Tuesday 15th June, 2010

Take on Pakistan in tournament curtain-raiser Sri Lanka go out as favourites in Asia Cup quadrangular REX CLEMENTINE single tournament where we weren't reporting from Dambulla under pressure. I guess the Indian team and pressure go hand in hand," Dhoni Defending champions Sri Lanka will said speaking to journalists at the series go out as favourites of the four-nation launch yesterday at the Kandalama Hotel, Asia Cup tournament as the 10th edition where the four teams stay. of the competition gets underway today Some Pakistani players including at the Rangiri International Shoaib Akthar, , Stadium here in Dambulla with the hosts Mohammad Aamer and coach Waqar taking on Pakistan in a day-night Younis arrived in Sri Lanka only yester- encounter. day. June is an unusual month to play The Sri Lankans, meanwhile, have The four captains representing Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, with the SLC and Asian Cricket Council officials during been here since Thursday hard at prac- cricket in Sri Lanka due to the monsoon the Asia Cup launching ceremony media briefing held yesterday at the Kandalama Hotel, Dambulla. Pic by Nishan S. Priyantha rains and in fact just one series has been tice and are favourites to retain the title played in this month - Singer Akai that they won in Some have called the Asia Cup the Cup is over they will fly back to England Nidhas Trophy in 1998 - but the emer- in 2008 beginning of the campaign for the 2011 for the remainder of the tour which gence of the Dambulla Stadium has June. World Cup which Sri Lanka, India and involves One-Day Internationals. ensured that matches could be staged in "In 2008, we Bangladesh will co-host, but Sangakkara Recent editions of Asia Cups have June. Weather has been excellent here in won mainly believed they shouldn't be looking at far seen none Test playing nations such as Dambulla and the administrators seem to because of two too ahead. the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong have taken some effort to make the tour- factors. First "Any tournament is equally impor- taking part in tournaments. With nament spicy. Sanath tant. Asia Cup is a prestigious event and Afghanistan qualifying for this year's T- Most ODI games played at Dambulla Jayasuriya made the World Cup is a few months away.This 20 World Cup, it was thought that some have been low scoring ones with the high- a freakish hun- certainly is a stepping stone in our efforts Associate Members of the ICC will fea- est score made here being 289 and only dred when we to win the World Cup, but we got to live in ture in the series as well, but it was three players have managed to score cen- had lost early the present. We are the defending cham- revealed that new ICC regulations pre- turies. But according to Sri Lanka and then pions and our focus will be on defending vented authorities from inviting other Cricket officials all that is set to change Ajantha Mendis the title," he added. teams. Officials told a media briefing that with the wickets being newly re-laid and took six for 13 Sangakkara also said that Sri Lanka the ICC had disallowed teams who are yet conditions are expected to be more bats- will stick with their opening combination to gain ODI status from playing one off men friendly. ASIA CUP FIXTURES of Upul Tharanga and T. M. Dilshan, tournaments. The FIFA World Cup has also taken which means the experiment with interest elsewhere, but the presence of Mahela Jayawardene as an opener, which Teams: India and Pakistan could make this tour- All the matches will be played at proved to be a successful one, will not Sri Lanka (From) -Kumar nament an exciting one with the arch- continue. Sangakkara ( and -keeper), rivals having played just one game in Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla. Sri Lanka have shown signs of putting Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela almost two years now. back their disappointments in home One- Jayawardene, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Upul Day Internationals where they have suf- Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo India who won the first four Asia Cup Date Time Match tournaments they were involved in fered successive series defeats and with Mathews, Farveez Maharoof, Chamara haven't won the competition in 15 years Tuesday, Jun 15 2:30 p.m. 1st Match - Sri Lanka v Pakistan nine months left for the World Cup, they Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekara, and their recent successes in Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jun 16 2:30 p.m. 2nd Match - Bangladesh v India will have to soon identify whom they will Chanaka Welagedara, Lasith Malinga, where they won two bi-lateral series and Friday, Jun 18 2:30 p.m. 3rd Match - Sri Lanka v Bangladesh pick for the World Cup. Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath and Thilina Kandamby. a tri-nation tournament, makes them Saturday, Jun 19 2:30 p.m. 4th Match - India v Pakistan The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) had some matters to sort out to bring the four Pakistan (From) - serious contenders for the title. Monday, Jun 21 2:30 p.m 5th Match - Bangladesh v Pakistan However, the Indian team will be Test playing nations together for the (Captain), , Imran Farhatt, Tuesday, Jun 22 2:30 p.m. 6th Match - Sri Lanka v India under some sort of pressure after a poor series. It was revealed that the ACC Shoaib Malik, , Abdul outing in the T-20 World Cup in the Thursday, Jun 24 2:30 p.m. Final - TBC v TBC requested the Pakistan Cricket Board to Razzaq, Mohammad Asif, , Caribbean and failing to reach the finals (TBC- To be confirmed) delay their series against Australia, Umar Akmal (wicket-keeper), Mohammad in a tri-nation series in Zimbabwe. But, which will be played at a neutral venue in Aamer, Shoaib Akthar, , Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni when we were defending 270 odd against Sri Lanka in fact have won the last two England, by ten days while Bangladesh and . conceded that pressure wasn't a major India. Both of them are not in this side, Asia Cups and have now won four of the had to split their tour to England to Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZ) and Billy thing to be concerned with for his side. other players get an opportunity here and ten editions of the tournament and are ensure all four teams were available for Doctorve (WI) "We are always under pressure as the we have good preparations ahead of the on par with India, who too have won four Asia Cup. Bangladesh have finished the Third Umpire: Sanjay Hazare (Ind) expectations are high. I haven' played in a series," Sangakkara said. championships. Test series in England and once the Asia Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (Zim)

