Duleep the Dasher Knocked out Cold by Jeff Thomson in Duleep Mendis

Friday 19th June, 2009 15 Seylan and Sampath SL Open Wheelchair Banks record wins by Manjula D. Phillips were edged out by 62/51 in an A division men’s After leading 16/05 at the match, played at the same Tennis begins next Friday half time, Seylan Bank beat venue. Mobitel Lanka in a one NTB were conceding 3 points lead at the short by Revata S. Silva sided affair in an A after the media briefing, that the world’s 68, an unprecedented feat Division women’s match in whistle as the score was SLTA has advertising opportunity in any form of tennis by a Sri the Mercantile Basketball 28/25. In the second half The 2nd Sri Lankan Open for local sponsors in this major Lankan. knockout tournament at Sampath Bank impressed Wheelchair Tennis Tournament international sporting event, par- The former SL Army soldier the MCA Basketball courts, further to win the match, 62/51 will begin at the SL Tennis ticipated mainly by the different- from Anuradhapura won last Colombo on last Wednesday. Virantha Bastian (18) Association hard courts next Fri. ly-abled army personnel who have year’s doubles title too partnering and Mithila Abeysekara (26) with the opening ceremony risked their lives during the 30- D.M. Gamini, also from SL Army. Inoka Sandamali (11) and Daya Jayaweera (12) (12) were the best shooters scheduled for Friday morning at year civil war in the north and They beat another pair from the played the leading roles for for the Sampath Bank the save venue. The event was east. army, Jayalath Manatunga and the Seylan Bank to post while Gavi Cooray (15) and announced to the media at a brief- Upali Rajakaruna, 34, the title Sunil Perera in the event’s final. 36/07 victory over Mobitel Prageeth Pushpakumara ing held at the SLTA on defender of men’s open singles, Rajakaruna, a Sri Lankan rep Lanka in the end .For (11) were for the NTB. Twenty seven teams are Wednesday (17). The tourney will will be the hot contender for this in last year’s Beijing Olympics, is Mobitel it was Gayani taking part in the knock- go on till next Sun. (28). year’s plum events too. expected to have a sizeable resist- Wijesiri who scored 04 points was the best shooter. out tournament divided Lt. Col. Shiran Abeysekera, Rajakaruna, who currently holds ance from some Indians who are to into six Divisions.The head of wheelchair tennis section an ITF rank of 144, last year take part in this year’s US$ 2000 divisions’ finals will be of the SLTA, told ‘The Island,’ Lt. Col. Shiran Abeysekera enjoyed a stupendous number of prize-money ITF Futures event. Sampath Bank outplays NTB from 24th of June. Nation Trust Bank’s The tournament is resistance was just not suf- organized and conducted ficient for the experienced by the Mercantile Athula and Sachini Inter Provincial Under-19 Tourney Sampath Bank as they Basketball Association. win National Chess Angelo shines against Championships Matara win on gloomy skies parabola system Athula Russell managed to defend by Reemus Fernando his title in a close battle at the challenging total against strong Gayan Buddhika 11 n.o; Charith by Reemus National Chess Championship 2009 W.P. South team that included Jayampathi Fernando which ended last Sunday. Sachini The finalists of the SLC con- number of Sri Lanka Under-19 WP South 15 for no loss in 2 Ranasinghe of Musaeus College ducted Inter Provincial Under-19 cricketers. Jayainghe hit five overs (Andry Berenger 12 n.o) Matara came up with an exceptional per- Tournament were decided by bowl fours and three sixes in his knock District scored a formance, since she scored a total of out after the two semi finals were while Dasun Shanaka contributed Central Province book 38 run victory according to 12 1/2 points out of 13 games. hampered by bad weather but with 43 runs. For W.P. South pace- final berth parabola system Athula, who is the top ranked dark clouds couldn’t hold young man Charith Jayampathi picked Central Province booked a as they restricted player in Sri Lanka scored eight Angelo Jayasinghe of Maris Stella up four wickets for 38 runs. final berth when they won in bowl