Bayliss Wants Lankans to Be Mentally Prepared Against Zimbabwe
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Wednesday 9th June, 2010 Tri-series final today Davis Cup Round-2 (Trials) Dineshkanthan Bayliss wants Lankans to be mentally and Rajapakse take lead BY REVATA S. SILVA prepared against Zimbabwe Amresh Jayawickrema beat Guyanga Weerasekera in the for- oach Alan Butcher has admitted and Sri Lanka selected, but I still thought from 122 for none to 236 all out, with no-one deep backward square leg, while Charles mer’s third match on June 8 in this that his Zimbabwe side have exceed- that they would provide good opposition - able to back up captain Dilshan (78) and Coventry caught Tharanga at long-off. year’s Davis Cup tennis round-2 Ced his expectations during the cur- there’s over a billion people in India, so opening partner Tharanga (69). That “We can play a lot better than we did,” trails, now on at the Sri Lanka rent tri-series with India and Sri Lanka, that’s going to add up to quite a lot of allowed Zimbabwe to take control of the Bayliss continued. “When a lot of your Tennis Association (SLTA) clay in which the hosts have reached the final. cricketers. match and chase down the target with 13 batters get out caught on the fence or courts in Colombo. Zimbabwe have won three of their four “The pleasing thing is that we’ve been balls remaining, and Bayliss felt Sri caught slogging down some deep man’s Yet, Thangarajah matches in the round robin stage, twice much, much more than competitive in the Lanka’s inexperience had been laid bare. throat then you only have yourselves to Dineshkanthan and Rajeev getting the better of a lacklustre Indian three games that we’ve won - we’ve won “Good or bad, that was the decision to blame, so I’d like to think that our deci- Rajapakse have got closer to enter- side before beating Sri Lanka by eight them convincingly. I’ve said to the boys in bring some of our younger players here,” sion making from our batters will be a lot ing the 2nd round trials, with three wickets in Harare on Monday. the dressing room that today we’ve won a he said. “Obviously we’d like to win on better because if we do that then we’ll and two wins respectively, out of Butcher had spoken before the tourna- skirmish and the real battle is on Wednesday, but the overall picture was to make it a lot harder for Zimbabwe to take the three matches they’ve played so ment about his hopes that Zimbabwe Wednesday, and we’ve got to make sure find out whether some of these younger wickets.” far in the 1st round of the trials’ would give a good account of themselves that we’re on top of our game for that, blokes, probably more than anything, had Possible Starting Line-Ups which began on June 2. and “maybe win a few games” as they look because now having got a taste of it we it mentally. Today I think that’s where we Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza, Every member of this five-mem- to turn the corner after a tough few years. want to win some more.” let ourselves down. I mean none for 120 and Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry, ber pool appearing in the 1st round Yet two of Zimbabwe’s three victories At the heart of Zimbabwe’s renais- you lose 10 for 114, that’s not what you’re Tatenda Taibu (wicketkeeper), Elton trials has to play four matches each have been won by a comfortable margin - sance has been Brendan Taylor, who tops looking for when you want guys to step up Chigumbura (captain), Greg Lamb, (meeting every other once each). last week they chased down India’s total the run-scoring charts in the series having and play against some of the best teams in Graeme Cremer, Andy Blignaut, Prosper Sri Lanka will meet Hong Kong inside 40 overs to acquire a bonus point, hit two half-centuries and a century. the world. That’s an area that the Utseya, Ray Price, Chris Mpofu. – China in July at this year’s Davis and on Monday they beat Sri Lanka hand- “My first impression, and I’m sure he younger players on this tour will have to Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan (cap- Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group-II somely despite allowing Tillakeratne won’t be too disappointed telling in me you rectify if they want to play international tain), Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal 2nd round hoping to win the best-of- Dilshan and Upul Tharanga to get off to a this, is that he was overweight and he cricket.” five-rubber tie so as to retain her flying start with the bat. needed to get back into shape,” said Most disappointing was the manner (wicketkeeper), Chamara Kapugedera, place in Group-II next year