Owais Shah Falls Short of Case for Test Spot
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Wednesday 27th February, 2008 13 SL meet England in semi-final Owais Shah falls short playoff of case for Test spot by Derek Pringle The Daily Telegraph f runs are the currency that count most when deciding Ibetween two batsmen, then Owais Shah forged ahead of Chamila Karawita Andrew Strauss on the opening day in Malaysia of England's two-day game against an Invitation XI here. The semi-final playoff, for those In front of England's latest selec- who were defeated in the Super tor, James Whitaker, Shah eclipsed League of the ongoing Under-19 Strauss, a team-mate at Middlesex, World Cup, will be held today (27) with a patchy 96. That it included between the Sri Lanka and England youngsters at Royal Selongo Grounds not being given out off an inside while the semi-final for this year’s edge and then being dropped at mid- title will be held between India and on in consecutive overs, will not New Zealand at Kinrara Oval also worry the batsman, but the impres- today. sion created was not a pure one Pakistan, India, New Zealand and against a bowling attack that South Africa were through to this year’s U-19 World Cup semi-finals included two recent Test bowlers, while the four losing teams in the Mark Gillespie and Iain O'Brien. Super League round, Sri Lanka, Strauss, by contrast, didn't really Bangladesh, Australia and England, have enough time at the crease for were to engage in a 5th to 8th place judgment to be passed, making four playoff encounters from today. before being out hit wicket. Given Meanwhile bad weather experi- he had spent six weeks acclimatis- enced in Kuala Lumpur these days is expected to hamper the matches as it ing for his comeback with local was raining heavily in the Malaysian team the Northern Knights, it was a capital during the last few days. strange way to go, his desperate swish to prevent an inside edge from bouncing into the wickets and bowling him, striking the stumps instead. HSBC record win In theory, the only Test place up for grabs is the slot in the top six over Hayleys that was occupied by Ravi Bopara in Sri Lanka. As someone on that tour by Roshen Steelman but not in the Test side, Shah should HSBC beat Hayleys Group by 26 points in the logically be next in line. Yet cricket ‘B’ Division tournament match in the ongoing teams are not like those for Ryder Delmege Super League Basketball Tournament, at Cups, where selection is based on the Otter Aquatic Court and Mercantile Court. measurable success, and Strauss, HSBC scored 83 points against Hayleys’s 57 with his maturity and capable points. catching at slip, possesses qualities HSBC dominated the proceeding from the England badly missed during the beginning. They ended the first half 7 points ahead Test series defeat in Sri Lanka. of their opponents. Then they collected 43 points in "It was good to impress the selec- England's Owais Shah plays against Otago XI Selection on the first day of their cricket match at University Oval in the second half to further the gap. A. Wijesuriya scored 35 points for HSBC. He tors and the captain, but they'll Dunedin, New Zealand, Monday, Feb. 25, 2008. (AP Photos/NZPA, Ross Setford) was amply helped by S. Rajeewdan who chipped probably play the team for the first in with 16 points to record their final score of 92. Test in Thursday's three-day game," The tall left-hander, who crawled to Bell's innings divided between the clean break for England from the Shanaka Gunasekara fighting in a lone battle Shah said. "I'd like to think I put my 42 off 70 balls in the last day-night 59 he made before retiring hurt and first part of the tour. It also managed to score 15 points for Hayleys. His con- name in the hat for that with my match in Christchurch, was fluent the runs he added after returning, means finding new ways to bond, tribution could only close up the gap between the knock here, but if I get runs in that off front foot and back and struck 17 rather farcically, when his team something that used to take place two teams. match then I think I'll be in the mix boundaries. were nine wickets down. in the bar, but these days involves MAS Holdings defeated Hatton National Bank for the opening Test." Strong off his The difference was stark but Vaughan made 27 and looked players blasting a football at a by eight points in the ‘B’ division tournament match legs and when playing pull shots off then so were the circumstances. in good touch, but he has done wall comprising their team-mates' held at Otter Court, yesterday. MAS Holdings lead the front foot, Shah looked set