The Island, Tuesday 25th April, 2006 Young Tharanga begins AzharAzhar’’ss IndiaIndia England tour with a bang beatbeat Upul Tharanga began Sri Lanka’s England tour with a styl- Sri Lanka shot out for 289 ish hundred against the British Sri Lanka were bowled out for 289 after Universities in their three-day the tea interval. Down the order, Chaminda Vaas scored PakistPakistanan game at Fenner’s yesterday. Left-handed opener Tharanga 24 with two boundaries and fellow seam- (100) ensured an encouraging er Nuwan Zoysa contributed 32 with four start for Mahela Jayarwardene’s boundaries and two sixes. team, after the captain himself Brathwaite and Richards picked up three had been one of two early wickets wickets apiece. to fall to the bowling of the impressive Ruel Brathwaite. he fell caught and bowled to In the course of his 129-ball Richards just before tea he had hundred, Tharanga shared a 98- kept out 108 balls for his 36 runs. run third-wicket stand with Brathwaite took his third wick- Thilan Samaraweera whose stoic et when Tillakaratne Dilshan approach also served the tourists nicked one down the leg-side to well as they mustered a tea-time Josh Knappett, and Chamara 221 for six after being put in on a Kapugedera was turned round by cloudy day. Nick Lamb’s medium-pace swing and edged to slip. Tharanga blazed 17 boundaries ball with a neat leg-glance for four PAKISTAN: Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin (R) plays a shot as Pakistani wicket- - mostly through the off-side, off off Brathwaite, was unable to keeper Azam Khan looks on during the first One Day match of a four match series between Pakistan either foot - but always gave the SCOREBOARD deal with one that nipped back on and India Senior cricket teams in Karachi, 23 April 2006. India beat Pakistan by three wickets. (AFP) bowlers a chance in his pursuit of Sri Lanka 1st Innings him. M Vandort c T Knappett b R B’waite 4 runs. From 56 for two, however, U Tharanga c A Richards b J W’wright 100 His first-wicket partner Tharanga dominated his stand M Jayawardene b R Brathwaite 22 T Samaraweera c and b A Richards 36 Michael Vandort was not around with Samaraweera either side of EurAsia Cricket Series in Abu Dhabi for long, departing to a thin edge T Dilshan c P Knappett b R Brathwaite 21 lunch until - immediately after C Kapugedera c S Clinton b N Lamb 13 behind off Brathwaite in the reaching three figures - he mis- P J’rdene c T Knappett b A Richards 6 third over of the day - and the calculated a slog-sweep at slow C Vaas not out 20 Barbados and Loughborough M Bandara lbw b A Richards 2 Chandana, Weerakoon lift left-armer David Wainwright and University pace bowler then N Zoysa not out 25 skied a catch, well held by Mali Extras 16nb 1w 4b 4lb 25 struck a most significant blow Richards at mid-wicket. Total for 8 274 when he bowled Jawayardene Once he was gone, Sri Lanka’s Fall: 1-6, 2-56, 3-154, 4-179, 5-198, 6-210, 7-221 through the gate. shot-making intent waned. Sri Lanka ‘A’ to 261/7 The Sri Lanka captain, who Bowler: R Brathwaite 16.2-2-55-3, J Samaraweera was content with Balcombe 13-3-61-0, A Richards 13- 1-62-3, An unfinished 107-run stand Chamara Silva (37 off 58 balls) had looked in no trouble from the crease occupation and by the time J Wainwright 11- 2-47-1, N Lamb12- 4 -28- between Vice Captain Upul and Jeewantha Kulatunga (42 off moment he got off the mark first 1, J Morris 3- 1-13-0 Ireland 123/4 Chandana (46 off 63 balls) and 40 balls) also did well with the Sajeewa Weerakoon (53 off 64 bat. after 33 overs balls) for the eighth wicket lifted Ireland, who have qualified to Sri Lanka ‘A’ to 261 for 7 in their next year’s World cup in the West Ireland were 123 for 4 after 33 allotted 50 overs against Ireland Indies, will be disappointed as Giles to miss Sri Lanka matches overs. in a group ‘B’ match of the BSNL they failed to capitalize on an They still needed 139 runs in LONDON, April 24, 2006 (AFP) England and Wales chief med- “Ashley will undergo surgical EurAsia Cricket Series at the impressive bowling performance -Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles ical officer Peter Gregory, said: repair in the near future. It is Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu by their opening bowlers which 17 overs to win the game will undergo groin surgery on “In light of the lack of progress hoped that this will enable him to Dhabi yesterday. earlier reduced Sri Lanka ‘A’ to Tuesday which will rule him out with Ashley’s rehabilitation from return to