Late City Edition Wednesday 27th July, 2011 New recruit Nathan Lyon Sanath makes cavalier knock was working as a grounds- Basnahira and Ruhuna dominate Day 4 man at the Adelaide Oval during the last Ashes series, BY CHATHURA PINNAWALA Perera 22/2 lost to Basnahira- 121/0 in 14.1 overs ( Dilshan Munaweera 57* which starkly illustrates Dilshan Munaweera and his name- Tillekaratne Dilshan 56*) by 10 wickets. Asutralia’s need for new sake Tillekaratne Dilshan compiled a bowlers whirlwind unbeaten opening partner- Old warhorse ship as Basnahira trounced Kandurata comes good in their third game of the Inter Sanath Jayasuriya was back at his class matches. Provincial T20 held at R.Premadasa marauding cavalier best as he ham- “It happened all really quick for us ... Stadium yesterday to firmly assure mered 46 inclusive of 3 sixes while the (but) it’s come as a good shock,” Pattinson their participation in the semi finals. rest of the Ruhuna players chipped in to said. “It looks like they’re going to blood a Chasing a mediocre 121 runs, provide Combined Provinces a daunting few young players ... I’m definitely aiming Munaweera was in caring mood early target of 175 which they fell 84 runs to get a game over there.” on as he cut the first ball of the reply short of. Hilditch said having some young fast straight to cover point. But From the gung-ho it bowlers in the squad would allow pace Yohan De Silva spilled a sim- seemed there was one team spearhead Mitchell Johnson and Peter ple opportunity and let him competing as Combined Siddle to take more attacking roles. off the hook. If that was Provinces lacked any kind of Copeland and Pattinson were preferred to simple, in the very next over, intent. Mahela Udawatte’s the more experienced Ben Hilfenhaus punitive blade struck the first Nathan Lyon Farveez Maharoof-fielding and Doug Bollinger. unusually at slips- grassed blow as he carved Nuwan “We really thought long and hard an even simpler chance off Kulasekara ruthlessly into about trying to make sure we got an Akalanka Ganegama. sparse gathering. Dinesh attack which could maintain pressure as Munaweera decided to stop Chandimal failed to relive his well as strike bowlers, and trying to get being caring and from then earlier heroics of the tourna- an opportunity for people like Mitch onwards tore in the ment as he meandered Australia see Johnson and Siddle to be more strike Kandurata bowling along towards a 28 ball 26. Ruhuna’s bowlers as opposed to bowling a lot of with Sri Lanka Captain. heads were scratching when overs,” Hilditch said. Udara Jayasundara’s they slumped to 142/9, but Left-arm spinner Michael Beer was profligate lines were severe- Chinthaka Perera (19 off 7 retained after playing just one Ashes ly punished and others balls) and Chanaka Sri Lanka as a Test. received less punishing Welegedara (12 off 9 balls), “It will be an important tour for treatment. Munaweera like a cold, easterly destroyed Michael on grounds where we expect spin lashed 6 fours and a meaty Jayasuriya their opponent’s hopes. to play a major role,” Hilditch said. six off Ganegama while A target of 175 seemed Australia hasn’t settled on a main spin Dilshan finished off in style by whack- always out of reach for the underdog of bowler since Warne and Stuart MacGill ing Rajeev Weerasinghe mercilessly. It the tournament, as wickets fell like con- coming of age tour retired and selectors were heavily criti- was his 7th boundary and along the way fetti to knock Combined Provinces out MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Three you would have wanted him to play more. cized for constantly rotating the slow he didn’t forget to let the leather feel the of the tournament. Only a consolation untried bowlers are among four uncapped But that is not where we’re at the bowlers during the Ashes. Hilditch said stands twice. win today will mend their broken players included in new-look Australia moment, we’re looking for our best spin- selectors had originally wanted to perse- Earlier Ishara Amarasinghe deliv- hearts. squad for the upcoming Test series in Sri ners.” vere with Jason Krejza for the Sri Lanka ered with pin point accuracy and Lanka, as selectors gamble on fresh talent Even Lyon, who has taken four first- tour, but his form in Australia A’s match- Dilshan’s loopy offerings proved hard to Brief Scores to stop a slide down the rankings. class wickets for South Australia at a es in Zimbabwe was not good enough. get away. Kandurata never reached 2nd Ruhuna- 174/9 in 20 overs ( The rebuilding phase that began fol- modest average of 43, described his selec- “Since the immense disappointment gear and it proved vital at the end. Sanath Jayasuriya 44 Dinesh lowing the retirements