Opener Revan Kelly and no. 3 batsman Nipun Sumanasinghe of St. Joseph’s College Colombo shared a record breaking 314 runs stand for the second wicket against Wesley College in their ‘Singer Cup’ Under 19 inter-schools cricket match begun at Darley Road yesterday.

The two left handers Kelly scored 182 off 229 balls with 15 fours and 3 sixes and Sumanasinghe made an unbeatan 156 off 186 balls with 19 fours. This is St. Joseph’s best partnership for any wicket in their cricket history.

Benedictine Mahesh Theekshana took five wickets to rout Dharmasoka Ambalangoda for 86 and followed it up with an unbeaten century to put his school in a strong position at 201-5 by the close.

Sandun Mendis of Richmond College took a match bag of 10 wickets for 34 runs in their innings win over St. Thomas’ Matara. Manoharan Pavithran of St. Sylvester’s Kandy also had a ten-wicket bag in their drawn match against Zahira Colombo.

RESULTS

* At Bandaragama: Dharmapala won by 6 wickets.

Gurukula Kelaniya: 139 and 90 (19/5 o/n) in 32 overs (Imantha Shehan 27, Dilshan de Silva 4/20, Dulaj Egodage 3/20, Chamindu Samarasinghe 3/48)

Dharmapala: 94 and 138/6 in 29 overs (Avishka Hasarindu 40, Malith Sandakalum 38, Nuwan Chanaka 2/24, Yushan Malith 2/40)

* At Beddagana: Rahula won by 14 runs.

Rahula: 159 and 128 in 41.2 overs (Lakindu Chamodya 42, Sasith Manuranga 27, Isuru Avinda 4/20, Thimira Malshan 4/59)

Ananda Sastralaya Kotte: 136 (110/8 o/n) in 42.5 overs (T. D. S. Edirisinghe 31, Thimira Malshan 26, Sajitha Maduranga 4/33, Pasindu Avishka 2/21, Tharusha Dakshina 2/24) and 137 in 38 overs (Hirusha Piyumal 29, Shamindu Sathmina 40, Sasith Manuranga 5/52, Sajitha Maduranga 4/61)

* At Kandana: Match drawn.

Lumbini: 314;

De Mazenod: 193 (88/2 o/n) in 54.2 overs (Mithila Geeth 77, Shemil Gunawardana 47, Vimukthi Kulathunga 6/57, Kavin Kithmina 3/47) and 317/9 in 67 overs (Saliya Jude 111, Mithila Geeth 78, Praveen Fonseka 56, Vimukthi Kulathunga 3/78, Ravindu Samaraweera 2/64)

* At Kalutara: Kalutara Vidyalaya won by 9 wickets.

Revatha: 128 and 163 in 56.2 overs (Rumesh Madushan 42, Chathun Kawya 35, Avishka Dilshan 34, Kavindu Dilhara 27, Kavindu Gayashan 3/55, Deelaka Dammith 2/07, Avishka Lakshan 2/38)

Kalutara Vidyalaya: 199 (196/7 o/n) in 68 overs (Kavindu Gayashan 49, Dhanuka Nimmana 27, Hiruna Dilip 25, Sunera Agasthi 24, Avishka Dilshan 5/37, Chami Nimsara 5/81) and 95/1 in 15.2 overs(Dunith Nimhan 54 n.o., Kavindu Gaysahan 40 n.o.)

* At Prison grounds Pallekale: Match drawn.

St. Sylvester’s: 301/8 decl. 69/0 in 4 overs (Avindu Herath 50 n.o.)

Zahira: 162 (46/0 o/n) in 46.1 overs (Chathura Dilrukshan 52, Mohommed Shadulla 32, Manoharan Pavitharan 6/46) and 268 in 59.4 overs (Mohammed Shamaz 113, Dilshara Shaminda 43, Mohammed Shadulla 26, Manoharan Pavithran 4/107)

* At Panadura: Match drawn.

St. John’s Panadura: 169 and 179 in 49.5 overs(Thamindu Wickramarachchi 57, Sandamal Wickramadara 34, Dilhara Nanayakkara 3/38, Sasanka Perera 2/25, Kalana Harendra 2/32)

Holy Cross: 242 (155/5 o/n) in 65.3 overs (Sheron Fonseka 62, Kavindu Umayanga 42, T. Wickramaarachchi 3/40, Ashan Dilhara 3/41, Sandamal Wickramadhara 3/57) and 106/8 in 17 overs (Malinda Jayod 29, Sheron Fonseka 26 n.o., Ashan Dilhara 3/46, Sandamal Wickramadhara 2/57)

* At Kegalle: Sri Devananda won by 8 wickets.

Kegalu Vidyalaya: 211 and 119 in 40 overs (Sachin Nimesh 35, Madushan Gunasinghe 24, Nimesh de Silva 3/38, Sadun de Zoysa 2/11)

Sri Devananda: 188 (172/8 o/n) in 48.4 overs (Kavindu Rajapaksha 76, Kavindu Sohan 52, Tharindu Sandaruwan 3/40, Umesha Tharaka 2/27, Madhushan Gunasinghe 2/46) and 143/2 in 35.1 overs (Nimesh de Silva 43, Kavinda Shohan 41 n.o., Buddhi de Silva 36 n.o.)

* At Horana: Match drawn.

Karandeniya Central: 238 and 213 in 46.5 overs (Samith Isuru 51, Ishara Madhuwantha 29, Dimuth Sandaruwan 27, Sasindu Kaveesha 24, Thilina Tharinda 5/64, Theneth Vinvinu 2/47)

Taxila: 259 (171/2 o/n) in 62.4 overs (Chanidu Ranvinu 84, Asanka Adeepa 60, Sasindu Janith 52, Sandun Ranga 23, Ishan Pramodya 4/40, Ravindu Milan 3/90, Dinusha Semina 2/37) and 115/6 in 34 overs (Sandun Ranga 51 n.o., Thilina Randeera 30*, Ravindu Milan 4/64, Dinupa Sewmina 2/25)

* At Jaffna: Jaffna Central won by 167 runs.

