Thursday 18th December, 2008

stump, Clarke chose a poor time to loft the spinner Paul Harris and was caught at mid-on. Australia needed Katich’s fight on a pitch that set to was not as brutal as expected, but still offered enough bounce to make the fast men smile, espe- cially when running in to the tail-enders. Katich, tour Pakistan Magnetic first who grew up in Perth before moving to New South Wales, made his first Test at his old home ground memorable, settling well after watching Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey depart by the sixth over. He drove hard, relaxing with a push through cover off Steyn for a boundary, and then swung three fours in a row from Kallis. A sliced cut car- ried over the rope at third-man to bring up his day at the WACA half-century and he followed with a textbook shot SCOREBOARD Round one of the 1990s, they entered this series with their best through the gully. battle between the chance of success. Twice on the first day they had While Katich hit seven mostly crisp bound- aries and a six, Clarke was happier to work the Australia 1st Innings world’s top-ranked their opponents in tender positions before allow- teams could not have ing them to escape to a more comfortable pose ball around before lunch and then became more M Hayden c Smith b Ntini 12 desperate to follow through after the break. His S Katich lbw b Morkel 83 been more magnetic on through a mix of defensive settings and an inse- a first day when the cure outlook. fifty came when he skipped down the pitch to R Ponting c de Villiers b Ntini 0 sides swayed between Andrew Symonds and Brad Haddin emerged Harris and chipped a boundary over the spinner’s M Hussey c de Villiers b Steyn 0 being in control and for the third session determined to attack and did head. An attempt at a repeat caused his downfall. M Clarke c Smith b Harris 62 needing to catch up. At it so comfortably. The situation was tense but they In a surprise move Harris delivered 21 overs A Symonds c McKenzie b Harris 57 stumps in the absorbing weren’t fazed, with 93 runs coming at more than on the first day, earning two , while Ntini B Haddin c Duminy b Ntini 46 tug-o-war, South Africa five an over. The momentum, which lapped like was the most successful with 3 for 66. Morkel, who B Lee c Duminy b Steyn 29 and Australia were eye- the edges of the Swan River, was on Australia’s ended the day with Mitchell Johnson’s lbw, took 2 balling each other, with bank. Then, once again, the tide changed briefly for 62 and appeared the most difficult to negotiate. Ranatunga Miandad J Krejza 19 Steyn was better when the ball was shiny and his M Johnson lbw b Morkel 18 the hosts scraping, and as Symonds, whose 57 from 68 balls was a blast Sri Lanka is set to play two Test at times, exploding from his pre-fishing past, miscued in a similar head-to-head with Brett Lee started well. Lee (29) Extras 10 popped an awkward delivery to point as Steyn col- Matches and three One-Day Total 9 wkts, 89 overs 341 towards 9 for 341. manner to Clarke. Both players were horrified. Internationals in Pakistan next For the first 29 min- For the teams it was a game of tag. Whenever lected a couple of victims. Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-14, 3-15, 4-164, At the toss Ponting said his senior batsmen January if India fails to tour the coun- utes South Africa one side was caught the other sprinted away. try following the recent terrorist 5-166, 6-259, 7-298, 8-303, 9-341 opened with a Haddin kept Australia ahead as the shadows from had to stand up, but within 32 balls three of them Bowling: Ntini 18 1 66 3, Steyn 18 2 71 had departed. Ntini and Steyn were nervous ini- attacks in Mumbai. Although the Board flamethrower, burning the light stands grew across the ground, looking a of Control for Cricket in India is yet to 2, Kallis 15 2 65 0, Morkel 17 1 62 2, Australia to 3 for 15 high-class batsman, especially when hitting tially, spraying their opening deliveries, and then suddenly, with help from the edgy Australians, make a formal announcement, coun- Harris 21 2 70 2 after they won the toss, Jacques Kallis for a straight six. His lapse came try’s Sports Minister and past greats but then Australia coun- on 46 when Ntini took the second new ball and he they were world beaters. The career crisis of Hayden, who hit two fours have objected the team making the trip tered with a 149-run slashed to deep point. to Pakistan. partnership between Simon Katich and Michael Like Katich’s display in the morning, Australia off Ntini in the first over, worsened on 12 when his feet were stuck and his bat waved a catch to “Is it possible for one team to arrive Clarke. It felt as though the brutal start had never were desperate for