Friday 5th November, 2010 REX CLEMENTINE REPORTING FROM SYDNEY S Sri Lanka’s wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara celebrates after dismissing Steve Smith of Australia during their ODI cricket match in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday Nov. 03, 2010. Sri Lanka recorded a memorable one wicket win to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. (AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill) Sri Lanka eye series win REX CLEMENTINE reporting from Sydney Sri Lanka’s Captain Kumar Sangakkara stressed that his team needed to come up with an improved performance if they are to realise their dream of recording the maiden series win on Australian soil. The Sri Lankans won the curtain-raiser in Melbourne in dramatic style thanks to a 132-run ninth wicket World Record partnership between Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga and Sangakkara felt that Sri Lanka needed to do better in fielding and top-order batting to realise their dream. Sri Lanka have been regular visitors to Australia, since gaining Test status in 1981, to play One-Day encounters, but have never been able to win a series here. They twice reached the finals of the tournament, in 1995 and 2006, but couldn’t make it count and Sangakkara reminded that if they are to make an impression, they had to play well. “The win was an incredible and very lucky one. I thought we fielded very poorly today (Wednesday). We made some very poor decisions with our batting, especially when (Xavier) Doherty came on, we made it really hard for ourselves. Lot of things to work on for everything to be in place, but I think if we don’t repeat mistakes, we can get there,” Sangakkara said. Australia will be strengthened by the return of Capt. Ricky Ponting, who missed Wednesday’s game due to his grandmother’s funeral at Launceston. Middle-order bat Shaun Marsh has been ruled out with an injury and Callum Ferguson has been named as the replacement for the remainder of the series. The hosts haven’t won in any form of cricket since beating Pakistan in July and with the Ashes around the corner, many feel that the time is running out for the Australians. With the Australians having one eye on the Ashes and another on getting their ODI squad in order to defend the World Cup in February in the sub-continent, the Sri Lankans seem to be catching them off guard. While the Australians have nine more ODIs ahead of the World Cup, the Sri Lankans only have seven matches, but before the World Cup, they will be keen to record that elusive win in Australia. With the Sydney track traditionally assisting spin bowlers more than any other wicket in Australia, the indications were that all-rounder Jeevan Mendis could get a game replacing Chamara Silva in the side. Mendis, who bowls legspin, adds variation to the Lankan spin department that predominantly bowls off-spin. Teams Australia (From): Ricky Ponting (Capt.), Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Cameron White, Steven Smith, Nathan Hauritz, Mitchell Johnson, John Hastings, Xavier Doherty, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle and Callum Ferguson Sri Lanka (From): Kumar Sangakkara (Capt.), Upul Tharanga, T. M. Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedara, Jeevan Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Suraj Randiv, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dhammika Prasad and Dinesh Chandimal. ri Lanka Captain Kumar Sangakkara was ecstatic in victory after his side beat Australia against many odds in the opening One-Day International of the three-match series at Melbourne Cricket Grounds on Wednesday. At the post match media conference, the Sri Lankan Captain was asked whether it was the most memorable win he has been involved in in the shorter version of the game for his country. “Actually the second most remarkable game I have been involved in. In another game against Bangladesh we were five wickets down for six runs and we managed to get home in that game with Murali hitting 33 off 15 balls I think. But the thing is, Bangladesh is one thing and the Australians are another. This is incredible,” he said. He was also thrilled with the efforts of Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga, who were involved in a 132-run partnership for the ninth wicket to take Sri Lanka within touching distance of win and thanked the Sri Lankan expatriates in Melbourne who easily outnumbered the Australian supporters. “When we were eight down, there was nothing much to think; you can just hope. The way Angelo batted, I thought he showed lot of maturity. He’s coming after a tough couple of months with the bat and he had an injury and he can’t bowl. He repaid for our trust today. Even Lasith Malinga did the hard yards in the bowling part and managed to go out there and contributed towards the win in a big way. “Melbourne is the best place for us to come and play. It’s like playing at home and I think today there were many more Sri with the support, Australia’s stand in Captain Michael Clarke called for more support from the Australians. “I would have liked to see more home support, but it’s great for the Sri Lankan players. They have such a good following in this county. You will see plenty of more Sri Lankan supporters at the SCG and hopefully we can get some Australian support as well.” Former Australian Captain Lankans than the Australians here to watch the game and it’s incredible to play here. Sydney is also great and Australia overall is a great place to come to, but we haven’t won enough here, so it’s good to get off to a win,” he said as the Sri Lankan supporters kept singing bailas till late night outside the stadium. While Sangakkara was thrilled Richie Benaud