Sports
The Emperor at 60!
by Rex Clementine
Arjuna Ranatunga hasn’t spared any sacred cow. All those years ago, he targeted Shane Warne calling him an ordinary cricketer and there was no love lost between the two of them. Yet, when there was a ceremony remembering Warne in Galle last year ahead of the Australia – Sri Lanka Test match, he not only showed up but urged a few of his team mates to come along. Exterior is rough and tough but interior is soft and kind.
Sportsmen rewrite record books. But Arjuna more often rewrote the rule books. He also upset the apple cart, told the Board Chairman once to get out of the Sri Lankan dressing room, broke a few glass ceilings and was a pain for successive administrations of the sport both here and overseas. He turns 60 today.
As India cements owner N. Srinivasan made a regal entry into cricket governance, everyone was careful not even to talk anything out of turn. The business tycoon was known for his ruthlessness. Influential figures in cricket who knew inside out of the devout Brahmin warned that never to cross Srinivasan’s path. But Arjuna took on Srinivasan.
He was the only one. The rest of them, including the founding members of the ICC – England and Australia fell in line with him and agreed for the Big Three takeover of the ICC and a larger portion of ICC revenue to India. Only Arjuna spoke out. This is an unfair world and cricket is an unfair sport. It’s not supposed to be that way. Forget the world. At least cricket is supposed to be a fair playing field.
Srinivasan taught Arjuna a bitter lesson. He contacted Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge and promised a tour of India that would bring US$ 10 million to SLC. But only on one condition. The government had to get rid of Arjuna as the Board Chairman.
Lokuge said deal. Arjuna was out. That Lokuge went and signed a television deal with a backlisted company and plundered millions of dollars is a different story.
The rule of the day seems that in cricket everyone should make money. Ministers, Presidential Advisors, Lawyers, Law Enforcement Officers and even us reporters. To hell with cricket. Even if the national cricket team’s performance has hit an all time low it doesn’t matter as long as the board is making profits. It is fine if we don’t play international cricket for nearly three months when the IPL is on. The important thing is not to antagonize India.
You thought the Srinivasan episode would have taught Arjuna a few lessons. No. He has not learned a single thing.
Srinivasan though only had clout being the big boss of BCCI. His successor Jay Shah not only has clout, but he has even political power being the son of India’s Interior Minister and number two of the ruling BJP after the Prime Minister.
You knew what was in store for Arjuna when he ridiculed Shah. It was stupid. It was politically incorrect. The most sensible thing to do these days is to go with the flow. That is what Australian boss Mike Barid is doing. That is what Richard Thomson, the Chairman of England and Wales Cricket Board is doing, That is what right right is doing.
Why go and take on of all people Jay Shah? But that is Arjuna for you. He calls a spade a spade. Diplomacy is not his best trait. We all agreed that during the Asia Cup having a reserve day for just the India – Pakistan game was insane. But no body said a word. No one wants to antagonize the BCCI. Arjuna did. He called it ridiculous.
An Indian reporter asked him what he would have done if he were Sri Lanka’s captain. “I would have walked out with my team without playing the tournament. It’s not fair. Let them play an India – Pakistan final. This is not how I play cricket,” he said. How we long for those days. It would have been a nightmare for the ICC to deal with this guy.
At a time when our captains are happy to stand and take selfies with Virat Kohli, here’s one man who could have given Kohli as much as the Indian captain dishes out to others. At the age of 60 and being the grandfather of two, at least now you hope that Arjuna plays it safe. But that is not what he is. He has been always that combative kind of guy.
Playing his first game against his idol Sunil Gavaskar, Arjuna had goosebumps. It was a surreal moment. But the competitive nature in him compelled him to take on the Indian captain and get under his skin.
Gavaskar wasn’t upset but was impressed by what he saw in the teenager. He quietly went up to Board Charmian Gamini Dissanayake and told him, ‘Look after that boy. He will change Sri Lankan cricket one day.’
At times you tend to think that Arjuna is old school, but his observations on the game are quite sharp. India had come to Colombo for the Under-19 World Cup in 2006. One Rohit Sharma impressed him.
