooney’s dismissal in Gelsenkirchen sending his penalty low and hard past the and Mitila Abeysekera (10) scored for the last Satuday. But he never hid, never diving Ricardo. This was a fantastic kick, bankers. stopped showing for the ball, so displaying one borne from years of practice, and a DFCC beat Delmege ‘B’ the type of tough temperament he will cruel reminder to Eriksson, watching in In a ‘B’ Division fixture, DFCC Bank came need when returning to Premiership pas- his elegant Portuguese abode, of the way from behind to beat Delmege ‘B’ 93-83. to defeat Ricardo. sion-pits. Chaminda De Alwis (20), Rasika Prabath Like all of his team-mates, Ronaldo was France sought to double their lead (22) and Duminda de Silva (15) did well to lead enraged by the incident that led to through Henry, whose drive was con- DFCC to victory after they conceded a six point Zidane’s penalty, a gentle challenge by trolled by Ricardo at the second attempt, lead (40-46) to their opponents at the breather. on Thierry Henry that but the second half was increasingly dom- For Delmege ‘B’, Bravin Fernando (14), sent the Arsenal man flying. Ronaldo inated by Ronaldo and his Portuguese col- engaged Henry in debate over the inci- leagues. For all the deserved criticism Gamunu Sandaruwan (20) and Ranga Heart dent. Shrugging his shoulders, Henry Ronaldo has brought on himself, it was (13) were the chief scorers. could have mused on the relative hues of impossible not to admire his mettle here. pots and kettles. The boos never ended but Ronaldo Portugal’s vanquished coach, Luiz never stopped running, even unleashing a Udayakumara and Premasiri Felipe Scolari, was particularly incensed Zinedine Zidane (L) celebrates his goal against Portugal with team mate Florent Malouda during 30-yard free-kick that dipped violently, at the decision and had to be restrained by their World Cup 2006 semi-ffinal soccer match in Munich July 5, 2006. (REUTERS) forcing Barthez to fumble. Luis Figo, steer Rahula home a Portuguese FA official from remonstrat- with Patrick Vieira rolling back the years, yards out, headed the loose ball over. As by Rukshan Razak - Kandy Sports Corr. ing with the Uruguayan referee, Jorge have to perform far more impressively France have a chance of repeating their the sands of time drained away, Portugal An 85-run partnership between Rasika Larrionda, and his assistants at the final than this if they are to live with Fabio 1998 Jour de Gloire. Italy will have noticed threw everything forward, even centre- Udayakumara and Sumal Premasiri for the whistle. Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Fabien Barthez’s uncertainty against halves like Fernando Meira, who missed a second wicket guided Sri Rahula College, great chance and even Ricardo, who The FA, at least, will take pleasure from Gattuso on Sunday. strikes that move in the air, and his occa- Katugastota to victory, despite a six wicket the sight of Scolari, their preferred choice With only Frank Ribery of France’s caused a few palpitations in Barthez’s box. sional tendency to spill shots. Lippi, such match haul by right arm leg spinner, A. L. as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s successor, not starting XI under 25, and the great Zidane Eventually, however, they surrendered to a canny coach, will ensure Luca Toni and Senanayake of Maliyadeva Model School, reaching the final because the inquest himself 34, Les Bleus have streaks of grey Zidane and his mature musketeers. company follow up speedily. Kurunegala, in their Inter-School Under-17 would re-open into why they failed to land and they tired towards the end here. Yet (C) The Telegraph Group, London, 2006 cricket tournament match played at Kurunegala. Sri Rahula 214 in 38.4 overs (R. ICC rejects TV appeals proposal Udayakumara 59, S. Premasiri 55, D. Tharanga and Dilshan hit fifties as Sri Lanka make 313/8 Gunathilaka 25, R. Chanka 29, A. Half centuries by Upul Tharanga (72) for 9, Sri Lanka opted to rest dashing The ICC board has surprisingly reject- Samaraweera 2 for 58, A. L. Senanayake 6 for and T. M. Dilshan (66), helped Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya and pace Netherlands 190/6 ed a recommendation from its own cricket 32) and 62 for no loss in 7 overs make 313 for the loss of eight wickets in spearhead Chaminda Vaas. Having won committee to trial a process of allowing Maliyadeva Model School 154 in 52.3 their second and final limited overs crick- the toss captain Jayawardene decided to Dilhara Fernando captured 3-27 and leg players three appeals per innings to the overs (K. M. Karunanayake 24, D. Chinthaka et match against the Netherlands, played bat first and the new opening pair of spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi had 2-29 as the TV umpire if they felt a decision made by 41, Chathuranaga Dikkumbura 5 for 18) at VRA Ground, Amstelveen, yesterday. Tharanga and Chamara Kapugedera put Netherlands lost six wickets for 190 in 38 overs. an on-field umpire was incorrect during Following their breaking total on 68 runs. They had to make 123 runs more in 12 overs this year’s ICC Champions Trophy. on Tuesday, where the islanders made 443 Kapugedera fell for 38 (24 balls, 6x4). to win the match. “The reservations expressed by the Vaughan ruled out of cricket committee when they recommend- Then with Sangakkara (28), Tharanga ed the player appeal measure were mir- Ashes series added another 66 runs. Russel Arnold, rored to a much greater degree by the ICC sent up the order, contributed 42 runs. England captain Michael board in its rejection of the concept after Dilshan followed his impressive century Vaughan will take no part in the extensive deliberation,” said ICC president in the first match with another fine half winter Ashes series in Australia, it Ehsan Mani. “The board was concerned century. His 66 came in 59 balls with five has been confirmed. about the impact of the trial on the spirit of fours. Down the order Kaushal Vaughan underwent an operation Lokuarachchi remained unbeaten on 25 cricket and the effect it might have on the on his right knee earlier this week with two boundaries and a six and the integrity of umpiring at all levels. which revealed more damage than Netherlands again faced the daunting “It was also felt the ICC Champions expected. task of chasing a total in excess of 300. Trophy was too high profile an event at The England and Wales Cricket Sri Lanka 313/8 in 50 overs (U. which to undertake such a trial. As such, Board says he will be targeting a Tharanga 72, C. Kapugedera 38, K. further discussions will now take place to return to cricket early in 2007 “with Sangakkara 28, R. Arnold 42, TM Dilshan see whether the concept can be tested at a view to being available for the 66, K. Lokuarachchi 25 n.o) domestic level.” World Cup.”

Published by Upali Newspapers Ltd, 223, Bloemendhal Road, Colombo 13. and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Friday 7th July, 2006