Jaffna Central: 255 and 87/5 decl in 11 overs (S. Nishan 41, Sasitha Gunawardane 3/35, Malinda Pathirana 2/24)

Nugawela Central: 98 (41/4 o/n) in 48 overs (Ashan Jayaratne 22, S. Nishan 3/00, S. Thushanthan 2/20) and 77 in 37.5 overs (Ashan Jayaratne 41, S. Sujan 3/15)

* At Galle: Match drawn.

Vidyaloka: 311/9 decl. and 165/4 decl. in 24.2 overs (Anuradha Sampath 73, Pethum Hasaranga 64)

Loyola Bopitiya: 166 (129/6 o/n) in 49.2 overs (Radeesha Umayanga 55, Sayuru Jayakodi 50, Nadeera Ishan 7/50) and 136/8 in 67 overs (Shanal Chanuka 39 n.o., Radeeshan Umayanga 33, Sanka Prasad 31, Pethum Hasaranga 4/40)

* At Dalupotha: Match drawn.

Galahitiyawa Central: 141 and 320/6 decl. (34/1 o/n) in 71.4 overs (Isuru Tharaka 113 n.o., Sandaruwan Chinthaka 101, Chamod Gayan 3/75)

St. Joseph’s Wattala: 104 and 91/7 in 49 overs (Chamod Dayan 35 n.o., Buddhika Kamesh 4/17, Senesh Nadeeshan 2/14)

* At Ranpokunagama: Ranpokunagama MV won by inns & 107 runs.

Bandaranayake MMV Meerigama: 67 and 126 (96/7 o/n) in 20.3 overs (Supun Tharuka 30, Ravindu Nipun 24 n.o., Dinal Perera 6/46)

Ranpokunagama MV: 300/9;

* At Pelawatte: Match drawn.

Bandarawela Central: 206 and 230 in 60.3 overs (Dulmina Attnayake 85, Uditha Bandara 41 n.o., Anjula Wijesundara 34, Nandun Deemantha 5/54, Chathura Bandara 3/45, Dilip Nuwan 2/27)

Dutugemunu NS Buttala: 262 (185/3 o/n) in 65.4 overs (Nandun Deemantha 126, R. M. Ruchira 87, Charitha Basnayake 4/59, Uditha Bandara 3/53) and 47/5 in 12 overs (Charitha Basnayake 3/31, Chathura Mahela 2/6)

DAY ONE SORES

Matches will be continued on day two today.

* At Darley Road: St. Joseph’s: 393/2 decl. in 75.5 overs (Revan Kelly 182, Nipun Sumanasinghe 156 n.o., Johanne de Zilva 33, Movin Subasinghe 2/106)

Wesley: 72/0 at close in 21 overs (Hasith Geesara 39 n.o., Thisuraka Akmeemana 28 n.o.)

* At Asgiriya: Trinity: 262/9 decl in 63.2 overs (Avishka Senadeera 52, Hasintha Jayasuriya 50, Abhishek Anandakumar 44, Trevon Percivel 32, Shehadha de Zoisa 5/56, Janith Fernando 2/70)

Moratu Vidyalaya: 53/3 at close in 26 overs (Janith Fernando 20 n.o.)

* At Kotahena: Dharmasoka: 86 in 41.4 overs (Sachin Sangeeth 29, Maheesh Theekshana 5/19, Prithvi Jegarajasingham 3/14)

St. Benedict’s: 201/5 at close in 52 overs (Maheesh Theekshan 106 n.o., Rayan Selisinghe 45, Kavindu Nadeeshan 2/32, Isurinda Mendis 2/35)

* At Jaffna: St. John’s: 272/9 decl. in 60 overs (Vasanthan Jathashan 106, M. Saumyan 32, D. Sheropan 29, V. Abilakshan 28, Sandaru Shanilka 7/81)

Siri Piyaratana: 90/5 at close in 35 overs (Kavindu Nimesh 25, Rajitha Ashan 25, M. Abhinash 3/21, K. Kapilraj 2/32)

* At Kurunegala: St. Anne’s: 162 in 45.5 overs (Kavindu Ranasinghe 58, Medunaka Wijethilake 3/57, Chathuranga Dilshan 2/15, Ishan Sandeep 2/24)

Vidyartha: 139/6 at close in 47 overs (Gihan Jayasekara 58 n.o., Chathuranga Dilshan 23 n.o., Pulina Gunathilake 22, Avishka Rupasinghe 3/35)

* At Hanwella: Kirindiwela Central: 91 in 39.4 overs (Vidusha Dilshan 21, Udara Jayasinghe 5/12, Rukshan Dilusha 2/12) and 23/3 at close in 22 overs (Udara Jayathilake 3/07)

Rajasinghe Central Hanwella: 131 in 41.4 overs (Sachin Malinda 28, Chamod Sanjaya 23, Harsha Rangana 4/23, Duvindu Nishan 3/36)

* At Matugama: C.W.W. Kannangara Central Matugama: 66 in 36.3 overs (Dumin Aditha 3/8, Chakil Charuka 3/9)

Lyceum Panadura: 174 in 54.3 overs (Dumin Aditha 33, Nimantha Ransilu 24 n.o., Shayan Roshen 22, Kavinda Sapna 3/9, Lasith Karunanayake 3/27)

- (YK) 

CAPE TOWN: India started strongly on the first day of the first Test against South Africa at Newlands on Friday, but finished in disarray after a ferocious onslaught by the home team’s fast bowlers.

India were 28 for three at the close -- with skipper Virat Kohli amongst the victims -- after bowling out the hosts for 286.

It was a remarkable turnaround after South Africa had been reduced to 12 for three by Bhuvneshwar Kumar inside the first half hour.

Counter-attacking batting, led by aggressive half-centuries by AB de Villiers and captain Faf du Plessis, and some wayward bowling by India enabled South Africa to make a reasonable total on a lively pitch.

Then the South African fast bowlers struck.

