Pradeep Ananda Bags 11 Wkts. in Zahira Win Rohana Dissanayake Re

14 Wednesday 19th October, 2011

BY MOHAMMED SALIM PARVEZ was Stanley Jayasinghe with an innings of 80 on the opening day. The match he ongoing series between proved to be a farewell appearance for Pakistan and Sri Lanka is the lat- Pakistan’s skipper Mian Mohammed Test edition to the cricketing rivalry Saeed. His opposite number, that is in its seventh decade. On the lines Jayawickereme, failed to find his feet on of virtually all modern international the entire tour, with scores of 0, 1, 5, 17, 1 exchanges, cricket addicts in the sub- Pakistan - Sri Lanka and 0, to his name. continent can look forward to a short For reasons unknown to the scribe, compact tour of seven weeks that will apart from a brief tour undertaken by include 3 Tests, 5 ODIs and a T20. Pakistan ‘A’ side under Imtiaz Ahmed in Given the uncertainty surrounding a August 1964, it took no less than 16 years messy political tug of war and the secu- before Pakistan and Sri Lanka resumed rity issues in literally all the major cities (Part 1) their cricketing ties, at the highest level. of Pakistan, the Sri Lankan Cricket cricket of yore The arrival of Ceylon cricket team in Board, could only agree for a neutral Pakistan in November 1966 was the first venue for a series which on this occasion encounter between the two sides at full- will be played in UAE with all three In March 1949, a fifteen member ODI match between England and India at it was a welcome opportunity for players strength since 1950. Due to this situation major venues in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and cricket squad led by Mian Mohammad Lord’s on 11th September, alongside his of both sides to participate in competi- the cricket enthusiasts in Ceylon never Sharjah given the right to stage interna- Saeed, arrived in Ceylon. It was Pakistan opening partner, Hanif Mohammad. tive matches. got to watch Hanif Mohammad and tional cricket. Pakistan selection com- team’s first-ever international tour, that Predictably Pakistan recorded wins Pakistan, blessed with superior pool Saeed Ahmed, Pakistan’s two premier mittee, headed by former stylish bats- included two warm-up matches and two in both unofficial ‘Test’ matches of the of players, raced away in the series with batsmen of that period. All-rounder man Mohsin Khan, having opted to blood unofficial ‘Test’ matches both played at 1948-49 series with comprehensive mar- two easy victories. In the opening ‘Test’ Michael Tissera was named Ceylon cap- untried talent on the currently ongoing Colombo Oval (now known as gins of an innings and ninety-two runs at Bagh-i-Jinnah, Lahore, opening bats- tain for the tour that included three rep- tour of Zimbabwe, will be hoping for a P.S.S.Colombo). and ten wickets, respectively. The tour man Imtiaz Ahmed (127) and Syed resentative matches, i.e. unofficial ‘Test’ bigger pool of players and strong compe- At the time both Pakistan and Ceylon marked the beginning of the new-ball Asghar Ali (73), coming in at number matches. tition for places by the time the ‘home’ were associate members of ICC partnership of Khan Mohammad and seven, helped Pakistan to reach a As with the previous encounters in series against Sri Lanka gets underway (Imperial Cricket Conference). Each of Fazal Mahmood, that was to serve respectable first-innings total of 362. In the past the wide gulf between the two on 18th October. the teams would be using the matches to Pakistan with distinction, right up till reply Ceylon was dismissed for 166 and countries’ strength still existed and was Pakistan gained its independence in put out the best talent available in the the end of the tour of West Indies in 151 to lose the match by an innings and illustrated with three conclusive victo- August 1947, amidst terrible Hindu country and furthermore add strength to 1957-58. The medium-fast pair making 45 runs. Fazal Mahmood picked up eight ries for Pakistan, who since the Indian Muslim violence, at the end of the their future goal of gaining full ICC the most of the humid conditions in wickets in the match and was well sup- series of 1952-53, had the added advan- British rule in India. Its two wings, membership in order to participate in tage of having experience of official Test known as West Pakistan and