14 Friday 1st October, 2010 Lyceum, Nugegoda and St. Peter’s Ponting warns enter Under-15 cager final of India’s spin attack Singh is ruled out because of an ankle injury. “India is a tough opponent and playing them Harbhajan could hold the key to the two-test often is a great thing for the game and great for series as has enjoyed success against Australia. both countries.” The offspinner has taken 79 in 14 tests India, the No. 1 test team in the world, and against Australia at an average of 28.82 with the fourth-ranked Australians have met each seven five- hauls. Overall, Harbhajan other often in recent years, so Dhoni doesn’t has 357 wickets in 85 tests at 31.62. anticipate too many surprises. India Mahendra Singh Dhoni said “The boys know exactly what to expect, but Harbhajan is unlikely to be fit to play in Mohali, the strategies are decided only after analyzing a claim doubted by Ponting, who argues he the conditions,” Dhoni said. “Test is watched the spinner practice on the day he was about doing well in sessions. The team that said to have twisted his ankle. wins more sessions in the last couple of days “India might be trying to put a smoke screen,” said Ponting, adding that even if he is when the ball turns and bounces and there is out, the hosts “still had spinners like Amit reverse swing, is often the deciding factor.” St. Peter’s College team Mishra and Pragyan Ojha to take his place.” —- Australia has had a slightly disrupted Squads: lead-up to the test, with batsman Michael India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (cap- Hussey and left-arm quick Doug tain), , Gautam Gambhir, Bollinger arriving in India only a few Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, days ago due to having played in the Suresh Raina, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Champions League Twenty20 tourna- Ishant Sharma, Shantakumaran Sreesanth, ment in South Africa. , Pragyan Ojha, Cheteswar Pujara, Ponting said a good start was Murali Vijay. Australia’s captain , left, and imperative in a short series, Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (captain), watch teammates, unseen, during a practice session in the which will be followed by three Michael Clarke, , Simon Katich, one-day internationals. nets ahead of their first cricket Test match against India in Philip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, “We want to make sure that Mohali, India, Thursday Doug Bollinger, , Mitchell we start the game well and get Johnson, , , Peter MOHALI, India (AP) - Australia captain Ricky our plans right,” Ponting said. “We are pretty Ponting is wary of India’s spin attack for the confident that we will have a good start. George, , Steven Smith, Mitchell Lyceum, Nugegoda team opening test starting Friday, even if Harbhajan Starc. Lyceum International School, Nugegoda and St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya qualified for the finals of the Carlton Cup Under-15 basketball tournament when they beat Royal College, Colombo and Mahanama College, Lasantha de Silva assumes duties at SLTA Sri Lanka’s Colombo respectively in the semi-finals worked off on Wednesday. BY REVATA S. SILVA The final will take place on Saturday at 4:15 pm at Police Lasantha de Silva yesterday spikers Park. Incidentally,both finalists have been coached by Niluk morning assumed duties as advisor Dananjaya. to the Ministry of Sports on Sri lose in Lanka tennis at a simple ceremony held at the Sri Lanka Tennis India Association headquarters in Green Mahinda College cricketers and Path, Colombo. Sri Lanka’s renowned A Buddhist religious ceremony, a beach Volleyball pair their parents to be felicitated rare sight at the usually western-ori- Mahesh Perera and by Roshen Steelman ented SLTA, was held under the aus- Wasantha Rathnapala saw pices of Ven. Kotapola themselves being eliminat- Ceremonies to felici- Amarakeerthi thero, former MP, to ed from the Chennai tate Sri Lankan mark the occasion. Challenger World Ranking Cricketers are usual, but After assuming duties, de Silva Beach Volleyball a ceremony to pay trib- told The Island that his first step Tournament when they lost ute to parents of the would be to formulate a National to Norway 2-0 in Chennai, Cricketers is quite rare. Policy for Sri Lanka’s tennis with India yesterday. The Cricket Foundation the assistance of every section of The tournament com- of Mahinda College has the local tennis community. De Silva menced last Tuesday at organized a ceremony to was to meet the SLTA General the Nagapattinam Grounds pay tribute to their Committee and its president in Chennai with the partici- school’s cricketers as Maxwell de Silva last evening. Lasantha de Silva, on left, assumed duties as sports ministry representative pation of 25 countries. well as their parents for Lasantha de Silva was appointed for Sri Lanka tennis yesterday at a simple ceremony held at the SLTA head- Sri Lanka entered the the team’s performances as sports ministry representative for quarters in Colombo. Ven. Kotapola Amarakeerthi thero, or right, was there 3rd round of the tourna- during the 2009/10 School Kumara Samarasinghe (Pic by Sri Lanka tennis by Minister C. B. to chant pirith on the occasion. (Pic by Nihal Chandrakumara) ment on Wednesday when Cricket Season. Dharmasena Velipitiya) Ratnayake on Sep. 16. Mahesh Perera and The function will be many who look forward to a change the way the sport is governed and