of greats such as tion as “unreal.” of the Ashes series, the coaching staff Chandimal 26 Mahela Udawatte 21 Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and “It has certainly come out of the blue, and playing group have worked tirelessly Brief Scores Jeevan Mendis 16/3 Sachith Pathirana Matthew Hayden accelerated on Tuesday but I’m not going to knock it back, that is to prepare for the challenge ahead,” Kandurata-120 all out in 19.4 17/2) beat Combined Provinces- 90 all as selectors named pacemen James for sure,” he said. “Every kid dreams of Hilditch said. “There is a quiet confi- overs ( Chanaka Wijesinghe 42 Farveez out in 13 overs ( Rishan Kavinga 19 Pattinson and Trent Copeland and yet playing for their country and to get the dence about the group and we are sure Maharoof 23 Ishara Amarasinghe 18/4 Suraj Randiv 8/3 Chinthaka Perera 12/3 another obscure spin-bowling selection in opportunity ... is going to be an unbeliev- this squad will do all in its power to get Tillekaratne Dilshan 23/3 Dilruwan Chanaka Welegedara 13/2) by 84 runs. Nathan Lyon. able experience.” the Australian test team back to where it Shaun Marsh, the son of former Hilditch played down talk of a major needs to be in world cricket.” Australia opener and coach, Geoff Marsh, overhaul of the Australian bowling Michael Clarke will be leading the test was also added to the squad after selec- attack directly stemming from the Ashes, team as permanent captain for the first tors lost patience with allrounder Steve saying “We’re picking the best team for time when the series against Sri Lanka Sangakkara in Jaffna for Trail walk Smith batting at No. 6. Australia.” starts on August 31 in Galle. The Test Phillip Hughes was also confirmed as “It’s not something we are just picking series will follow two Twenty20 interna- the replacement for dumped opener young players because that is the way we tionals and a limited-overs series next Simon Katich. want to go,” he said. “But we need some month. The 36-year-old Ricky Ponting, But the biggest shock was Lyon, with experienced players, which we think we who was replaced as captain after chief selector Andrew Hilditch even con- have got, and we also need to find a couple Australia’s quarterfinal exit at the World ceding Tuesday that the offspinner was of new champions in the next couple of Cup, was included as a specialist batsman the “surprise selection” after just four years.” in the Test squad. first-class matches. Copeland was selected after taking 87 Lyon was working as a groundsman at wickets from his 17 first-class matches for Test squad: Michael Clarke (captain), the Adelaide Oval during the last Ashes New South Wales, while 21-year-old Shane Watson (vice-captain), Michael series, which starkly illustrated the need Pattinson has played only eight first-class Beer, Trent Copeland, Brad Haddin, Ryan for new bowlers. games for Victoria, but is seen as a star in Harris, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, “He nearly needed a heart starter the making. His older brother Darren Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja, when I told him,” chief selector Andrew played one Test for England against Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, James Hilditch joked Tuesday.“In an ideal world South Africa in 2008 after just 11 first- Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle. Pietersen ranks Sri Lanka take on Durham today India series alongside Sri Lanka ‘A’ will begin their second included four players who were part of 2005 Ashes four day first class match of their tour of the ODI squad that played Sri Lanka in LONDON (AP) — England’s series- United Kingdom when they take on the recently concluded five match ODI opening victory over India at Lord’s Durham at Chester-le-Street today. series. Wicketkeeper batsman Craig In the picture, former Sri Lanka cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara is seen being invited has presented the home players with The side captained by wicketkeeper Kieswetter, all-rounder Samit Patel, mid- to join the walk yesterday. what they say could be their most cru- batsman Kaushal Silva suffered a heavy dle order batsman Ravi Bopara and cial summer for six years. 223 run defeat against Leicestershire at medium paceman Jade Dernbach were BY ROSHEN STEELMAN AND REVATA Trust, from Dondra to Point Pedro in Monday’s convincing 196-run win Grace Road last week. the four players who were involved in S. SILVA IN JAFFNA the Jaffna Peninsula, yesterday. sets up a real possibility The unofficial Test between England the ODI series against Sri Lanka’s senior The walk, organised with the partic- that England could get ‘A’ and Sri Lanka ‘A’ is scheduled for next team.