LONDON, Saturday - Australia captain Tim Paine admitted he was having “a mare” after twice failing to review umpiring decisions in the fifth Ashes Test even though the challenges would have brought wickets.

England, seeking to level the series at 2-2, are firmly in control of the final Test with two days to go, 382 runs ahead with two second-innings wickets left.

Australia toiled in the field at the Oval on the third day of the match on Saturday and were not helped by Paine’s misjudgements. Joe Denly, who went on to score 94, should have been out lbw to Mitchell Marsh when he was on 54 but Australia opted not to review the not-out decision.

Later on the skipper, who is the team’s wicketkeeper, failed to review a not-out decision against Jos Buttler after an appeal for lbw, with replays showing Nathan Lyon’s delivery would have hit the stumps.

Buttler, then on 19, went on to score 47.

“I’m getting it wrong,” said a tetchy Paine. “I don’t know what else to say. We’re having a mare (nightmare). We’ve got it wrong.”

“It’s fast,” he added. “It’s a tough job as I’ve said throughout the whole Test series. I’ve got a new respect for umpiring, particularly in Test cricket because it’s a hard job.”

When asked what he could do about it, he said sarcastically that he would enrol in “umpiring school” when he returned home to Australia.

- AFP

The International Cricket Council will review security arrangements in Pakistan before the Sri Lanka series, according to the sources.

The ICC, as per the Urdu daily's sources, will analyse the security plans before appointing neutral umpires and match referees.

It is pertinent to mention here that the ICC had not appointed neutral match officials when Zimbabwe visited Pakistan in 2015.

Instead, officials from both the countries had been tasked to oversee cricketing matters.

It remains to be seen whether the ICC would indirectly endorse the security arrangements in Pakistan by appointing neutral officials or let the PCB and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) pick officials from within their own setups.

The Sri Lankan team is scheduled to play an ODI and a T20I series in Pakistan starting Sep 27.

The tour, however, has become doubtful over the past week since Sri Lankan authorities received intel of a possible terrorism attack on their team in Pakistan.

(Source: Daily Jang)

S. Thomas Prep School emerged Cup Champions in the Milo Under 16 Division Two All Island Rugby Tournament conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association at Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala grounds during the weekend.

S. Thomas Prep defeated Carey in the Cup final 5-0 to seal their impressive run in the tournament.

They beat Dudley Senanayake 10-0 and Dutugemunu MV 14-0 on their way to the finals.

Carey beat President’s, Maharagama 10-0 and Sri Sumangala, Panadura 7-0 to enter the Cup final.

Final results

Cup Championship

S. Thomas Prep School beat Carey 5-0

Plate Championship

Royal, Panadura beat Asoka 10-0

Bowl Championship

Nugawela CC beat Dehiowita MV 22-0

Shield Championship

Dharmapala beat Panduwanuwara MV 14-0

The Universe Sports Club, Maruthamunai has introduced the new Jersey held at the helad office off the club in Maruthamunai recently.

The event was organized by Universe Sports Club president and Kalmunai Zonal Education office Accountant K.Rizvi Yahzer.

This was donated by migrant worker in Qatar Iyoob Faris, who hometown is Maruthamunai on the request Universe Sports Club president and Kalmunai Zonal Education office Accountant K.Rizvi Yahzer.

The Club president K.Rizvi Yahzer and other officials received the donation from the donor Iyoob Faris at the event. Club officials and players were also present.

SSC Sports Club, Sammanthurai beat Ever Top Sports Club, Addalaichenai in the final to emerge champions and bagged the ‘Raheemiya Champion Trophy-2019’ of the eight-a- side limited over flood-lit cricket tournament conducted by Akkaraipattu Raheemiya Sports Club at the Athaulla Public Play Grounds, Pallikudieruppu in Akkaraipattu recently.

Akkaraipattu Raheemiya Sports Club Secretary M.Musathik organized the tournament to mark the completion of thirteen years of the club.

A record number of prominent teams from the Ampara region participated.

Addalaichenai Ever Top Sports Club batting first scored 45 runs for the loss of three wickets in their allocated five overs. SSC Sports Club, Sammanthurai in reply scored 46 runs in 4.3 overs.

Man of the match and man of the series was A. Sibras of the SSC Sports Club, Sammanthurai.

Winners were awarded champions trophy and Rs.30,000.00 cash prize by the Chief Guest Akkaraipattu Smart City Managing Director Eng. Jiffry and the Addalaichenai Ever Top Sports Club was awarded a cash prize of Rs.20,000.00 and trophy at the award ceremony.

