Tuesday 27th July, 2010

Muttiahs thank Church Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Batsmen pile up runs Muralitharan and his father Sinnasamy Muttiah praised the education at Catholic schools after the world’s highest taker retired with a World Record 800 Test at SL stronghold in Galle last Thursday. BY REX CLEMENTINE “I was blessed with excellent priests, teachers It’s the same old story over and and coaches,” over again. Win the toss at SSC, pile up Muralitharan the runs and put pressure on the oppo- said on the day he sition. With a 1-0 lead in the three retired from Test match series, after winning . “I was exceptionally well the toss were well placed on 312 for two prepared for the at stumps here at the Sinhalese Sports game,” he added. Club ground yesterday. Muralitharan Both Tharanga Paranavithana and and his three continued from brothers were sent to St. Anthony’s where they left in Galle scoring succes- College, Katugastota, where Muralitharan sive hundreds before Paranavithana learned his cricket. “Christian schools provide better edu- was dismissed soon after his century cation, sports and moral development,” after a 174 run stand for the second Muralitharan’s father Sinnasamy Muthiai wicket, but Kumar Sangakkara was told UCA News. unbeaten on 130 to remind the Indians It was at school Muralitharan devel- that the misery is far from over. Giving oped a strong character that served him him company was Mahela well during difficult times. Jayawardene unbeaten on 13 as the “The most impressive things about him are his personality,his values, his beliefs pair added 39 runs for the third wicket. and his contribution not only to Sri A few years ago, when Sangakkara Lanka’s cricket team but Sri Lankan socie- and Jayawardene were unbeaten ty,”Muralitharna’s captian Kumar overnight on day one at SSC, they went Sangakkara said on the day he retired. onto pile up a record 624 runs for the “In these days where some cricketers third wicket against South Africa. are accused of being driven by money, Earlier in the morning, when that’s something that you can’t say of Murali,” Sangakkara added. Tillekeratne Dilshan was in middle, Sri Lanka were in T-20 mode as their 50 came in the tenth over, the third suc- cessive half-century partnership by the Gates open for SSC, opening pair. Dilshan went onto reach P. Sara Tests his half-century in just 39 balls with ten fours. (SLC) announced He looked in supreme touch before Tharanga Paranavithana celebrates scoring a century during the first day’s play of the second Test match against India yesterday that some stands at Sinhalese being dismissed against the run of in Colombo, Monday, July 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Sports Club ground and P.Sara Stadium will be open free for general public. play when he stepped out to left arm loft the bowler over extra have suffered innings spinner Pragyan Ojha attempting to cover, but hit it straight defeats in their last to V.V.S. Laxman at short two visits here and Etisalat – Golflk Sri Lanka 123rd SCOREBOARD extra cover, who took a they will be trying good catch as Sri Lanka’s hard to prevent anoth- Amateur Open Golf Championship Sri Lanka 1st Innings first wicket fell with the er catastrophe. T. Paranavithana b Ishant 100 total on 99. Sri Lanka did four Mithun recovers T. Dilshan ct Laxman b Ojha 54 Paranavithana took changes to the side K. Sangakkara not out 130 112 balls for his half-cen- that won the first Test after shaky start M. Jayawardene not out 13 tury while Sangakkara in Galle by ten wickets After getting off to shaky start carding a Extras: (b 4, lb 6, nb 4, w 1) 15 required 82 balls. with all four bowlers disappointing 1 over par front nine in the Total: for two wickets 312 The 100 run partner- who played in Galle Sri Lanka 123rd Amateur Open Golf Overs: 90 ship for the second wick- being replaced. While Championship, the Sri Lankan main hope To bat: T. Samaraweera, A. Mathews, P. et and the team’s 200 Mithun Perera started firing on the 11th Jayawardene, S. Randiv, D. Prasad, D. came when replaced retired off- with a birdie and followed with an incredi- Fernando and A. Mendis. Paranavithana whacked spinner Muttiah ble eagle at the long par five 15th and anoth- Fall of wickets: 1-99, 2-273. Harbhajan Singh, who is yet to take a although Sangakkara survived some Muralitharan, Suraj Randiv made his er birdie at the par three 16th to return to the pavilion on 3 under par 68, and his Bowling: Mithun 17-4-75-0, Ishant 15-4- wicket in the series, for a six over mid- nervous moments when the fast debut replacing , a name at the top of the leader board. India’s 66-1 (1nb), Ojha 23-5-59-1 (2nb), wicket. bowlers found a few edges, but no rather surprising decision given the Ankar Chadha showed early promise at the Harbhajan 22-3-61- 0 (1w), Sehwag 9-0- Paranavithana reached three fig- harm was done. fact that Herath hadn’t done anything turn on 2 under par but faded slightly com- 26-0, Raina 4-0-15-0. ures after tea when he drove Virender Jayawardene faced 56 balls for his wrong in Galle. ing back to India: M.S. Dhoni (), pass mid-off. In the same over 13 and his score would have been a sin- came in for while score a 1 under Sehwag, Murali Vijay, Rahul Dravid, Sangakkara joined him, his third suc- gle digit one if not for the four off the Chanaka Welagedara was dropped in par total of 70. Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, cessive hundred actually, when he last ball of the day, but having missed favour of Dhammika Prasad. The Bangladesh Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, came down and hit over mid-on for out in Galle, he appears to be hungry The Indians meanwhile also made team of Dulal Abhimanyu Mithun, Ishant Sharma, four. for something big at his favourite two changes after opener Gautam Hossain (-3) Pragyan Ojha. Then Paranavithana was out to venue. Gambhir was ruled out with a knee and Toss: SL Ishant Sharma, who had bowled poorly Sri Lanka have not lost a Test injury while Yuvraj Singh was ruled Jakiruzzaman Umpires: Darrel Harper (Aus) and Rod all day when the batsman chopped one Match at SSC since losing to Australia out due to high fever. Gambhir was (-1) were the Mithun Perera Tucker (Aus) onto the stumps. in March 2004. Of the nine Tests played replaced by Murali Vijay while Suresh early leaders at Third Umpire: Ranmore Martinez (SL) India took the new ball in the 86th since, they have won six while three Raina made his Test debut coming in the turn for the International Team event. Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (Zim) over, but couldn’t make further inroads have been drawn. India, meanwhile, for Yuvraj. However, Hossain ran into trouble on the back nine finishing with a 1 over par 72, while his team mate turned on the steam to join Mithun at the top of the leaderboard on 3 under 68. For the first time the Sri Lanka Golf Union with the aid of their title sponsor are Dilshan excited over providing live updates to millions of web- watching golfing fans around the world and texting all Etisalat post paid registered opening day exploits mobile phone users with the latest scores on all events surrounding the 123rd Sri BY REX CLEMENTINE make it count,” Dilshan added. Lanka Open Amateur Golf Championship. He also regretted getting out after rac- The Ladies Matchplay round com- Despite the Sinhalese Sports Club ing to his half-century in just 39 balls. menced with 8 qualifiers teeing off after a wicket offering no support at all for “The wicket is great and I regret getting colorful opening ceremony which saw the bowlers, Sri Lankan opener Tillekeratne out. When I was in the dressing room I flags of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Dilshan believes the hosts could take a 2- realized that I could have made a big Malaysia being hoisted to their respective one.” 0 lead in the three match series if the National anthems. There were no surpris- “I wanted to score a single off that batsmen pile up runs. es in this knockout segment with Anouk ball. When I came down, I found the ball After electing to bat first, Sri Lanka Chitty,Shayanika Fernando, Jacky Dias was a little short and I tried to go over posted 312 for two at the end of day one from Sri Lanka coming through to join Laxman’s head, but unfortunately, it with Tharanga Paranavithana and Tahira Nazid from Pakistan in the semi- went straight to him,” he further said. Kumar Sangakkara making hundreds on final round to be worked off on Tuesday. However, he added that he wouldn’t’ the first day’s play of the second Test Newcomers to Sri Lanka Iszaimal Bin adjust his style in change for better Match at SSC yesterday. Ismail and Chan Tuck Soon from Malaysia returns. “I don’t want to change a lot. I “Traditionally at SSC, the second day Tharanga Paranavithana now has scored successive hundreds and Dilshan after adding three suc- added a refreshing new dimension to the have scored 11 Test hundreds this way is very good for batting. If we bat well cessive 50 plus partnerships for the first wicket in this series spoke highly of his partner. 2nd Oldest National Amateur Golf and score over 550, on the third and and this is my seventh Test as an opener. Championship in the world and performed fourth days, our spinners can make a While opening, I have managed an aver- (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) with distinction with Chan Tuck Soon mark. Apart from them, Dhammika and age of 63. Sometimes I tend to think, like after adding three successive 50 plus more confident. If there was a loose ball, scoring a credible 2 under par 69 to take Dilhara have extra pace and they can be today, had I remained, I could have gone partnerships for the first wicket in this he went after it and he’s more confident,” the 3rd spot amongst the leaders after handful,” the Sri Lankan opener said. on for a big score. There are certain series spoke highly of his partner. “He’s Dilshan said. round one. “Not having Lasith though is a blow. things I have got used to and I don’t want a good opener. He’s done well in domestic “He’s played lot of domestic cricket In the last match he did well. But there to change them.” tournaments. The first hundred is always and this is his home ground. He’s the per- (Information from are opportunities for the guys who have Tharanga Paranavithana now has difficult in . Once you get fect opener ideal for Test cricket and I Sri Lanka Golf Union) come into the team and I hope they will scored successive hundreds and Dilshan that away, it gets easier. Today he was feel we have found a good opener.”

Tuesday 27th July, 2010