14 Friday 31st December, 2010

Memorable 2010 Cricketing Moments (Part 8) worried about their bank bal- “Sri Lankans are ances?” known to be play- Whether they work for the ing the game sport- good of Sri Lankan or not, the officials of the Cricket ing a friendly smile. Interim Committee have been This is not to say extremely conscious of having The costliest India in good books and that they have been Nishantha Ranatunga, the soft on the field; Sri Interim Committee Secretary is the first man to go out of his way Lankan teams over to please India at the drop of a the years have no ball in the world hat. He was kept busy too. played really tough, Dambulla, had been cricket laws, it didn’t count. as good cricket. They (Sri but the fact bowled out for a paltry 170 after According to cricket’s laws the Lankans) have done that because remains that they electing to bat first in a tri-nation game had finished with the no no team wants anybody to score tournament match against India ball as the winning run had been hundreds against them. So they have always taken and Sehwag had looked solid in conceded. Sehwag didn’t know did that and they were happy. We victory and defeat the run chase. India were heading and raised his arms in jubilation are happy we won the game and for a convincing win with more and had to be told that it doesn’t got the bonus point.” with remarkable than 14 overs to spare. Randiv count by the television presenter. After Sehwag blasted the Sri equanimity. Is it was called up to bowl the 35th “It often happens. When a bats- Lankans, the Indian media was that we have come over with still five runs required man is on 99 and the scores are lambasting the hosts. There was with Sehwag on 99. level, bowlers try to bowl no balls universal condemnation as well to such a pass that The off-spinner’s first ball and wides. It happens in cricket. by ex-cricketers, but still some the spirit of the went for four byes and now with Fair enough.” felt that Randiv didn’t break any just one run required for the win But he hadn’t seen the video rules and there was no need for game means noth- Sehwag was smiling. The next footage at that point and after see- kneejerk reaction. But they had ing to some of our two deliveries were dot balls. ing the video, when he came for conveniently forgotten that present-day players During the over Randiv the post match media conference there’s something called Spirit of stopped started a few times and he blasted the Sri Lankan tactics. Cricket and that Sri Lanka had and they are only finally with one run required to “It was deliberate,” Sehwag been the recipients of this presti- worried about their win, he overstepped, not just the said. “He should not have done it. gious award a few years back. front foot, but his back foot too It was not in true sportsman’s ‘The Island’ the next day bank balances?” was close to overstepping. Not spirit. He should have shown revealed that opening batsman ‘The Island’ com- that it mattered for Sehwag, he sportsman’s spirit. It’s not done Tillekeratne Dilshan, who was smashed that for a six when a batsman is on 99 that you fielding at cover point, shouted in mented on the 18th over long-off, but according to bowl a no ball. That doesn’t figure Sinhalese saying, ‘oney nam, no of August, the day after the no ball episode. Suraj Randiv BY REX CLEMENTINE ball ekak danna puluwan’ (if you “Today in the morning, Sri want, you can bowl a no ball) Lanka Cricket Secretary o start with, this one was before Randiv bowled the con- Nishantha Ranatunga called me not so memorable, but nev- tentious delivery.’ up expressing his regret about Tertheless worth mention- We were also quite harsh on yesterday’s no-ball incident. He ing. the incident the next day when expressed his regret officially and It took we editorially pointed out; “Sri asked me to convey it to the a good seven to eight years of Lankans are known to be playing Indian team, particularly to to become world the game sporting a friendly Sehwag. On behalf of Team famous, but Suraj Randiv was smile. This is not to say that they India, we have accepted known in the every corner of have been soft on the field; Sri Nishantha’s regret and we hope Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay and Lankan teams over the years have that both the countries’ cricket- Madras instantly even before he played really tough, but the fact ing relations go forward,” Ranjib completed a handful of interna- remains that they have always Biswal the Indian team Manager tional matches. All what he had to taken victory and defeat with said. do was to bowl a no ball that infa- remarkable equanimity. Is it that SLC called for an internal mously denied a we have come to such a pass that inquiry and banned Randiv for an century in a One-Day This was the no ball that denied Virender Sehwag a hundred. With the Indian opener on 99 and the the spirit of the game means ODI and fined him his match fee International in Dambulla. scores leveled, Suraj Randiv bowls a massive no ball to concede defeat and deny Sehwag a hundred nothing to some of our present- (US$3500). Dilshan was also hand- On the 16th of August in during an ODI at Dambulla in August this year. The no ball cost Randiv 3500 US$. day players and they are only ed a similar fine. beat New Zealand SLRFU unfolds plans to by 103 runs in 3rd T20 CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) the lowest score for the loss of five - Pakistan have bowled out New Zealand for by any team in the history of just 80 runs to win the third Twenty20 internationals. streamline rugby in the country international by 103 runs, with Abdul Scott Styris revived the innings slightly Razzaq taking 3-13 and 4-14. with a top score of 45 and was New BY RAVI NAGAHAWATTE gressed steadily in their attempts to New Zealand lost its first four batsmen Zealand’s only batsman to reach double fig- obtain a ground for rugby. ‘All negoti- for ducks, slumping to 3-4 as Razzaq ures. Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union ations with the government with crashed through its middle order, giving Earlier, Ahmed Shehzad made 54 and (SLRFU) Secretary Shane Dullewa says regard to obtaining a ground for Pakistan its first win of the three-match shared an 81-run opening partnership with that the rugby union has taken all rugby have gone well. I can’t divulge series. 81 with (34) in steps to encourage players to take to the location, but we should soon have At 11-5 after 4.4 overs, New Zealand had Pakistan’s 183-6. the game played with the oval shaped a ground for rugby,’ said Dullewa. ball. The SLRFU secretary said that he SCOREBOARD Dullewa told ‘The Island’ that was happy that the tournament com- tournaments like the Carlton Sevens mittee was able to successfully con- Pakistan Innings J. Franklin b Razzaq 3 would have motivated the country’s duct all domestic tournaments. Ahmed Shehzad lbw b Franklin 54 S. Styris b Afridi 45 players because there were so many ‘Teams like Navy SC and Sri Lanka Mohammad Hafeez c Taylor b Franklin 34 P. McGlashan b Rehman 7 international stars in action. ‘We saw Air Force impressed apart from the c Mills b McCullum 8 N. McCullum lbw b Afridi 8 players from top rugby playing nations traditional favourites like Kandy SC run out 5 K. Mills b Afridi 7 like Fiji, New Zealand, and and CR&FC, but CH&FC and c Brownlie b Milne 30 T. Southee b Afridi 0 play on our soil. We Sri Havelocks were a disappointment. Shahid Afridi b Southee 14 A. Milne 3 Lankans rarely get an opportunity to The SLRFU will try to give all the not out 34 Extras: (3lb,2w,2nb) 7 see the world’s star players in action encouragement for CH and Havies to not out 0 TOTAL: (all out) 80 and we must thank the organisers of ‘I can’t divulge the location, but we come up next season,’ said Dullewa. Extras: (1b,3w) 4 Overs: 15.5 the Carlton Sevens for that,’ he said. should soon have a ground for According to Dullewa, the idea TOTAL: (for 6 wickets) 183 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-2, 3-2, 4-3, 5-11, 6- He said that he was happy to see rugby,’ says Dullewa proposed to allow foreigners to play Overs: 20 36, 7-58, 8-73, 9-73, 10-80. rugby academies, run by past national in the domestic tournaments had Fall of wickets: 1-81, 2-90, 3-100, 4-106, Bowling: Razzaq 4-1-13-3, Ahmed 3-0- players like Hisham Abdeen and rugby union. Coaches who register received support from six out of the 5-136, 6-164. 13-1 (2w, 1nb), Riaz 2-0-15-0 (1nb), Dilroy Fernando, serving the rugby will also get the opportunity to attend eight clubs contesting the A Did not bat: Tanvir Ahmed, Rehman 4-0-22-1, Afridi 2.5-0-14-4. community. ‘The SLRFU has given the seminars, according to Dullewa. Division tournaments. ‘I believe the and . Umpires: Gary Baxter and Chris Gaffaney blessings to these academies to pro- For the record, players who play in idea to have foreigners playing in Bowling: Milne 4-0-48-1 (3w), Mills 4-0- (NZ) mote rugby in the country. These the Division A, B and C domestic tour- our domestic tournaments would be 36-0, Southee 4-0-53-1, McCullum 4-0-29- TV umpire: Barry Frost (NZ), rugby academies have close relation- naments will have to register with the ratified by the council as the majori- 1, Franklin 3-0-12-2, Styris 1-0-4-0. Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SL) ships with the SLRFU and they always SLRFU. ty are supporting it. If foreigners New Zealand Innings Toss: Pakistan inform us when they take players on He said that all office bearers of are allowed to play, it will help the J. Ryder c Shehzad b Tanvir 0 Result: Pakistan won by 103 runs. tours,’ he said. the council, club representatives and number of spectators at matches M. Guptill c Shehzad b Razzaq 0 Series: New Zealand won the three-match Speaking about the requisite that observers were frequently present at grow and the games will be more D. Brownlie run out 0 series 2-1. all players, coaches, trainers and phys- monthly meetings and contributed competitive,’ he said. R. Taylor lbw b Razzaq 0 iotherapists have to be registered with their ideas for the betterment of the He said that the SLRFU kitty con- the SLRFU, Dullewa said that these game. Dullewa rubbished speculation tained 25 million rupees when the steps were taken to ensure that quali- that there was infighting between new council took over administra- fied people will work with players. ‘As council members during monthly tion. Money in the kitty, according Armstrong pulls out of NZ triathlon for the players, they would be giving meetings. ‘There have been healthy to Dullewa, had been mainly used to the SLRFU a commitment through arguments regarding some matters, send teams for international tourna- WELLINGTON, New triathlon at the Blue Lakes their registration and this would also but that too with the intention of ments, pay for the accommodation, Zealand (AP) - Seven-time multisports festival at Rotorua ensure that they’d be available for serving rugby,’ he said. Dullewa travelling and the nutrition for play- Tour de France winner Lance on the North Island on Jan. 29. national duty whenever the call is added that Air Chief Marshal Roshan ers, and also to settle payments of Armstrong has pulled out of Organisers said on made,’ he said. Gunatilake had provided the leader- support staff and coaches. a multisports event in New Thursday Armstrong now Dullewa said that coaches who reg- ship to the administrative arm of the Dullewa also said it was encour- Zealand next month in which planned to return to the United ister with the SLRFU will have the SLRFU in his capacity as rugby aging to see Singer Sri Lanka and he had planned to re-launch States immediately after com- opportunity to obtain the latest coach- union president. John Keells tying up as sponsors of his triathlon career. peting in the Tour Down Under ing material and knowledge from the He said the SLRFU had pro- rugby this season. The American cyclist was Lance cycle race in Australia from to compete in a sprint distance Armstrong Jan. 16 to 23.