Wedesday 22nd June, 2011 Dilshan ruled out of T-20 REX CLEMENTINE reporting from Worcester Sri Lanka cap- tain Tillakaratne with a lead of 193 runs, Sri Lanka were to have done it at Lord’s, but that’s Dilshan Dilshan has been precariously placed when Mahela something you have to get over. It’s nice ruled out of the T- Jayawardene was dismissed for six to get there eventually,” Sangakkara 20 International against England at with the total on 110 for three with Sri said. Bristol on Saturday to provide his Lanka still 83 runs behind. Sangakkara was asked about his Rangana Herath then came as the poor record in England before turning fractured thumb enough time to heal. night-watchman ahead of Thilan things around in possibly his last Test Dilshan sustained a hairline fracture Samaraweera and after seeing through innings in England. “I just kept getting on his right thumb after being struck the day without further dismissals out. When I first came to England I was by Chris Tremlett during the second denied England any success in the first a bit at sea. I tried to make some adjust- Test against England at Lord’s. His hour on the final day. ments. I was not getting anywhere with 193 at Lord’s became the highest score “As a side it was very important for it. Second time around, I had two oppor- by a Sri Lankan batsman at the Home us to bat well towards the end of the tunities. One was at Lord’s and I got out Kumar of Cricket surpassing Sidath day. The weather was always in to Monty Panesar after seeing off the Wettimuny’s 191, who made it 27 years Sangakkara question but at the same time we likes of Andrew Flintoff. Coming here ago. During that innings, he was had to bat out of a situation we again after the IPL it was a case of got into from the first innings.” adjusting not just technically but men- struck twice on the same spot by It was also Sangakkara’s first tally and it took me a bit longer to do Tremlett. Test hundred in England. The 33- that. “ Dilshan didn’t play the third Test year-old who was making his third Sangakkara was involved in a 141 as well, but is expected to be fit for the run stand with Samaraweera and first ODI against England at The Oval strangely, the latter, axed from the Sri on Tuesday. REX CLEMENTINE Lankan ODI side, was the more aggres- Thilina Kandamby, who has been reporting from Worcester sive partner of the two batsmen. the surprise choice for the post of Samaraweera had struggled in the vice-captaincy, will lead the side in the ri Lanka’s stand in captain Kumar series to cope with the extra bounce, absence of Dilshan. Sangakkara, who helped his side but played a crucial role in Sri Lanka Sdraw the third Test against drawing the final Test with an unbeat- England with a magnificent hundred en 87. He was unfortunate to miss out admitted the team’s biggest regret on on a hundred as the entire final session Administration the tour was losing the first Test in was washed out by rain. Cardiff. All five days of the summer’s “It would have been great for change at SLC opening Test last month had been affect- were switched on to that situation Thilan. He’s another player who would ed by rain in the Welsh capital, includ- unfortunately. We just needed to bat on Test tour to England had gone through have looked forward to getting a hun- after England tour! ing the entire morning session on the for 25 to 30 overs and put on a proper eight Tests and had scored just two dred here in England. But that’s the In the wake of heavy criticism of Sri final day. Sri Lanka had to only survive partnership on a wicket that was much half-centuries averaging in the mid 20s. way it goes. He batted well today and Lanka Cricket, Sports Minister a little over a session to draw the game, flatter than this one at Rose Bowl. It It was a poor reflection on a batsman helped the side. Rangana Heath was Mahindananda Aluthgamage yesterday but they collapsed in stunning style to who has a career average of 55 plus and excellent too. Lahiru Thirmanne goes onto show that one or two mistakes promised that there would be change of be bowled out for 82 runs inside 25 overs magnify a situation that we should have had done well in Australia having showed exactly what he’s capable of. He administration and an election of office- to lose by an innings and 14 runs. been capable to handle nine times out of scored three half-centuries and a 192 in showed a lot of character and a lot of bearers at SLC after the current tour of “That is our biggest regret on this ten,” Sangakkara added. just three Test Matches down under. courage