too. Asked whether his young side had sur- Butcher. in which Sri Lanka’s batsmen got out, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka lost to strong New prised him, Butcher replied: “Yes, to be Meanwhile Sri Lanka coach Trevor with the majority being caught in the Jeevan Mendis, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Zealand 2-3 in the Davis Cup Zonal honest. I was aware that the odds were Bayliss admitted his disappointment at a deep at times when big shots were Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan round-1 in Colombo last March and shortened because of the sides that India batting collapse that saw his side slump uncalled for. Taylor took three catches at Kulasekara. (cricket365.com) therefore a loss in next July’s tie will demote them to Group-III. Sri Lanka is playing in the prestigious Davis Cup Group-II this year after a Girls’ Basketball decade. What a save! Along with Dineshkanthan, Rajapakse, Jayawickrema, and St. Joseph’s Weerasekera, there will be two other players who will vie for a place in the final four-member Sri Nugegoda and Lanka team for the Hong Kong – China encounter. They are Rukmal Cooray and Amrith Rupasinghe. HFC qualify The top four, out of the partici- pating five in the ongoing 1st round trials, will go through to the trials’ for finals round-2 where they will each play against former Sri Lanka men’s sin- BY MANJULA D. PHILLIPS gles champion Rupasinghe in a bid St. Joseph’s to fill the last three available places College, Meanwhile in in the final four-member Sri Lanka Nugegoda, had the second team. Sri Lanka’s top player an easy outing semi final Harshana Godamanna will be an against Asian match, host automatic selection in this four- International HFC member side. Sri Lanka team’s Non- School Colombo Dehiwala playing Captain will be Aasiri when they posted was able to Iddamalgoda. a 55 to 20 victory turn things in the first semi- around Trials’ 1st round results so far: final of the recording a Wed., June 2: Under-17 46 points to T. Dineshkanthan bt. R. Rajapakse 6-4, 40 victory Colombo South 6-4, 6-4 Zonal Girls’ after conced- ing a one Fri., June 4: Basketball T. Dineshkanthan bt. G. Weerasekera Tournament on point lead against 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 Saturday (5) at St.Lawrence’s R. Rajapakse bt A. Jayawickrema 6-4, the Holy Family College 6-4, 7-5 convent Sat., June 5: Basketball T. Dineshkanthan bt. A. Jayawickrema courts, Dehiwala. 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 St. Joseph’s College, Nugegoda led Zimbabwean batsman Brendon Taylor, left, hits the ball as Sri Lankan fielder Chamara Kapugedera, right, makes a save R. Rajapakse bt. R. Cooray 6-4, 6-1, 6- 38-9 at half time. during their tri-series match at Harare Sports Club in Harare, Monday, June 7, 2010. Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by eight 1 Imesha Thathsarani (23) and wickets. The two teams feature in the final today. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Sunday, June 6: Sanjana Madushi (11) were the lead- G. Weerasekera vs. R. Cooray (match ing scorers for the winning team postponed due to rain) while Amani Perera top scored with Mon., June 7: 07 points for the losing side. With the Symonds blasts SLC hires computer illiterate female for Rs. 120,000 a month G. Weerasekera bt. R. Cooray 3-6, 3-6, victory, St.Joseph’s College booked 6-4, 6-2, 3-0 (retired) their berth in the final which will be anti-booze contract Tue., June 8: played on June 18 at the HFC The grind of international cricket Dandeniyas have a field day while A. Jayawickrema bt. G. Weerasekera Basketball courts, Dehiwala. made Andrew Symonds feel "caged" 6-0, 6-2, 3-0 (retired) Meanwhile in the second semi and the temperamental Australian government turns blind eye Matches left to be played: final match, host HFC Dehiwala was all-rounder says his only regret is R. Rajapakse vs G. Weerasekera able to turn things around recording signing a contract that had a 'keep Following the government’s amazing bookings to other important logistics R. Cooray vs A. Jayawickrema a 46 points to 40 victory after conced- off drinking' clause in it. turn around in reappointing under him. With the latest devel- R. Cooray vs T. Dineshkanthan. ing a one point lead against Looking back at his tumultuous Cricket Interim Committee big- opment, the work of the Tour St.Lawrence’s College at ‘lemons’ in career, Symonds said he had wigs Chairman D.S. de Silva and Organizing Committee has been an exciting game of basketball. stopped enjoying the game and was Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga carried out by the nephews of St.