for a Cook was not playing for his Test that a lot recently without going rear ends. At least the language the first half 38-28 and went to score 40 more points more in the second half to extend their lead. hundred once he had survived Sam place and with England put in by on to a big score - a dealer in was printable, which is more than For MAS Holdings, Eranga Weerasinghe scored Wells's fluffed catch when 38. But their opponents on a slightly damp, cameos rather than epics. Driving can be said about that used by 16 points while Chandima Edrisinghe chipped in tempted into reaching it with a green pitch, which lowered any well, everything appeared in good Jesse Ryder after his admission to with 14 points to see the final points table 78 to 70. flourish off spinner Will Somerville, expectation of success, the tension order until he pushed a little too Christchurch hospital for an Meanwhile, Seylan Bank beat David Peiris his swatted sweep was brilliantly just melted away. hard at Craig Smith, edging the operation to the severed tendon Motor Company in the Women’s ‘A’ Division tour- caught by Gillespie at short fine leg. But just as a hundred before ball to the wicketkeeper Gareth in his right hand. nament match, which was worked off last Monday, Making runs when not playing lunch beckoned, no mean feat even Hopkins. Ryder, who injured himself also at the Otter Court. Seylan lead the first half well is an enviable trait, but Shah for Matthew Hayden, Cook was Ambrose is the Test wicket- after breaking a toilet window in 39-23 and then collected 18 more points in the might have been better served had caught and bowled by Wells after keeper-elect, unless he repeats his a bar in the early hours of second half to see the final score as 67-52. For he batted as assuredly as Alastair punching back his drive. soft dismissal here. A competent Sunday morning, has been told Seylan, N. Sadamali scored 20 points while D. Fernando chipped in with 19. Cook, who made 85 from 81 balls. With only five days of match middle-order batsman, he tamely by New Zealand Cricket that he Dialog Telecom beat Nations Trust Bank by Had he done so, another failure cricket before the Test, England chipped an off-break form the tall must apologise to hospital staff nine points in ‘A’ Division tournament match which from Strauss might well win him would have wanted Michael Somerville to midwicket. It was for "inappropriate behaviour". was held on Monday. Dialog, who lead the first half the nod, but the evidence here, after Vaughan and Tim Ambrose to have the shot of someone tired after Apparently he became rude and 29-27, were outstanding in the second half as they a patchy one-day series, is hardly spent more time at the crease. months of non-stop cricket, not demanding, not a wise move scored 45 points more to further the gap. The final irrefutable. Cook also struggled dur- Instead, the day was dominated by three weeks in the nets. when your career is in their score was 74-65. Manjula Jayaratna of Nations ing the one-dayers, but not here. Shah, Cook and Ian Bell, the stylish The Test series represents a hands. Trust top scored with 20 points while D. Withanage chipped in with 15 points. Davis Cup Trials Row ‘Munchee National Volleyball Championship’ Wijesuriya to return to SL Dilan definite about on Thursday (28) Jaffna participation by Revata S. Silva ment. The ongoing situa- tion does not auger well for by Reemus Fernando and take part in the were also doubtful of holding discussions with After Sports and Public our preparations for this national champi- the Volleyball their officials to provide nec- Recreation Minister year’s campaign. Coach Dilan Perera, the onship which will be Federation’s ability to essary facilities. We under- Gamini Lokuge called for Utzinger, to whom I spoke President of the Sri Lanka held from March 15-23 sponsor the teams’ stand that they have to bear a retrials amongst three play- yesterday, was upset that Volleyball Federation con- at the Sugathadasa passage. huge coast for airfare. We are ers, Dinusha Wijesuriya, the player had to miss out firmed the participation of Stadium. But Perera said trying to help them,” said Artha Hewacottege and the weekend’s important the Jaffna teams at the In an interview that the SLVF has Perera who was certain that Guyanga Weerasekera, for tourney he was to play with national stage matches of the with ‘The Island,’ the taken necessary steps the teams from Jaffna will be next April’s Davis Cup Godamanna,” lamented ongoing Munchee National President of the to see that the teams in Colombo for the National (Asia-Oceania Zone, Group- Wijesekera.