Hambantota to points from 12 games with a draw in College from hogging the lime- In reply Western Province out after their semi final against 160 for five wick- the final round with veteran Luxman light as he top scored with 59 runs South team were 15 for no loss in Western Province South Outer ets in 34 overs Wijesuriya. in 47 balls for Western Province two overs when rain halted the was hampered at Ananda before their Inter District Prima This is his 5th National title, North Outer team to post 177 runs match at Kotahena. Later W.P. Mawatha. Central Province were Trophy match while it was Sachini’s first. in 24 overs against Western North Outer won a bowl out at 32 for one wicket in reply to WP was hampered by rain at 38 overs (Mohamed Mizdak The National Chess Province South in their semi final SSC grounds to book their final North team’s 142 runs. They were Uyanwatte Ground yester- 21, Nadun Tharanga 40, T. Championship 2009 which was held at Kotahena yesterday. berth. chasing a revised target of 139 to day. Narasinghe 47, Vihanga Kalhara 35; Charith from 5 to 14 June at CETRAC, Batting first W.P. North Outer Scores: win when rain stopped their Batting first, Matara scored 209 for seven wickets Kodituwakku 2/37, S. Battaramulla, conducted by the team were in trouble after they WP North Outer 177 for 6 in match. Ranjula 3/32, Suresh Chess Federation of Sri Lanka and lost three quick wickets but 24 overs (Malinda Samarasekara Now Central Province will in 38 overs with Tharindu Narasinghe top scoring with Kodituwakku 2/43) sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom Ltd. Jayasinghe anchored the innings 21, Iranga Krishan 24, Angelo meet W.P. North Outer in the final 47 runs. Hambantota 160 for 5 The inaugural National Chess scoring sensibly for them to post a Jayasinghe 59, Dasun Shanaka 43, at Kotahena tomorrow. In reply, Hambanthota wkts in 34.1 overs (H.P. Championship in was held in 1972. were 160 for five wickets Rajapakse 20, Kasun A total of Rs. 150,000 was given as when rain stopped play. Chamara 44, Charith Kodituwakku 34; Gihan prize money at the closing ceremony Scores: Nimsara 3/26). held on June 14. Brigadier Parry bids goodbye Matara 209 for 7 wkts in Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of The funeral of Construction and Engineering Brigadier Parry Services and Mrs. Lesha De Silva, Liyanage, senior vice Chairperson Sri Lanka Telecom were president of the Sri Christine Merrill the chief guests. Lanka Athletic Athula Russell won the Nationals Association and the impresses at US meet in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008 as well. national athletic He also was the runner-up at the Christine Merrill, an university record time of coach took place at engineering student at the 58.86 set earlier this season. 2nd International Masters’ Chess the Borella Cemetery University of San Diego, Christine is the daughter of Tournament 2009 held in Sri Lanka California, won the women’s Dr. Neloufa Merrill (nee finishing ahead of two International with military honours 400 meters hurdles at the Perera), an old girl of Masters from India. yesterday amidst a Division 2 National Ladies’ College, Colombo, Just one girl, W. F. M. Supeshala gathering of athletic Collegiate Athletic where she was an outstand- Thilakawardena managed a draw officials and a host of Association Championships ing athlete, holding the long- against young Sachini, who is just held at the Le Grand Sports jump and 4x100 meter senior and junior Complex in San Angela school records. Her grand- 14. national athletes. The Texas, last month. mother, the late Lakshmi Supeshala was placed third in the picture shows sol- She entered the meet as Perera (nee final rankings. diers carrying his the top seed in the 400 Wickremasinghe) was also Dinushki (Girls’ High School, remains to the ceme- meters hurdles and finish- an outstanding athlete at Kandy) came up with a great per- ing first in a time of 58.59. Bishop’s College Colombo, tery. (Pic by Dimuthu formance, scoring 10 points out of 1 Her timing surpassed her where she was the Games Premaratne) previous personal best and Captain.

