Thursday 4th May, 2006 11 LETTER Sri Lankans battered by teenager Jehan Mubarak by Bill Frindall way to 195 for six in their 50 Hick (8), Eoin Morgan (0) and scythe through the Sri Lankan XI 195-6 (50 overs; B Godleman One should not write about individual crick- Inspired performances by a overs. Sam Northeast, the Tatenda Taibu (16) and found early order. 31, S A Northeast 62 not out, M J eters and their performances, unless it is to con- Harrow schoolboy, batted late support from Matt Tom Moody, the Sri Lanka Dennington 34; M Muralitharan 16-year-old schoolboy and a 26- gratulate them. But one cannot help but point throughout to score an unde- Dennington. coach, remained in good spirits two for 16). year-old Australian combined out the failure of Jehan Mubarak in the Sri feated 62 from 143 balls with five Muttiah Muralitharan was after the workout, for, unlike Sri Lankans 179 (48.1 overs; to send the touring Sri Lankans Lanka cricket team. Teams comprise players boundaries. the most successful of the visit- England, the Sri Lankans D P M D Jayawardena 33, M D N to a 16-run defeat. who perform consistently at this level. Mubarak Having played second fiddle ing bowlers with two for 16. approach the Test series with Kulasekera 30 not out, M Put in to bat in near-freezing has been a serial failure over the years, starting conditions on a pitch that had in an opening stand of 74 with Steve Magoffin used experi- no injury worries. Muralitharan 30, S J Magoffin with his tour of South Africa. seen only two days of sun all Billy Godleman, Northeast was ence gained from two seasons four for 14, W R S Gidman three Cricket writers in the daily papers have con- year, the Getty XI clawed their unfazed by the loss of Graeme with Western Australia to RESULT: Sir Paul Getty’s for 30). sistently criticized his inclusion in the team as a batsman, because he is not one with any great ability or success. They have said that in over 120 odd innings Manjuala in first class cricket, he has not scored any cen- turies. He is also not a talented batsman. What is the secret behind his getting into the team in the first place and then the captain get- ting him to open the innings? Can anyone give Kumara eyes any good reason why the selection committee keeps on selecting him to play for Sri Lanka despite his glaring failures, in Test after Test? When I see Mubarak selected, I begin to wonder about the credentials of the selection committee 2.30M mark or whether they are influenced by someone else. doctors have advised me to be by Champika Fernando Can the selection committee be corrupt? Is it patient. So, I prefer not to take Injured high jumper Manjula not odd that a permanent failure should be any undue risk this time Kumara Wijesekera yesterday selected to play for Sri Lanka? stressed that his aim it to clear around,” he added. The more Mubrarak fails, the better his the 2.30 metres mark this year However, the absence from chances of being selected! and said he would begin his competition since late February Are there no talented cricketers who can be ‘campaign’ at the Colombo this year has sent him to 53rd tried out, in place of Mubrarak? South Asian Games in August. place in the latest IAAF “It’s a big ask, but I know it’s (International Association of I apologize to Mubarak if I hurt this young within my reach,” Manjula said Athletics Federations) rankings. cricketer’s feelings. But the criticism that he is a in an email interview with ‘The He was among the top 25 since permanent failure up to this point is a fair state- Island’. August 2005, following his glori- ment which he must learn to live with. Manjula, 22, will commence ous gold medal winning per- The Sri Lankan team and its performance is training in about a month’s time formance at the Asian Athletic a matter of public concern. Championships in Incheon, Dr. Rohan de Silva, in view of the eight-nation Roshan Dharmasena, an U-19 soccer player representing Kotte FL in the Eveready Cup Football Championship conduct- Korea. Boralesgamuwa. games in Colombo. ed by the FFSL is presented with football boots by the new Mayoress of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte MC at the ceremony “It will take sometime to “It will take at least one more to felicitate the team after they qualified in the ‘B’ group of the Everready Cup. (Pix by Anton Fernando, Battaramulla). month before I get back to train- come back to where I was, espe- ing,” he said. cially after the injury,” he said. The US-based high jumper Meanwhile, Manjula has Chandradasa Perera was