Tuesday 28th February, 2012 Coach pays price for NCC’s Mahela struggles BY ROSHEN STEELMAN

Following a disastrous run this sea- son in the Premier League Tier ‘A’ wary of Tournament, NCC Coach Hemantha Devapriya has been asked to step down, a club stalwart told The Island yesterday. NCC, a club with a history of over hundred years, currently are bottom of the Points Table in the Premier League Tendulkar’s Tier ‘A’ Tournament and will have to play well in the remaining three games if they are to avoid relegation. After six games, NCC have suffered an outright defeat and five first innings losses. last chance NCC started off the season very well Mahela Jayawardene having won the Premier Limited Overs Sri Lanka Mahela Tests to Australia and have won just Friday to miss the finals. Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Championship beating traditional rivals Jayawardena says he is wary of what is two of their seven matches in the tri- “You never know,” Jayawardena told Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, SSC in December, but they have failed to shaping up to be Sachin Tendulkar’s series. reporters in Hobart on Monday. M.S. Dhoni (Captain and reproduce the good form in the three day final chance in Australia to score his The pressure is on Tendulkar to pro- “I’ve played against him on so many Wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Irfan game. elusive 100th international century for duce one last piece of brilliance to get occasions, he’s produced some brilliant Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Following Deveapriya’s resignation, India. the World Cup champions the bonus- individual performances.” Praveen Kumar and Umesh Yadav. NCC stalwart Ranjit Fernando has been Tuesday’s tri-series one-day interna- point victory they need for a chance to “They’re a good side so you have to Sri Lanka (Probable XI) Mahela tipped to take over as coach until the club tional in Hobart will be the Indian bat- stay in the tournament. expect something different from them Jayawardene (Captain), Tillakaratne finds a permanent coach. ting great’s last innings in Australia Tendulkar has been unable to I’m sure because they need a big win.” Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara NCC’s remaining outings will be unless his team can find a way to bring achieve his 100th international century “I have to feel for them. It’s been a (Wicketkeeper), , against Moors SC, Ragama CC and SSC. off a bonus-point victory over Sri on the whole tour. But his ability is not long tour, especially when you’re not Lahiru Thirimanne, , The Island contacted both Devapriya Lanka to stay alive for the series finals. being discounted by Sri Lanka, who winning, it becomes a much longer Farveez Maharoof, Thisara Perera, and Hiran Parathalingam, To date it has been a forgettable would also need to lose their last game tour,” Jayawardena said. Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga and Secretary of the club, but both refused to tour for the Indians, who lost all four against Australia in Melbourne on India (Probable XI) Virender . comment. Referee assaulted after football game Duleep disputes BY CHATHURA PINNAWALA amidst Police presence and along with specifically because of the ‘openness’ of Referee Priyanga Namal who officiat- the players had taken their frustrations the venue and the dangers that comes ed the crucial Don Bosco SC versus on the official. with it. He added “Usually with a Nishantha’s claims Renown SC match at Kelaniya Sports The referee, Namal, appointed by the Champions of Champions place on line, Complex was the subject of an assault FFSL is an FIFA assistant level referee we knew it was going to be inviting trou- Ranatunga disputed sev- by the defeated Renown supporters and according to the governing body but ble by playing the match at Kelaniya so eral claims made by the the players on Sunday, The Island Renown secretary, Royston Fernando we requested City Football ground for latter in his right of learns. when contacted by ‘The Island’ insisted the match from the FFSL but that didn’t reply that appeared in The match had a lot riding on it that all the mayhem was created because materialize either.” However he conced- yesterday’s (27th since it was a potential decider for the of the ineptness of the official. ed that the whole incident was February) The Island. fourth spot in the table. The team that He said “This is the first time we had unsavoury to say the least. Mendis in his letter Duleep Mendis earned the fourth spot gets a berth in seen this referee. It was clear to every- Meanwhile FFSL Media Director to Nishantha, which was “The car I used at the Champions of Champions Knockout one that he was not fit to officiate a Rukmal