With their progression to the semi-finals already ensured, this game is nothing more than a practice match for West Indies. And despite England’s predictable insistence that "every match matters," the meaningless nature of it was painfully evident in what was a complacent, lazy fielding and bowling performance. Gayle and Bravo, however, took full advantage of England’s lapse in concentration with a pair of superb hundreds.

Half-volleys were the order of the day in the opening overs, as Jon Lewis - included for his first match of the tournament at the expense of the misfiring Steve Harmison - and James Anderson struggled to find their rhythm on a two-paced track. Anderson, who looked totally out of sorts, donated consecutive leg-side full-tosses to Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s cause, but Lewis was quicker to settle and produced an ideal wicket-to-wicket delivery to end a handy opening stand of 35. Enter Bravo and Gayle, and it was the former to really assert his authority, clipping the bowlers off his legs with wonderful timing and breezing to a 60-ball fifty.

Gayle was relatively subdued but, after passing his 80-ball fifty proceeded to open his shoulders, crashing boundaries through the covers with the minimum of feet movement, always standing tall. The only semblance of ugliness was a monstrous smote off Michael Yardy but, such is his power, it sailed over long-on for the first six of the day. England did claw back the West Indies’ spiralling momentum between the 30th and 40th overs though. With both batsmen settled and eyeing hundreds, England’s bowlers limited the boundaries to force the pair into scampering singles. The relative run-drought couldn’t and didn’t last.

Jamie Dalrymple again bowled steadily, without the support from his fielders, going around the wicket to Gayle and firing the ball in fast and straight. He too, though, was guilty of offering leg-side gifts which both batsmen seized upon with a flourish. Huge shouts for lbw from Dalrymple against both batsmen in the 36th over - the second must surely have been heard in Brisbane such was the bowler’s throaty conviction - were turned down, and Gayle motored onto a fabulous 127-ball hundred.

He fell soon after but Ramnaresh Sarwan batted quite magnificently, seizing on the final ten-over frolics and smashing the hard-working Paul Collingwood for six over extra cover and upping the run-rate above five runs per over. All the while Bravo was cruising, without alarm, to his first maiden one-day hundred. A sensible innings which made a mockery of England’s wayward bowling, he scampered singles and was never afraid to hit over the top. Together with Sarwan, who fell for an impish 29, the pair put on fifty in just 33 balls to further demoralise a fielding side whose nuts and bolts had completely fallen off.

The only glimmer of optimism for England was the sight of Flintoff gallumphing back to the bowling crease for the first time since his ankle operation last summer. Having said before the toss that he intended to "ping a few down", Flintoff looked potent but rusty as his five-over foray - split into two spells - leaked 27 runs including three fours and a rank full-toss when Gayle was anxiously entrenched on 99 not out. But at least his demeanour was sunny throughout, a start contrast to his mate, Harmison, who looked on forlornly from the dressing-room after his shocking performances in the first two games.

The only blemish for the West Indies was in failing to reach 300, a target which seemed entirely plausible when Bravo and Gayle were in full flow. It ought to be enough, though. England’s one-day pain is just 50 overs from relenting.

St Benedict’s College ceremonially opens the refurbished playground on November 4. Deshamanya H.K Dharmadasa the benevolent philanthrophist will be the chief guest on this special day. St. Benedicts in their proud history was one of the pioneers to lay a turf wicket on their playground. The school from Kotahena has come a long way since 1865 when it was established by De La Salle Brothers.

It was in 1935, 1st March to be exact that Rev Brother Luke signed the deeds for the purchase of a 3.5 acre marshy plot of land along Bloemendhal Road close to the College hostel for a princely sum of Rs 22000/=.Gradually land bordering this plot was also acquired.Thus, the playground of St Benedicts College took shape after tedious work put in by Bro Luke followed by Czech Bro Ladislaus of Jesus ably supported by the then Directors, Bros Luke and Albert.

In 1942 the military requisitioned the playground and was returned back to the school only in August 1946 but it took another four months to remodel it to a worthy play field during Bro Luke’s second essay as Director.The grounds transformed gradually to what it was upto the refurbishment mainly due to the untiring work done by Rogus the curator for more than four decades. With time the ground settled to a lower elevation to that of Bloemendhal road on one boundary, and the storm water from the high ground surrounding the playfield rendered the surface soggy during rains.For long years the school suffered without the use of the grounds during the rainy season.School teams participated in tournaments without practice and many scheduled matches were compelled to be called off.

It was in 2004 that the Old Boys Union and more particularly the Dance Committee of St Benedict’s College embarked on the ambitious project to lift the level of the ground to a higher elevation to seek a permanent cure to the rain and storm water retention issue.Brave hearts and a firm belief was all the joint committee had at the initial stage.

A staggering cost of Rs 30 million was spent on refurbishing the ground.No mean feat. The overseas branches, and all the committees of the Old Boys Union rallied round to make this possible under the guidance of Rev Brother Granville Perera, the current Director. Underground drainage systems were put in place.An innovative sprinkler system was introduced to water the outfield.Six new turf wickets were laid supervised by Ranil Abeynaike.Peripheral drainage system was redone and the sewage system totally overhauled.The roadway leading from Bloemendhal Road to the ground was completely macadamised with Deshamanya H.K.Dharmadasa being the single donor towards this.

A new hostel is being built at the far end for visiting teams donated by Old Ben Mohammed Mahroof, Member of Parliament for the Colombo District and the foundation stone for this would be laid by him on 4 November as part of the opening celebrations.

A picturesque sight and a magnificient achievement by the school is finally scheduled and this is certain to bring more sportsmen of ability leading to national recognition in the years to come. Religeo, Mores and Cultura were never so personified than with this achievement.

08.15 - Concelebrated Thanksgiving Holy Mass at St. Lucia’s Cathedral.

09.30 - Parade by Students and members of the Benedictine family from Cathedral premises to the playground.

10.00 - Unveiling of the plaque by the Chief Guest Deshamanya H.K. Dharmadasa, Chairman, Nawaloka Group of Companies

10.40 - Laying of the Foundation stone for the proposed C.M.M. Mahroof Memorial Sports Hostel by Old Ben Mohamed Mahroof, Member of Parliament, Colombo District

11.15 - Sports Events.

Tikiri Kobbekaduwa the sporting – Governor of Central Province, is giving a big hand to promote sports over here in the hills. He too a sportsman produced by Trinity and St. Sylvester’s during his days was a crack opening batsman and now he is all out to promote sports. Tikiri, becomes the first sporting Governor produced by Kandy schools to serve in Kandy. He has many plans to promote sports.

Tikiri is also a great lover of cricket. Some time back he allocated a piece of land at Gannoruwa to put up the much needed indoor net for the Kandy cricketers. Still the Kandy District Cricket Association has not got on with it.

Rain deprived Trinity of victory against Vidyartha in their interschool match at Asgiriya yesterday.

Trinity declared their first innings at 119 for 4 in reply to Vidyartha’s first innings score of 68 all out.

Sachith Pathirana was most outstanding in this game. After capturing 5 for 28 he scored a fluent 78 for Trinity in their essay at the wicket.

When rain stopped play yesterday at 2.30 p.m. Vidyartha were 62 for 4 wickets.

Fourteen year old Nawalage Dimitri Cooray was awarded the Black Belt 1st Dan at a colourful ceremony conducted by the Japan Shito-Ryu-Karate (Sri Lanka branch) at S. Thomas’ College sports complex on October1. He is a pupil of Sensei Ruwan Sathsarasinghe.

Dimitri is also an excellent swimmer and has won several awards. He is a member of the Panadura Aquatic Club.