Sports

Remarkable feat by Kandy SC

It was one of those days when the Sri lankanbowling faltered. The bowlers should have paused and recalibrated their line and length when they realised the scoring was free. The talent is there and this would serve as a reminder that one should never go through the motions when the opposition is getting on top    

Mahela's magic - and many virtues

Whether the 2/0 scoreline is a true reflection of Sri Lanka's superiority over Pakistan in Test cricket is debatable. After all, had Pakistan not frivoled away certain victory in the first encounter, the three-Test series might've provided a different ending. Full marks though to Sangakkara's men for converting hopelessness to triumph in Galle - a win that immeasurably enhanced self-belief, as subsequent events show.

The second Test was won with less anguish than the first, and in the third Test, set with an insurmountable 492-run target, the home team fought a rearguard action that looked a snatch from the pages of Dunkirk 1940. And so, Sri Lanka finally had won on home soil a Test series against Pakistan- but the genesis of this historic achievement is in the visitors' self-destruct in Galle.

No such accidental favours, however, dilute the quality of our team's triumph in the five-match ODI series, also a first on home shores over the Pakistanis. Sangakkara's team had it all sewn up in the quickest time possible, rendering inconsequential the series' two remaining contests.

In taking an unsurpassable 3/0 lead, they demonstrated their superiority in every facet of the 50-over game, battling through vagaries and coping variable conditions. The conditions in Dambulla in the first two matches were helpful to bowlers - and Sri Lanka's bowlers proved they were the more proficient lot, limiting the Pakistani batsmen to totals that were within the grasp of their own batsmen.

The word grasp is used advisedly given that consistency hadn't been a virtue of our specialist batsmen.

Trigger a revival

So when in the third game Pakistan ran up the ground record total of 288, albeit in conditions better suited for batting, the smart money was on a win for the visitors - a win that would've been their first on tour and possibly trigger a revival that just might help them return home with the ODI series prize.

With two wins already in the pocket, were Sri Lanka of weaker will, they might've taken the least course of resistance, choosing to leave the battle for the series-clincher for another day. And no one would've quite blamed them for it; after all, any winning-sequence must snap sometime. But was the resolve and spirit of Sangakkara's team of firmer fabric? As you know, it was - which was what made the superiority of the home team over the visitors so utterly obvious.

Team united to win

And that Mahela Jayawardene, the immediate past captain, spearheaded the astonishing victory chase speaks of a team united in one cause: to win, not to mention of the ex-captain's qualities as a man. On this day the victory cause had seemingly drifted beyond reach: Jayasuriya, the batsman most capable of making the impossible real, was on sick leave, more precisely on trips to the toilet.

So who's to do the job suited for the plundering ways of the southpaw?  Jayawardene, clearly, had to yet rediscover his silken touch, so that his asking for a move from no.4 to opener could not been driven by any ambitions of emulating Sri Lanka's leading ODI run-getter. His explanation for wanting it: someone had to do Sunny's job. someone with long experience. That put the list of choices down to two: either the present or past captain.     

Jayawardene put his hand up. He need not have - had he been any less of the selfless man he is. He had, after all, once tried a hand at opening, against minnows Zimbabwe - and was dismissed for a duck. Sangakkara, on the other hand, has opened a good deal more times and so was familiar with the role. That apart, as current captain it ought to be his responsibility to fill the breach anyway. But as Jayawardene knows through experience, a captain's lot is never light and relieving him of a responsibility of two make the job a tad easier. 

Such an intention is noble enough, but to go out there, sweat away all the salt in him, endure the pains of the resultant cramps and battle single-handedly for all but virtually the winning run is, well, being both Good Samaritan and brave frontline soldier at the same time.

It was reminiscent of his century against England in the Carlton and United tri-nation series in Adelaide ten years ago. He was then the second-youngest in Ranatunga's team and his permanency was yet unsecured, all of which meant the burden of responsibility then weighed lighter. Not so at 32, as previous captain and as one who self-assigned the formidable job of doing a Jayasuriya.