cricket later this sea- The pair came together when 75-5. and India ‘A’. of England’s three Tests and five hip surgery, his surgeon recently son.” Sri Lanka ‘A’were in deep trouble J. Mooney was the pick of the Sri Lanka ‘A’s next match will be against the UAE on Thursday. one-day internationals against recommended an opinion was That hip injury dated back to at 154 for 7. They started off cau- bowlers as he captured 4 for 43. Sri Lanka. sought from a hernia specialist. Sri Lanka ‘A’ 261 for 7 (C. the start of last summer and Giles tiously but opened their shoul- In the six-nation tournament The 33-year-old Warwickshire “The view of this specialist, ders towards the latter part of Sri Lanka ‘A’ is in group ‘B’ with Silva 37, J. Kulatunga 42, U. missed two Tests against player was one of their several who was consulted last week, was the innings and guided their Ireland and the UAE. Group ‘A’ Chandana 46 n.o., S. Weerakoon Bangladesh before the 2005 Ashes, absentees from the recent tour of that Ashley has developed a defect team to a respectable total. comprises Holland, Pakistan ‘A’ 53 n.o) vs Ireland India after failing to recover as known as a Gilmore’s Groin - and was also forced to leave the quickly as anticipated from hip which could account for the pain pre-Christmas tour of of surgery. he suffers after he runs. Pakistan. Five-man race for c’ship, Woods takes the Afridi urged to plunge in NZealand says leader Alonso bungee jump reverse Test ban WELLINGTON, April 24, IMOLA, Italy, April 24, 2006 their clear speed advantage at 2006 (AFP) - Golf super- The Pakistan Cricket Board will attempt to per- (AFP) - World drivers’ champi- Imola. star Tiger Woods has taken to suade key all-rounder Shahid Afridi to reverse his deci- on Fernando Alonso believes Schumacher, 37, added: “They living dangerously in New sion not to play Tests before the World Cup. that Michael Schumacher’s vic- (Renault) feel less competitive Zealand, plunging more than The 26-year-old said the packed international cal- tory in the San Marino Grand here than elsewhere, but they 135 metres (440 feet) on the endar added to his decision to break from the Test Prix here yesterday (Sunday) still had a very quick package. country’s highest bungee arena. He is set to sit out four Tests against England has blown the world champi- “To do it (beat Renault), we jump, a newspaper reported this summer as well as series with Zimbabwe, India onship race wide open. have to keep on maximising our Monday. Spaniard Alonso, 24, said that and South Africa. performance like we did here. The jump on Sunday near five drivers will now fight it out “We feel it was emotional as he’s been playing reg- “We’ve had good testing in the South Island tourist centre for the title this year - and that Barcelona and I think we should ularly for a year so we hope he realises his mistake,” of Queenstown came a day his Renault team should be wary be pretty good from now on hon- the PCB said. before he was due to take part of the threat that Ferrari will estly. It’s honestly getting very It is thought that Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer tried in a rough-and-tumble stock unsuccessfully to convince Afridi to continue in Tests pose for the rest of the season. close between the top teams.” car race, according to the during the matches against India in Abu Dhabi. Alonso said: “Michael for McLaren, the third team that Otago Daily Times. Following the Champions Trophy in India later this sure will be a contender and a Alonso earmarked as title con- big rival at the end of the cham- Woods twice made the year, Pakistan face home series against Zimbabwe tenders, had a disappointing pionship, but he is not the only jump, including an 8.5-second and West Indies, and a tour of South Africa in February weekend by their standards at BANGLADESH: Australian cricket captain Ricky Pointing (L) one. free fall, from a cable car over next year which precedes the World Cup. Imola, with Colombian Juan gestures to a man dressed as a kangaroo at the end of the first “Both McLarens will be there PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan is keen to resolve Pablo Montoya, 30, and Finn the Nevis Valley with his and I hope (Renault team-mate One Day International (ODI) match between Bangladesh and Kimi Raikkonen, 26, taking third caddy, New Zealander Steve the situation with Afridi, who is contracted to play both Giancarlo) Fisichella will be Australia at The Divisional Stadium in Chittagong, 23 April and fifth.