Vernon Philander had Murali Vijay caught at gully and four balls later Dale Steyn, playing his first Test match in more than a year, caught Shikhar Dhawan off his own bowling when Dhawan’s attempted pull steepled high into the air.

The biggest prize fell to Morne Morkel, who came on as first change and produced a sharply-lifting delivery which Indian captain Virat Kohli edged to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock after making just five.

The biggest prize fell to Morne Morkel, who came on as first change and produced a sharply-lifting delivery which Kohli edged to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

Du Plessis said batting first on a well-grassed pitch was a “tricky decision” and his side’s start must have reinforced his misgivings.

Kumar gained appreciable movement off a well-grassed pitch to plunge the South African innings into deep trouble.

Dean Elgar, South Africa’s leading batsman during 2017, edged the third ball of the match to be caught behind by Wriddhiman Saha for nought.

His opening partner, Aiden Markram, fell in Kumar’s next over, leg before wicket for five, before Hashim Amla, on three, edged an attempted back foot drive and gave Saha a second catch. Saha finished with five catches behind the stumps.

De Villiers and Du Plessis started the recovery, putting on 114 for the fourth wicket, with De Villiers in sparkling form as he hit 65 off 84 balls with 11 fours.

He showed intent from the start of his innings, hitting four fours off Kumar’s fifth over.

De Villiers missed a drive against new cap Jasprit Bumrah and was bowled. Du Plessis went on to make 62 off 104 balls with 12 fours before he was caught behind off Hardik Pandya.

Quinton de Kock (43) and Vernon Philander (23) put on a rapid 60 for the sixth wicket before De Kock was caught behind by Kumar and Philander was bowled by Mohammed Shami.

There were useful contributions from the lower order batsmen before the innings ended, leaving the Indian batsmen with 51 minutes to bat against a four-man pace attack, including Steyn, who had not played at top level since suffering a fractured shoulder against Australia in November 2016.

Dhawan hit two boundaries off Philander’s first over but it didn’t take long for the bowlers to find their range. 

Leeds International School Panadura beat Sri Subudhi National School, Battaramulla by an innings and 28 runs in their under 13 division three match played recently. Sri Subudhi National School 43 (Chamod Chaminda 23, Sajan Priyamadu 7 for 19, Lakmal Sampath 2 for 9) and 108 (Dinula Chandira 21, Pathum Dananjaya 19, Chamod Chaminda 23, Shehan Kavishka 4 for 9, Sajan Priyamadu 2 for 21, Kasun Gajendra 2 for 9). Leeds International School 179 for 4 wickets dec.

(Sajan Priyamadu 93, Dineth Fernando 32, Lakmal Sampath 31).

A match bag of ten wickets by Sandun Mendis saw Richmond home for tea by an innings and 62 run in their Singer schools under 19 match against St Thomas’ College Matara at Uyanwatta yesterday.

The Thomians electing to bowl first did well to restrict Richmond to a first innings score of 199 but resuming at their overnight score of 40/3 they couldn’t make much headway being dismissed for 67 by Mendis who took 6/13 off 14.1 overs and Dilum Sudeera 3/18 off 18 overs.

Following on the Thomians were spun out for 70 runs by Mendis and Thaveesha Abhishek who captured four wickets each. Scores: Richmond 199;

STC Matara 67 (40/3) in 46.1 overs (Woshitha Amarasinghe 20, Dilum Sudeeera 3/18, Sandun Mendis 6/13) and 70 in 38.4 overs (Tharusha Kavindya 26, Thaveesha Abhishek 4/26, Sandun Mendis 4/21) 

Sri Lanka Cricket’s General Membership at an Extraordinary General Meeting held yesterday morning at the SLC Special Marquee unanimously resolved the following:

•To adopt the proposed amendments to the Constitution of Sri Lanka Cricket made in accordance with the regulations imposed by the Minister of Sports under section 41 read with section 31 of the Sports Law, No 25 of 1973 by the Gazette Notification No 2006/13 of 2017.02.13 and Gazette Notification No 2017/41 of 2017.05.05 and such other amendments.

•To elect, uncontested, Air Commodore Roshan Biyanwela as the Hony. Secretary of SLC.

•To ratify the Code of Tournament Rules, Playing Conditions and Domestic Tournament Structure approved by the Executive Committee of SLC on 6 of December 2017.

Dhaka: Bangladesh on Sunday dropped opening batsman Soumya Sarkar and paceman Taskin Ahmed from their 16-man squad for the opening two matches of the forthcoming tri-nation one-day international tournament.

Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka will also take part in the tournament, Bangladesh's first ODI competition at home in more than a year. It will begin in Dhaka on January 15.

Squad: Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Anamul Haque, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mohammad Mithun, Mehedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Abul Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Sunzamul Islam.

LONDON - Fourth-tier Coventry City piled on the misery for Stoke City manager Mark Hughes by pulling off the only genuine upset on a hectic day of FA Cup third-round action on Saturday.

Former Cup winners Coventry, now plying their trade in the bottom division of the Football League, revived memories of happier times as Jordan Willis and Jack Grimmer scored the goals in a 2-1 victory at the Ricoh Arena.

Elsewhere, the 25 ties offered only crumbs for the romantics seeking Cup magic although second tier Norwich City did hold champions Chelsea to a 0-0 draw.

Top-flight Bournemouth needed a late Steve Cook goal to draw 2-2 at home to League One leaders and 2013 Cup winners Wigan Athletic and Leicester City drew 0-0 at third-tier Fleetwood Town who struck the post in stoppage-time.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte made nine changes and his side struggled to make clear-cut chances in a dour game at Norwich who created the better opportunities. Runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City maintained their pursuit of an unprecedented four trophies, Sergio Aguero scoring twice as they came from a goal down to beat Burnley 4-1. Goals by Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva killed off Burnley who had led at halftime thanks to an Ashley Barnes effort. Several clubs in the thick of the Premier League relegation battle survived potential banana skins. – Agencies 

 Old Thomians CC beat Saracens by 82 runs to win the Colombo District CA division III cricket final played at the SSC grounds on Sunday.