by M. A. Cyril smashed them – with perfect timing. He was embarrassed whenever he hit small

(Continued from yesterday) sixes. He had a simple philosophy; if in doubt, hit out. Indeed, it was this atti- he 1987 World Cup held in India tude that led to him famously getting was the last tour as captain for Duleep the Dasher knocked out cold by Jeff Thomson in Duleep Mendis. It was a disap- the 1975 World Cup in England. T “ pointing competition for Sri Lanka, who ”Duleep’s international career car- ended up without a single win. The last Duleep Mendis played in 24 Test matches scoring 1329 runs at ried on from his club cricket. He was Test match in which Mendis played was presented with fewer balls to hit to the the one-off Test played at Lord’s in an average of 31.64. He made four centuries with 124 against boundary, so it took him a little longer August, 1988. He scored 56, which was to post a score, but he nevertheless the last innings Mendis played for Sri India as his highest score in Tests. He also played in 79 ODIs, looked to take full advantage of any- Lanka in a Test. His last appearance in thing loose. His hallmark was hitting an ODI was against Pakistan at Sharjah making 1527 runs at an average of 23.49. His made seven half- the ball over the top. When he was feel- on March 24, 1989. ing at the top of his game, bowlers were After the disastrous 1987 World centuries in his ODI career with a top score of 80 against simply deliverers of balls which would Coup, Duleep Mendis tendered his resig- “ allow him to score runs, his reason for nation as the captain of the Sri Lanka being on the pitch. Allied to his vast tal- cricket team. In his letter of resigna- Australia at Sydney. ent and force of personality was also an tion, Mendis stated; “having represented ability to read the game, which made the country for the past 15 years as cap- cricketer between 1950/51 and 1980/81. ical presence that promised a ton of the world and that the coming day him a good captain for Sri Lanka, once tain and as a player, I believe that I now After his retirement, Mendis has runs every time he came to the wicket. would go well for me too. I don’t think he came to the helm. He was an elder deserve a break from the tension of been associated with the game serving He lived and died by the sword; not for that I ever saw, or read of him being brother to those like Sidat and Roy, a international cricket in order to devote as a selector, coach, manager, team con- him the push into the covers or the bowled. Allied to pure physical strength father figure to the rest of us. His was a more time to my family and my busi- sultant and until recently, was the Chief nudge into the leg-side for a single of arm, body and thigh, Duleep had a giving heart, one that simply asked ness commitments.” Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Cricket. (unless he was looking to keep the daintiness of footwork and speed of those who represented Sri Lanka to do Duleep Mendis played in 24 Test He was the cricket manager of the Sri strike). In domestic cricket, opposition hand that could make a mockery of any- the very best for themselves and their matches scoring 1329 runs at an average Lanka team when Sri Lanka won the captains would set nothing but the thing less than the very best bowling. He country.Playing a Test in Dunedin or in of 31.64. He made four centuries with World Cup in 1996. stiffest of targets for Duleep and his gave the impression of ruggedness of Faisalabad may mean that very few are 124 against India as his highest score in I would like to end this account with Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) team-mates stroke, but that was only because he dis- actually watching, but he knew that Tests. He also played in 79 ODIs, making excerpts from Aravinda de Silva’s book to chase on the last day of a club match. patched the ball in so many different whenever a Sri Lankan cricketer 1527 runs at an average of 23.49. His Aravinda – ‘My Autobiography’. It was The bigger the target, the better he directions with such violence that he stepped on to the field in those days, he made seven half-centuries in his ODI Aravinda who succeeded Mendis as Sri played. When he was a young man and I looked like he was clearing a forest was playing for Sri Lanka’s right to career with a top score of 80 against Lanka’s No. 4 batsman in the batting was a boy, the newspapers would be whenever he spent time at the crease. belong at the highest level of world Australia at Sydney. order. filled with his performances. His score His back lift was imperious, rising like a cricket. His bristling, confident presence In domestic cricket, Mendis played “Duleep Mendis strode across Sri was always the first and only one I palm tree at the top of his backswing, at the crease against anything less than for the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC). He Lanka like a colossus. He was my hero, looked to when I grabbed the newspaper before falling like a mother’s slap on the the very best bowling would always do a holds a record in domestic first class pure and simple. Short and stocky, he from my father in the morning. If he’d ball. His style wasn’t merely to ‘time’ great deal to bolster the confidence of cricket. In the calendar year 1975/76, he impressed upon onlookers a sheer phys- done will, I felt that all was right with balls to the boundary, he smote and his batting partners.” scored 986 runs, the most by any local (Concluded)