Strauss Bestrides New Field of Dreams
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Tuesday 17th February, 2009 Ananda-PoW heading for interesting finish by Reemus Fernando The Inter-School Under-19 match between Prince of Wales College and Ananda College at Ananda Mawatha is poised for an interesting finish as 20 wickets fell on a low scoring first day yesterday leaving both sides with a chance to clinch the Anuruddha Polonnowita Trophy, which was introduced for the first time in the series. The Cambrians managed to defend their lowly 118 as Buddhika Alwis picked up six wickets to restrict the home team to 110 runs. In the second innings the Cambrians were eight for no wickets at close. Scores: Prince of Wales 118 all out in 55.5 overs (Nipun Chamara 44 n.o, Isuru Thilina 23; Ruchira Herath 3/23, Matheesha Perera 3/24, Cashithra Perera 3/17) and 8 for no wickets in 4 overs Ananda 110 all out in 42.3 overs (Ruchira Herath 19, Matheesha Perera 19; Shehan Jayasuriya 3/44, Buddhika Alwis 6/24) Nalanda in command Big half-centuries from Nipun Karunanayake (97), Dinuk Jayasinghe (76) and Prashan Wickramasinghe (70) took Nalanda College to a commanding 314 for six declared on the first day of their Inter-School Under-19 match against Rahula College, Matara at Bloomfield Ground yesterday. Scores: Nalanda 314 for 6 decl in 71.1 England’s cricket captain Andrew Strauss reacts after playing a shot to reach a century during the first day of the third cricket Test match against the West Indies at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St. overs (Nipun Karunanayake 97, John’s, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton) Dinuk Jayasinghe 76, Prashan Wickramasinghe 70, Chetan de Silva partnership between Strauss and striking Benn for a six and a four. 31, Sineth Gunawardena 25n.o; K.D. Alastair Cook. This was the fifth time It did not get much tougher when Yapa 3/94) Rahula 43 for 1 at close in 25 overs the pair have passed the milestone as Gayle brought on Brendan Nash to trun- (D.T. Ariyaratne 30 n.o) openers, though each of the previous dle down his gentle left-arm seamers and Strauss occasions has occurred in the past 10 Shah reached his fifty off 70 balls. But Bens post 233 months. Those who questioned the wis- just as he and Strauss looked set to cut Put to bat first St. Benedict’s dom of having two left-handers as an loose, Shah went into his shell scoring College scored 233 runs with Surein opening pair, especially a pair with the just seven runs in 30 balls before foolish- Silva top scoring with a half-century same weakness against full-length balls ly running himself out. on the first day of their match against outside off-stump, might have had a This patch of Antigua has been a Mahinda College, Galle at Kotahena yesterday. point a year or so ago, but not recently. batsman’s nirvana ever since coming on bestrides new In reply Mahinda were 11 for one The manner of England’s run-scor- the Test match circuit in 1981. Between wicket at close. ing would have pleased their travelling then and now, it has seen both of Brian Scores: fans, many of who cut forlorn and angry Lara’s world record Test scores, the St. Benedict’s 233 all out in 82.1 figures on Friday, when the match at the fastest Test hundred, made off 56 balls by overs (Eranga Ratnayake 48, Ashen SVR stadium was abandoned after just Sir Vivian Richards, and eight centuries Sirimanne 40, Surein Silva 54, 10 balls due to a dangerous outfield. in the same match, a feat managed when Heshan Chamara 29 n.o; Mayura field of dreams Strauss in particular was aggressive South Africa played against West Indies Dihan 2/37, Rumesh Buddhika 4/49, against all the West Indies bowlers, here four years ago. Nirwantha Thikshila 2/24) by Derek Pringle opponents. though he saved his best and biggest With two rollers, and a small army of ngland captain Andrew Strauss England’s batsmen took control in a shots for the spinners, who found life committed workers, the Rec ground was scored 169 on the opening day of manner that defied all logic regarding more difficult than in the first Test at made shipshape enough for an old-fash- Inter-Provincial Cricket – 2009 Ethe rapidly rescheduled Antigua the 40 hours’ notice given for pitch and Sabina Park. ioned Test match. The only thing miss- Digicel Test, but was it proper Test crick- ground preparation after Gayle won the A bigger than normal cheer greeted ing was the use of the fairly new umpire Basnahira North et? On