Wasantha Rathnapala beat held on October 3rd at Waters Edge with C.B. Ratnayake, You can send in your in the local tennis structure and, in lay a strong foundation for its future Norway’s first pair 2-0. Minister of Sports attending the ceremony as the chief responses particular, the way the sport is gov- development. The renowned Sri Guest. According to the Kumara Samarasinghe, President, Sports Minister C. B. Ratnayake erned at present. De Silva has Do you have any observations, Lankan pair suffered a 2-0 Cricket Foundation of Mahinda College, D.S. De Silva and appointed Lasantha de Silva as a already proposed a six-pronged opinions, criticisms and/or propos- defeat, their first in the Nishantha Ranathunge, Chairman and Secretary, interim special representative to the National Policy to develop the coun- als regarding de Silva’s appointment tournament at the hands of Committee of the Sri Lanka Cricket will also attend this Ministry of Sports on Sri Lanka ten- try’s tennis. and the way tennis is administered Czechoslovakia on the function. nis on Sep. 16, 2010. De Silva, with We have been publishing this by the SLTA? You have time till next same day, but moved to Mahinda College has been an outstation school and has this appointment, also becomes the forum for a period of one week and Monday, Oct. 4, to send your respons- the 3rd round and were done remarkably well in the 2009/10 season. They emerged mediator between the SL Tennis the responses we received have been es. All tennis lovers in the country beaten by Norway’s sec- as joint champions in the All-island Limited overs Association and the Sports Ministry. clearly indicating, 1. The local tennis may contribute. ond pair. Sri Lanka is Tournament which was conducted by the Sri Lanka He assumed duties in the above fraternity observes a clear deteriora- Please send your responses expected to be ranked Schools Cricket Association. capacity on September 30 tion in the sport, 2. They are fed up before Oct. 4 to: today according to their Kumara Samarasinghe, who played cricket for Mahinda (Thursday), at the SLTA. De Silva, with the existing local tennis admin- Address – Sports Editor, ‘The performances at the tour- College in the late 70’s speaking to The Island said the foun- who has worked as an advisor for istration, and 3. They eagerly hope Island’, No.223, Bloemendhal Road, nament. (MP) dation expected about 300 persons to pay tribute to both various government ministries, is Lasantha de Silva in his new capaci- Colombo-13 players and parents. expected to deliver the goods by ty will initiate a realistic change in E-mail – [email protected] Haroon beat Robin at snooker H. A. Haroon did well M.Muthahir 2/0 when he defeated Robin C.Attapattu beat Aruna Haniff 2-1 in the amateur Jayawardene 2/1 stage of the All-island Faizal Haniffa beat Snooker Tournament con- Anil Peiris 2/0 ducted by the Automobile S.D.H.Palliyaguruge Association of Ceylon for the AAC president Challenge beat W.A.J.Jayalal 2/1 Cup. The Tournament has Arjuna Waidyasekera attracted entries from over beat M.Siraj 2/0 100 snooker players. M.Aslam beat Bagya Results Dias 2/0 (RS) H.N.Thilekeratne beat Lumbini in command The National Football team with Officials. Standing(L-R) against Mahanama Buddhika Bandara, Chatura Ekanayake, Nalaka Roshan, Tuwan Rizni, Kaiz Shafras, P.J.Chaminda, Sumana Hettiarachchi, S.K. Fernando, Subash Rajiva Sandaruwan and who took two wickets earlier, Madushan, S. Chaturanga, Mohamed Zain, Chamira Krishantha, Malik Migara, Kavindu Ishan, Dasun Paranavithana Prabath Jayasuriya shared top scored for Lumbini with Seated (L-R) eight wickets between them 57 runs. Dike Kumara, Danushka Wijesiri, K.C.K. Lankesara, Nadeeka Pushpakumara, Suranda Bandara, Thushara Sampath( Assistant Coach), D. Chandrasiri as Lumbini restricted Brief Scores Mahanama College to a part- Mahanama 113 all out in (Assistant Coach), Jang Jung (Head Coach), Anura De Silva (Manager) A. Basith( Messier), Rohana Ruwanthilake( Captain), S. Sanjeev, Bandera ly score of 113 in the their 45.3 overs (Tusitha Warakagoda, T. N. Kumara, Dilip Dalpadadu Under-19 Inter-school match Maduranga 24, Pawan which began at the Colts Devananda 20 n.o., Hashan Cricket Grounds in Colombo, Perera 14; Rajiva National football players take wings to South Korea yesterday. Sandaruwan 4/18, Prabath Mahanama, put into bat, Jayasuriya 4/19, Maduka The Sri Lankan National sive training with the Cooperation hopes to contest the Pre-Olympics The Sri Lankan team will be cap- lost wickets at regular inter- Liyanapathirana 2/56) Football team under Jang Jung as of South Korean Football Tournament in February, 2011, AFC tained by defense player Rohana vals and were bundled out in Lumbini 147 for 7 in 46.3 the Head Coach and D. Chandrasiri Association. Challenge Cup qualifying round Ruwanthilaka. The average age of the first fifty over. In reply, overs at Stumps (Maduka and Thushara Sampath as the assis- The Sri Lankan National team is matches in March 2011 and the the team is 23 years. Lumbini reached 147 for the Liyanapathirana 57, Rajiva loss of seven wickets, at Sandaruwan 17, Heshan tant coaches will leave for South scheduled to play 7 training matches SAFF Championship which will be The team will return on October stumps. Madusanka 16; Dayan Perera Korea today for a three weeks exten- as part of the training. Sri Lanka held in December 2011. 23.(MP) Maduka Liyanapathirana, 4/46) (RS)