Invited to bat first Old Thomians ran up a total of 221/9 in 50 overs with Chenutha Wickramasinghe and Helakamal Nanayakkara hitting half centuries.

Saracens in reply were dismissed for 139.

Scores:

Old Thomians CC 221-9 in 50 overs (Chenutha Wickramasinghe 66 n.o., Helakamal Nanayakkara 64, Chanaka Devinda 3/34, Pasindu Adithya 2/35, Nimesh de Silva 2/42)

Saracens SC 139 in 44 overs (Avishka Hasaranga 25, Pasindu Adithya 22, Torin Pitigala 35, Helakamal Nanayakkara 2/16, Shannon Fernando 2/13, Sachitha Jayathilake 2/30)

Awards: Best Batsman - Chenutha Wickramasinghe, Best Bowler - Chanaka Devinda, Man of the Final - Helakamal Nanayakkara. 

The more you think of the 1982 Australian cricket tour of Pakistan the more you want to forget it stated Rod Marsh in his book “The Inside Edge.” “Quite apart from the fact that the Pakis beat the pants out of us in the three tests and two one day internationals, the country itself was to the western visitor a non event,” notes Marsh.

It was the American humourist Tom Lehrer, who once said: “If you want a long holiday, spend the night in Adelaide.” “I don’t know about Adelaide, it certainly applies to Pakistan,” mused Marsh.

He stated that the population was almost exclusively Muslims, which meant that it was illegal for them to drink liquor. Every Australian cricket team of his experience looked forward to a beer in the dressing room, after a long hot day’s play, and Pakistan seemed to have, more long hot days than most countries. So beer in the dressing room was out.

Marsh pondered that it was no great loss because most of the rooms were less than luxurious “quite grotty in fact” and it might have been a little depressing to stick around there too long.

They were far better off than the touring teams of the 1950s and 1960s, though, because since those days the major cities like Lahore and Karachi have acquired fine modern hotels. And being VIPs that’s where they stayed, noted Marsh.

They were lucky, too in being able to have supplies of Australian beer and canned fruit shipped in. That was really their staple diet. That might not sound too health promoting, but unless you care to play Pakistani roulette by living on their curries, there is little else for the tourists to eat. Now Marsh loved a good curry as well as the next man, but he never came to grips with eating it when he had a game of cricket to play next day.

He never left the field during a Test match to complete his day’s ablutions. He knew what a curry can do to the internal nether regions. Imagine that one of the devastating Pakistani concoctions could do to you, as you stood there behind the stumps all day. You’d make more runs than Bradman.

And none of them would count on the scoreboard.

So, Swan lager and canned Australian fruit it was. For Marsh anyway.

Some of the guys who’d not toured Pakistan before were a little more adventurous and ignored warnings about sampling the culinary delights of the mystic east. They certainly kept the team doctor busy with their stomach complaints.

Even the most cautious of us tended to live with perpetual mild diarrhoea. You know that get up and go feeling. Not get up and go out and play cricket like a man possessed, but got up and went to the gents or to the ladies if he couldn’t make it as far as the gents, noted Marsh.

I suppose if you were on a tour an extended tour of Pakistan and lived on beer and tinned fruit, you’d come home an alcoholic with fruit fly. He figured that it would beat the ravages of gut tearing, bowel blowing curry.

But food was not really the drawback over there. It was the boredom. God, the boredom.

The average day’s play starts at 10 a.m. and ends about 4.30. So you have got the rest of the afternoon and all evening free. But what do you do? Very little. Because there was very little you could do.

You went back to your hotel (in the bigger hotels they gave you a team room) you sat around. You just sat around.

Having been there before, Marsh made sure he packed a cassette player and lots of ammunition that time. At least they could listen to music.

They also had inhouse television movies and if anyone would like to hear Marsh recite the entire dialog of “The Sting,” don’t hesitate to ask.

He saw the bloody thing 33 times on that tour and he knew it off by heart. I also hum the theme team so well that you’d swear I’d composed it. Da da da-dum da dum,da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da- da-dum. Saw?

Scott Joplin, you know.

Boredom can make a man-or a touring cricket team do silly things and we found our outlet in firecrackers. Firecrackers mind you.

A few of them went shopping during a rest day in Lahore and they came to a little shop specializing in fireworks, which were pretty big in Pakistan but as you knew, a thing of the past in Australia. Frankly, he would have agreed with every campaign to outlaw them at home because he thought putting a cracker in the hand of a kid was about as sensible as letting a drunk driver take the controls of a fully laden Jumbo jet, concludes Marsh.

When one takes a brief glimpse on the current team, surprises are the order of the day. The ones in the know have now decided to have a toss-up between the every bodies darling, Angelo Mathews with fitness issues and laid back attitude to boot and the “Bubbly Dinesh Chandimal,” who has been nobody’s darling till late. I hope sanity prevails and Chandimal “malli” will get to lead his mother country in the Tests and one-dayers and our friend Mr Angelo Mathews will do the honours in the T20, as we know he is a worldbeater in his own right in that format. 

Sripalee MV Horana, Mahanama College "B" Colombo and Royal College "B" Colombo advanced to the quarter finals

Sripalee MV Horana won on first innings against Mahinda Rajapaksha National School Homagama and Mahanama College "B" Colombo won on first innings against St. Mary's College Chilaw yesterday.

Royal College "B" Colombo won on points against St. Peter’s College "B" Bambalapitiya yesterday.

Omal Dissanayake of Royal College "B" Colombo scored 103 runs in 118 balls with 10 boundaries and 2 sixes against St. Peter’s College "B" Bambalapitiya at Reid Avenue yesterday.