a pitch whose placidity belied its toss and put them in. Strauss, in fine England’s openers when they passed 51, review system, but with bowlers unable hasty preparation and the West Indies’ form during the tour of India but nerv- the score the team made in the second to trouble the batsmen that often, it was to the fore after decision to use part-time bowlers to ous in the opening Test in Kingston, was innings in Jamaica. Not long after, as the not that essential. deliver more than a third of their overs, ably assisted by half-centuries from scoring rate picked up, Strauss was innings win it looked like only one team wanted this Alastair Cook and Owais Shah, the latter dropped by Gayle at slip off Sulieman © The Telegraph Group, by Revata S. Silva match played at the Antigua Recreation in his first Test innings for almost two Benn, a sharp chance that came quickly London 2009 Ground, and it was not the hosts. years. off the edge as Strauss, on 47 at the time, After the opening week of this Strauss, who was caught and bowled It was Strauss’s second hundred as attempted to cut the left-arm spinner. SCOREBOARD year’s Inter-Provincial Cricket tour- by Fidel Edwards just before the close as captain, though by the shout of joy After Benn’s dominance in the first nament comprising five teams, England 1st Innings he miscued a tired-looking pull shot, which cut the air when he turned Daren Test, England had obviously decided to Basnahira North enjoyed the top of A. Strauss c and b Edwards 169 would not want to devalue a Test match Powell off his legs for two to reach it get after him here. After lunch, Strauss the table position after their encour- A. Cook c Smith b Gayle 52 hundred, but he cannot have faced a (these things can be heard at the cosy was particularly ruthless in taking him aging win at SSC grounds over O. Shah run out (Taylor) 57 greater percentage of second-rate bowl- Antigua Recreation Ground), you could on, striking him for six back over his Kandurata last Sunday (15). K. Pietersen not out 8 ing except against Zimbabwe and tell it meant much more than the other head and for fours just about everywhere Basnahira North now leads the J. Anderson not out 3 Bangladesh. After seeing his team one. else. table with 16 points while Wayamba Extras: (6b, 1w, 5nb) 12 blitzed for 51 in Kingston eight days ago, Not that either team were expecting As has been his habit of late, Cook takes the second place with 11.6 TOTAL: (for 3 wickets) 301 this was a softly-softly approach by the such benign conditions after rain reached fifty and then got out. The tall points. Meanwhile, Basnahira South Overs: 92 who drew their first game with West Indies that would have puzzled the delayed the start by 45 minutes. England left-hander hasn’t made a Test hundred Fall of wickets: 1-123, 2-276, 3-295. Wayamba are in the third place with Andrex puppy. had bolstered their batting by picking for 14 months and the dearth is clearly Still to bat: P. Collingwood, A. Flintoff, M. five (5) while Kandurata, who suf- There is no doubt that England, who Graeme Swann in place of Monty making him tense, which was the only Prior, S. Broad, G. Swann, S. Harmison. fered the innings defeat, are in the finished on 301-3 here on Sunday, pushed Panesar while Gayle’s decision to put explanation for his dismissal by Gayle, Bowling: Taylor 15-3-37-0 (1nb), bottom with 3.33 points. hardest for this Test to be replayed both England in must have been based on caught at slip cutting a ball too full for Edwards 15-2-41-1 (1w, 3nb), Powell 11- There are three more rounds, in Antigua and as quickly as possible. achieving early movement with the ball. the shot. 2-40-0, Gayle 12-1-35-1, Benn 17-2-62-0 starting on February 19, 26 and March The thousands of England supporters A handful of overs from his fast bowlers His departure brought Owais Shah (1nb), Hinds 15-2-59-0, Nash 7-2-21-0. 5 and 12 before the final to be held here to watch the original match at the quickly altered that view and in the 11th and wasted no time joining the run Umpires: R. Koertzen, (RSA), and D. from March 19-22. The fifth team of Sir Vivian Richards Stadium deserved to over he brought himself on to bowl off- spree, cutting his first ball from Gayle to Harper, (Aus). this four-day tournament is Ruhuna. TV Umpire: N. Malcolm, (Jam). see a Test of some sorts, though not spin, his early appearance surely a first the cover boundary.A fine player of spin, Next Round schedule (Feb 19-22) Match Referee: A.