Zimbabwean batsman Guy Whittall became Muralitharan's 150th victim when substitute Mahela Jayawardena held on to a bat and pad catch. Muralitharan, who is also the only Sri Lankan to complete 100 wickets each in both Tests and one day internationals, is Sri Lanka's highest wicket-taker in Tests. Muralitharan's best performance was witnessed in last week's first Test at Asgiriya Stadium when he completed a match bag of 12 for 117. He has taken five wickets in an innings on 11 occasions.
* The touring Cardiff Eagle Cricket Club team beat Sebastianites Sports Club by three wickets in a limited over match played at Moratuwa Stadium.
Sebastianites batting first scored 172 for 9 in forty overs. Sasith Amerasinghe unbeaten with 36 and Nalin Wijesinghe 33 were the chief scorers, while P. Mackinson claimed 3 for 14. Cardiff Eagles replied with 175 for 7. R. Morgan 24 and Dilan Fernando 53 were the main contributors. Danushka Fernando claimed 3 for 24. Chief scores: Sebastianites SC - 172 for 9 in 40 overs (S. Amerasinghe 36 n.o., N. Wijesinghe 33, D. Fernando 23) ; Cardiff Eagles Sports Club - 175 for 7 in 38.1 overs (R. Morgan 24, D. Fernando 53, D. Fernando 3/24). (Abroad):
* Sri Lanka registered their first win at the Under-19 Mini World Cup cricket tournament when they beat Denmark by seven wickets in their Under-19 World Cup tournament match played at the Barnard Stadium, in Kempton Park near Johannesburg.
Taking the first lease of the wicket, Denmark were bowled out for 97 in 49.2 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka made 100 for 3 in 18.5 overs. Sri Lanka lost the opening match to pakistan, also by seven wickets. Sri Lanka's first win of the tournament, after losing to Pakistan, came when they edged out Ireland by two wickets.
Chief scores: Denmark 97 all out in 49.2 overs. (A. Lambert 12, J. Hansen 11, P.Thomsen 12, O. Farooq 16, Ratwatte 2 for 7, Upeka Fernando 2 for 19, Juniad 1 for 19, Rupasinghe 2 for 17, Bandara 2 for 19); Sri Lanka 100 for 3 in 18.5 overs. (Upeka Fernando 27, S. Rodrigo 0, Pradeep 35 n.o, P. Jayawardena 28, A. Khan 1 for 27, J. Larsen 2 for 41).
* In other matches of the Under-19 Mini World Cup tournament now in progress in South Africa, Zimbabwe sprang the biggest upset when they beat the West Indies by five wickets. West Indies batting first made 234 for 8 in 50 overs with Greg Barrett (67) and Mark Vermuelen (67) making the chief contribution. Zimbabwe reached the target for the loss of five wickets in the 49th over.
The other shock of the day saw England losing to Bangladesh. Chasing a victory target of 224, Bangladesh were boosted by a 96-run fourth wicket stand between Mehrab Hossain and Al-Shahriar Rokon. Hosts South Africa too has a convincing eight-wicket win over Scotland at Potchefstroom University grounds. Having bowled out scotland for 110, the home team reached the target for the loss of two wickets.
New Zealand, helped by a marathon 164 off 143 balls by James Marshall crushed Scotland by 212 runs. The Kiwis made a commanding 327 for seven. India too had a comfortable 175-run win over Kenya while Pakistan registered their second successive win when they beat Ireland by 153 runs.
* Unichela best Maritime Holdings Limited and East West Information System Limited in two Mercantile 'D' Division cricket tournament matches played at the MCA grounds.
Unichela, batting first, made 159 in 44 overs (R.Phillips 61, M.Riess 26, C.Liyanage 24, M.Rukshan 2 for 36). In reply, Maritime Holdings were shot out for 122 in 38 overs (S.Kalinga 54, B.Fernando 3 for 24). In the other match, Unichela made 206 for 9 in 50 overs (M.Yapage 55, C.Liyanage 53, M.Peiris 3 for 22) and in reply, East West were bowled out for 156 in 43 overs (A.Ekanayake 39, S.Gamini 2 for 16, N.Sanjeewa 2 for 31). (Abroad):
* Australia continues to head the latest CEAT International cricket team of the year rankings issued in Mumbai. Former leaders Sri Lanka remains in the second spot after drawing their three-Test series against India.
Australia has gained a total of 44 points while Sri Lanka is placed second with 38 points and Pakistan third with 36 points. In the fourth place is South Africa with 27 points, followed by England (20), Zimbabwe (18), India (16), New Zealand (13) and West Indies (10). The CEAT World rankings are based on both Test and one day internationals.
SARA TROPHY INTER-CLUB CRICKET:
A superb knock of 125 by Test discard Chandika Haturusinghe enabled Moors SC to reach 259 for 6 at close on day one of their Sara Trophy cricket match against Kurunegala YCC begun at Braybrooke Place yesterday.
Former Sri Lanka Test opener Haturusinghe, who has been shaping well with the bat in recent times making a strong claim for a place in the Sri Lanka 'A' team for the forth coming home series against England 'A', was once again at his brilliant best yesterday hitting one six and 14 fours. He was well supported by S.sampan who made an unbeaten 72. MOORS SC: 259 for 6 at close. (S.Wijesiri 27, Chandika Haturusinghe 125, S.Sampan 72 n.o, R.Priyadharshana 19 n.o, W.Kumara 4 for 75) v. KURUNEGALA YCC. (D.W.)
