The Island, Tuesday 3rd January, 2006 SriSri LankaLanka inin ‘m‘mustust winwin situasituationtion’’ Rex Clementine reporting and we getting the super games manage to get onto from Christchurch sub to do the job,” the field as a team,” he said. Marvan Atapattu who has “It has never been a both- In a desperate attempt to sort been made to answer some er to us. The only bother is out the crisis the Sri Lankan tough questions at press that we haven’t got any victo- top and middle order batsmen conferences recently, told ries in the last few games,” are facing, the tourists will con- reporters in Christchurch. Atapattu added. tinue to play seven specialist Trailing the series 2-0, Victory in today’s game is batsmen and will name Jehan today’s game is a must win a must for the Sri Lankans Mubarak as the super sub in one for the Sri Lankans and and if they lose the game the third a loss here will give New and with that the series, against New Zealand to be Zealand victory in the more questions will be played here at the Jade Stadium series and question marks asked. in Christchurch, today. will be raised about several Farveez Maharoof, who The Sri Lankans will be des- individuals. played the Queenstown ODI as perately hoping their captain’s “It’s been a must win situa- Clashes within the team the super sub gets in, in place miserable record with the toss tion for us for a long time. It’s Atapattu also said that spec- of Lasith Malinga. will end today. If the losing important for us to put things ulation about clashes within trend with the toss continues, right sooner rather than later the team was absolute rubbish. Sri Lanka (Probable XI) the tourists will be put in again and I admit we haven’t been all There have been several sugges- Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, and either Mubarak will be there for sometime. Our batting tions in the recent past, indicat- Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela made to bat if there is an early has been tested for sometime ing there were clashes within Jayawardene, Marvan Atapattu, T.M. collapse forcing one of the now. We are more worried the senior players over Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Farveez bowlers to be left out or if about the batting than the bowl- installing Chaminda Vaas as Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara things go right he will not take ing. the vice-captain. “They are only Fernando and Muttiah Muralitharan. any part of the game, making “It’s a matter of one too rumours. We live in a country Super Sub: Jehan Mubarak the super sub ineffective. many people going through a where we look for excuses and New Zealand (From) “It’s a matter of the top bad patch at the same time. silly excuses like these and at (Captain), Shane seven doing the job and if need- This happens to individuals, times these are taken into Bond, , Jamie How, ed, making use of the super sub but it has happened to a couple account. Peter Faulton, , to put the icing on the cake. But of players at the same time. We “There’s nothing wrong with Brendon McCullum, , Jacob are struggling to come out of the unity or anything. If that that’s not been the case and it’s Oram, Scot Styris, Lou Vincent, that.” was the case, I don’t think we more like the top order failing James Franklin. could, after losing so many Kiwis return to happy hunting ground The New Zealand team 0 and relish the opportunity to in the opening match of the The team also have to consider returns to its happy hunting return to the Jade wicket where revived series played in the wickets they’re likely to face in ground at Jade Stadium confident just three weeks ago they pro- Queenstown on Saturday. the 2007 World Cup with West of wrapping up their one-day inter- duced a world-record run chase of New Zealand have kept an Indian decks prone to dying later national series against Sri Lanka 332 to beat Australia. unchanged squad from in the match favouring the team SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: South African batsman Jacques Kallis plays a cut shot today. In their last 12 matches on the Queenstown, and the Jade batting first. during the third and final Test match in Sydney, yesterday. Australia leads the A win would put New Zealand ground, New Zealand have won Stadium wicket is expected to pro- “I would (like the option to bat series 1-0. AFP Photo by Greg Wood. firmly into fourth place in world nine including the last five when in vide another batting bonanza. first). But it’s also about balancing rankings while Sri Lanka would their favoured position of batting “We’ll look to bowl first and up what’s best for the team and drop out of the all important top six second. make the most of that supersub how to push the team forward,” teams guaranteed direct entry into Black Caps skipper Daniel the second time round with Vettori said. Kallis and Prince the Champions Trophy tourna- Vettori said they would like to bat Nathan (Astle). It’s not 100 per- “At the moment we just want to ment later in the year. second again on Tuesday after cent confirmed but I’ll be surprised win games and we see chasing as New Zealand lead the five- easily topping Sri Lanka’s paltry if there are any changes,” Vettori our best option of winning them.” stand firm after early match series against Sri Lanka 2- 164 with seven wickets remaining said. – (AFP) Aussie success Nalanda home by 10 wickets by Robert Smith planted this week by Ricky Ponting, SYDNEY, Jan 2 (AFP) - South chiselled out a risk-free innings off by Reemus Fernando Wickramasinghe 29, Tharindu of their inter school first XI R, Dineshka 2/09) Africans Jacques Kallis and Ashwell 181 balls in 226 minutes to work the Attanayake 20, Chalitha Perera St. Thomas’ College Matara 120 Nalanda College recorded a cricket encounter which began Prince blunted Australia’s bowlers Proteas into a strong position. 