Results - Pre- quarter final

At Colombo. Mahanama (B) won first inning. St. Mary's Chilaw: 117 in 46.4 overs (Samuditha Sachithchandra 61, Hendilance Fernando 23, Anchitha Wickramasekara 4/54, Dumindu Ranathunge 3/18) Mahanama "B" Colombo: 153/5 in 43.5 overs (Sulana Senhas 70, Duvindu Ranatunge 34, Pramuka Fernando 20, Samuditha Sachithchandra 2/48)

At Horana. Sripalee Horana: 152 in 53.3 overs (Janith Dhananjaya 32, Upeka Amantha 28, Sangeeth Sankalpa 20, Nilipul Liyanage 5/40, Marneth Chetheen 3/28) Mahinda Rajapaksha NS Homagama: 104 in 40.2 overs (Sathmin Sithsara 36, Deshan Kavinda 3/15, Hiruka Lonitha 2/24)

At Reid Avenue. Royal "B" won by points. Royal (B) Colombo: 246/4 decl. in 53.4 overs (Omal Dissanayake 103, Geeshan Perera 88, Ovina Abanpola 42 n.o.) St. Peter’s "B" Bambalapitiya: 167/8 in 46 overs (Dulmin Fernando 36 n.o., Nethuka Perera 34, Ovina Abanpola 4/40) 

SYDNEY: Australia ruthlessly extinguished England's resistance to claim an innings victory in the fifth Ashes Test and complete a 4-0 series rout on the final day in Sydney on Monday.

The beleaguered tourists, with skipper Joe Root weakened by a stomach bug and unable to continue batting, dissolved after lunch, losing their last four wickets for their fourth comprehensive defeat of the series.

“It has been a great couple of months. The cricket that we have played in the last couple of months has been outstanding,” Australia skipper Steve Smith said.

“We have just been able to get on top and win those key moments and not let them back in the game which is crucial.” Paceman Pat Cummins led the Australian offensive in Sydney with four wickets for 39 to finish man-of-the-match and the leading wicket taker in the series with 23.

“To get through the five Tests and end the series here at home. I couldn't asked for much more,” said an ecstatic Cummins.

All four of Australia's front-line bowlers finished with 20 or more wickets each for the series.

“I think all the bowlers did an exceptional job. The guys have bowled together as a group, bowled in partnerships, bowled for one another and helped us take the wickets that we've needed to take four Test matches,” Smith added.

England finished at 180 for nine off 88.1 overs as Australia won by an innings and 123 runs.

It followed comprehensive losses on the troubled five-Test tour in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. The fourth Test was drawn in Melbourne.

Stricken Root did not come out to bat after lunch as he continued to experience discomfort after his overnight stomach bug.

“He has a gastro bug and he has not been too well through the night and the heat yesterday didn't help. He is asleep in the dressing-room trying to recover,” said vice-captain Jimmy Anderson, deputising for Root at the post-match presentations.

“To be honest we have been outplayed in the key moments of each game,” he added.

“We have been in the games to an extent but just not been able to capitalise on any opportunities. Australia have played great in this series.” - Chances disappear - Cummins struck twice in three balls after lunch, trapping Jonny Bairstow leg before wicket for 38 and having Stuart Broad caught behind off a brutish bouncer for four.

Mason Crane got another vicious Cummins bouncer which he gloved to wicketkeeper Tim Paine for two and Anderson was caught behind off Josh Hazlewood for two to end the innings.

Root went to hospital overnight with England initially saying he had “severe dehydration” after fielding and batting in intense heat on Sunday.

But team officials later said Root had in fact been weakened by the effects of a gastroenteritis bug.

He came out to bat on the dismissal of Moeen Ali for 13 an hour into the final day's play and reached his fifth half-century of the series, although he was unable to convert any of them to a century.

England's remote chances of saving the Test disappeared when Root failed to appear at the crease after lunch, retiring ill for a second time.

Spinner Nathan Lyon claimed Moeen's wicket for the seventh time in the series when he trapped him leg before in the morning session, which Moeen did not review.

Lyon took three wickets for 54 off 35 overs to finish with 21 wickets for the series and 290 in his career.

The Australians took a grip on the final Test with a massive 303-run innings lead and then reduced the battle-weary tourists to 93 for four by the close on the fourth day and finished off the job mid-afternoon Monday. All five Tests went into the fifth day, indicating the attritional nature of the series. 

SYDNEY: Joe Root ended his troubled Ashes tour of Australia sound asleep as England surrendered to a 4-0 series loss in Sydney on Monday.

The young England captain finished the demanding five-Test series debilitated by a stomach bug which flared overnight and sent him to hospital.

Root could not resume batting at the start of the final day, but came to the crease an hour in when Moeen Ali was dismissed and batted to lunch.

He could not continue after the break as England slumped to a crushing innings defeat and missed the post-match presentations, with vice-captain James Anderson speaking on his behalf.

“He was up all night with some sort of stomach bug, some gastro thing. He is asleep in the dressing-room trying to recover,” Anderson told reporters.

“He's not had any sleep, he's not eaten. He's had diarrhoea and vomiting, so I'm guessing he's not in a great state at the minute,” the paceman added.

“So to get to the ground in itself is a great effort and then to strap his pads on and bat for as long as he did was a brilliant effort from him and just shows what sort of character he is.” Veteran Anderson praised Root's leadership on a troubled tour plagued by off-field distractions and the unavailability of suspended star allrounder Ben Stokes. “He wants to lead by example for this team. He's been a fantastic captain throughout this tour,” Anderson said. “You ask any captain that has toured Australia it is not an easy place to come, not an easy place to play, especially when you're on the wrong end of results.” Root finished retired ill on 58 for his fifth half-century of the series, but crucially he was not able to convert any into a Test ton.

He finished the series with 378 runs in nine innings at 47.25, the highest average of his team.

Australian captain Steve Smith praised Root's efforts to try and save the Test for England on a testing final day.

“It took a lot of courage to come out and bat, you could see he was struggling a fair bit, particularly when he was running between wickets,” Smith said.

“He's a tough character so he must have been in a pretty bad way not to come out after the break. “ 

SYDNEY: Captain Steve Smith has praised the collective efforts of his “exceptional” four front-line bowlers for contributing to Australia's crushing 4-0 Ashes series win over England Monday.

