Wednesday 20th December, 2006 11

Reemus Fernando handed top order batsman accumulated over 750 runs with a fine century against S. The absence of key players for the Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. He also third term matches has hindered the Ananda Sastralaya whacked two half tons against Sri Rahula progress of fresher laden Ananda and Asoka Vidyalaya. While an unbeaten Sastralaya First XI side this season. half ton against the latter sealed a con- Heavily relying on experienced campaign- vincing 6 wickets victory, one of his three ers, who were not available due to their five wicket hauls also came in the same engagements with Premier Clubs for the will be formidable match. last two encounters, the premier Buddhist Devinda also toped the highest wicket college of Kotte had to face a demoralising takers’ list of the College bagging 40 wick- defeat on their first encounter against St. ets in 12 matches with an impressive Sylvester’s College, Kandy. match bag of 14 wickets for 70 runs (6/31 But the gutsy performers soon found and 8/39) against St. Mary’s College, their form with the ball in their next Kegalle. The competent all rounder who encounter to rattle the top order of proved his match winning abilities found a Piliyandala Central for a low score before berth in the BRC Under-23 team this year rain interrupted the match. and undoubtedly Ananda Sastralaya will Captained by fifth year coloursman be a far better side when he guides them in Supun Devinda, Ananda Sastralaya are the first term matches. yet to field their full squad this season. Fourth year coloursman Ruwan After paying the penalty for fielding a Sanjeewa is the deputy to Supun Devinda. young side against formidable St. Right hander though couldn’t impress Sylvester’s College, Ananda Sastralaya are with the bat was outstanding behind wick- looking forward to comeback forcefully in ets. He accounted for over 55 dismissals the first term. Incidentally,Supun Devinda last year. and his deputy Ruwan Sanjeewa were not Last year captain and fourth year available for third term matches. coloursman Ositha Dharshana was one of When the experienced alrounders their best speedsters last season. Right come together Ananda Sastralaya can arm paceman picked up nearly 40 wickets become a formidable side. Last year under last season and certainly he will be better the captaincy of Ositha Dharshana they off with wickets this season with his expe- recorded two outright victories and rience in the Premier Under-23 earned five first innings wins. At least five Tournament. of their top performers last year are avail- Alrounders Thumesh Kanishka, able for the first term matches this season. Seated from left: Thumesh Kanishka, Thisal Priyanjith, Suneth Tharanga (Junior Coach), D.M.D.M. Jayarathne (MiC), Nilantha Silva (Coach), Shiran Bhathiya Thisal Priyanjith, Shiran Bhathiya, fourth and Jayanga Niroshan Standing from left: Oshan Lahiru, Lakshan Upawansa, Vinod Madushan, Vishwajith Denuka, Kosala Randika, Akila Madushan, Dulitha Skipper Supun Devinda recorded the year coloursman Jayanga Niroshan and Priyankara, Vidura Tharanga, Madawa Madushanka, Imantha Rasanga and Purna Jayaratne (Pix by Kamal Bogoda) highest aggregate of runs last year. Right third year player Danushka.

Supun Devinda (Captain) Ruwan Sanjeewa Ositha Dharshana Thumesh Kanishka Thisal Priyanjith Shiran Bhathiya Jayanga Niroshan

Malinga an improved bowler Indian silver medalist in women’s race says Fleming failed gender test by Sandeep Nakai