He might've accomplished the same as Jayasuriya did on his better days, like that summer evening in 2006 in Leeds v. England when he made 152 and helped chase down a 300-plus target. The similarity ends there. Their methods were at polar ends. Jayasuriya is all cannon; Jayawardene, a sleek, silent repeater revolver. One bombs the boundaries; the other, destructs with elegant precision. And so last Monday, the Pakistanis defeat was not so much by annihilation as by strangulation with velvet gloves.

As the radiance of Jayawardene's batsmanship spread across the green, there were times when the victory quest didn't matter as much as the wonders of aesthetic beauty unfolding before our eyes. You were, like, charmed into some distant shore by the melodious music of Brahms, with a book of verse from Omar Khayyam in hand, that to fret about life's daily problems wasn't possible.

The beauty of Jayawardene's batting was enough of a treat, no matter what the game's outcome be. That, in the end, we had both the majestic artistry of Mahela and our first-ever ODI series win over Pakistan on home soil, of course, made it all the more memorable.

It would not be unlike Jayawardene if he didn't feel happy he had done something for his captain, and good friend, too. Clearly, the relationship between the two is special and, no doubt, has done much to make the Sri Lanka dressing room a happy, homily place - something you can't quite perceive the visitor's resting place to be.

Factionalism

Reportedly, factionalism has sundered the Pakistani team. At the root of this alleged split is the team management's decision to infuse new blood at the expense of seniors, not excluding Mohammad Yousuf, centurion in Galle and not so long ago the world's no.1 batsman. True or not, invariably stories of a split emanate from a team that include a new and old captain - for instance, the 'selectors are Muppets' controversy raised by past captain Atapattu during the 2007 tour to Australia which put needless strain on new leader Jayawardene.

Happily, the Jayawardene-Sangakkara transition has not been beset by even notions of such factionalism. Rather, the change in leadership has been seamless - and it is not wrong to say that is why Sri Lanka cricket is clearly on the rise . presently to no.3 in the world rankings. "These are the good times,'' says the new captain, but warns of the bad times "which surely will come'' - adding the team has to prepare for the bad times in terms of minimizing mistakes and strengthening mental resolve.

Clearly, Sri Lanka's more difficult challenges are ahead, and no one can say that Sangakkara is expecting anything less in the days ahead. That is reason to be optimistic that the victory march under his watch has a good chance of continuing.

Army Commander was a skillful boxer at Royal

By Priantha Malavi

Royal College has produced a plethora of scientific boxers during the past 95 years. Scientific boxing is synonymous with Royal College due to the foundation laid by the late Donald Obeyesekere (the father of  boxing in Sri Lanka ), his son the late Danton Obeyesekere (who coached Royal for 55 years) and Ponnambalam Rajendram who were all Cambridge `Blues'. This Legacy has been carried on by their pupils who have coached their old school teams subsequently.

Among this galaxy of scientific boxers, the name of Lt.General Jagath Jayasuriya, the new Army Commander has a very special place by virtue of the fact that he is one of eleven Royalists who have won the Col.T.Y. Wright Challenge Cup awarded to the Senior Best  Boxer at the Stubbs Shield Meets.

He was encouraged to box by his elder brother Sumith who was in the Royal College Boxing team and  took to the sport like a duck taking to water in 1973 and represented the College but met with mixed fortunes by being runner up in the under 85 weight class at the Schools Novices meet and Bombay trials Meet.

In 1974 he won his weight at the Schools Novices Meet & Stubbs Shield Meet and was Runner up at the ABA Junior Nationals. He had to stay out of the ring in 1975 due to illness but came back strongly in 1976 to win his weight at the Stubbs Shield meet along with his brother, Nimal who was the Captain.     

He captained the team in 1977 and with an elegant display of skillful boxing carried away the Senior Best Boxers Trophy at the Stubbs Shield Meet. It was almost after 20 years (after L Ferdinands) that a Royalist won this Trophy and it took another 10 years for another Royalist (H. Bandara) to win this Trophy. He was awarded College Boxing Colours in 1974, 1976 and 1977.

