'Tonight That Was Brilliant, I Loved It' – Gilchrist

10 Wednesday 15th February, 2006 Ponting back-pedals into immortality by Andrew Ramsey of Arnold. It is one of those moments that will live on, not Ponting’s catch will not just be honoured in any only in the minds of fans who witnessed it from number of memorabilia items due to flood the the Gabba’s grandstands last night but for televi- market from today, it will live on in the same way sion viewers worldwide as cricket highlights are Dyson’s and Taylor’s have in decades past. aired ad infinitum over coming decades. Dyson, the former Test opener and one-time Ricky Ponting assured himself a slice of immor- soccer goalkeeper, set the benchmark for the tality when he hurled himself backwards and 1980s with his spectacular leap to catch a fly ball plucked a most unlikely catch in his outstretched from West Indies tailender Sylvester Clarke at the right hand during yesterday’s decisive one-day SCG in 1982. final against Sri Lanka in Brisbane. Fielding at deep mid-wicket for off spinner And like the equally memorable snares hauled Bruce Yardley, Dyson had drifted too far in from in by fellow classic catchers John Dyson and the fence and was forced - like Ponting - to scut- Mark Taylor, Ponting’s moment of brilliance was tle backwards before hurling himself in goalie- spawned by a fundamental miscalculation. style to wrap both hands around the ball as he fell Stationed inside the restrictive fielding circle at back to earth. mid-wicket, Ponting’s initial reaction when Sri Taylor’s magic miss-cum-memory also hap- Lanka’s Russel Arnold flicked a ball from Nathan pened at the SCG, in 1996, when he clutched at Bracken high into the air was that he needed to a sharp slips chance off West Indies star Carl simply back-pedal a few steps. Hooper who had edged occasional spinner But as the ball’s arc continued to broaden and it Michael Bevan. carried farther and farther over the Australia cap- As he reeled off balance in surprise and fell tain’s head, he suddenly sensed he had erred by backwards, Taylor instinctively thrust out his foot not turning and running back with its flight in order and knocked the ball back up and completed the to pouch it as it descended over his left shoulder. catch while laying prostrate on the turf. In order to avoid embarrassment and capture Many other catches in recent years have staked the vital wicket of Sri Lanka’s last remaining a claim for a berth in the highlights archive, not recognised batsman, Ponting launched himself least of all Andrew Symonds’ one-handed grab at backwards and stuck out his right paw in what - cover and his diving effort in the deep, both taken at the time - seemed little more than a speculative yesterday. gesture. But for sheer outrageous skill coupled with defi- Not only did the ball settle in the middle of his ance of physics and the odds, Ponting’s catch will palm, it remained stuck there as he crashed to hold special significance for all cricket fans who Brisbane, Queensland AUSTRALIA: The Australian team are jubilant as they celebrate their win over Sri Lanka in the third and last triangular one-day series the ground, much to the euphoria of the crowd, saw it. And television producers with airtime to fill. final in Brisbane, yesterday. Australia beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets. – Pic. Greg Wood, AFP. the astonishment of his teammates and despair - The Australian

Inter-schools cricket Royal manage a draw against ‘Tonight that was brilliant, Wesley by Reemus Fernando Despite a hurricane 76 by Dimithri Siriwardena, Wesley College almost pulled off a Gilchrist win against Royal College in their inter-school I loved it’ – cricket encounter played for the Frank Gunasekara Trophy at Campbell Park yesterday. Australia’s VB Series success, which wrong like this is very satisfying,” on the World Cup and not this series. eree, for finishing the first innings two Set a victory target of 191, Royal managed was sealed with a nine-wicket win in the Gilchrist said after his 91 balls of devas- Well, we’ve won it.” overs behind schedule. 148 for 8 to force a draw. third final at Gabba, was set up by the tation. Ricky Ponting was also understand- Despite losing the final two matches Siriwardena smashed his 76 runs in 41 balls team’s response to proving the doubters Sri Lanka’s ably cheery, and by 167 runs and nine wickets, Marvan with 7 fours and 6 sixes. wrong. Mid-way through the series target of 267 not just because Atapattu, the Sri Lanka captain, was Wesley 178 and 195 (Charith Karunaratne Adam Gilchrist’s position at the top of looked minis- he captured a pleased with the way his side had 45, Ishan Jayaratne 32, Shakthi Siriratne 36 n.o, the order was being heavily debated, the cule once brilliant one- responded from poor one-day tours to Ryan Kern 35; Dilan Nanayakkara 6/64) team was considered to be ignoring the Gilchrist, the handed leaping India and New Zealand. “It was only a Royal (139 for 6 overnight) 183 (M. current competition for next year’s Man of