* The International Cricket Council has appointed former Sri Lanka Test captain Ranjan Madugalle as the ICC match referee for Pakistan's three-Test home series against South Africa starting early next month.
Madugalle, is also functioning as the ICC match referee for the three-match one day international series between Pakistan and India for the Wills Challenge Trophy which starts on Sunday. Incidently, Madugalle has scored his maiden Test century against India and was the youngest ever when he was first appointed as a match referee by the ICC.
Meanwhile, former Sri Lanka Test opener Sidath Wettimuny is functioning as the ICC match referee in the current two-Test series between Zimbabwe and New Zealand. This is the first time that Wettimuny is officiating as an ICC match referee.
* Pakistan umpires Saleem Badar and Javed Akhtar will officiate at the opening match of the four-nation Jinnah Cup tournament between the West Indies and the World champions Sri Lanka to be played at Qaddhafi Stadium in Lahore under floodlights on November 1.
Sri Lanka's second league match of the quadrangular tournament against the hosts Pakistan, to be played on November 5, will be umpired by New Zealanders Steve Dunne and Ian Robinson. Pakistanis Nazir Junior and Mian Aslam will umpire Sri Lanka's third match of the tournament against South Africa on November 6. If Pakistan qualifies for the final on November 8, then the ICC umpires Steve Dunne and Ian Robinson will supervise the match. Saleem Badar will act as TV umpire and Javed Akhtar as reserve umpire for the finals.
* The New York-based Pepsi Cola Company has signed a sponsorship deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as a global partner of the 1999 Cricket World Cup where Sri Lanka will be defending their title.
The World Cup cricket tournament returns to England after 16 years. England hosted the first three World Cups in 1975, 1979 and 1983. But since then, the tournament has been played in the Indian sub continent (twice) and Australia/ New Zealand (once). Pepsi will be a main sponsor of the event to be held in England in May and June 1999, and gives the beverage giant use of the Cricket World Cup name and registered trademark in brand advertising and promotions, field board signage and presence, and pouring rights at all stadiums. (Home):
* Arpico 'B' registered a 52-run victory over Sanken Lanka in a Mercantile 'H' division cricket match played at Malay grounds.
Arpico, batting first, were shot out for 164 in 29.5 overs with S. Rohana making a top score of 38. B. Chaminda 2 for 22 and B. Mendis 2 for 28 shared the bowling honours. In reply, Sanken Lanka made 112 all out in 27 overs (B. Chaminda 24, R. Ranasinghe 23, H. D. K. Silva 2 for 19).
* Former Badulla District Cricket Champions Victory SC from Lunugala were beaten by a lesser fancied Cosmos Sports Club from Bandarawela by 66 runs, in their Badulla District limited-over cricket encounter played at the Badulla Esplanade.
Cosmos SC batting first scored 122 runs in 25 overs. R. Shanmugam collected 5 wickets for only 14 runs. However, Victory SC were shot out for a mere 56 runs when S. Botejoe and C. Bandara captured 3 wickets each.
* Old Thomians' Sports Club beat Swasakthi Sports Club by 156 runs in their Badulla District limited-over league cricket encounter played at Badulla.
Old Thomians' SC, batting first, scored 203 runs for 4 wickets with S. N. Thanthirige top scoring with 52 runs, ably assisted by K. M. Somacyril (30) and O. L. M. Rishard (40). In reply Swasakthi SC were bundled out for a mere 47 runs.
Maris Stella and SJMV in upset wins
TWO upsets featured the opening day of the fifth schools six-a-side cricket tournament organised by the Old Wesleyites Sports Club at Campbell Park yesterday.
The tournament is sponsored by Ceylon Cold Stores Limited.
Two less fancied schools - Sri Jayawardenapura MV (SJMV) and Maris Stella beat St. Joseph's College, Colombo and D. S. Senanayake College respectively.
The highest team total was registered by Lumbini MV who made 73 for 3 wickets in their game against Kingswood, while the lowest score was by Kalutara MV who made 17.
The highest individual score was by M. Gamage of D. S. Senanayake College who made 34 not out in their game against Maris Stella which they lost.
The tourney will be continued today.
Joseph Vaz bt Dharmapala Pannipitiya
Joseph Vaz 64/3 (T. Suwasth 18, K. Ranjan 24, T. Seneviratne 2 for 5).
Dharmapala 52/2 (S. Devapura 22).
Sri Jayawardenapura bt St. Joseph's
St. Joseph's 47/4 (I. Daniels 33 n.o., D. Ramanayake 10).
Sri Jayawardenapura 48 for 3 in 4.2 overs (N. Gunewardene 28).
Lumbini bt Kingswood
Lumbini 73/3 (M. Priyantha 30 n.o., S. Wickremesinghe 14).
Kingswood 42/3 (A. Weerasuriya 15 n.o.).
S. Thomas' bt Isipatana
Isipatana 54/4 (S. Nanayakkara 21, S. Wijesekera 16, N. Ratwatte 2 for 9).
S. Thomas' 57/4 (L. Fernando 23, J. Siriwardene 12).
Prince of Wales bt Rahula Katugastota
Prince of Wales 51/4 (S. Ranaweera 29, H. Fernando 15).
Rahula 39 (C. Wijeratne 11).
Thurstan bt Sri Sumangala
Sri Sumangala 64/1 (J. Silva 28, S. Silva 16).
Thurstan 65/3 (H. Wickremasinghe 29 - victory in the last ball).
Nalanda bt Kalutara MV
Nalanda 70/2 (N. Porage 29, N. Kumara 12, D. Dayaratne 16).
Kalutara MV 17.
De Mazenod bt St. Benedict's
St. Benedict's 32 in 4.5 overs (R. Tissera 11, D. Fernando 2 for 6).
De Mazenod 34/3 (L. Chintana 17).
Sri Piyaratna MV bt Piliyandala Central
Sri Piyaratna MV 45 in 4.3 overs (T. Pathmaperuma 22).
Piliyandala Central 39 (R. Prasanga 11).
Maris Stella bt D. S. Senanayake College
DSS 60/2 (M. Gajanayake 34 n.o., D. Perera 11).
Maris Stella 64/3 (S. Anthony 20, L. Fernando 22, M. Gajanayake 2 for 9).