Akkaraipattu Pradeshiya Sabha members, sponsors, Akkaraipattu Raheemiya SC officials, presidents of the sports clubs, players and prominent people of the area were present.

Two pupils of the honoured coach Namal Rajasighje emerged winners of the 22nd all island schools judo championships held on the 11th and 12th September at Jayathilake indoor stadium Nawalapitiya. Sakindu Dassanayake of Trinity College and Yemeena Rifaz of Kandy Girls' High School emerged boys' and girls' champions . Sakindu won gold medals at the over 73kg and open events, while Yemeena won gold in under 63kg and open events.

Gangasiripura Vidyalaya Gampola, emerged overall champions in the boys group, with Wickramabahu National School Gampola and Kingswood College Kandy took the second and third place.

In the girls' group, Jinaraja Balika MV Gampola won the overall championship for the 22nd consecutive year. St. Joseph's Balika MV Gampola came in second and Kandy Girls' High School third , just six months after starting judo as a sport in the school. Both St. Joseph's and Girls' High School are coached by Mrs. Shyama Wickramage. fifity eight schools took part in this event with over four hundred fifty Participants.

Results – Girls -33kg: 1st Ayodya Sathsarani (St. Joseph's BMV Gampola) , 2nd Viveka Sewwandi (Jinaraja BMV Gampola), 3rd Tharuka Abhimani Gunawardena (St. Joseph's BMV Gampola)

-36kg: 1st Thanuja Lakshani (Jinaraja BMV Gampola), 2nd Imasha Thathsarani (Panwilathanna MV), 3rd, Kanchana Kumuduni (Panwilathanna MV), Chamodya Nilakshani (St. Joseph's BMV Gampola)

-40kg: 1st Melani Wijerathne (Kandy Girls' High School), 2nd Kavindi Nanjala (Panwilathanna MV), 3rd Kaviduni Bagya (Gamini Dissanayake model school, Hasalaka), T. D. G. M. M. Nawarathne (Giraulla MV)

-52kg: 1st Kalpani Jayaweera (Jinaraja BMV Gampola), 2nd Chalani Ranathunga (Panwilathanna MV), 3rd M. G. G. N. Adarsha (Wewathenna MV), N. A. K. A. Perera (St. Joseph's BMV Gampola)

-57kg: 1st Dinithi Kanchana (St. Joseph's BMV) , 2nd Shehani Wijewantha (Jinaraja BMV Gampola), 3rd Tharushi Jayasundara (Kandy Girls' High School), Yasoda Pankajini (Pushpadana college, Kandy)

-63kg: 1st Yemeena Rifaz (Kandy Girls High School), 2nd Umasha Subodini (Jinaraja BMV Gampola), 3rd Dilini Anuradha (St. Joseph's BMV Gampola) , Ishani Darshika (Gamini Dissanayake model school Hasalaka ) -

-70kg: 1st Subodha Udeshini (Panwilathanna MV), 2nd Praboda Hansi (Jinaraja BMV Gampola) , 3rd H. V. P. C. S. D. Samaraweera (St. Joseph's BMV), Gimhani Tharushika (Jinaraja BMV Gampola)

+70kg: 1st H. M. S. M. Bandara (Jinaraja BMV Gampola), 2nd Chathurika Hansani (Wickramabahu National School Gampola), 3rd Dilmi Nethmini (St. Joseph's BMV Gampola) , Bhagya Dananjani (Ulapane MV)

Open: 1st Yemeena Rifaz (Kandy Girls' High School), 2nd J. M. B. D. Jayasinghe (Ulapane MV), 3rd Upadya Sandadev (Jinaraja BMV Gampola), Shehani Madushika (Jinaraja BMV Gampola)

Results

– Boys -30kg: 1st Nipun Jayawardena (Wewathenna MV), 2nd Pasindu Nirmal (Gangasiripura Vidyalaya Gampola), 3rd D. S. H. Kodikara (St. Peter's College, Colombo), Mahesh Amarasinghe(Wewathenna MV)

-35kg. 1st Hirusha Jayasiri (Wickramabahu National School Gampola), 2nd D. M. N. M. Niluminda (Gangasiripura Vidyalaya Gampola), 3rd Dulshan Didulika (Gangasiripura Vidyalaya Gampola), Binuga Ravin Lanchana (Wewathenna MV)

-40kg: 1st Nimesh Abekoon (Gangasiripura Vidyalaya Gampola), 2nd Padmahansa Priyadarshana (Wewathenna MV), 3rd Nalin Indika (Wewathenna MV), W. M. P. S. M. Wijethunga (Udaaludeniya MV)