the catch to remove matter of time before things clicked,” Maligaspe 27, N. Punchihewa 30, D. World Cup, and Simon Katich was being Match, started to Russel Arnold he said. Nanayakkara 52; C. Karunaratne 2/26, I. hassled out of the side. shower the ground, for 76. “We were While Katich eased Australia home Jayaratne 3/49, T. Abeysekara 2/09) and 148 for Gilchrist and Katich both finished which was also being hit by empty cups made to look silly in Adelaide but since with 107 from 142 balls, it was 8 at close (Sukitha Senarath 39, Dimithri the tournament with centuries to from Mexican waves, with four sixes then our cricket has been unbelievably Gilchrist’s innings that stole the match Siriwardena 76; T. Naziar 2/37, Lahiru Fernando secure their partnership on next week’s and 13 fours in his 122. “Tonight that good,” he said. “The individual efforts - from Sri Lanka. “We thought we were 2/16) tour of South Africa, and Australia was brilliant, I just loved it,” he said. Andrew Symonds in Sydney and Adam 15 to 20 runs short, not that it would responded from a shock loss in the open- “It was also good for Simon with the and Simon tonight - were very special have mattered to Gilchrist,” Atapattu Peiris cracks 154 for Thomians ing final in Adelaide to crush Sri Lanka scrutiny he’s been under. We’ve tried to and to come from 1-0 down and play our said. “When Gilchrist and Sanath in the final two matches. “Half-way stay positive and the team has dealt best cricket was very satisfying.” The Jayasuriya start hitting like that they Ashan Peiris clobbered a huge 154 and through the series people said I should- with a reasonable amount of criticism. only thing discolouring the victory was take the game away from you just like helped S. Thomas’ pile up a mammoth 350 for 9 n’t be in the team, so to prove them People said we were focussing too much a fine by Jeff Crowe, the ICC match ref- that.” declared as Mount Lavinia lads gained a big first innings lead over St. Peter’s in their match ended in a draw at Mount Lavinia yesterday. St. Peter’s 211 and 97 for 7 at close (Delan Udugamasuriya 34, Jehan Thahir 2/21) Now, Susanthika S. Thomas’ 123 for 2 overnight) 350 /9 Southee stars in thrilling New Zealand win (Ashan Peiris 154, Rayendra Karunaratne 32, New Zealand got through to the Plate Championship semi-final Malla stars in Nepal win Ashan Fernando 62 n.o; Lakshan Rodrigo of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup following a thrilling three Nepalese number four batsman Gayanendra Malla starred in targets SA Games 4/130, Delan Udugamasuriya 2/73, Angelo wicket win over Ireland in a quarter-final game played at the R. their 60 run win over Uganda in the third Plate Quarter-final by Champika Fernando Australia), then maybe I’ll be Perera 2/58) Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday. New Zealand who had shocking played at P. Sara Stadium. After electing to bat first Nepal got off Despite vowing to win a in the best condition possible defeats at the hands of Pakistan and Bangladesh in the group to a disastrous start when they lost four wickets with only 52 runs medal at the March for this year’s South Asian Fernando’s ton props Sebs stages missed out for the first time in the history in competing in on the board. But the 15-year-old Malla rose to the occasion with Commonwealth Games, and Games and Asian Games in Trevin Fernando struck an unbeaten 109 the Super League stage and it looked as if more humiliation was a fine knock of 64 in 122 balls that helped Nepal to get to 192 in securing a hefty sponsorship Qatar. with 17 fours and helped St. Sebastian’s put up to follow when the Irish amassed 304 for nine in 50 overs. their allotted 50 overs. for her training in the USA, “He (coach Tony Campbell) a better performance after Isipatana gained a But sensational batting by right-handed Northerner Timothy Uganda struggled in the run chase and were bowled out for 132 Susanthika Jayasinghe yes- feels that I shouldn’t acceler- first innings lead over hosts in their inter-school Southee helped New Zealand to pull off a fantastic three wicket in 44.3 overs. Only captain Hamza Almuzahim and Semanda terday said that she would ate in a hurry since that will match concluded at Moratuwa yesterday. win with five balls to spare. Southee came up with a Chris Cairns scored more than 20. Leg spinner Shashi Kesari picked up three skip the championship on her have adverse effects on my St. Sebastian’s 180 and 200 for 2 (Trevin future career.” like performance when he smashed 92 from just 55 balls to seal wickets for 15. Wicket-keeper Mahesh Chhetri got his hand in five coach’s advice and would con- Fernando 109, Sachintha Cooray 23, Gerald She said she is reserving victory. He hammered four fours and six massive sixes. Together dismissals when he managed four stumpings and a caught behind. centrate on the eight nation Benett 51, S. Dharmasena 2/49) her best for the South Asian with Andrew de Boorder (87) Southee added 95 runs for the fifth Nepal will now meet South Africa in the