the contributions of Clarke, in Mumbai and indulge in mass murder, happened and that the batting side reaching 400 Symonds and Haddin to secure their total. South Graeme Smith at first slip. Next ball Ponting attempted an off drive and his push was well and have another team go and play was as certain as the wind picking up in the after- Africa’s bid to topple the world champions, who cricket in the winter afternoon sun at noon. are still trying to prove they are an all-conquering taken by de Villiers at third slip. Ntini was on a hat-trick, but Hussey was allowed to leave his first Lahore immediately after,” Indian Looking ahead, or trying to decide which side force, started in stunning style with Dale Steyn Sports Minister Manohar Singh Gill would finish on top, was not wise. With Katich and and Makhaya Ntini frightening the home bats- delivery. Hussey received the best ball of the dismissed had told PTI making a strong statement Clarke appearing untouchable while picking up men. However, Katich wasn’t scared and despite against the team touring Pakistan. half-centuries, both departed within two runs some uncomfortable fends he out-performed his trio when Steyn angled one across him and the batsman was forced to play, nibbling to de Villiers There were media reports in before tea and Australia’s position was a wonky 5 more highly-respected team-mates during a cru- Pakistan that Sri Lanka were set to fill for 166. cial 83. who accepted a stunning catch diving forward from third slip. The pace of the action slowed, but the gap if India pulled out and when South Africa were back in front but it does not Clarke was streaky at times during his 62, but asked for comments, Shane Fernando, look like their preferred position. Having chased his exit was costly. An over after Katich was lbw to something was always happening throughout the day. It could be a classic series. the Media Manager of SLC told ‘The Australia since their readmission in the early a Morne Morkel full toss that was heading for leg Island’ that Pakistan Cricket Board’s Director General Javed Miandad had asked Sri Lanka Cricket Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga of the team’s avail- ability to tour Pakistan if India pulled out. 56th National Moores says Panesar Ranatunga had pledged SLC’s fullest support to Pakistan as the Sri Lankan team doesn’t have any international Badminton lacked practice commitments during this period when the former Pakistan captain phoned his Peter Moores, the England 105 runs in the chase. former Sri Lankan counterpart yester- Championship coach, has defended Monty “As you go through your day, Fernando added. Panesar’s poor show in overs you get into a rhythm so Ranatunga had also told PTI in an begins today India’s record chase in that’s quite challenging for earlier interview that the Sri Lankans Chennai, blaming it on lack of someone who is suddenly were happy with the security arrange- practice ahead of the series. charged with the job of bowl- ments in Pakistan that was in place dur- by Manjula D (CHICO) has come for- Panesar last played a first- ing out an Indian Test match ing the Asia Cup tournament. ward to sponsor the .Phillips class game in September and team that are playing very event giving away over- went in to the first Test with- good cricket,” Moores said. all prize money of Rs. 1 The 56th National out a warm-up game, after the Panesar’s record in Tests, million -the biggest Badminton scheduled match was can- he said, compared very Ranpandu Football tourney Championship, con- amount awarded in local badminton histo- Jae Jong Choi, Managing Director of Ceylon Heavy celled following the Mumbai favourably to a lot of spinners ducted by the Sri Lanka terror attacks. who had started out in the commences today Badminton Association ry. Industries & Construction Ltd., symbolically hands over the Sri Lanka Telecom sponsorship cheque to Prof. Ranjith De Silva, the President Moores echoed the words of game around the same time will get underway today David Capel, Panesar’s coach and he was still very young. The Ranpandu and Yonex–Sunrise, of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association at a media briefing Gold Cup Football and the finals will be at Northamptonshire, who “People talk about him devel- Singapore are the co in Colombo. (Pic by Kamal Wanniarachchi) tournament, conduct- held on Sunday, said Panesar lacked bowling oping and changing pace and December 21, at the –sponsors. ed by the Government practice and needed time to that takes time, we know that Royal College Sports The events to be Mixed Doubles, Men’s will be conducted on a Services Soccer work on his variations. with spinners. They have to Complex, Colombo 7. worked