The Island, Thursday 2nd November, 2006 Fire amid rain at Mahela says he’s no dictator Sugathadasa by Revata S. Silva by Rex Clementine ly hard in the nets and the team manage- A fire broke out, while a soccer match was Feeling the Heat ment felt his presence could give the side going on amid last night rains, at the southern Mahela Jayawardene faced a barrage some variation. side spectator enclosure of the Sugathadasa of bouncers, easily more than what Steve Jayawardene was also asked about Stadium, Colombo. The match was between Blue Harmison and Matthew Hoggard would deviating from a tried and tested formula Star and Ratnam. give him during a Test Match, at yester- that had brought Sri Lanka a lot success According to the stadium’s Security Chief day’s media briefing at the Sri Lanka over the years. Sri Lanka used to play to M.M.S. Jagoda, the cause for the fire could have Cricket headquarters called to address their strengths by packing the side with been an electric shortage. The fire had originated some of the issues relating to the spinners in sub-continent conditions and from some mattresses, used for last August’s Champions Trophy tournament. In the the formula even helped them win the SAG. They were seen piled up near the southern absence of coach Tom Moody, the Sri cricket World Cup in 1996 under the leg- side electronic screen and about ten of them had Lankan captain took on the questions endary Arjuna Ranatunga. caught fire. manfully and explained his side of the In that competition, Sri Lanka played story following the disappointing per- two specialist spinners and two part- Both Jagoda and the Police personnel, who formance in India. timers and the famous spin quartet of were on duty on the occasion, dismissed any One of the allegations levelled against Muralitharan, Jayasuriya Kumar attempt of sabotage but the stadium’s director Jayawardene in the aftermath of the Dharmasena and Aravinda de Silva, did Commodore H.U. Silva hinted a possibility of a humiliating early exit in the Champions a fantastic job. In fact, Sri Lanka opted cigarette butt, thrown out by one of the specta- Trophy tournament is that he was too for just two seam bowlers throughout the tors, could be the cause for the fire. “The cost of independent in making decisions and tournament. damage could exceed Rs.50,000,” Silva told “The failed to consult senior players. The issue However, Jayawardene said that the Island.” was brought to light after Sri Lanka’s modern day ODIs didn’t allow the team The southern side roof was seen badly dam- humiliating loss to South Africa where it the luxury of four spinners as the field- aged as the Kotahena fire brigade rushed to the has been suggested that Sanath ing restrictions had been extended to 20 scene ten minutes after fire broke out at 8.10 Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan and overs instead of the 15, ten years ago. He p.m. The match continued about twenty minutes Chaminda Vaas had insisted to play felt that with the fielding restrictions it After the debacle in the Champions Trophy tournament, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene faced later. seven batsmen. was too much of a risk to pack the side the media yesterday at SLC headquarters. In the absence of coach Tom Moody, Jayawardene faced a Jayawardene clarified that although with spinners and the team couldn’t any- barrage of bouncers varying from team selections to not consulting senior players on the tour. Our he didn’t call for formal meetings, he way afford it in India due to the dew fac- sought the opinion of the senior players photographer Nishan S. Priyantha captured this moment when Jayawardene reacted with disappoint- tor. before taking crucial decision. ment after asking a journalist to give him the names of the senior cricketers who had alleged that they Jayawardene also said that he had “I always refer to Sanath, Marvan, were not consulted in vital matters. Team Manager Michael Tissera (R) is in a pensive mood. kept it open for the selectors to decide on Murali, Vaasy and Sanga before taking asked which senior players had told the even implicated in promoting his club his future as the captain of the team. “I crucial decisions. It’s not necessarily that media that they were not being consult- mates, but he denied all allegations and have given the selectors the option. I we need to have a meeting and decide; we ed, but the television journalist who continued to maintain that all decisions believe I am only the caretaker captain. If can do it during a practice session or asked the question declined