The Island, Tuesday 31st January, 2006 India poses biggest threat to hosts at Youth World Cup by Rex Clementine host all Sri Lanka’s first round Kaif beat the hosts to win the tions from the supporters put games. 2000 edition of the competi- the young players under Neighbour India poses the Two teams will qualify for tion at the SSC. additional pressure? biggest challenge to hosts Sri the quarter-finals of the com- Sri Lanka played India in “Conditions here are Lanka in the Under-19 Cricket petition from each group and the Afro-Asian Cup last year going to help us obviously World Cup that gets under- if Sri Lanka go through they in India and were beaten in and it’s an advantage. With way next week in Colombo. will probably meet either the the final, but apparently have expectations being so high, Sri Lanka’s captain Angelo West Indies, Australia or addressed key areas that did- the pressure can build, but Mathews, coach Sumithra South Africa. n’t go right for them in that looking positively it will help Warnakulasuriya and manag- “The Indian game is going tournament. us to do even better,” er Ashley de Silva addressed to be the toughest for us. They “During the Afro-Asia Mathews said. the media in Colombo, yester- are a good side, but having Cup fielding was our main The hosts are also the most day. said that, we’ll be approach- concern. We have done a lot prepared team in the compe- Sri Lanka are drawn in ing all games with the same of hard work towards rectify- tition having toured Pakistan, Group ‘C’ in the two week level of intensity,” Mathews ing the shortcomings,” Bangladesh and England. long competition along with told journalists. Warnakulasuriya said. They also took part in the India, Scotland and Namibia. However, the advantage of “Previously, Ruwan Afro Asian championship in The hosts play the curtain- having the Indians in the Kalpage was full time with India and had an opportunity raiser of the competition on same group is that Sri Lanka the national side as the video of taking a look at South February 5 against Scotland will not be meeting them analyst and we couldn’t make Africa and Zimbabwe apart and their second game either in the quarter-finals or use of him. But since his from Pakistan and against Namibia on February the semi-finals and a second arrival he has worked hard Bangladesh, whom they also 7. The crucial game against Indo-Sri Lanka clash will take with the boys in improving played elsewhere. India will be their last fixture place only if both teams qual- the fielding,” he added. The hosts will also play in the group stages and will ify for the finals, as it hap- Obviously, home condi- two warm up games before be played on February 10. The pened in 2000, when India, tions will help Sri Lanka but the tournament against the Sri Lanka Under-19 captain Angelo Mathews speaking to journalists at yesterday’s news conference. The R. Premadasa Stadium will captained by Mohammed will the weight of expecta- West Indies and Pakistan. manager of the Sri Lankan team, Ashley de Silva is to his right. (Pic by Nishan S. Priyantha) St. John’s Nugegoda stun Aussie fans display wild side Sri Jayawardenepura by Reemus Fernando chipped in with half centuries. Sri Lanka meet South Africa in crunch game Sri Jayawardenapura College St. John’s College, Nugegoda, in batting second managed only 249 by Revata S. Silva in Australia crunch battle for a birth in tors have taken steps to game, the first of their last Mahela Jayawardene, a stunning performance took a mas- runs as Keshawa Eranda picked up the VB tri-series finals, at intensify security at the four round robin matches. Tillakaratne Dilshan, sive first innings lead of 177 runs four wickets for 78 runs. K.M. Perera It was only five days ago Perth under lights. remaining matches of the They are presently on 8 Michael Vandort, Russel over Sri Jayawardenepura College, and M. Wickramaratne scored half that some Sri Lankan play- Majola had told the Cape VB Series. Five spectators points and a net run rate of - Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Kotte in their inter school First XI centuries for Sri Jayawardenapura. ers were called “blacks” dur- Times yesterday: “It is very were ejected from the 0.680, one point behind Sri Muttiah Muralitharan, serious and if it continues Adelaide Oval during the Sri Lanka (9 and -0.129), in the Malinga Bandara, Ruchira match which ended at Kotte, yester- Asked to follow on, they fared even ing the one-dayer at the we will have no option but to Lanka – Australia match fol- points table and the two Perera, Dilhara Fernando, day. worse losing 7 wickets for 73 