second semi-final of South Asian Games in August Isipatana (159 for 1 overnight) 307 (Tharaka Games in Colombo and the wicket in just 68 deliveries. the Plate Championship on Thursday. in Sri Lanka. Waduge 109, L. Samarasena 37, M. Ayomal 47, “It was a difficult decision Qatar Asian Games in Southee was named the Man of the Nepal 192/9 (50 overs) G Malla 64, B G. Dilruk 46; Jehan Fernando 2/63, Randika to be made when I know that December. Match. Regmi 42 n.o. Otim 3/20 Fernando 3/63) this would be my last “Winning in Colombo is Earlier Ireland after being 96 for three Uganda 132 in 44.3 overs HS Commonwealth Games, but more important to me than recovered to post a score beyond 300 Almuzahim 24; Kesari 3/15 an undue risk would have cer- anywhere else in the world.” Kumara hits 153 for Thurstan thanks to a 160 run partnership between South Africa thrash Scotland tainly put me on the back- Jayasinghe plans to return Geeth Kumara in fine fettle scored a mam- Eoin Morgan and Andrew Poynter. Morgan South Africa, who were unfortunate to not burner throughout the year,” to her foreign coach, moth 153 and helped Thurstan obtain a huge went onto make a thrilling 124 in just 126 to qualify for the Super League the 31-year-old sprinter said. Campbell in the coming first innings lead over Rahula College, Kandy in balls with 12 fours and three sixes while Championship after first round defeats to the “If I give up the Games (in months for further training. their match ended in a draw at Kandy yesterday. Poynter made 76 in 85 deliveries with eight Rahula 168 and 153 all out (S. V. Premasiti West Indies and Australia, booked a semi- fours. final berth with Nepal when they thrashed 35, A. Gunaratne 55; Kanishka Elvitigala 5/36 New Zealand will meet the USA in the Plate semi-final today. rap 65 wickets, Lahiru Gamage 2/25, Chamara associate members Scotland in the fourth quarter-final worked off Ireland 304 for nine (50 Overs) E. Morgan 124, A. Poynter 76, Gunasekara 2/30) yesterday at the NCC Grounds. F. McAllister 44; H. Benett 4/31 Shashikala celebrates Thurstan (90 for 4 overnight) 282 for 6 Scotland’s decision to put the South Africans in after winning New Zealand 305/7 (49.1 Overs) T. Southee 92, A. de (Achala Ramanayake 20, Geeth Kumara 153, the toss proved to be costly as they posed a massive 337 for eight Boorder 87. Shehan Perera 46, Lahiru Gamage 36) in 50 overs. Four batsmen, Jean Symes, Pieter Daneel, captain birthday in style USA edges past Namibia Dean Elgar and Richard Levi all scored half-centuries as the by Reemus Fernando reached their target in the Nalanda-Dharmapala drawn USA got through to the semi-finals of the Plate championship Proteas amassed the big total. An all-round perform- 33rd over for the loss of 6 when they beat fellow associate members, Namibia in another Out of the half-centuries it was Levi’s knock that came in for wickets. Siriwardena who The inter school match between Nalanda ance by skipper Shashikala thrilling game at the SSC. After winning the toss Namibia elected everyone’s appreciation as he smashed 51 in just 23 balls with captured three wickets College and Dharmapala College Pannipitiya Siriwardena helped Sri to bat first and the USA did well to restrict them to 219 for eight in made 39 with the bat. ended in a draw at Nalanda ground yesterday. five fours and four sixes. Lanka women cricketers 50 overs. MCC 174 for 8 in 50 overs Nalanda 235 (Tharindu Attanayake 61, T. In reply, Scotland were bowled out for 152 in 40.4 overs. record a four-wicket victory Pieter Groove and Dawid Botha excelled for the Namibians (Cardiline 92, Coral 31, Munaweera 47; Rusiru Balagama 5/63, Rasika Opener Gordon Goudie managed the only half-century in the over MCC in their limited Nickelson 20; Ishani Madusanka 2/42) with half-centuries. In the run chase USA lost three quick wickets Scottish innings. overs match played at Kaushalya 2/29, Shashikal Dharmapala 127 (Praneeth Hewage 33, and were stuttering at 44 for three. But a captain’s knock by Jean Symes was declared the Man of the Match for his all Moratuwa yesterday. Siriwardana 3/41) Hasitha Wickramasinghe 28; Gihan Rupasinghe Hemant Punoo helped them to get home with two wickets and six round performance. He made a solid 63 opening the batting and Incidentally, Shashikala Sri Lanka 175 for 6 in 5/37, A. Athapattu 3/42) and 206 for 5 (Ishan bowls to spare. Punoo was named the Man of the Match later on captured three for 38 with his left arm spin. celebrated her 21st birthday 32.1 overs (Dedunu de Silva Athureliya 82, Sameen Kandanarachchi 36, Namibia 219/8 (50 Overs) P. Grove 58, D. Botha 56 South Africa. 337/8 (50 Overs) P. Symes 63, P. Daneel 59, D. yesterday. 40, Shashikala Siriwardena Samila Balasuriya 25 n.o; Malinda Weerasinghe D. Audian 3/49, H. Punoo 2/36 Elgar 86, R. Levi 51. M. Iqbal 3/47 Having restricted MCC 39, Prabha Udawatta 39 n.o; 3/43, Gihan Rupasinghe 2/33) USA 220/8 (50 Overs) H. Punoo 64, M. Patel 31 Scotland 152 all out (40.4 Overs) G. Goudie 59; P. Symes for 174 for 8, Sri Lanka 3/38 Coral 2/35)