Exchanges were even on the opening day of the Sara trophy match between Air Force and Negombo CC begun at Katunayake yesterday.
In reply to Air Force's first innings total of 194 all out, Negombo CC were five wickets down for 107 runs at close. AIR FORCE: 194 (A.Kumara 50, W.Karunaratne 37, N.Jayatilake 22, Shehan Samaratunga 3 for 33, R.Fernando 3 for 17, L.Fernando 2 for 43). NEGOMBO CC: 107 for 5 at close. (S.Fernando 47, N.Priyankara 31 n.o, S.ranaweera 2 for 35). (D.W).
Only 95 minutes of play was possible in the Sara Trophy match between Tamil Union and BRC due to wet ground conditions at Havelock park yesterday.
The match got underway only at 1.15 p.m. and play was stopped early due to a wet outfield. Tamil Union, taking the first lease, were reeling at 43 for 6 at close. TAMIL UNION: 43 for 6 at close. (Champaka ramanayake 9 n.o, Ishan Amarasinghe 3 for 8, Wendel Labrooy 2 for 11, Suanji Madanayake 1 for 3) v. BRC. (D.W).
An unbeaten knock of 83 by Saman Kumara helped Panadura Sc to make a healthy 242 for 6 at close on the opening day of their Sara trophy match against Colts CC begun at Havelock Park yesterday. PANADURA SC: 242 for 6 at close. (D.Wickremanayake 26, M.Jayasena 46 n.o, Saman Kumara 83 n.o, Tilan samaraweera 2 for 37, Trevin Mathews 3 for 51). (D.W.)
NCC were in a commanding position after the first day's play in their Sara trophy game against Matara SC begun at Matara yesterday.
NCC leads by 48 runs with six first innings wickets in hand. MATARA SC: 68 all out (Gayan Lanka 10, S.de Silva 5 for 17, D.samarasinghe 4 for 29). NCC: 116 for 4 at close. (K.Sangakkara 10, A.Pathirana 51, P.rajapakse 35 n.o, A.Lankatillake 2 for 29).
CCC, helped by an unbeatne 97 by Bradman Ediriweera (one six and 15 fours), made a commanding 189 for no loss at close on the first day of their Sara Trophy match against Sebastianites at Maitland Crescent yesterday. CCC: 189 for no loss (Bradman Ediriweera 97 n.o, N.Bopage 43 retired hurt, Anushka Polonowita 30 n.o). vs. SEBASTIANITES.
INTER SCHOOL CRICKET
Bowlers called the tune when 28 wickets fell for 263 runs on the opening day of the key inter-school cricket encounter between Royal and Nalanda begun at Campbell Place yesterday.
A penetrative spell of bowling by A.Sanjeeva ( 5 for 40) helped the Reid Avenue boys to bowl out nalanda to a modest 175 all out. But the home team fought back as Royal were struggling at 88 for 8 at close. NALANDA: 175 (P.Hadigalle 54, S.Dissanayake 18, D.Dayaratne 38 n.o, A. Sanjeeva 5 for 40, H. Rajakaruna 2 for 25). ROYAL: 88 for 8 at close. (A.Perera 15, J.Mubarak 16, S.Perera 26, N.Kumara 3 for 37). (C.D.)
Prince of Wales, in reply to Ananda's first innings total of 264 for 8 declared, were 105 for 3 at close on the first day of their inter-school cricket match begun at Ananda Mawatha yesterday. ANANDA: 246 for 8 decl. (R.Basnayake 82, M.Pushpakumara 56, N.jayawardena 26 n.o, L.Fernando 27, S. Peiris 4 for 74, J.Gunaratne 2 for 62. PRINCE OF WALES: 105 for 3 at close. (I.Hittatiya 46, K.Fernando 39.N.Jayawardena 2 for 36). (C.D.)
St.Mary's College, Negombo beat Japalawatte MMV by an innings in their inter-school cricket match concluded at Negombo Esplanade yesterday. ST.MARY'S: 246 all out (R.Nicholas 61, S.Mallawarachchi 4 for 33). JAPALAWATTE MMV: 112 (A.Dinesh 25, A.Rangana 5 for 10, A.Dissanayake 3 for 27) and 92 (U.perera 27 n.o, R.Nicholas 5 for 30, A.Rangana 2 for 13).
(From Negombo Sports Corr.)
Maris Stella College scored 207 all out on the opening day of their schools match against St.Andrew's, Puttalam at Maris Stella grounds, Negombo yesterday. In reply, the visors made 50 for no loss at close. MARIS STELLA: 207 (M.jayawardena 43, V.Muthaliph 35, Y.Ahangama 35, P.Sujeeva 3 for 73, N.Dulangika 3 for 36). ST.ANDREW'S: 50 for no loss. (Y.Sunimal 28 n.o, P.Liyanarachchi 16 n.o).
D.S. Senanayake MV, in reply to St.Sebastian's first innings total of 205 all out, were 43 for one at close on the first day of their inter-school match begun at Wijerama Mawatha. ST. SEBASTIAN'S : 205 (B.mendis 38, S.Silva 18, N.Wijesinghe 22, N.Fernando 16, D.Goodford 17, M.Fernando 30, D.Fernando 28, D.perera 2 for 1, D.Amaraweera 5 for 71). D.S. SENANAYAKE MV: 43 for one at close. (S.Lathif 18, Muditha Maduwantha 10 n.o).