In subsequent years when the Indian senior team visited Sri Lanka and reporters interviewed him he kept on asking why Rohit Sharma is not part of the senior side. The Indians wondered why he is so obsessed with Rohit Sharma. The proof was there soon in what Rohit has gone onto achieve in the game.
Arjuna’s humour is quite unique too. For all these guys who have gone onto play the game at the highest level they have their humorous side.
Once he was captaining a World XI team against an Australian XI in Adelaide in an exhibition game. Ashwin Ferro, a reporter from Mid-Day newspaper from Bombay had gone to Adelaide for reporting.
A few World XI players were having niggles and the reporter had to play the game. Arjuna looked at him and said, ‘Hey you. You are bowling the first over.’ The poor reporter asked, ‘Why me.’ Arjuna replied. ‘You are from Bombay right. Most Ranji Trophy wins and all. Yes, you are bowling the first over.’
It’s been a glorious 60 for the captain cool. There are many wishes on his birthday and one of them is that he doesn’t change. You need that one voice to tell the powers that be to where to get lost.
Sports
Sri Sumangala pull off seven wickets victory
Under 19 Division I
by Reemus Fernando
A seven wicket haul by Sadew Hettiarachchi and a century by Anuhas de Silva set the stage for Sri Sumangala College, Panadura to record a seven wickets victory over Devapathiraja College in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘B’ tournament match at Bandaragama on Thursday. It was the first outright victory registered by Sri Sumangala in the tournament.
Commencing their second innings with a deficit of 149 runs, Gimhan Rasanjana scored an unbeaten 82 runs for Devapathiraja to fight back.
Sri Sumamgala reached the target of 66 runs with two balls to spare as Rusith Jayawardana hammered 35 runs in 16 balls (3x4s, 2x6s).
Tier ‘A’
Gurukula win first innings points against Maliyadewa at Panagoda
Scores
Gurukula 224 all out in 83.4 overs (Denura Dimansith 22, Thathsara Eshan 81, Induwara Oshada 50; Dimantha Arusha 2/39, Dimath Abeysinghe 5/65) and 185 for 5 decl. in 29 overs (Hirusha Nimsara 27, Poorna Kalhara 41, Janith Mihiranga 56n.o., Thathsara Eshan 45n.o.; Dimath Abeysinghe 4/64)
Maliyadewa 136 all out in 43.2 overs (Pehesara Bandara 20, Rajith Navodya 49, Dimantha Arusha 29; Tharusha Kodikara 4/49, Ohas Sadew 3/21, Thathsara Eshan 2/31) and 140 for 8 in 41 overs (Rajith Navodya 44, Sandeepa Chamod 30; Thathsara Eshan 4/35, Ohas Sadew 3/42)
Tier ‘B’
Sri Sumangala win by seven wickets at Bandaragama
Scores:
Devapathiraja 156 all out 43.5 overs (Arosha Sithumina 56, Darshaka Sandeep 52; Sadew Hettiarachchi 2/20, Rusith Jayawardena 2/31, Bihanga Silva 2/06, Mevindu Kumarasiri 4/46) and 214 all out in 43.5 overs (Arosha Sithumina 27, Darshaka Sandeepa 58, Gimhan Rasanjana 82n.o.; Sadew Hettiarachchi 7/59, Bihanga Silva 2/36)
Sri Sumangala 305 all out in 93.1 overs (Anuhas de Silva 121, Bihanga Silva 61, Akila Wedamulla 66; Sandaru Malshan 3/111, Oshen Kalhara 3/54) and 69 for 3 in 5.4 overs (Rusith Jayawardana 35)
Holy Cross struggle against Moratu Vidyalaya at Ambepussa
Scores
Moratu Vidyalaya 265 all out in 78.5 overs (Isuru Nidharshana 129, Malith Perera 39, Vihanga Nethsara 21; Sanuka Cheran 2/37, Himaru Deshan 3/84, Nethru Silva 2/73)
Holy Cross 26 for 6 in 8 overs (Malith Perera 3/12, Nishitha Fernando 2/00)
St. Aloysius’ set for first innings advantage against Dharmaraja at Mahinda College ground Galle
Scores
Dharmaraja 158 all out 58.4 overs (Pulindu Perera 30, Kashyapa Dissanayake 48, Onija Sesath 33; Dulsath Nimviru 2/34, Kavindu Kesara 2/22, Theekshana Tharuka 4/30)
St. Aloysius’ 149 for 2 in 39 overs (Deneth Dewminda 42, Vinod Danushka 47n.o., Theekshana Tharuka 35)
St. Sylvester’s 178, De Mazenod 135/5 at Kandana
Scores
St. Sylvester’s 178 all out in 52 overs (Yoshitha Isuranga 67, Chandupa Waduge 48; Sharith Sudeena 4/54, Dinsara Rivisura 4/34)