forced to pull out from last taken a new turn, competing in month’s Commonwealth Games the triple jump at a local meet in Nimal Wettimuny stamps his class appointed director, ending Sri Lanka’s chances for a Los Angeles. by Rukshan Razak - Kandy expected to be worked off Sirath Kasthuriratne with 77 possible gold, due to a twisted “I cleared 15.14 metres. But I Sports Correspondent towards the end of this month. Nett and he played to a handi- NACDA have no intention of continuing ankle. Former Ananda College and Nimal Wettimuny, playing to cap of 16. K. K. Chan- with the triple,” he finally said. “I am in better condition, but Sinhalese Sports Club cricketer handicap of six, got a Gross 79 Niloo Jayatillaka, playing to dradasa Perera, turned golfer, Nimal which was a good score, consid- a handicap of 10 won the who captained Nuwara Eliya Avurudu Uthsavaya Wettimuny once again stamped ering the conditions which pre- Ladies’ Gross Division with 92 the Sri Lanka his class when he clinched a vailed at the course which was Gross but this will not in any football team in double in the Men’s Division tricky and challenging. Sujeeva way help her to oust Thushani 1973, has been while that versatile golfer Niloo Lankatillake, who is continuing Selvaratnam from the top slot appointed to the Jayatillake won the Ladies’ to play well, threw him a big in the Ladies’ Gross Division. directorate of Division Gross title with expa- challenge when he got 80 Gross Men’s Division the National Aqua Culture triate Ina Rasmussen walking and was just a single stroke Nimal Wettimuny Gross 79 Development away with the Ladies’ Nett title behind. Sujeewa Lankatillake and Nett 73, Sujeewa Authority of Sri at the 11th round of the Lectra with years of golfing experi- Lankatillake 80 and 84, Sirath Lanka. Monthly Medel golf competi- ence abroad, played to a handi- Kasthuriratne 93 and 77, Ian cap of six. Thus in the months Tait 84 and 78, Tony Witham 102 Chandradasa tion organised by the Victoria Perera, who had his education at to come there should be a titan- and 87, Sam Gunaratne 99 and Golf and Country Resort and Kotahena Central College, first played for ic struggle between this duo. In 89, D. Stots 97 and 82, A de Zoysa sponsored by Apparel Ratnam Playground team. He later went third position was Englishman 118 and 90, Anura Technologies (Pvt.) Limited. on to captain the side. Ian Tait, who is currently head- Danthanarayana 104 and 81, The tournament was worked off He represented Colombo Football at the Victoria Golf Course at ing the points table in the Men’s Carl Kelaart 108 and 80, Rohan League and toured India in 1967. After Rajawella over the weekend. Gross Division. He ended with J. Perera 109 and 90, John doing well as a center half, he was called Men’s marathon winner A. Senthil Kumar receives his award from Sanjaya Nimal Wettimuny, the 84 Gross. Angood 128 and 100, Paul to the national side in 1972 and was vest- Karunaratna, Merchandising and Promotions Manager, Singer Sri Lanka Ltd. youngest of the famous cricket- Nimal Wettimuny, though a Rasmussen 125 and 105, Rolf ed with the captaincy in 1973. ing Wettimuny brothers from low handicapper once again did Tibblin 106 and 85, Veinert Perera represented Sri Lanka as a Colombo has now taken to golf well to lift the Men’s Nett Holm 102 and 83. player and captain when the team toured seriously and has won the three Division title with an excellent Ladies’ Division India, Pakistan, Singapore, Malaysia, Medal rounds, including two in 73 Nett despite the presence of Niloo Jayatillake 92 and 82, Thailand, Indonesia, Dubai, Kuwait, succession, posing a serious many high handicappers. Like Ina Rasmussen 110 and 79, Bahrain and Burma. threat to the other gentlemen in the Gross Division, Sujeewa Indira Tibblins 104 and 81, He is a German qualified coach and is golfers who are in the running Lankatillake had to be satisfied Manori Jayakody 104 and 84, a Class I Referee and he was the Deputy for the Gross and Nett division with the runner-up berth. Aida Andrea 127 and 96, Lea Director of Sports at the Colombo titles. This is the penultimate Occupying the second runner- Stoigorwald 133 and 97, Roshni Municipal Council. At present, he is a round and the final round is up berth was former cricketer Sangani 111 and 86, Sonia Boyle senior vice president of the Sri Lanka and now sports benefactor 101 and 84. Veterans’ Football Association. Clash of events unavoidable – Schools swimming officials Norman Kannangara (third from left), Marketing Manager, Nestle, Women’s marathon winner V.