out at the com- Veteran Singles, Men’s knockout basis. Association (GSSA) “One of the keys to Monty add things to their game as Ceylon Heavy petition will be the Veteran’s Doubles, For the first time, and played for the M. S. in this Test match is that he’s batters do and all cricketers Industries & Men’s Singles, Men’s Masters’ Singles and the losers of the main M. Salley Ranpandu not had a run do to stay Construction Ltd. Doubles, Women’s Sin- Masters’ Doubles. draw will be involved in Trophy will get under- gles, Women’s Doubles, The Championship a Plate event. of games and I ahead of the way today at 4.00 pm don’t think it game.” with the GSSA team was as easy as In his first meeting fancied the pitch 17 Tests, M.S.M. Salley Ratnam SC at the Under-19 Cricket Sugathadasa Stadium. Gayle says tailenders looked Panesar took because other- Today is inciden- 65 wickets at tally the second death anniversary of the wise Ashen double 28.40 with six late M. S. M. Salley,in whose memory the Harbhajan have to do more five-fors and a championship has been named. [Singh] and ten- The curtain raiser between GSSA and Chris Gayle, the him with the bat,” helps Maris Stella [Amit] Mishra West Indies captain, Gayle said. haul while in Ratnam will be followed by the encounter was impressed by Edwards’ stats for All rounder Ashen Silva picked would have the last 17 he between Sarasavi SC and Maligawaththa up four wickets and contributed Jerome Taylor’s cen- the same number run riot and took 52 at Youth under floodlights. with a well made 73 runs for Maris tury in the drawn of Tests is worse - they didn’t,” 37.82 with two The tournament attracts 10 reputed first Test against he has scored 45 at Stella College to score a first innings Moores said. soccer playing clubs in the local arena five-fors. New Zealand but not 3.75, with seven victory over Zahira College, Harbhajan namely, Saunders, Old Bens, Renown, “He wants so with Taylor’s fel- ducks from 17 Colombo, in their Inter School First and Mishra Blue Star, Don Bosco and Java Lane. low lower-order bats- innings. XI match played at Negombo, on to develop his took three The Ranpandu tournament was first men. Gayle criti- Gayle was Tuesday. game and he wickets each organized by M. S. M. Salley during the cised the contribu- happy, however, After Maris Stella declared at 248 is developing ‘70s, but was not played for over three tions of his lower in the first with West Indies’ for 6, skipper Isham Ghouse fought his game and decades. The tournament was restarted a order, singling out overall perform- innings but a lonely battle piling up an unbeaten he’s at that couple of years back by the GSSA where fast bowler Daren ance in the Test. 80 for Zahira to post 182. managed only Powell, and asked point in his Azath Salley, the son of late Salley is the “It was cold and The match was hampered by bad one each in them to improve in career where chairman. we had a lot of weather. the second as The championship will be played as a coming Tests. rain, but we adapt- he is learning “I’m disappointed Scores: England knockout tourney and all matches will be ed well and had with Daren’s batting Maris Stella 248 for 6 decl in 64 scored 311 to all the time. played at the Sugathadasa Stadium. some very good in the last few Chris Gayle overs (Aravinda Ratnayake 48, set India a Once you Two matches each will be played performances. months,” Gayle said Shanuka de Silva 31, Malinda mammoth tar- learn some- today, on the 20th, 21st and 22nd and the “There is after rain had marred much of Samarasekara 77, Ashen Silva 73; thing, you final will be played on the 23rd. always room for improvement get of 387. the Test. “He needs to step up Mohomed Imraz 2/35, Mohomed Panesar, who practice it The winners of the tourney will walk as he’s a better batsman than and we will be looking for Irshad 3/62) and 49 for 2 at close in 8 also took and then you away with a cash award of Rs. 200,000 and that.” improvement in all depart- overs (Aravinda Ratnayake 24) three in can start to the M. S. M. Salley Ranpandu Gold Cup Powell was out for a duck, ments. We will be back in Zahira 182 all out in 56 overs along with fellow tailender business in Napier in a few India’s first use it in a trophy. The runners-up will receive a (Mohomed Irshad 37, Isham Ghouse cash award of Rs. 100,000. Fidel Edwards. In his last ten days and we will be looking 80 n.o; Vimukthi Dassanayake 3/49, innings, went game. It’s not Tests, Powell has scored a for a win in that match. We Ashehn Silva 4/38) wicketless an overnight meagre 102 runs at 6.80. “I’m expect better weather condi- (RF) and conceded process.” looking for better things from tions.” More sport on page 14

Thursday 18th December, 2008