The writer who was the Technical Advisor to the Royal College Boxing team from 1974 to 1994, was in his corner when he won the Best Boxer's Trophy and in most of his other fights as well and will bear witness to his excellent ring-craft. Straight clean punching coupled with a solid defence and deft foot work was the hallmark of Jagath's boxing repertoire .

Royal had many sets of brothers boxing for the School and winning their weights and a very interesting coincidence was that the Jayasuriya Brothers, Sumith (1973), Nimal (1976) and Jagath (1977) all won the Under 125 lbs weight class at the Stubbs Shield Meets. At the Royal College Inter House Boxing Meet in 1974, four Jayasuriya brothers  Sumith, Aruna, Nimal and Jagath featured in the finals.  His brother-in-law, Cdr (Rtd) G.E.S de Silva captained the Royal College Boxing team in 1966.

After joining the Army Jagath involved himself in Boxing administration. He was a former Secretary of the A.B.A. of Sri Lanka and is presently the Vice President of the A.B.A. He was unable to take on the Presidency due to exigencies of duty in the North. He is also an International (A.I.B.A.) Referee/Judge and officiated in many international tournaments including the World Championships in 2006.

We are certain that Lt. General Jagath Jayasuriya will carry out his duties and responsibilities to the hilt as the Army Commander and bring honour to his country just as much as he did for his School in the Boxing Ring. We wish him the best of luck and may the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem be with him.

Roddick marches on in Washington

Top seed Andy Roddick reached the last eight of the ATP Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington DC with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win against Sam Querrey.

Roddick, in his first tournament since taking a break after Wimbledon to recover from a hip injury, was too strong for his compatriot, seeded 16th.

It was Roddick's 500th tour win, a feat achieved by only 36 in the open era.

Tenth seed Tommy Haas also needed three sets to overcome former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5 2-6 6-1.

Second seed Juan Martin del Potro battled back to beat Lleyton Hewitt 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-2).

Hewitt appeared to have capitulated in the deciding set but never gave up, saving two match-points to force a tie-break before finally succumbing.

Fernando Gonzalez, seeded four, stormed through with a 6-2 6-4 win over American Wayne Odesnik, while seeds Robin Soderling and Tomas Berdych were others who needed three sets to progress.

Kandy now aims for the Clifford Cup

By Hafiz Marikar 

Kings of local rugby Kandy Sports Club, retained the Caltex "A" Division League Rugby title for a record ninth successive year. With last evening's game against CR & FC the rugby curtain for the year comes down and now it's time for Sri Lanka's oldest tournament, the Clifford Cup, which will be kicked off later this month.

The Clifford Cup is the   oldest rugby tournament in the country. This prestigious cup was awarded by Lady Clifford, wife of then Governor Sir Hugh Clifford for a match between the Kandy United Services and All Ceylon, on her birthday on  August 16, 1911. This match took place on  September 2, a week after the donation of the cup.

In the inaugural game  Kandy United Services SC beat the All Ceylon side by 25 points to nil. In the following year the game was played on the same day  September 2, where All Ceylon beat Kandy United Services by 8 points to nil and in 1913 once again the Kandy United Services SC beat All Ceylon by 3 point to nil.

 The tournament was discontinued, due to the first World War and was not re- started until 1926.  In that year Low Country (Colombo Clubs) beat Kandy United services SC 14-3, and in the following year 1927 Up-Country beat Ceylonese 11-8, 1928 Low Country beat Ceylonese and in 1929 Low Country beat Kandy United Services SC 23-3.