in television commentary praised the way Kumar Sangakkara captained the side and overall the 33-year-old has won many admirers over here. Since becoming the Captain of the national team mid last year, Sangakkara has fiercely stood up for the introduction of new blood and that seemed to be paying off after Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera, both in their early 20s, starred in Sri Lanka’s win. While Mathews was named Man of the Match, Perera became the first Sri Lankan to pick up a five-wicket haul against Australia in Australia. In the T-20 encounter, the Man of the Match was another young player, Suraj Randiv. “They have done that over many times during the last one and half years. I don’t back them because they are young. I back them because they are good. If anyone is performing and performing better than anyone who had been there, I think they deserve better recognition. They have done that in first class and ‘A’ team cricket and for them to step up to international arena against tough sides is remarkable. That shows character,” Sangakkara said. Clarke, meanwhile, was lost for words after losing a game that Australia should have never lost. “It’s a weird feeling,” he said. “I don’t know how to describe how I am feeling to be honest. I am very disappointed and asked myself a lot of questions as to what I could have done better. Full credit to Sri Lanka anyway. I thought they bowled well today. Mathews’ innings was as good as the best you would see in international cricket. Malinga was too good for us with the bat today which is something new. They played really well and they deserved the win.” Wanniarchchi’s 2nd urine sample not tested - Lt. Col. Weerasinghe ROSHEN STEELMAN the boxer now has rights to receive documents regarding Lt. Col. Hemantha his urine test. Accordingly Weerasinghe, secretary, the Wanniarachchi has made a Amateur Boxing Association request to the Commonwealth (ABA), who left for India on the Games Federation regarding doping allegation of the Gold this matter. medal winning boxer Lt. Col. Manju Weerasinghe also said Wanniarachchi’s secthe first urine test (‘A’ ond urine sample test Sample) also had been (‘B’ Sample), arrived tested without proof of here yesterday. He told some documents. ‘The Island’ after Therefore he made an arrival that indication that the disWanniarachchi’s secgraced boxer will be ond urine test had not freed from the doping taken place as a result allegation due to lack of some problem relatof evidence. ed to documentation. After the National “Documents Olympic Committee of regarding the second Sri Lanka announced urine test were not Lt. Col. Hemantha on Oct 24 that received by the laboraWanniarachchi’s first Weerasinghe tory on the due date urine sample, provided and therefore the botby the boxer, had contle which contained the ‘B’ tained ‘Nandrolone,’ a banned urine sample was not opened,” performance-enhancing drug, said Lt. Col. Weerasinghe the second urine sample test He further added saying was scheduled to be held last according to the World Anti Tuesday at the WADA office in Doping Agency (WADA) rules, New Delhi, India. BY Sehwag, Dravid hit centuries as India dominates AHMEDABAD, India (AP) Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid produced centuries in contrasting styles to help India dominate the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand on Thursday. Sehwag made a well-paced 173 while Dravid compiled a steady 104 as the home side reached a commanding 329-3 after winning the toss and asking the opposition to bowl on a good batting pitch at the Sardar Patel Stadium. Sachin Tendulkar (13) and V. V. S. Laxman (7) were not out at the close. India was put in a position of strength by Sehwag and Dravid, who made the most of an unimpressive bowling attack that also lacked support in the field as three clear chances were spilled. Sehwag smashed 24 fours and a six off 199 deliveries for his 22nd Test hundred, during which he dominated a 237-run stand for the second wicket with Dravid. Sehwag timed the ball well from early on, stroking three fours through the off side against Chris Martin in the third over. Colombo South, who won the U-15 Prima Inter-Provincial tournament, seen here with the Prima Cup at the NCC Grounds, yesterday. (Pic by Kamal Wanniarachchi) Colombo South win Prima Provincial Championship ROSHEN STEELMAN BY Left-arm spinner Devind Pathmanathan picked up three wickets for 28 runs and Shanuka Dulaj’s all-round performance too helped Colombo South to record a nine-wicket victory over Colombo North in a thrilling final of the U-15 Prima InterProvincial Championship played at NCC Grounds, Colombo yesterday. Colombo South, put into bat first, loss wickets at regular intervals but reached 181 runs in their allotted 50 overs and, in reply, Colombo North were bundled out for 171 with just five balls to spare. Colombo North did their part with the ball restricting South for a low score but after getting a good start in their run chase, the middle-order collapsed allowing Colombo South to make inroads. The North opening pair, Dilan Fernandopulle and Kanishka Perera, put up a good opening stand of 41 but they lost wickets at regular intervals thereon. Brief Scores: Colombo South 181 for 9 wkts in 50 overs (Uvin Bandara 23, Shanura Dulaj 26 n.o., Devind Pathmanathan 20, Thilaksha Malshan 25, Hashen Ramanayake 21, Chathuranga Rajapaksha 21; Piyamal Perera 2/14, Minhaj Jaleel 2/30) Colombo North 172 all out in 49.1 overs (Kanishka Perera 33, Kavindu Kulasekara 35, Piyamal Perera 23; Devind Pathmanathan 3/28). Published by Upali Newspapers (Private) Limited, 223, Bloemendhal Road, Colombo 13 and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Friday 5th November, 2010