De Mazenod 135 for 5 in 42 overs (Neshan Dias 31, Shevan Welgama 48n.o., Dinosh Jelon 36)
Traditional Match
Dewthusa century propels Joes at Darley Road
Scores
St. Joseph’s 308 for 9 decl. in 81.4 overs (Abishek Jayaweera 28, Senuja Wakunugoda 34, Yenula Dewthusa 138, Rishma Amarasinghe 69; Yasindu Dissanayake 2/07, Dushen Udawela 2/59, Ramiru Perera 3/80)
Royal 60 for 2 in 19 overs (Rehan Peiris 31n.o.)
Sports
New Zealand breeze past Sri Lanka despite Theekshana hat-trick
New Zealand strode to 255 for 9 in their 37 overs, with a 112-run second wicket stand between Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman the bedrock of that innings. And then Sri Lanka’s top order crashed and burned again. They were 4 for 22 inside the first five overs, their hopes of levelling the series almost completely dashed.
Kamindu Mendis attempted to revive the innings, but his 64 was not nearly enough to revive this innings. Sri Lanka slipped to a 113-run defeat, having also lost heavily to New Zealand in the first ODI. New Zealand take the series despite being significantly depleted by absences and injuries. Sri Lanka are essentially at full strength, but the failure of their top five continues to dog them, even in a rain-reduced match such as this.
New Zealand had some stutters too. They were modest at the death, as Maheesh Theekshana in particular was effective, taking a hat-trick across his last two overs, as New Zealand mustered no more than 63 in the last 10 overs, losing five wickets in that period. But they did not stumble so spectacularly as to undo the work of the Ravindra-Chapman stand. They had contributions through the middle, with Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner chipping in.
And then they had their confident seam bowlers, who imposed themselves even with the older ball. Will O’Rourke took 3 for 31, Jacob Duffy 2 for 30, while Matt Henry and Nathan Smith claimed a wicket apiece. The only semblance of a partnership had been between Kamindu and Janith Liyanage, as the pair put on 57 together for the fifth wicket. Outside of that, New Zealand were picking their way through the batting order, and ultimately had them all out inside 31 overs.
Sri Lanka’s required rate was 6.92 right from the beginning. Although this seems a monumental challenge, the pitch was good to bat on, and with rain having delayed the start of play by two-and-a-half hours, a damp ball was also proving a challenge for some bowlers. But Sri Lanka needed a strong start to put some wind in the sails of this chase, and what they got instead was a collapse.
Pathum Nissanka holed out to mid-off in the second over, badly miscuing a lofted drive against Duffy. Kusal Mendis then edged behind in Duffy’s next over, before Avishka Fernando slapped a ball from Henry straight to point immediately after. Captain Charith Asalanka’s horrendous judging of a run extended Sri Lanka’s nosedive. He’d blocked one towards Mitchell Santner at mid-off and called his partner through. Santner swooped in the ball, hit the stumps with an under-arm throw, and caught Asalanka metres short. Kamindu had been out in very similar fashion, taking on the same fielder, only on Sunday.
At Asalanka’s dismissal, Sri Lanka still had 234 runs to get off 194 deliveries, and only two specialist batters and two allrounders left to do it with. They didn’t get especially far.
Contrast this to New Zealand’s top order, who put their team in a powerful position inside the first 22 overs, with Ravindra stroking 79 off 63 and Chapman hitting 62 off 52.
What was most impressive about their stand was how comfortable both batters made brisk run-scoring appear. Ravindra was strong through the offside as usual, but found plenty of runs to leg, using the sweep and the pick-up shot off the pads to especially good effect.