to give out were made with the best interest of the Marvan wants to continue, I have no whatever. At times there are different names saying that he was not supposed to team. issues with that as this is his time. So it’s views and at such times I have to make reveal his sources. While not disputing Bandara’s talent, up to the selectors really,” up my mind and take a decision which I Jayawardene, the darling of Sri Jayawardene maintained that when Sri Lanka’s team manager Michael 6 feel is the best,” Jayawardene explained. Lankan cricket not so long ago, was there’s Muralitharan and when Tissera revealed that the team manage- “If a senior player has said that I am grilled at the media briefing as he was Jayasuriya is doing a fine job with his ment had written to the International not consulting them, he’s wrong,” questioned in detail about the continu- left-arm spin there was no room for Cricket Council requesting to consider Last pair puts Jayawardene added. ous omission of leg-spinner Malinga another spinner. He also felt that Dilhara play either day games or start matches After answering the question, Bandara and middle order batsman Fernando, who struggled during the early to avoid sides getting undue advan- on 126 for Jayawardene on more than one instance Chamara Kapugedara. The captain was Champions Trophy, had worked extreme- tage due to the dew factor. Polonnaruwa Royal by Reemus Fernando A huge tenth wicket partnership of 126 runs Symonds lifts Australia to final was recorded in the Elephant Lemonade Trophy Inter-School Under-20 match between Royal MOHALI - All-rounder Andrew College, Polonnaruwa and D.B. Wijetunga MV, Symonds led Australia into its first ever Kandy which ended in a draw at Polonnaruwa, on ICC Champions Trophy final on Tuesday. Wednesday with a 34-run victory against Royal College’s last pair of C. Chanuka and S. a never-say-die New Zealand in the first Himeshan batted throughout 47 overs to compose a semifinal. mammoth first innings score of 303 runs after being Symonds smashed a run-a-ball 58 in 177 for 9 at one stage, in reply to D.B. Wijetunga Australia’s challenging total of 240-9 off College’s 173. 50 overs and then took the vital wicket of While Chanuka faced 174 deliveries to score 77 Shoaib, Asif hit Jacob Oram (43) as the world champions runs number xi bat S. Himeshan faced 137 deliver- bowled out a fighting New Zealand for ies to score an unbeaten 48 runs. 206 in 46 overs. Royal duo in their marathon innings was helped Australia had failed to go beyond the by several fielding failures which included few diffi- by doping bans semifinal in its previous two attempts in cult catching opportunities and two run out chances. Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar the Champions Trophy. It will now play as both the left-handers took charge once SCOREBOARD Batting first D.B. Wijetunga made 173 backed and Mohammad Asif have been banned the final at Mumbai on Sunday against McGrath was out of the attack. Australia by useful half tons by S.C. Jayaweera (55) and Anil from all international and domestic the winner of the second semifinal McGrath had the wickets of Lou Adam Gilchrist c Oram b Mills 3 Karunaratne. While Jayaweera smashed six fours cricket for failing a drugs test. between the West Indies and South Vincent (1), Hamish Marshall (5) and Shane Watson c Fulton b Mills 0 and three sixes in his brisk 55 runs, Anil Shoaib, 31, will serve a two-year ban Africa at Jaipur on Thursday. Peter Fulton (2) while Stephen Fleming Ricky Ponting c Vettori b Mills 58 Karunaratne scored seven fours in his unbeaten 54 Damien Martyn lbw b Vettori 26 and Asif, 23, will be unable to play for 12 Fast bowler Glenn McGrath’s (3-22) (15) and Brendon McCullum (1) fell to Michael Hussey c Marshall b Franklin 35 runs. months after testing positive for nan- superb spell of unchanged 10 overs had Nathan Bracken (2-36) in quick succes- Andrew Symonds b Bond 58 D.B. Wijetunga MV 173 (S.C. Jayaweera 55, drolone, a banned steroid. reduced New Zealand to 35-6 in the 15th sion before Vettori and Oram came Michael Clarke c Vettori b Mills 14 Anil Karunaratne 54 n.o; I. Perera 3/31, P. The pair waived their right to have over before Oram and top-scorer Daniel together. Brett Lee b Bond 5 Gunathilaka 3/38) tests on their B samples carried out. Vettori (79) made a remarkable turn- Captain Ricky Ponting and Symonds Mitchell Johnson run out 3 Royal Polonnaruwa 303 (D.G.C.R. Ratnasiri And the punishments were handed around with a record breaking 103-run earlier compiled identical scores of 58 Nathan Bracken not out 15 53, G.