and he seems to have a bright England by the national team ends next tour,” Sangakkara told journalists after At Rose Bowl, after England “To score a hundred in England is future ahead of him,” Sangakkara fur- England won the series 1-0. “None of us declared their first innings on day four very satisfying. It would have been nice ther said. month. “We are going for an election after the current tour of England. There will be a change at Sri Lanka Cricket. You will then get all the answers you need for your questions,” Minister said when Lankan flag flies high at Tharanga quarried by a local TV channel. In the same interview, the Minister also admitted that there were weakness- 24-hour Le Mans race hearing set for es in the present administration which was appointed by the Sports Minister in In front of a record 249,500 spec- Services Asia, a specialist company JeanMarc Menahem and Nicolas 2009. tators, amongst 56 cars, the Ferrari to promote business between Marroc. The Three drivers of JMB On Monday, the SLC officials faced a 430 GT2 of the JMB RACING team, France, Sri Lanka and South India followed their strategy to the letter, June 24 in Dubai barrage of questions from the media at a with the Sri Lankan Flag and RAC- and Travel Development, a leading during this gruelling 24 Hour race briefing held at the SLC headquarters. ING FOR SRI LANKA proudly print- French tour operator, were the co- by remaining consistent on the BY RUSSELL PALIPANE ed, took off under sunny skies for sponsors of the Ferrari JMB RAC- track and efficient during pit stops Sri Lanka opener Upul Tharanga will appear at what would be one of the closest ING Team. and were able to avoid the traps in a an International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing races in the history of the 24-hour The JMB RACING team, led by highly eventful race marked by sev- later this week to answer doping charges, Sri Le Mans race. Manuel Rodrigues, a member of the eral dramatic accidents that brought Modi's startling Lanka Cricket officials, said on Monday. Two local companies, Investor JMB team in 2009, included the safety car out onto the track. Tharanga tested positive for a banned drug after Sri Lanka's World Cup semi-final against revelations New Zealand in March, and will face the panel at New Delhi: Former IPL the ICC headquarters in Dubai, on Friday. Commissioner Lalit Modi on Monday Sri Lanka take on Worcestershire today Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Nishantha made startling revelations that the Ranatunga said Tharanga's case was fixed for June BCCI forced the ICC to change its Sri Lanka will take on will lead the side in absence of the Thisara Perera and Kumar Sangakkara constitution to outlaw the now 24 and according to local media reports the 26-year- Worcestershire in a 50-over warm-up injured Tillakaratne Dilshan. The seven defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL). old had already hired a lawyer to defend him at the game today at New Road ahead of the players who arrived for the One-day Worcestershire (From): In a series of tweets, Modi, who hearing. limited-over encounters of their tour of leg of the tour are expected to play Daryl Mitchell (Capt.), Moeen Ali, was sacked as IPL commissioner in England. today. Gareth Andrew, Alex Blofield, James Tharanga has claimed he was given a steroid April last year, disclosed that the This is Sri Lanka’s only warm-up Sri Lanka (From): Cameron, Shaaiq Choudhry, Ben Cox, by a high-profile Colombo-based faith healer, who BCCI had wanted ICL to shut shop at any cost and it flexed its muscles to game ahead of Saturday’s T-20 Thilina Kandamby (Capt.), Dinesh Brett D’Oliveira, Nick Harrison, Richard also treats other international players, for an asth- ma-related problem. ensure that the ICC and the other International against England in Bristol. Chandimal, Dilhara Fernando, Sanath Jones, Aneesh Kapil, Alexei Kervezee, cricket boards fell in line. Ranatunga meanwhile, said Sri Lankan author- The national cricket team arrived in Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Joe Leach, Jack Manuel, Matt Mason, “The ICC set up a three-member Worcester yesterday, where fast bowl- Suraj Randiv, Dimuth Karunaratne, Matthew Pardoe Neil Pinner, Alan ities would continue to educate players on medica- committee with me, Giles Clarke, ing great Chaminda Vaas played two Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Richardson, Chris Russell, Jack tions that are banned by the World Anti-Doping President ECB and Norman Arendse, seasons of county cricket.