The Australians rounded off a dominant five-match series with an innings and 123-run hammering of the beleaguered tourists on the final day of the fifth Sydney Test.

Mitchell Starc, John Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon all finished with 20 or more wickets in the series to take 87 in total to dominate the England batsmen.

Despite this, Smith was not prepared to rate them higher than the quartet of Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle and Lyon who bowled Australia to a 5-0 whitewash in the last Ashes series in Australia in 2013-14. “I think all the bowlers did an exceptional job,” he told reporters.

“Each of our bowlers have over 20 wickets which showed that the guys have bowled together as a group, bowled in partnerships, bowled for one another and helped us take the 80-odd wickets that we've needed to take four Test matches.” But he stopped of declaring them a better bowling unit than their predecessors four years ago. “I think they are all great bowlers. I can't put any of them ahead of each other,” he said. “I think both attacks were outstanding and got the job done. I can't say any one is better than the other.” Cummins, who captured four for 39 to finish man-of-the-match in Sydney, finished as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 23 at 24.65 and played in all five Tests. 

Melbourne, Monday: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will use the Kooyong Classic starting Tuesday as a convenient emergency stop to gain much-needed match practice as the pair return from injury in time for the Australian Open.

Not since the glory days of Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras nearly two decades ago and more recently Roger Federer, has the long-time exhibition event hosted as distinguished a field.

The upcoming edition will feature five of the world's top 10, including ATP Finals runner-up and two-time Kooyong champion David Goffin, Austrian Dominic Thiem, Croat Marin Cilic and Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta.

Under the ad-hoc rules, late additions Nadal and Djokovic will be playing practice matches.

World number one Nadal, who missed the warm-up Brisbane International last week with a knee injury, is set for just one appearance on Tuesday when he faces France's Richard Gasquet.

Djokovic, who hasn't played competitively since a right elbow problem forced him to quit Wimbledon in the quarter-finals in July, is due on court on Wednesday to play Thiem.

"The addition of both Novak and Rafa changes our schedule and the way we will run the four days but that's what Kooyong is all about, we are here to help the players get ready for the Open," said tournament director Peter Johnston.

The women's draw, now into a second season after being introduced in 2017, includes new Hopman Cup champion Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, German Andrea Petkovic, Aussie teen Destanee Aiava and young Chinese star Wang Xinyu.

Pat Cash, the 1987 Australian Open winner who now coaches American CoCo Vandeweghe, serves as official ambassador for the event and said it would be good preparation for Djokovic and Nadal.

"Everyone will be watching Rafa's legs and Novak's arm," he said. "It can make for a very exciting week of tennis.

Both guys had good preparation, they just suffered setbacks.

But when those come within a couple of weeks from the Australian Open, it's a bit of a worry. "They have to be absolutely ready, players can be quite anxious about it all."

The first day of play features four matches, with Nadal against Gasquet, Goffin facing Carreno Busta and wayward Australian Bernard Tomic taking on Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka.

Among the women, young Australian Aiava plays Petkovic. AFP 

Cape Town: South Africa’s fast bowlers, led by Vernon Philander, blasted through India’s batting as the host nation gained a 72-run win on the fourth day of the first Test at Newlands on Monday.

Set 208 to win the first of three matches between the world’s two leading Test teams, number one-ranked India were bowled out for 135 by their nearest challengers.

Philander took six for 42 with Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada claiming two wickets each as India were subjected to a pace barrage in bowler-friendly conditions.

South Africa were reduced to three fast bowlers because of a heel injury suffered by Dale Steyn while bowling on Saturday.

Earlier, it had been the Indian bowlers who held sway when South Africa were bowled out for 130 in their second innings, losing their last eight wickets for 65 runs. India’s run chase started promisingly with Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan putting on 30 for the first wicket, although Vijay was reprieved on review twice after being given out against Philander, for leg before wicket and a catch behind the wicket.

But then Dhawan was caught at gully off his bat handle when he got into a tangle against a lifting ball from Morkel. Six balls later it was third time lucky for Philander as Vijay edged a catch to AB de Villiers at third slip.

Philander claimed the key wicket of Indian captain Virat Kohli, who had looked confident in scoring 28 before he was trapped leg before wicket.

Philander struck again when Rohit Sharma was bowled off an inside edge and Rabada dismissed first innings top scorer Hardik Pandya for one, caught by a diving De Villiers at third slip.

Rabada trapped Wriddhiman Saha leg before with the last ball before tea to leave India in a desperate situation in a match which hastened to a conclusion despite the loss of the third day because of rain.

Ravichandran Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar put on 49 for the eighth wicket before Philander took the last three wickets in the space of four balls. Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah were the main destroyers of the South African batting, taking three wickets each.

Shami started the collapse, dismissing Hashim Amla with the ninth ball of the morning and taking three wickets for 28 runs.

Bumrah took three for 39, including the wicket of South African captain Faf du Plessis, who fell to an unplayable delivery which lifted sharply off a good length and flicked a glove.

Despite being ruled out of the rest of the series, Steyn, who arrived at the ground on crutches, limped to the wicket as the last batsman in an effort to keep company with De Villiers, who top-scored with 35.

He managed to defend four balls from Kumar but De Villiers was caught off Bumrah in the next over by Kumar, one of eight fielders stationed on the boundary. Wicketkeeper Saha set an Indian record by taking ten catches in the match, five in each innings.

After being under covers for two nights and a day, the pitch offered plenty of seam movement and occasional steep bounce.

AFP

Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala has said that Sri Lanka Cricket is in the right direction towards achieving the twin goals of sporting and financial success.

Addressing the employees of Sri Lanka Cricket, while commencing work for the year 2018 at the SLC, Sumathipala said within two years of his election, he along with the SLC employees was able to turnaround Sri Lanka Cricket’s financial position from poor to strong.

