Thursday 23rd April, 2009 Pakistan holds Australia to 168 in opening ODI DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - SCOREBOARD hahid Afridi took six wickets in 10 Australia overs Wednesday as Pakistan held S. Marsh run out (Jamshed) 16 SAustralia to 168 runs in the opening B. Haddin c Younis b Afridi 40 one-day international at the Dubai Sports City stadium. S. Watson b Afridi 40 The 29-year-old Afridi used a clever M. Clarke c Kamran b Ajmal 4 mix of leg-spin and googlies to finish A. Symonds c Kamran b Afridi 2 with 6-38 for his best ODI result, topping C. Ferguson c Misbah b Afridi 2 his 5-11 against Kenya in a 2004 Champions Trophy match. J. Hopes not out 48 Pakistan started their reply and was N. Hauritz b Ajmal 1 25-1 in seven overs before the interval. N. Bracken b Afridi 1 Opener Salman Butt was out leg before S. Clark b Afridi 2 wicket to Ben Hilfenhaus for five. Captain Younis was unbeaten on 11, B. Hilfenhaus b Gul 4 while Kamran Akmal was on eight. Extras: (lb 1, w 7) 8 Australia looked in command when Total: (all out) 168 Afridi was introduced in the 13th over. Despite losing opener Shaun Marsh to a Overs: 38.5 run out at 41, Brad Haddin and Shane Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-95, 3-100, 4-107, 5- Watson were hardly troubled as they took 108, 6-109, 7-110, 8-118, 9-122. the score to 95 in the 19th over. However, Bowling: Gul 9.5-0-48-1- (1w), Akhtar 6-0- Afridi then deceived Haddin to lob a catch to Younis and Australia went on to 35-0 (2w), Anjum 2-0-18-0, Afridi 10-0-38-6 lose eight batsmen in 12 overs, while (3w), Ajmal 10-1-19-2, Malik 1-0-9-0. adding just 27 runs. Umpires: B. Bowden (NZ) N. Ghauri (Pak) Only the strong hitting toward the end Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi left,celebrates with Umar Gul ,middle facing, after Gul bowled Australia’s Ben Hilfenhaus out during the One-Day-International crick- TV umpire: A. Rauf (Pak) by James Hopes - who top-scored with an unbeaten 48 - and his 46-run partnership et match between Pakistan and Australia in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, April 22, 2009. (AP) Match referee: J. Crowe (NZ) with Hilfenhaus carried his team past ner Saeed Ajmal, who gave away just 19 good start, putting in 41 runs for the first Haddin then added 55 runs with Reserve umpire: Z. Haider (Pak) the 150-run mark. The Australian innings runs for his two wickets, which included wicket before Marsh, who had Nathan Watson, the best partnership of the FLASH!!! Australian captain Michael Clarke. Hauritz as his runner after apparently innings. Haddin made 40, later matched lasted 38.5 overs. Pakistan 114/4 (32.5) Afridi was well supported by off-spin- Marsh and Haddin gave Australia a pulling a hamstring, was run out. by Watson. Lokuge awaits President Rajapaksa report to crack whip Bonanza for Jaffna on rebel ruggerites school cricket from SLC orders school rugby by Ravi Nagahawatte by Reemus Fernando cricket gear and equipment dered their progress beyond tourney to be held Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge will help the budding crick- the pre-quarter finals. awaits the report of a committee Some 18 cricket playing eters of Jaffna,” said de Silva De Silva said that if every- by Ravi Nagahawatte appointed to look into the conduct of schools in Jaffna received over the phone after visiting thing goes according to plan, several players who rebelled against cricket material worth over most of those schools in a construction work of a turf The Inter-school rugby tournament will be held from touring Dubai with the national team Rs. 10 million from Sri Lanka ‘Unicorn-Van’ yesterday. wicket in Jaffna could begin Responding to our query, within six months. Jaffna May 2 onwards following a for the recent Asian Five Nations tour- Cricket. Interim Committee de Silva said that he would College, Vaddukottai and St. directive from President nament. chief, D. S. de Silva said that it look into the possibility of Patrick’s College, Jaffna have Mahinda Rajapaksa. Lukuge told ‘The Island’ that a was the biggest ever aid pro- vided to cricket playing providing a turf wicket for been identified as potential Rugby Interim Committee three member committee headed by schools in Jaffna. Jaffna. “We have in our pro- venues to construct a turf CEO Lasitha Guneratne told Rohan Siriwardene was at present The Island that President Speaking to ‘The Island’ gramme to provide each dis- wicket. investigating into the conduct of the trict with a turf wicket. I visit- The Chairman of the Rajapaksa had requested him from Jaffna, de Silva said that