Chapman meanwhile, was decidedly stronger on the legside, scoring 46 off his 63 runs in that direction. He hit two sixes – one top edged over the keeper, and another over midwicket off a short ball from Eshan Malinga to bring up his fifty off 44 balls as well as the century partnership. Ravindra had also got to his half-century with a six – down the ground off Hasaranga. He took 43 balls to get there.
Earlier, Asitha Fernando had bowled Will Young with an outstanding jagging delivery, but neither Ravindra or Chapman were tested for long by Sri Lanka’s seamers. In fact, it was the spinners that introduced even a little discomfort – between them, Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga took six wickets.
Sri Lanka fielded well, and induced errors at a greater rate in the back half of the innings. Asalanka pulled off an excellent diving catch at short cover to get rid of Ravindra, and Theekshana’s hat-trick featured some tumbling catches in the deep from Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Kamindu.
But even in the field, New Zealand outdid them. Their ground fielding was spectacular again, and the catch of the day belonged to Nathan Smith, who bounded along the deep-third boundary, threw himself off his feet and got his outstretched right arm to a ball that might otherwise have landed over the boundary to dismiss Malinga.
Brief scores:
New Zealand
255 for 9 in 37 overs (Rachin Ravindra 79, Mark Chapman 62, Daryl Mitchell 38, Mitchell Santner 20; Maheesh Theekshana 4-44, Wanidu Hasaranga 2-39) beat Sri Lanka 142 in 30.2 overs (Kamindu Mendis 64, Janith Liyanage 22; Will O’Rouke 3-31, Jacob Duffu 2-30) by 113 runs
[Cricinfo]
Sports
St. Thomas’ record ‘historic victory’ against Ananda
by Reemus Fernando
St. Thomas’ College, Matara achieved a ‘historic first’ as they beat Ananda College, Colombo by five wickets to retain their top position in the points table in the Under 19 Division I tier ‘B’ tournament yesterday.
St. Thomas’ are not a traditional rival of the schools cricket powerhouse of Colombo. Despite playing cricket for more than hundred years, they only meet Ananda in tournament matches. According to officials of St. Thomas’ it is the first time they have beaten the Anandians. The home team achieved the feat well before lunch on the final day as the tournament’s highest run scorer Pesandu Sanjan scored an unbeaten 23 runs to seal the five wickets win in the low scoring affair. Sanjan led from the front in the bowling attack as well taking six wickets in the second innings to bundle out Ananda for 49 runs. It is the third outright victory of the tournament for the team captained by Sajan.
At Galle, Mahinda beat St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya by an innings and 46 runs as Senuka Dangamuwa rattled the visitors for 72 runs with a five wicket haul in the second innings. Mahinda are the second placed team in the points table behind St. Thomas’.
Results
St. Thomas’ beat Ananda by five wickets at Uyanwatta
Scores
Ananda
95 all out 44.2 overs (Kenul de Zoysa 26, Lithma Perera 22; Vihanga Sankalana 2/14, Pesandu Sanjan 3/14, Manuga Guruge 3/26) and 49 all out in 20 overs (Pesandu Sanjan 6/22, Manuga Guruge 4/19)
St. Thomas’ Matara
85 all out in 25.2 overs (Manuga Guruge 18; Ashinsa Nainayaka 2/21, Kaveesha Mendis 2/04, Dasith Batugahage 4/30) and 64 for 5 in 18.2 overs (Kumesh Nawanjana 17n.o., Pesandu Sanjan 23n.o.; Sharada Jayaratne 4/31)
Mahinda beat St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya by an innings and 46 runs at Galle
Scores
St. Sebastian’s
83 all out in 32.3 overs and 72 all out in 38.1 overs (Arosha Udayanga 3/26, Senuka Dangamuwa 5/38, Kaveen Rukshan 2/04)
Mahinda
201 all out in 52.4 overs (Dulsith Dharshana 106, Sehas Ashinsa 22, Arosha Udayanga 25; Maheesha Sithum 3/73, Vihanga Theekshana 3/26, Damsith Subashana 2/44)
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