“When we took over two years ago, SLC was indebted for a sum of Rs. 5 billion and we were in a quandary as to how we are going to turnaround SLC, now, after two years, I am happy to say we are making profits”, Sumathipala said. “When we entered the fray, ICC had only allocated US$ 80 million for the members during its paying cycle, but with the efforts I made to strengthen the relationship with other members it yielded a collaborative effort to increase it to US$ 120 million, thus raising the SLCs revenue drastically,” he said.

Speaking further Sumathipala said, “Sri Lanka Cricket is now financially stable with a steady flow of revenues coming from different sources, while the organization has ensured that financial accountability is maintained at every level, with prudent mechanisms put in place for monitoring.”

Asset management firm

Sumathipala said plans are underway to establish an asset management firm as a subsidiary of the Sri Lanka Cricket to better manage cash flows of SLC’s major assets. He said, the money generated out of the SLC asset management operations will be utilized to finance the maintenance of SLC facilities across the country, which as of now incurs millions and is borne out by the revenues generated by the SLC.

Development of the game

According to Sumathipala, SLC has taken several steps to ensure the development of the game. Among those steps are, decentralizing of powers to the District and Provincial Associations to run the game in their respective regions.

“When we took over, SLC was controlling 132 clubs, now we have brought them down to 24 and decentralized the power to provincial and district associations, thus giving them the decision making powers,” the SLC president said.

He also said, steps were taken to bring in the age level cricket starting from under 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23, from both district and provincial level cricket under the direct supervision of the SLC to ensure that grassroots level cricket development stays in line with SLCs vision.

The SLC president also said steps were taken to enhance the knowledge level of local coaches by sending selected coaches for overseas training programs.

Player focus

Sumathipala said, Sri Lanka Cricket has taken all the required steps to ensure that players of the national team are looked after well. He said, the introduction of a strong insurance cover for the national players, which is on par with any other international cricketer, introducing a performance based bonus system for playersand providing contracts for 70 first class cricketers, apart from the contracts given for the national players are among the steps taken to ensure the sustainability of the players.

Sebastianites left arm legspinner Vinuja Ranasinghe’s 8/41 helped them restrict St. Aloysius College Galle for 135 runs in their ‘Singer Cup’ Under 19 Inter Schools Cricket Tournament match at Galle International Cricket stadium yesterday.

Twenty five (25) wickets fallen on day one between Wayamba Royal College, Kurunegala and Sri Rahula College, Katugastota at Galagedara.

Vidyaloka College, Galle beat Shashthrananada MV Dehiwala by innings and 69 runs at Rathgama and Hindu College, Kokuvil beat Nugawela Central College by 49 runs at Jaffna yesterday.

Movin Subasinghe (Wesley), Randeera Ranasinghe (St. Anne’s Kurunagala) and Buddhi Madushan (Seethawaka Central) made centuries against Dharmaraja Kandy, Kalutara Vidyalaya and Malabe Boys School respectively. Nadeera Ishan left arm legspinner of Vidyaloka College took 12 wickets against Shathrananda MV, Dehiwala. He passed 50-wicket milestone in this season.

 At Rathgama. Vidyaloka: 320/5

Shastrananda MV Dehiwala: 95 (73/6 o/n) in 46.4 overs (Diwan Madushanka 45, Nadeera Ishan 5/08, Sonal Ransara 3/28) and 156 in 43 overs (Ayesh Gimhana 43, Nadeer Lakshan 28, Nadeera Ishan 7/69, Sanju Lakshan 2/17)

  At Kokuvil. Hindu Kokuvil won by 49 runs.

Hindu Kokuvil: 124 in 63 overs and 84 (8/1 o/n) in 33 overs (S. Nishanth 28, K. Banujan 22, H. M. Gunawardhane 5/32, Induwara Polkotuwa 3/28)

Nugawela Central: 67 in 31.1 overs and 92 (45.5) Sakalpa Watagoda 26, Bandara Udalagama 22, U Nimaladas 5/11, K Thushyanthan 4/32

DAY ONE SCORES

  At Galle.

St. Aloysius Galle: 136 in 60 overs (Ravindu Sanjana 70, Vinuja Ranasinghe 8/41)

St. Sebastian’s Moratuwa: 135/2 in 35 overs (Nishitha Abilash 71, Sukitha Prasanna 35 n.o.)

  At Bandaragama.

Mahanama: 223 in 63.3 overs (Bishan Mendis 57, Pawantha Weerasinghe 38, Sasitha Manupriya 4/99, Thamindu Wickramaarachchi 3/52)

St. John’s Panadura: 63/6 in 23 overs (Thamindu Wickramarchchi 20 n.o., Heshan Hettiarachchi 3/19, Ishan Katupitiya 2/16)

  At Rajagiriaya.

President’s Kotte: 226 in 58.1 overs (Iranga Hashan 47, Riafaz Mauroos 45, Rasika Lakmal 33, Tashika Nirmal 32, Danidu Dewmina 22, Malindu Viduranga 4/19, Yushan Malith 2/25, Pruthuvi Roosara 2/29, N. D. Naveendra 2/38)

Gurukula Kelaniya: 138 in 32.5 overs (Praveen Nimesh 58, Lasindu Arosha 33, Malindu Viduranga 29, Hasindu Pramuka 6/34, Thanula Chamod 2/20)

  At Lake view.

Wesley Colombo: 352/8 decl. in 69.3 overs (Movin Subasinghe 103, Buddima Wijesundara 75, Rahul Gunasekara 53, Hasith Geesara 51, Shenal Dangalla 34, Upendra Warnakulasooriya 4/89, Yasith Amararathne 2/36)

Dharmaraja Kandy: 62/2 in 23 overs (Kasun Guanwardhane 25, Sachintha Senanayake 23 n.o.)

At Kurunegala.

St. Anne’s Kurunagala: 233 in 75 overs (Randeera Ranasinghe 103, Lasith Wickramasooriya 36, Kavindu Ranasinghe 29, Pubudu Ganegama 29, Surveen Dilmina 5/38, Dhanuka Nimhana 3/52)

Kalutara Vidyalaya: 51/1 in 18 overs (Sunera Abeygunawardhane 27)

  At Kolonnawa.