The year 1930 saw Low Country beating Ceylonese 14-3, and in 1931 Low Country once again beat Ceylonese 27-6, then in 1932 Up-Country beat Kandy United Services SC 14-10. 1933 Up-Country beat Kandy United Services SC 9-4, and in 1934 Low Country beat Ceylonese 17-0. In 1935 Up Country beat Kandy United Services SC 11-0, 1936 Low Country beat Kandy United Services SC 9-3, in 1937 Up Country beat Kandy United services SC 25-0, 1938 Up-Country beat Ceylonese 10-0.  From 1939 the game was stoped for the Second World War.

After 11 years, in 1950 SLRFU then known as CRFU, brought back the Clifford Cup and introduced among clubs like Dimbulla ACC, Dickoya MCC, UVA, Kandy SC, from Up-Country and Havelocks SC, CR & FC, CH & FC and KV (Kelani Valley SC) from Low Country. 

So, the proud winners of the first ever club tournament were the Havelock Sports Club in 1950, they did it again in 1951 too, and Dimbulla ACC became the first club from up-country to win the Cup in 1953.

This is how the clubs have won the Clifford Cup -

CR & FC - 1952, 1954 (final vs Kandy SC), 1955 (final vs Kandy SC), 1956, 1958, 1959 (shared with Dimbulla ACC), 1965, 1966, 1969 (final vs Kandy SC), 1971, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2006 ( won on 13 occasions and shared once).

Kandy Sports Club - 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, (2006 did not take part), 2007, 2008, 2009, ( won on 15 occasions).

Havelocks SC - 1950, 1951, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1970 (Shared with Police SC), 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981. ( won 11 occasions and shared once)

CH & FC - 1957, 1960, 1962, 1982, 1983, 1990, 1994 ( won on 7 occasions)

Police SC - 1970 (Shared with Havelocks SC), 1972, 1973 (Shared with Army SC), 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985 and 1991 ( 6 occasions and shared twice).

Dimbulla ACC - 1953 and 1959 chard with CR & FC, - (1 occasion and shared once).

Army SC - 1973 (Shared with Police) and 1975 - (1 occasions and shared once)

Air Force SC - 1986 (Once)

Navy SC the only present playing club which has not  won the Clifford Cup - will they be lucky this time? In the history of the competition this will be the first time an Interim Committee of the SLRFU is going to organise the tournament.

Ananda win Age - Group Swimming Championship

Ananda College, Colombo under the leadership of Chanaka Malimbada continued their dominance in swimming with a superb championship victory in 35th national age group championship 2009 concluded at Sugathadasa Swimming Complex recently.

They won the championship with ease by gaining 386 points with Trinity College being the runner-up with 346 points and St.Joseph College third with 314 points. This victory was more significant to them as this had been achieved after a lapse of 6 years as they last had a hand in the trophy was way back in 2003.

St.Joseph College Colombo had won this championship for the last 3 years consecutively. Ananda did exceptionally well to become the runner - up in the 36th Sri Lanka Schools Swimming & Diving Championship meet held at the same venue in June 2009 as well.

In the under 14 category, Cherantha de Silva won the individual championship. He did well to establish a new meet record in the 50m Butterfly stroke with a timing of 30.15sec. And also became 1st in all five events he took part. In the under 19 category Dinuka Thibbatumunewa establish a new meet record in the 200m Breast stroke with a timing of 2.38.06 sec. and Punnasa Senanayake achieved the same feet in 200m Free Style event with a timing of 2.04.73 sec..

It is also important to note that Heshan Unamboowa of Trinity College, Kandy did exceptionally well to establish all 7 new meet records in the 7 events that he took part to become the individual champion in under 19 category and Rasith Chalanga of Ananda college, Colombo became the runner up in the same category.

The Ananda Team is being coached by L.V.Fernando while M.I.C. is M.S.Godakumbura.

Sanga to be feted by NCC

Sri Lanka's Test and ODI captain, Kumar Sangakkara, is to be felicitated by his club, NCC, on Friday (August 14) at 7.30 p.m. at the main pavilion of his club by the president and executive committee.

Sangakkara, an old boy of Trinity College (Kandy) took over the national captaincy from Mahela Jayawardena, and is enjoying quite a lot of success.

