Sports
Fast running Sri Lanka smash India 45-10 at Asia rugby semis
by A Special Sports Correspondent
Sri Lanka denied India of much contact play during the Asia Men’s Division 1 rugby series semi-final match which the islanders pulled off quite convincingly with a 45-10 win at Race Course on Monday (April 30).
There was enough voice in the local press about Sri Lanka having decided to run wide and not straight into the big made Indian players; who seemed well-drilled for this game. The soggy ground conditions and the endurance of the host team players seemed too much in the end for the Indians.
Sri Lanka will now meet Kazakhstan in the ‘Cup Championship’ final as the latter qualified by beating Qatar 33-31 in the curtain raiser game of the tournament. The winners collected their points through five tries and four conversions while Qatar responded with four tries, four conversions and a penalty.
Sri Lanka played many new faces in international rugby; largely because the best players were not taxed during the entire 80-minute semi-final game. Their strengths were preserved for the tough forwards battle they are expecting in the final against the Kazakhs on Saturday. Both Kazakhstan and Qatar field many big made players, but critics point out that the former would give Sri Lanka a torrid time in the final because they carry so much experience in the sport of rugby union.
India held on stubbornly during the first 14 minutes of the game and even led 3-0 briefly with a well-taken penalty by skipper Deepak Kumar. But the Sri Lankan players’ experience and fleet footedness forced the Indian defence to crack at regular intervals. Sri Lanka raked up three tries in the first half through Pulasthi Dissanayake, Thenuka Nanayakkara and fast running winger Sudaraka Dikkumbura and went into half time with a score of 21 points against 3. All three tries were converted by Tharinda Ratwatte who had a great game.
India’s defence just blew away in the second half as Sri Lanka ran wide and hard again and earned four more tries. Dissanayake playing as hooker smashed his way through a driving maul with the second half just four minutes old.
Then Nanayakkara got the crowd to slip to the edge of their seats when he punched the fifth hole in the Indian defence with a deceptive run; selling a dummy to an Indian player on his way to the try line.
The Indians hit back with a try by prop Bharath Dagar when the visitors intelligently worked off a line out which came at a time when the Sri Lankans were under pressure playing with 14 players. The try was converted by skipper Kumar who had an outstanding game.
But those little setbacks couldn’t stop the marauding Sri Lankans from earning two more tries before the final whistle went. Tharinda Ratwatte sliced through the Indian defence in the 73rd minute of play and replacement full back sealed the game for the hosts with a brilliant under the posts try and a well-taken conversion minutes before the end.
The Cup Championship final and the 3rd place play-off will be worked off on Saturday (May 4) at the Race Course grounds. The tournament is conducted by Sri Lanka Rugby on behalf of Asia Rugby.
Under 19 Cricket
Left-arm spinners Vishwa Peiris and Demion de Silva took five wickets each as St. Joseph’s cruised to an innings and 51 runs victory over St. Benedict’s in the Traditional Mack – Croner trophy cricket encounter at Darley Road on Tuesday.
St. Benedict’s came to the match having done well in the Tier B tournament matches but the spin might of the Joes was too hot for them to handle as they collapsed for 62 runs in the second innings.
The result somewhat exposed the gap between the Tier A and Tier B teams of the Under 19 Division I category as the team from Kotahena were bowled out within 25 overs. They were following on after being dismissed for 197 runs in the first innings, where Nushan Perera grabbed five wickets bowling the bulk of the overs for the Joes. He was adjudged the Best Bowler.
While Vishwa was the Man of the Match, Rishma Amarasinghe (Best Fielder) and Senuja Wakunugoda (Best Batsman) won the other individual awards.
The Joes made 313 in their innings with Senuja top scoring with 106 runs.
In the Division I Tier ‘A’ matches Gurukula (against St. Sebastian’s) and St. Anthony’s Katugastota (against Royal) registered first innings victories.
Maliyadeva took first innings points against De Mazenod in a tier B match.
(RF)
Organisers of the ICC T20 World Cup are sweating over after Pakistan refused to play nuclear-armed neighbours India in Colombo, a decision that has left administrators scratching their heads and staring at a potential financial googly.
The India–Pakistan contest, the jewel in the tournament’s crown, is the game that oils cricket’s economic engine. If the marquee clash is bowled out, the loss of revenue will have every stakeholder feeling the pinch from boardroom to boundary rope. Islamabad’s call to withdraw, taken at government level, has sparked fears the verdict will not be overturned.
Anticipation for the grudge match had reached fever pitch. Tickets vanished on day one of sales, while Colombo’s hotels were snapped up quickly. Five-star rooms that normally fetch 150 US dollars were hiked to 600 USD, some even soaring to 800 USD as the city braced for a carnival.
With the capital full to the rafters, tour operators shuttled visitors to nearby Negombo, an hour’s drive from the stadium, while others opted for apartments as accommodation ran dry. Flights, too, were booked well in advance, but uncertainty over the epic duel has now cast a long shadow.
“We haven’t had many cancellations yet, but we fear the worst. Everyone will take a hit if the game doesn’t take place,” aviation industry official Thusitha Perera told Telecom Asia Sport.
Gihan Wickramasinghe, representing Colombo’s hoteliers, echoed the concern. “Our hope is the match goes ahead. If not, we’ll have to refund bookings and the tour operators will be hit even harder.”
Tour operator Lisa Fernando said the anxiety was mounting. “Two groups from Dubai alone, 75 people, were coming. Corporate clients had planned trips down south as well. There’s a lot of money at stake and so much unnecessary stress.”
Indian fan Varun Kumar from Bangalore has already paid for flights and hotels but intends to travel regardless. “Sri Lanka has been on my bucket list. Whether the match happens or not, we’ll come to experience the country,” he said.
Sri Lanka Cricket remains optimistic the contest will be rescued before the final over is called. But if the showpiece is scratched, it would be a hammer blow to an economy only just finding its feet after years of setbacks, leaving the tournament badly caught behind.
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