President’s Maharagama: 156 in 57.3 overs (Sajana Udayanga 31, Chandeepa Thavith 26, Nimesh Sandeepa 23 n.o., Ayantha Shavinda 5/64, Eranga Almeda 3/45, Avishka Wickramasinghe 2/24) and 23/1 in 9 overs

Henry Olcott Kolonnawa: 75 in 25.2 overs (Dinanjaya de Silva 21, Chathuranga Devinda 5/38, Asindu Lochana 3/28)

  At Divulapitiya.

Nalanda Boys Minuwangoda: 190 in 55.3 overs (Nipun Kanishka 77, Gimhan Jayakody 41, Ruwin Sankalpa 4/19, Abisheka Vimukti 3/31, Supun Tharaka 2/30)

Karunarathne Buddhist Ragama: 132/6 in 37 overs (Umeda Madhusanka 31 n.o., Abishek Vimukthi 24, Viraj Vihanga 23, Nimesh Prabashana 2/18, Kavindu Maduranga 2/25)

  At Galagedara.

Wayamba Royal Kurunegala: 62 in 29 overs (Sahan Bandara 23, Chanuka Rathnayake 23, Madushanka Paranavitharana 5/16, Dilshan Arambagedara 5/23) and 76/5 in 24 overs (Chamuth Rathnayake 27)

Sri Rahula Katugastota: 170 in 43 overs (Madushanka Paranavitharana 44, Krishantha Kumara 33, Chamika Samarasekara 29, Pethum Adikarinayake 4/63, Sahan Bandara 3/24)

At Padukka.

Seethawaka Central: 232 in 81.4 overs (Buddhi Madushan 110, Dasith Tharusha 34, Thisara Dhananjaya 28, Thanuja Irosh 5/32)

Malabe Boy’s: 66/2 in 14 overs (Suneth Tiroshan 29 n.o., Yamesh Shashmika 28 n.o.). YK

Colts opening batsman Sangeeth Cooray scored a double ton against Moors SC in their SLC Premier League Inter-Club cricket match played at Braybrooke Place yesterday.

Cooray became the second batsman to scored a double century for the season when he made 200 off 304 deliveries with 20 fours and a six. Dilanka Sandakan of Moors SC took 8 wickets for 184 runs.

* At Maggona: Match drawn.

Saracens CC: 320 and 182 in 70.1 overs (Pramod Madhuwantha 59, Gamindu Kanishka 49, Chathura Randunu 31, Malith de Silva 5/61, Lahiru Samarakoon 3/51, Koshan Jayawickrame 2/29)

Bloomfield: 293 (293/9 o/n) in 87 overs (Nipun Karunanayake 69, Sachin Jayawardhane 63, Pramud Hettiwatte 42, Adeesha Nanayakkara 40, Ramesh Mendis 22, Roshan Jayatissa 4/92, Saliya Saman 2/39, Chatura Randunu 2/78) and 73/1 in 16 overs(Nipun Karunanayake 53 n.o.)

* At BRC: Match drawn.

BRC: 134 and 346 (312/7 o/n) in 96.2 overs(Shashin Dilranga 97, Suraj Randiv 60, Rumesh Buddhika 51, Harsha Vithana 40, Pravinath Wijesooriya 23, Chamikara Edirisinghe 20, Dilesh Gunaratne 3/69, Duvindu Tillakaratne 3/74, Alankara Asanka 3/123)

Badureliya CC: 133 and 313/9 in 74 overs (Shiran Ratnayake 100 n.o., Dilhan Cooray 61, Naresh Prasad 39, Pethum Nissanka 35, Sanjaya Chathuranga 32, Alankara Asanka Silva 26, Himesh Ramanayake 3/45, Hashen Ramanayake 2/64)

DAY TWO SCORES

Match will be continued on day three today.

*At Moors: Colts: 463 (353/4 o/n) in 115.2 overs (Sangeeth Cooray 200, Dilruwan Perera 83, Priyamal Perera 51, Pasindu Lakshanka 46, Avishka Fernando 28, Dilanka Sandakan 8/184, Tharindu Ratnayake 2/102)

Moors SC: 208/7 at close in 63 overs (Irosh Samarasooriya 70, Chamara Silva 59 n.o., Pabasara Waduge 50, Prabath Jayasooriya 3/82, Dilruwan Perera 2/39) - YK

Australia have moved into third place while England have dropped to fifth position in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings following the conclusion of the Ashes series in Sydney on Monday.

Australia had entered the series in fifth position on 97 points, while England were in third place on 105 points. However, following a 4-0 series win, Australia have climbed to third place on 104 points, while England have slipped to fifth on 99 points.

Australia are now trailing number-one ranked India (124 points) by 20 points, while they are seven points behind second-ranked South Africa (111 points).

The top two ranked sides are presently involved in their three-Test series, which concludes in Johannesburg on 28 January, following which the Test team rankings table will be updated.

Australia had finished the 2017 Sydney Test against Pakistan in second place on 109 points (11 points behind India), but had fallen behind India and South Africa in third place on 100 points following the annual 1 May update.

They had finished fifth following a one-all series draw against Bangladesh in September.

In contrast, England had begun 2017 in fourth place on 101 points and retained fourth position despite dropping to 99 points following the 1 May annual update. However, England headed in the right direction following a successful home summer and finished in third place on 105 points.

Australia will now travel to South Africa where they play a four-Test series from 1 March to 3 April, while England’s next series is against New Zealand from 22 March to 3 April when they will play a two-Test series.

In their home season, England will host Pakistan for a two-Test series and India for five Tests.

Sri Lankan Cricketer Angelo Mathews has been appointed as the new One Day International (ODI) and T20 Captain again, Sri Lanka Cricket said.

Angelo Mathews stepped down from the Captainship following a 3-2 loss at the ODI series against Zimbabwe on July 11, last year.  

He recalled the loss to be ‘one of the lowest points’ of his career.

Mathews has led Sri Lanka in 34 Tests, 98 ODIs and 12 T20s earlier.