runs. Adelaide Oval and now, seriously consider whether lowing racist remarks after games they have against Sri Chamara Kapugedera, St. John’s College piled up a CHIEF SCORES: South African Cricket Board CEO Gerald Majola warns, we are to tour Australia in the Telstra Dome incident. Lanka, including today’s Nuwan Kulasekara and massive 426 for 5 declared as St. John’s 426 for 5 declared that their team will have to the future.” Former Australia player one will probably decide Akalanka Ganegama Dimuth Indeewara and Damith (Dimuth Indeewara 108, Damith think twice about future out- Adding salt to the Darren Lehman was slapped who will make it to the best- South Africa (From): Perera completed superb tons. Perera 100, Supun Madusanka 81, ings Down Under, if the wounds, the ICC’s Anti- with a five-match ban, at the of-three finals, with the Graeme Smith (Capt), Johan Daham Liyanage 78, D. U. Perera Damith Perera, who scored a swash- racist remarks by the Aussie Corruption and Security height of a World Cup cam- hosts (18 points already,with Botha, Mark Boucher (wk), buckling 100 runs in 56 balls was the 2/107) spectators continue. Unit chief for Australia - paign, after he made racist two more games to go). Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle cynosure of all eyes in the drawn Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 249 New Zealand Region, John (“black”) remarks against Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Justin match. He hammered seven bound- (K. M. Perera 87, M. In the midst of these Rhodes, was assaulted by a the Lankans in Brisbane Teams: Kemp, Garnett Kruger, aries and smashed seven sixes, of Wickramasinghe 60, Keshawa racist remarks, which drunken Aussie spectator at during the 2002-03 VB Series. Sri Lanka (From): Charl Langeveldt, Shaun which four came in the final over to Eranda 4/78, Ishara Chathuranga reveals a dark uncivilized the Telstra Dome. Marvan Atapattu (Capt), Pollock, Ashwell Prince, help St. John’s score 28 runs in the 2/11, Amila Pathum 2/74) and 73 for side of this developed Reportedly, he was accused Today’s match Jehan Mubarak, Sanath Jacques Rudolph, Monde last over. Supun Madusanka (81) 7 (K. M. Perera 24, Amila Pathum nation, Sri Lanka will meet of being a South African. South Africa meanwhile Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Zondeki, Dale Steyn and and Daham Liyanage (78) too 3/08) South Africa today, in a The Aussie administra- will go flat out to win today’s Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Johan van der Wath. Pakistan take charge of decisive Test A draw at Kandana Maris Stella College took Fernando 97, Shanuka De by Kuldip Lal third and final cricket Test decider at the National stadi- were bowled out for 238 mid- game because 180 is not first innings honours in their Silva 49, Dhinan Nonis 48, here on Monday. um. way through the afternoon much of a lead,” said Asif, match against De Mazenod Nilantha Kotikawatta 32, Karachi, (AFP) - Pakistan ended the sec- Seamer Mohammad Asif session. the 23-year-old seamer play- Colleg Kandana which ended Terence Levangama 5/67) Pakistan’s young guns out- ond day’s play leading by 180 claimed four wickets and Pakistan ended the day on ing only his third Test match. in a draw at Kandana yester- and 73 for 4 at close performed India’s star-stud- runs with eight wickets in Abdul Razzaq took three as 173-2 in their second knock “The wicket has eased out day. De Mazenod 221 (Sham ded tourists to help the hosts hand and well-placed to call India, replying to Pakistan’s following half-centuries from a lot and it will be good for Fernando 96, Nilushan Nonis the shots in the series first innings total of 245, Salman Butt (53) and Imran batting for the rest of the seize the advantage in the CHIEF SCORES: 55, Nilantha Kotikawatta Farhat (57) during a first- game. So we need a real big Maris Stella 284 (Channa 5/80, Ashen Silva 4/43) wicket stand of 109. score to put the Indians Both openers fell within under pressure.” the space of 23 runs, but Pakistan, without their stand-in captain Younis inspirational skipper Khan (25 not out) and Inzamam-ul Haq due to a Dharmapala triumph Mohammad Yousuf (30 not back injury, still played the Sithara Perera and S. Kandanarachchi 27, A. out) ensured Pakistan did not better cricket when it mat- Rusiru Belagama, who Nimeshan 3/26, R. Rankoth let the initiative slip away. tered most to gain the upper claimed eight wickets each, 3/18) and 170 for 4 decl. (S. “I think it is still an open hand. guided Dharmapala College Kandanarachchi 60 n.o, I. Kottawa to an outright victo- Athureliya 52 n.o, R.