East official ‘Test’ against established Pakistan-Sri Lanka (1949-2011) matches against the best sides in the Pakistan, were made up of the territo- nations, i.e. England, Australia, South world. ries which boasted of Muslim majority. Africa, West Indies, New Zealand and Played Pakistan Sri Lanka T/NR The back-to-back three ‘Test’ matches The East Wing of the country, in tragic India. Prior to Pakistan’s visit, Ceylon Unofficial Test 12 9 1 2 against a full-strength Pakistan side, led circumstances following the 1971 war had hosted two unofficial ‘Test’ matches Unofficial ODI 3 1 2 - by ace batsman Hanif Mohammad, sim- between India and Pakistan, created its against West Indies. The second game Test 37 15 9 13 ply proved too much for the touring side. Although the margin of defeats was own identity by splitting from the West was a highly creditable draw for Ceylon, ODI 121 71 46 4 somewhat depressing with 10 wickets wing and to be known as Bangladesh. a timely boost for its encounters with T20 6 4 2 - Total 179 100 60 19 (Lahore), an innings and 37 runs (Dacca) The two major nurseries of cricket in Pakistan. and innings & 35 runs (Karachi), each of pre-partition days were Lahore and Opening batsman, Alim-ud-din, now the games were taken into the final day Karachi and it was only natural for the 80, is one of only two survivors, along- and Stanley Jayasinghe’s 118 at Lahore first group of players in Pakistan to have side wicket-keeper Imtiaz Ahmed, of the Colombo, claimed 26 wickets between ported by Khan Mohammad and slow-left and Michael Tissera’s 120 not out at affiliation to one or the other. An island Pakistan touring squad. Before migrat- themselves in the two unofficial Tests. arm spin of Khalid Qureshi. number six, represented admirable in the Indian Ocean, Ceylon (known as ing to Karachi in 1948, Alim, having In the first ‘Test’ Ceylon had no The Ceylon captain Sargo resistance from the touring team. Sri Lanka since 1972) was awarded inde- made his first-class debut at the tender answer to Pakistan’s formidable bowling Jayawickreme, though he tried his best, From the home side Mushtaq pendence in 1948 with capital Colombo, a age of twelve, when picked to play for attack and were dismissed for 112 and 95 failed in his efforts to inspire his team Mohammad notched up 101 at Lahore seaport city in the South West, as the Rajputana against Baroda in the Ranji as the match was finished on the third against a better all-round opposition on and then at Dacca he reached 129 whilst hub of cricket on the island. Trophy semi-final in 1942-43, was one of day. In the second ‘Test’, despite battling both matting and turf wickets. The ‘Test’ enjoying a 235-run stand for the 4th wick- et with brother Hanif (114). At Karachi, By the beginning of the 20th century, the brightest batting talents in Pakistan. hundreds from Ceylonese captain F.C.de at Karachi Gymkhana, was a proof of Javed Burki, sent in to open, dominated the game of cricket had been introduced He recalls, ‘To be honest I don’t recall Saram (118) and middle order batsman Pakistan’s overall superiority, as they Pakistan’s total of 483 with an innings of by the British Sahib, in the region inher- much of that tour except that we took a C.I.Gunasekera (120) on the opening day, romped home by 10 wickets. Pakistan 210. Slow left arm spinner, Fitzroy ited by the two newly independent states, flight from Karachi to land in Colombo. the home team was dismissed for 311. In bowlers Fazal Mahmood (8), Usuf Crozier, was the pick of the bowlers Pakistan and Ceylon. Only time would Yes our captain Mian Sahib, was a portly reply, Nazar Mohammed (170) and Rehman Chippa (7) and Khan among tourists with figures of 6 for 133 tell to how well it would flourish in com- figure, well past his prime, who was wise Murawwat Hussain (164), added 271 runs Mohammad (5) shared the twenty wick- at Lahore and 7-133 at Karachi. Front- parison to the all-powerful India, a Test- enough to pick a quite spot whilst we for the 2nd wicket to lift Pakistan to 474 ets on their way in dismissing the visi- line batsman and occasional off-break playing country since 1932. Its three were in the field. Khan Mohammad and for 9 declared, which subsequently tors for 162 and 149 respectively. bowler Saeed Ahmed, earned match fig- major cricket centres, Bombay, Calcutta Fazal Mahmood were among wickets. Lot earned them a 10-wicket win. Pakistan’s first innings lead was restrict- ures of 10 for 130 at Dacca, all the more and Madras, could justifiably lay claim was expected of me and I was pleased In March 1950, Ceylon team paid ed to only 98 runs by leg-spinner De remarkable in the presence of two-front- to the best facilities and standard of with my innings of sixty-odd.’ Alim-ud- a return visit to Pakistan. With no infra- Zoysa (6-72) but he could not change the line spinners, Intikhab Alam and Pervez Sajjad. cricket in the entire sub-continent. din, a life member of MCC, watched the structure in the game in either country, fate of the match. The match’s top scorer (To be continued)

BY REEMUS FERNANDO match ended at Negombo yesterday. eight wickets between them, Shamal Malaka Pakistan cricket tour, (17 in 87 balls) and Geeth Dewsath (31 n.o. in Left-arm spinner Pradeep Ananda Scores: 85 balls) helped Holy Cross bat through to exciting and challenging bagged 11 wickets to steer Zahira College to S. Thomas’ 280 for 9 wkts decl and 29 for the close of play. a 165-run victory over Revata College, no wicket in 5 overs Balapitiya in their Under-19 cricket match Maris Stella (73 for 1 overnight) 387 for Scores: Consistency: The hallmark of which ended at Maradana yesterday. 8 wkts decl in 105.3 overs (Roshan St. Joseph’s 301 for 9 wkts decl Given a target of 259 to win, Revata were Madusanka 49, Shehan Janith 25, Sathira Holy Cross (29 for 1 overnight) 179 all a great side - Sidat Wettimuny bundled out for 93 as Ananda picked up five Dileepa 27, Angelo Jayasinghe 107, out in 77.3 overs (Kavindu Madushan 44, wickets in the second innings. It was the Nishal Chandika 47, Chamika Amalshan 24; series, said that this Pakistan BY RAVI LADDUWAHETTY third outright victory for Zahira in what Dishan Dissanayake 2/10, Supeshala team, despite being an unknown Under-19 Cricket was their fourth match of the season. Jayathilaka 4/57, Dinal Fonseka 4/54) and Sri Lanka Cricket Interim quantity, was capable of playing Committee Member and former effective and competitive crick- 113 for 9 wkts at close in 54 overs (Geeth dashing opening batsman Sidath et. Scores: Pradeep Dewsath 31 n.o., Shamal Malaka 17, Nisal Wettimuny, yesterday described This is going to be the begin- Zahira 188 for 9 wkts decl and 174 for 7 Chandika 19, Kavindu Madushan 15; Dishan the national team’s cricket tour ning of an exciting series of wkts decl in 23 overs (Lakshan Edirisinghe Dissanayake 4/20, Dinal Fonseka 4/28) of Pakistan in the Arabian away tours with the tour of 49 n.o., Dilshad Hilmi 37, Mohamed Irham dessert which began on South Africa soon after 30, Waseem Sinnen 22, Imraz Rafi 20; Ananda bags Seba 202, St. Anne’s 86/9 Tuesday, as one which it, which will be fol- Dilshan de Soysa 2/32) In reply to St. Sebastian’s College’s 202, was both decisive and lowed by Australia and Revata (32 for 3 overnight) 104 all out in 11 wkts. in St. Anne’s College were 86 for nine wickets challenging. the home series versus 50.1 overs (Buddhika Madusanka 27, Suresh when bad light stopped play on the first day England in March 2012, The Pakistan tour, Kumara 21 n.o.; Pradeep Ananda 6/43, of their U-19 encounter at Welagedara which began yesterday, he said. Irshad Umer 2/07) and 93 all out in 23 overs Stadium yesterday. with the first Test in Asked about the Zahira win (Dilshan de Soysa 23; Pradeep Ananda 5/43, Abu Dhabi will be a consistency of the play- challenging and a deci- ers, he said that the vet- Irshad Umer 3/14, Basith Marrikkar 2/14) Scores: sive one with new Geoff erans, Kumar Prasansana Jayamanne 108; Rishen St. Sebastian’s 202 all out in 35.4 overs Marsh on his first Sangakkara and Angelo, Prasansana in huge stand Mathangaweera 4/82, Umesh Fernando 2/68) (Peshan Anthony 24, Amila Aponso 66, assignment as Sri Wettimuny Mahela Jayawardene, A sixth wicket stand of 222 runs between Holy Cross draw with St. Joseph’s Isuru Mendis 50 n.o., Sachinda Lankan coach, though not at their bril- skipper Angelo Jayasinghe and Prasansana Forced to follow on, Holy Cross College Gunawardena 20; Malshan Perera 2/40, Wettimuny told ‘The Island’. liant best in recent times, should Jayamanne was the highlight of the final scored 113 for nine wickets at close as their Shashika Evans 