4/50, Oshitha Dharshana 3/54) and for 6 at close (D. Munasinghe 35, S. comprehensive ten wicket victo- at Campbell Park, yesterday. Prince, who was out to a poor 75 for no wicket (L. Wickramasinghe Chirantha 25, M. Dumiduhewa 23, with a record century stand after the ry over Ananda Sastralaya, in 44 n.o., Primosh Perera 19 n.o.) C. Godamuna 2/06, S, Nandamulla home team’s early success, support- umpiring decision in the second their inter school first XI cricket CHIEF SCORES: ing skipper Graeme Smith’s decision innings of the Melbourne Test, bat- Prince of Wales 258 /9 decl 78 2/12) encounter concluded at Nalanda to bat in the final cricket Test ted for 128 balls over 191 minutes. Thomians in command over (S. Silva 54, R. Thirimanna 31, Ground, yesterday. Having The pair broke their country’s Sashrika Pussegolla and C. Fernando 35, Thafic Naziar 4/57, Monday. bowled out Ananda Sastralaya fourth-wicket partnership record at Ashan Peiris stroked 88 and 95 G. Wandesay 2/31, L. Fernando India overwhelm After losing the wickets of AB de for a paltry 79 runs in the sec- the SCG with an unbeaten stand of runs respectively to help S. 2/71) Villiers (2), Herschelle Gibbs (27) and ond innings, Nalanda were left 144, surpassing the previous 97 by Thomas’ post a commanding 291 Wesley 85 for 3 (Anoj Pakistan Smith (39) in the first session, the with a winning target of 72 Hansie Cronje and Gibbs in 1997-98. runs for 6 wickets against Katapearachchi 17, Awishka Proteas, trailing 1-0 in the series, runs. KARACHI, Jan 2 (AFP) - Dharmapala College in their Liyanage 27 n.o., Shakthi Siriratne ground out three runs an over to Nalanda openers L. 16 n.o) Defending champions India over- Elephant Lemonade trophy build a solid first innings foundation. SCOREBOARD Wickramasinghe (44) and whelmed hosts Pakistan for a sec- inter school first XI cricket The entire morning session at the South Africa 1st innings Primosh Perera (19) saw them ond time in the Asia Cup women’s encounter which began at Royal bowled out for 165 Sydney Cricket Ground was lost to G. Smith lbw b Lee 39 home without being separated. Mount Lavinia, yesterday. In reply to Royal College cricket tournament, with a rain after a New Year’s Day scorcher A.B. de Villiers c Gilchrist b Lee 2 H. Gibbs b McGrath 27 CHIEF SCORES: Colombo’s 165, St. Thomas thumping 10 wicket win at the before Smith opted to bat first on a CHIEF SCORES J. Kallis not out 80 S. Thomas’ 291 for 6 (Sashrika College Matara were 120 for 6 at National stadium here on greenish pitch under cloudy skies Ananda Sastralaya 194 all out A. Prince not out 62 Pussegolla 88, Navin Perera 51, stumps in their cricket Monday. conducive to swing bowling. (Dinuk Perera 45, Isuru Extras (b8, lb3, nb9) 20 Ashan Peiris 95, S. Perera 3/64) encounter which began at India, who will take on Sri At stumps on a slow-moving open- Ratnakumara 36, Gihan Rupasinghe Total (3 wkts, 74 overs) 230 Matara, yesterday. ing day, South Africa were 230 for 5/66, Milinda Weerasinghe 3/30) and Lanka in Wednesday’s final, bare- Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-69, 3-86 three, with Kallis on 80 and in sight 79 all out (Ruwan Sanjaya 28, L. Prince of Wales 258/9, ly worked up a sweat as they Bowling: McGrath 20-10-39-1, Lee 17-3-42-2 (6nb), Aponsu 5/16, Amal Atapattu 3/07) Wesley 85/3 CHIEF SCORES: knocked down a hapless of his 23rd Test century and Prince Symonds 16-3-49-0 (1nb), Warne 7-1-24-0, Hussey 2-0-12-0 (2nb), MacGill 12-1-53-0 Nalanda (149 for 3 overnight) 202 Wesley were 85 for 3 in reply Royal College, Colombo 165 (S. Pakistan, racing to 95-0 in 17.3 not out 62. Nandamulla 77, C. Godamuna 26, J, Toss: South Africa for 8 decl. (Primosh Perera 60, to Prince of Wales’ huge total of overs after dismissing their oppo- Kallis, who was ’s top- Indrasiri 2/19, G. Jayawardena 2/50, ranked batsman before being sup- Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL), Aleem Dar (PAK) Gihan Rupasinghe 28, Lahiru 258 for 9 declared on the first day nents for a paltry 94 in 47.5 overs. Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG) ‘Super’ snub for Susie and Sugath by Champika Fernando well over a year,” said athletic boss Derwin Qatar in the 2006 athletic calendar. The athletes were grouped according to Rohitha Pushpakumara (4x400m relay) and the Super pool. Sri Lanka has left senior athletes Perera. “We have been very fair in the selection a points table given by the International Manura Lanka Perera (4x400m relay). “She has not reached the expected qual- Susanthika Jayasinghe and Sugath However, both Jayasinghe and process and we haven’t left any room for Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Athletes in the Super pool are entitled to ifying standard to get into the Super pool,” Tilekaratne out from the ‘Super athletic Tilekaratne have been included in the criticism,” stressed Perera. Accordingly, the Super pool consists of a monthly allowance of Rs. 30,000 while a Perera explained. pool’, which was constituted in view of a national pool. “They can certainly get into the super Damayanthi Darsha (200m), Manjula member of the national pool is entitled to an Javelin thrower Maheshi won back to heavy international schedule this year. Sri Lanka is to compete at the pool provided they reach the qualifying stan- Kumara Wijesekara (high jump), Prasanna allowance of Rs.9000. back bronze medals at the last two editions “They were out of the reckoning for the Commonwealth Games, Melbourne, South dards or win medals at Asian level and Amarasekara (400m, 4x400m relay), Rohan Meanwhile, the Asian bronze medallist of the Asian Athletic Championships in super pool as they have not competed for Asian Games, Colombo and Asian Games, beyond,” he further explained. Pradeep Kumara (400m, 4x400m relay), Anne Maheshi has also been omitted from Manila and South Korea.

Published by Upali Newspapers Ltd, 223, Bloemendhal Road, Colombo 13. and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Tuesday 3rd January, 2006