See Pages 14 and 15 for more Proteas wrap up convincing victory football World Cup stories Dale Steyn claimed three for 65 as target at an unlikely 457. trapping Dowlin leg before with the score sented the biggest blow. Netherlands beats South Africa completed an emphatic 163- They struck early in the Windies’ sec- on just two before Steyn and wicketkeep- was next to go run win over West Indies after just four ond innings, with Travis Dowlin making er Mark Boucher combined to see off (23) followed by (49) and Denmark 2-0 days of the first Test in Trinidad. just a single, but the hosts had some hope for 13. (nine). JOHANNESBURG (AP) - The While Steyn took three wickets, Morne as long as Gayle was at the crease. was the next and Shane Shillingford Netherlands managed to grind out a 2-0 Morkel and Paul Harris both claimed two He made 73 in typically bullish fashion man in and he played out 48 balls for his put up strong resistance, sharing a stand win over Denmark on Monday despite as the visitors tore through the hosts’ bat- before Morkel had him lbw to raise South 15 before had him caught of 66 with the former out for 42 to herald failing to live up to its billing as one of ting line-up, them out for 293. African hopes of an early finish with the at slip by AB de Villiers. the beginning of the end. the most dangerous attacking teams at The Proteas had earlier started the day scoreboard reading 139 for four at the But it was Gayle’s departure, after a Shillingford went before Nelon Pascal the World Cup. by extending their 155 for two to 206 for break. 106-ball stay that included nine fours and was bowled by Steyn with the West Indies The Dutch took the lead in the 46th four before declaring with the winning Morkel had started the ball rolling by a six over long-on off Morkel, that repre- 293 all out. when Denmark defender Simon Poulsen headed a ball off the back of teammate SCOREBOARD Daniel Agger and into the net. Poulsen South Africa 1st Innings 352 Dwayne Bravo c Prince b Harris 49 had been trying to clear a cross from West Indies 1st Innings 102 Denesh Ramdin c de Villiers b Tsotsobe 9 Robin van Persie. South Africa 2nd Innings Shane Shillingford c Petersen b Harris 27 Dirk Kuyt doubled the lead in the 85th when he tapped in a rebound off the post Graeme Smith b Benn 90 Sulieman Benn lbw b Petersen 42 from close range. Alviro Petersen lbw Benn 22 18 Denmark had frustrated the Dutch c Deoarine b Shillingford 5 Nelon Pascal b Steyn 10 until the own goal with a compact mid- Jacques Kallis lbw Benn 40 Extras: (11b, 2lb) 13 field, and the Netherlands never came AB de Villiers not out 20 TOTAL: (all out) 293 close to the free-flowing, high-scoring type Ashwell Prince not out 16 Overs: 80.3 of play their fans have become accus- Extras: (6b, 2lb, 5nb) 13 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-39, 3-94, 4-114, 5-152, tomed to - despite several other chances. TOTAL: (for four wickets, declared) 206 6-192, 7-194, 8-260, 9-264, 10-293. Overs: 62 Bowling: Dale Steyn 15.3-1-65-3, Morne Fall of wickets: 56-1, 79-2, 157-3, 178-4. Morkel 12-3-49-2, Lonwabo Tsotsobe 13-5-20- Blatter backs S. Africa fans Did not bat: Mark Boucher, Paul Harris, Dale 1, Paul Harris 26.3-3-91-2, Jacques Kallis Steyn, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe. 11-3-49-1, Graeme Smith 0.3-0-4-0, Alviro on blowing vuvuzelas Bowling: Ravi Rampaul 6-2-21-0 (1nb), Nelon Petersen 2-1-2-1. Pascal 6-1-27-0 (4nb), Sulieman Benn 25-3- Result: South Africa won by 163 runs. JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Sepp 74, Shane Shillingford 21-1-67-1, Dwayne Series: South Africa leads three-Test series 1- Blatter has defended South African Bravo 4-1-9-0. 0. fans' right to blow their vuvuzela horns at World Cup matches despite West Indies Second Innings Man of the Match: Dale Steyn. global criticism from television view- lbw b Morkel 73 Umpires: Steve Davis, Australia, and Asad ers of the constant blaring noise. South Africa’s bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe, third from left, is congratulated by team- Travis Dowlin lbw b Morkel 1 Rauf, Pakistan. The FIFA president says Africa has mates after taking the wicket of West Indies’ Denesh Ramdin during the second Brendan Nash c wk Boucher b Steyn 13 Third umpire: Simon Taufel, Australia. "a different rhythm, a different sound," innings on the fourth day of the first cricket Test in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, Shivnarine C’paul c de Villiers b Kallis 15 Match referee: Roshan Mahanama, and the fans' tradition shouldn't be Sunday, June 13, 2010. South Africa won by 163 runs. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton) Narsingh Deonarine lbw b Steyn 23 Sri Lanka. stopped.

Tuesday 15th June, 2010