4/47) Sri Lanka Cricket is in a be among the runs again and day as Maris Stella College scored 387 for match against St. Joseph’s College ended in St. Anne’s 86 for 9 wkts at close in 51 rebuilding process after the loss- stressed the importance of the eight wickets declared against S. Thomas’ a draw at Kalutara yesterday. While Dishan overs (Shohan Vas 20; Amila Aponso 3/15, other batsmen rallying round es of the away tour of England College’s 280 for nine declared in their Dissanayake and Dinal Fonseka shared Anuk Fernando 2/21). and the home series against them. He also commended the Australia and in the context, decision of skipper Dilshan to with the heavy cricket commit- drop to number five, asserting ments for the next one year, it is that he did not have the tem- important to be consistent, perament to open the innings in Rohana Dissanayake St. Joseph’s which is the hallmark of a great Test cricket. side, he said. Sri Lanka will be playing He also said that the team five seamers and two spinners, re-elected President MDCA beat Anula 138-6 in was in the process of rebuilding despite the traditional strength Deputy Minister of Transport Kodithuwakku,Ravi Punchihewa, and it was significant for the being the spinners. Rohana Dissanayake was re-elected K.G.T. Bandulla, Kavinda Bowatta. players to have time with coach In a surprise move, Thilan basketball match Samaraweera, who scored back as the President of Matale District Members of the Selection Geoff Marsh in the away series. St. Joseph’s Girls School, time score read 81-2 and St. The Umpire Decision Review to back double centuries versus Cricket Association (MDCA) at the Committee: Ranjith Aluvihare Nugegoda got a flying start Joseph’s School started to System will also be in use and Pakistan in Pakistan, has been recent AGM held at Matale. Sujeeva (Chairman), Saman Senanayaka,N. to the Under-19 South Zonal use their second string but this is the first occasion that a dropped, a move which the Godaliyadda has been appointed as I. Wijesekara,Anuka sponsor has come forward to Chairman of National Cricket the Secretary. Wikramasingha,Ravindhra Elehena. Schools Basketball cam- still managed to score above sponsor the DRS. Selectors, Duleep Mendis Development Committee: Sarath paign when they won the 100 points. Wettimuny said that the tour described yesterday as MDCA Office bearers: Jayathunge (Chairman), first two matches of the was going to be an exciting and “Samaraweera is not a part of President: Rohana Dissanayake. P.K.Aluvihare, Sujith tournament. They thrashed Results of the other challenging one, where Sri the long term plan.” Vice-Presidents: Upali Sirisena, Preyanishantha, Sanjaya Anula Vidyalaya, Colombo matches Lanka will be playing in famil- Shamindra Eranga, who Charaka Udupihilla, A.M.M Lafeer, Karunarathna,Eranga Dissanayake. by 132 points which is one of St. Joseph’s Girls School iar conditions and predicted took four first innings wickets Athula Delpearachchi. Finance Committee: Champika the rarest occasions in the beat St. Lawrence’s College that it will be a well fought against Michael Clarke’s Secretary: Sujeeva Godaliyadda. Wijerathne (Chairman), Upali recent schools basketball 71-45 series. Aussies in the just concluded Assistant Secretary: Ravi Sirisena, A.M.M. Lafeer, Charaka history. Girls of the St. Holy Family Convent, series, has been left out due to a Punchihewa. Udupihilla, P.H.Chandradasa. Wettimuny, who also Joseph’s School who per- Dehiwala beat Asian emerged as Sri Lanka’s maiden shoulder injury and replaced by Treasurer: Vajira Liyanage. Cricket Committee: P. H . formed well in the recently International School, Test centurion with a brilliant the uncapped Kosala Ground Secretary: K. G. T. Chandradasa (Chairman), Lalith concluded St. Eugene’s Club Colombo 61-46 157 against Javed Miandad’s Kulasekera, who has been a reg- Banulla. Kadawathgedara,Buwanka Basketball Tournament St. Lawrence’s College beat Pakistanis in the second Test at ular member of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ Members of Tournament Amnuthunge,Sanjeeava Faisalabad in the 1981/1982 squad. Committee: Sidath Thalgahagoda Samarakoon, Asitha Wijesingha, scored 138 points against Holy Family Convent, (Chariman), Bandulla Manjula Karunarathna. Anula’s six points. The half Dehiwala 75-30.