"Formula McLarens" by IAESL student members
for the student formula SAE  event of Japan

The Institute of Automotive Engineers of Sri Lanka, IAESL along with McLarens Group and a group of Sri Lankan youth from all walks of life currently studying motor mechanism at Ceylon German Technical Training Institute [CGTTI] embarked on a project to make a fully functional single seater 610cc engine Formula Car in order to compete in the forthcoming 7th Student Formula SAE Competition of Japan, to be held in September in Japan.

This is the first time in Sri Lankan history a locally manufactured formula car is being introduced according to FSAE rules and regulations and participating at an international event.

McLarens association with motor sports dates back a decade where they have been involved in sponsoring and managing a fully fledged team of racing cars and drivers. The passion for the sport and logical integration of love for racing made McLarens Group to come forward to sponsor this ground breaking initiative providing vocational training in motor mechanism to Sri Lankan youth who are also student members of the Institute of Automotive Engineers of Sri Lanka.

McLarens has provided modern tools and expertise know-how for this project alongside a highly modernized State-of-the-Art work shop with the intention of promoting student members to build a Formula for student formula SAE competition.

Mobil Lubricants marketed by McLarens Lubricants has come forward to supply lubricants as official lubricant for life for "Formula McLarens" with fitting high performance lubricants to deliver optimum performance with any engine make.

McFoil the group's insulation brand of foil has extended a sponsorship for the chassis of Formula McLarens with insulation material as a part of composition in framework design.

In this backdrop, McLarens Shipping has come forward with the solutions of Logistics as a part of coordinated effort in providing logistical maneuvering.

'Over the years, many countries have been invited to participate in this competition, but it was year 2007 that the Institute of Automotive Engineers of Sri Lanka was invited. The Institute appointed a steering committee in late 2007 to activate a project plan and appointed a team consisting of a ten students from the Ceylon-Germen Technical Training College and a team manager to act upon.

The Formula SAE team does not receive any funding from any government or non-government organisation and depend entirely on sponsorships in the form of monetary assistances and services from individuals, companies and other organisations. Without the gracious support of our sponsors, Formula SAE effort would have never been possible. The McLarens Group of Sri Lanka volunteered as the main sponsor for the program with an assured budget of Rs. 3million which was the total planned expenditure for the event.

The team succeeded in completing the 1st prototype car by early April, which was test driven for one month by veteran racing drivers to improve real racing characteristics of the car. After rigorous testing and final touches the Formula McLarens is ready to compete with a class of its own among formula's from all over the world.

After the completion of the competition, McLarens Group will be involved in making 10 more Formula's similar Formula McLarens in Sri Lanka.

More so, McLarens Group has come forward to make a purpose built pro-kart track called Speed Drome in Battaramulla which will  train and unearth talent to groom formula racing drivers in time to come.

Umar and Iftikhar script crushing win for Pakistan

Umar Akmal's maiden international hundred, a rousing unbeaten 102 from 72 balls, and Younis Khan's first half-century as captain took Pakistan to a large total and set up their first win on tour.

Batting first has been distinctly advantageous and so it proved as Pakistan put up a mammoth score and then pressured the Sri Lankan batsmen into self-destruction. Iftikhar anjum played a major hand to claim career-best figures as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 175, losing their last seven wickets for 45 runs in 12.3 overs.

The pace was set early by Umar' elder brother Kamran, who ensured the tempo did not flag despite Imran Nazir's early dismissal, but Sri Lanka's spinners struck thrice in succession. Walking to the crease with Pakistan 130 for 4, with a struggling captain searching for a partner and only Shahid Afridi to follow, young Umar took the opportunity to prove that not all is as made to believe about Pakistan's domestic set-up. His effervescence complimented Younis' solidity and their 176-run stand paved the way.