Perera revealed that they can’t copied to The Island, SLC was a part of the Cup in March. match of this caliber with consequences take any action about the issue without says that he was not settlement process for Don Bosco prevailed by the narrow- attached to it. He dismissed a clear the referee’s report which is due today. offered a new contract which I paid 50% of the est of margins (2-1) on the back of a spot penalty appeal from us before giving the He also asserted that the schedule of by the previous Interim value as at that date. I kick awarded in the 54th minute which opponents a penalty. The crowd showed the tournament had been drawn primi- Committee as claimed by hold as official receipt was slotted home by Priyankara Silva their displeasure even during the match. tively so there was no avenue to change Nishantha Ranatunga Nishantha. for this from SLC,” and the match was on thin ice from then We asked the FFSL before a week to it at the last minute and that one of the “May I respectfully Mendis added. on with tempers boiling over. appoint an experienced referee who main reasons for this turmoil was Former national submit that I was never Nishantha in his The griping started when Renown’s could handle the pressure. But it didn’t Renown not having a ground of their cricket captain and CEO offered a new contract right of reply claimed shouts for a penalty were denied by the happen.” own. of by Sri Lanka Cricket fol- that the car Mendis was referee prior to the Don Bosco penalty And Fernando also said that the He also denied claims that the refer- (SLC) Duleep Mendis lowing the termination using as SLC CEO has and the distraught supporters had requests didn’t end there as they had ee wasn’t qualified to look after a match has in a letter to SLC of my previous con- been gifted to him on his invaded the pitch after the final whistle petitioned for an alternative venue of this magnitude. Secretary Nishantha tract.” retirement. De Mazenod on first innings BY REEMUS FERNANDO Under-19 Cricket Jayawardena picked up five for six runs Sathira Dileepa and Ruwin Sinniah did well for Wesley College to rattle Richmond College to restrict De Mazeond College to 138 runs in for 51 runs on day one of their Under-19 the second essay but Maris Stella College found 223 balls with 13x4s) and put on a ninth encounter which commenced at Campbell Park a victory target of 200 runs too difficult a task stand of 94 runs with Charith Sudaraka to help yesterday. Wesley were 55 for three wickets to achieve as rain permitted just 24 overs for Devananda College force a draw to their Under- when rain ended day’s play early. them to post 57 for four wickets at close in the 19 Division II encounter against St. Thomas’ Scores: Under-19 tournament match which ended at College, Matara at Matara yesterday. St. Richmond 51 all out 21 overs (Pabasara Kandana yesterday. Thomas’ earned first innings points. Waduge 18; Sachin Jayawardena 5/06, Sadeem Scores: Scores: Thawfeeq 2/89, Ashail Kariyawasam 2/04) De Mazenod 207 all out in 53.3 overs (Shanil Devananda 146 all out (Sakun de Silva 31, Wesley 55 for 3 at stumps in 11 overs Perera 57, Kavinda Manamperi 49, Shaluka Ishara Mendis 26, Rishika Theekshana 28; (Lahiru Perera 26) Deemantha 34; Ruwin Sinniah 3/49, Malindu Prishan Manohara 5/36, Ashan Ranasinghe Perera 2/25) and 138 all out in 46.1 overs (Jude 3/46) and 219 for 9 decl in 71 overs (Lakshitha Anuk, Amila share four wickets apiece Madushan 64, Shanil Perera 30; Sathira Dileepa Sirimanna 26, Rishika Theekshana 103n.o, Anuk Fernando and Amila Aponso shared 6/46 Ruvin Sinniah 4/40) Charith Sudaraka 33; Ashan Ranasinghe 6/94, four wickets apiece for St. Sebastian’s College to Maris Stella 106 for 6 overnight 146 all out Prishan Manohara 2/25) restrict S. Thomas’ College to 192 runs on day in 55.3 overs (Angelo Jayasinghe 30, Thusitha St. Thomas’ 132 for 6 overnight 208 for 9 one of their rain affected Under-19 encounter Peiris 25, Srihan Dilasri 25; Shaluka decl 65.3 overs (Ashan Ranasinghe 46, Jayanga which commenced at Mount Lavinia yesterday. Deemantha 5/54, Lahiru Wickramasinghe 4/45) Nirmana 52, Hashan Vimarshana 52; Charith Scores: and 57 for 4 in 24 overs (Prasansana Jayamanna Sudaraka 4/72, Lahiru Prasanka 4/38) 42 for 1 S. Thomas’ 192 all out in 62.1 overs (Rishen 16n.o; Lahiru Wickramasinghe 3/02 runs) in 10 overs (Ishan Maduranga 12n.o, Ishan Mathangaweera 35, Thilaksha Sumanasiri 31, Kanishka 18n.o) Dilum Fernando 25n.o; Anuk Fernando 4/57, Theekshana, Sudaraka help Devanada Amila Aponso 4/59) Rishika Theekshana anchored the late order Sachin rattles Richmond St. Sebastian’s 15 for no wickets in 1.4 batting line up with an unbeaten 103 runs (in In a fine spell of five overs, Sachin overs

Tuesday 28h February, 2012