NEW DELHI, (AP) — An Indian runner who won a silver medal in the women’s 800 meters at the failed a gender test and was stripped of the medal. Santhi Soundarajan, 25, took the gender test in , Qatar, after plac- ing second. The Indian Olympic Association said Monday it has been told by the Olympic Council of Asia that the 25- year-old runner was disqualified. “IOA has asked the Athletic Rex Clementine reporting from Federation of India to return the Wellington medal as desired by the Olympic New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming Council of Asia,” the Indian Olympic said that although the Kiwis had faced the group said. unusual bowling of Lasith Malinga a year The IOA also asked its medical com- ago, without too many difficulties, their mission to inquire into Soundarajan’s problems compounded this time around case and report within 10 days. after the bowler added an extra yard of There are no compulsory gender pace. Malinga played the Test series in tests during events sanctioned by the This file photo (R) taken December 8, 2006 shows India’s Santhi New Zealand in 2005 and still caused prob- International Association of Athletics Soundarajan crossing the finish line in heat-1 of the women’s 800m lems forcing Fleming to request the Federations, but athletes may be asked event on the opening day of the athletics competition of the 15th Asian umpires to change their black trousers to take a gender test. The medical eval- Games at Khalifa Stadium in Doha. Asian Games silver medallist into white ones as the New Zealand bats- uation panel usually includes a gyne- Soundarajan of India failed a sex test and will be stripped of her medal, men faced difficulties in picking the cologist, endocrinologist, psychologist officials said December 18. “Santhi was subjected to a gender test in bowler. The umpires turned down and internal medicine specialist. Doha and we have received the report which says she failed the test,” Fleming’s request. An Indian athletics official who said Manmohan Singh, chairman of the Indian Olympic Association’s Although Malinga got his first five spoke to The Associated Press on con- Medical Commission. Soundarajan won the silver medal in the women’s 800m on December 9. On wicket haul in the first Test in Napier in Top - Chief Minister of the Indian state of Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi (Foreground -R) 2005, he wasn’t unplayable. But in this dition of anonymity because he was gestures as he speaks to Santhi Soundarajan (L) in , after presenting the athlete with a series, ‘Malinga the Slinger’ as the New not authorized to speak to the media Zealanders call him, caused many worries said Soundarajan almost certainly cheque for Rs.1,500,000 (USD 33,517) on Monday (December 18). never had sex-change surgery. for the batsmen. The hosts were undone mal chromosomes.” The official also Soundarajan was not immediately Instead, the official said by Malinga’s searing yorkers while said the test revealed more Y chromo- available for comment. Soundarajan appeared to have “abnor- some batsmen got out to full tosses somes than allowed. after they had problems of seeing the Fleming also called the Sri Lankan ball. Malinga also got awkward bounce off attack one of the best in the world. “I the pitch hitting several batsmen includ- think they are very much underrated. Sri Lanka team ing Fleming and Nathan Astle, the two They have had a good year in Test cricket AIS, Wattala do well in Karate leading players in the Kiwi lineup. winning a Test in England. They are International School “When he was here last time Malinga underrated but very capable and I am congratulated was bowling around 130kmph, but now he Karate Championships, glad we are not meeting them in the Sri Lanka Cricket bowls around 150s regularly and that has near future. But when we face them, prob- organised by ‘Japan made the difference. It’s extremely diffi- ably in the World Cup, we want to be pre- Karatedo-Itosu-Kai’ Sri Chairman Jayantha cult to pick him,” Fleming who got out to pared and I promise you that we’ll do all Lanka branch, held recently Dharmadasa yesterday Malinga in both innings in Wellington that’s possible to prepare well.” at St. Joseph’s College congratulated Sri Lanka said. The Basin Reserve has hosted Test Indoor Stadium in Colombo. “His yorkers were deadly and our bats- Matches since 1931 and is the second oldest Atamie International cricket team Manager men struggled. Most of the time it was cricket ground in New Zealand after the School, Wattala, won two Michael Tissera, Captain very difficult to pick up his deliveries Jade Stadium in Christchurch, formerly gold medals and two silvers while at times it was impossible,” Fleming known as Lancaster Park. But in the 75- Mahela Jayawardene and at this Championship. added. year history, only five players - Richard the team for their excel- After New Zealand were beaten by 217 Hadlee (2), Shoaib Akthar, Courtney Walsh Kavitha Wijewardena lent performance to runs and shared the series with the and Wasim Akram had got ten-wicket won the gold medal for the tourists, Fleming said that the combina- match bags and the list didn’t have a single second time consecutively defeat New Zealand on tion of Malinga and Muttiah spinner. But in the recent Test Match, for the 15-16 age group cate- their own soil. Muralitharan caused them problems after two spinners, Muralitharan and Daniel gory. Hiran Peiris won the Dharmadasa has hailed Sri Lanka set them a record target. Vettori got their names in the record gold medal for the age group “At one end you had someone bowling books claiming ten wickets apiece. 13-14 years while M. the excellent teamwork of with an unusual action making it difficult “One of the few positives for us in the Test Radeeshan won the silver SL team while wishing for you and at the other you had one of the was Daniel’s bowling. That’s something for 11-12 category at the best players to have ever played the game not achieved by a spinner before and it was them the best for the ‘Kumite’ Event. Reginald, Minol Narangoda, Muditha bowling at you turning it both ways and a special effort, but when he got those forthcoming One-day it’s really difficult and something that we wickets we knew that Murali was going to AIS karate team included: Alex Uduman, Chathuranga with Founder Director of School hadn’t countered anywhere else.” be a real threat,” Fleming said. Master-in-charge, Hiran Peiris, Claudius Azad Uduman. series.