to coordinate with the players and would hold a disciplinary ed 18 cricket playing schools in Interim Committee of SLC he firmly believed that the pro- Department of Education and inquiry soon. visions which came in the Jaffna and found at least two said that a total of 16 mattings “A lot of money was spent to train conduct the school rugby form of cricket gear and potential schools where a turf and 32 bags of cricket equip- tournament for 2009. these players. They were named in the equipment would help the bud- wicket could be provided ment (16 bags costing Rs. two According to Guneratne, national pool and even their visas were ding cricketers in Jaffna to with,” said de Silva. hundred and fifty thousand President Rajapaksa had told prepared. The committee will initially persevere in their much loved Jaffna, which is host to at each and 16 bags costing Rs. him that it would be very prepare an interim report and subse- sport. least 18 cricket playing schools three hundred and fifty thou- unfair by the schoolchildren if quently appropriate disciplinary action “When the president does not have a single turf sand) were distributed among the school rugby tournament would be taken on the nature of the entrusted me with the task of wicket. And when St. Patrick’s cricket playing schools. was scrapped this year and offense they have committed,” helping outstation cricketers College cricketers made histo- De Silva said that some 15 hence wanted the champi- he urged me to go to every ry earning a place in the local sponsors have come for- onship held at all cost. explained Lukuge. Mahinda Rajapaksa Lokuge said disciplinary committee nook and corner of the coun- knockout tournament of the ward to help outstation He said that he had held a try in search of our next gen- country’s Premier School schools and funds collected meeting with representatives Illiyas added that the was expected to provide him with a of all rugby playing schools report this week. eration of Jayasuriyas and Cricket tournament for the from schools in England also WPRFU has been in existence first time this year, their lack have been pooled into help the yesterday at Havelock Sports for 17 years and volunteered Sri Lanka’s preparations for the Mahelas. And this is a part of Club with the view of con- that venture. I believe that this of turf wicket experience hin- cricket playing schools. to conduct the tournament in Asian Five Nations tournament was ducting the tournament. the best interest of school jeopardized, when, as many as 15 regu- According to Guneratne as rugby. “The WPRFU wanted to lars pulled out of the squad at the last many as 252 matches will be create a healthy atmosphere hour. It is believed the rebel players played between 71 schools. to conduct the tournament made themselves unavailable for the The President meets The Prince The schools named to con- and that’s why it got involved. tour in protest of a decision taken by test the main championship The WPRFU made it clear to are Kingswood, Trinity, St. all representatives that it the Sports Minister to overrule the Peter’s, Royal College national selectors’ nomination as the would back out if the parent Colombo, S. Thomas’ College body for rugby in the country team captain. Mount Lavinia, Isipathana, St. or the education ministry Dr.Maiya Gunasekere,Chairman Anthony’s College, showed interest to take over Rugby Interim Committee said that first Katugastota, Dharmarajah, the tournament,” he said. a decision will have to be taken whether St.Joseph’s and Mahanama. Guneratne acknowledged the rebel players failing to perform Guneratne said that the the fact that he gave a letter to national duty can be classified as an tournament will commence the WPRFU stating that he offense. “This will have to be done by on May 2 and will continue was authorized by President till end of June. “The annual the Ministry of Sports because the Rajapaksa to conduct the fixture between Royal and S. tournament. “However, I must Sports Minister ratified the team for the Thomas’ will be played on state that the WPRFU has no tour. If the actions of these players are April 24 (Friday). The match authority to conduct a schools termed as offenses then depending on will be sanctioned as a tour- tournament because under the nature of the offences disciplinary nament fixture even though it the regulations of the actions should be taken against these will be played before the tour- Education Ministry only a players,” Gunasekere said. He said that nament officially begins,” parent body can conduct a what the players did by pulling out of said Guneratne.