He showed he wasn't going to get bogged down, swinging his seventh delivery - from Ajantha Mendis, no less - over long-on for a six and flicked almost effortlessly. His was a sensible approach, poaching the odd boundary and turning ones into twos while also dominating the perceived weaker bowlers. Credit is due to the man at the other end.

Younis' innings contained crisp drives and wristy flicks and stolen runs but most importantly it was an effort that allowed Umar to flourish. Around his captain, Umar could play his own game and Pakistan didn't feel the pinch. Pakistan had been hurt in the series by Younis' indifferent form. Today they realised just what a difference runs from him can mean.

Importantly, he quickly assessed conditions and played with a welcome smoothness. Younis' innings was controlled, he ran hard between the wickets, and Pakistan's run-rate lifted to nearly five-and-a-half an over. Tharanga played an extension of his half-century in the previous game, accumulating most of his runs by soft-handed steers through the arc between cover and gully.

Pakistan 321 for 5 (Umar 102*, Younis 89, Kamran 57) beat Sri Lanka 175 (Tharanga 80, Anjum 5-31) by 146 runs

Schumacher warms up for F1 return

Michael Schumacher has continued his preparations for a return to Formula 1 with a second day of kart racing.

The German, who plans to deputise for the injured Felipe Massa in Valencia on  August 23, had suffered some neck discomfort while testing an F1 car.

But the seven-time world champion told his website that the karting in Northern Italy had caused no problems.

"We had two very good karting days. Arms, upper body, shoulders, neck - an excellent practice indeed."

Schumacher is set to fill in for Ferrari's Massa at the European Grand Prix after the Brazilian suffered serious head injuries during qualifying for the Hungarian GP on  July 25. Massa's left eye was also damaged.

But Schumacher is not allowed to use Ferrari's 2009 F60 car before the grand prix because the sport's regulations ban track testing during the season.

Since agreeing to step in for Massa - who is now recovering at home in Brazil - a week ago the 40-year-old has driven a 2007 Ferrari F1 car at the team's Mugello test track in Italy and embarked on a rigorous training regime, resulting in him losing more than six pounds in weight.

But it was made clear from the outset that any comeback, after almost three years in retirement, would largely depend on his fitness.

Schumacher's spokeswoman Sabine Kehm had raised concerns over the fitness of the German, saying on Wednesday: "It is not sure yet the neck will hold and the comeback can be started."

F1 drivers' necks must be strong enough to cope with high G-forces and Schumacher admitted after testing on Tuesday that his "pinches a bit".

He will undergo routine medical checks to determine if he can return.

"From the very beginning it was made clear Michael would require medical checks. It is normal," said Kehm.

"It depends on medical investigations. Only after those will it be clear whether he will be able to drive.

"Michael is fully geared up, and fully on it. He has been for a week now. But he is a human being, and we have to make sure everything is fine."

Schumacher's neck problem was sustained in an accident during a motorbike test in Spain.

"I'm currently in the midst of my preparations for the upcoming race. I already lost three kilograms even if it is also important to me for to build up muscles," he said on his official website on Tuesday. "So all in all, the practice is going pretty well.

"I only have to admit that my neck pinches a bit.

"We have to get a grip on that as my health is the priority - that's the clear arrangement made with Ferrari and with my wife too."

Seven-time world champion Schumacher won five championships with Ferrari and had been working as a consultant for the Italian team.

He does not want to make a full-time return to F1, but said he had to stand in for Massa because of his loyalty to Ferrari.

Super second half rally by CH

CH and FC produced a superb second half rally to beat Sri Lanka Army SC by 43 points to 20 points in their Caltex inter club `A' division league rugby tournament match worked off at Maitland Crescent on Friday.

The winners who were trailing 14-15 at half time came back magnificently to turn the game in their favour while collecting their points from five goals, one try and one penalty. Army SC responded with one goal, two tries and one penalty.

Navy win again over Airmen

Sri Lanka Navy SC defeated Sri Lanka Air Force  SC by 28 points to nil in their Caltex inter club `A' division league rugby tournament match played at Ratmalana on Friday. .