-45kg: 1st Janith Lakshan (Panwilathenna MV), 2nd K. M. K. G. C. L. Lakshan (Gangasiripura Vidyalaya Gampola), 3rd R. M. P. Kavya (Wewathenna MV), H. K. G. I. Lakmal (Wewathenna MV)

-50kg: 1st K. A. T. Sudarshan (Anuruddha Kumara national school Nawalapitiya), 2nd D. G. C. L. Jayasundara (Gangasiripura Vidyalaya Gampola), , 3rd P. V. S. Kaushalya (Jinaraja Balaka MV), L. G. P. D. Bandara (Wickramabahu national school Gampola) -

55kg: 1st K. M. D. D. S. Wipulaweera (Kingswood College Kandy), 2nd K. T. H. Hansamal (Anuruddha Kumara national school Nawalapitiya ), 3rd D. G. T. K. Benett (Jinaraja Balaka MV), U. A. D. I. L. Gunarathne (Anuruddha Kumara national school Nawalapitiya)

-60kg: 1st K. M. D. D. Aloka (Kingswood College Kandy), 2nd K. A. S. Thushara (Anuruddha Kumara national school Nawalapitiya), 3rd S. K. C. Kumara (Wewathenna MV), W. M. Amila Malinga (Wewathenna MV)

-66kg: 1st W. G. Purna Kalhara (Wickramabahu national school Gampola), 2nd P. D. T. Lakmal (Medirigiriya national school), 3rd T. C. R. de Silva (Wewathenna MV) , Dulan Shehan (Ulapane MV),

-73kg: 1st M. G. L. L. Gunathilake (Mahanama MV), 2nd J. D. K. Bopitiya (Wickramabahu national school Gampola), 3rd W. W. M. H. Harhsana (Medirigiriya national school), D. R. M. G. Sujitha (Udaaludeniya MV),

+73kg: 1st S. R. Dassanayake (Trinity College Kandy), 2nd Shenal Hapuarachchi (St. Peter's College Colombo), 3rd M. A. A. Ahamed (Wickramabahu national school), K. L. A. V. U. Dinujaya (Wickramabahu national school Gampola)

Open: 1st S. R. Dassanayake (Trinity College Kandy), 2nd K. M. D. D. Aloka Wipulaweera (Kingswood College Kandy), 3rd K. A. S. Thushara (Anuruddha Kumara national school Nawalapitiya) , K. M. D. D. S. Wipulaweera (Kingswood College Kandy) 

The President of SLFPA S. W. Alahakoon together with the Chairman of the Cricket Match Organizing Committee (SLFPA) Aruna Senanayake and Treasurer of the SLFPA Dadeeshan Guruge hands over the SLFPA Challenge Shield to the winning team captain Malith de Silva of Pizza Hut and (on right). The champion Pizza Kraft Lanka’ A-Team    

Pizza Kraft Lanka’ A-Team emerged champions and Plenty Foods (Pvt) Ltd ended runners up at the 6th Annual Cricket Tournament organized by Sri Lanka Food Processors Association (SLFPA) and worked off at Colombo Colts Cricket Club Grounds on September 7, 2019.

The Plate winners were Gamma Pizza Kraft Lanka’s B-Team. The Man of the Match award was presented to Malith de Silva of Gamma Pizza Kraft Lanka and the Woman of the Match award was won by Ms. Aruni Thejasinghe of Gamma Pizza Kraft Lanka.

Around 37 teams comprising of both men and women playing together from 23 member companies vied for the SLFPA Challenge Shield. The tournament was conducted on a league basis. It was helpful in creating a high degree of interaction and fellowship among the employees of the participating member companies.

The participating company teams represented the following categories- Processed Food, Processed Beverages, Machinery & Packaging, International Food Certification, Food Ingredients and Casual Dining. The tournament is a key event in the calendars of all members of the Processed Food Industry, bringing professionals from various organizations together in a spirit of fun and sportsmanship. The families of the teams were also included in the event this year.

The Sponsors of this year’s tournament included, Lanka Exhibition & Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd, SMAK, Union Bank PLC, Sampath Bank PLC, Sunquick, Nestle Lanka, Unilever Sri Lanka, C. D. De Fonseka & Sons, CMC Engineering Export GMBH, Control Union Sri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Coca Cola Beverages, Ceylon Cold Stores, Cargills Quality Foods and Gamma Pizza Kraft. 

Western Province North Postal Division men's Elle Team beat the North Western Postal Department men's Elle Team by 5 points to 4 and emerged overall champions in the All Island Postal Department Men's Elle championship final which was held at the Vernon U Fernando sports complex Kalutara recently.

The contest was organized by the Postal Department to mark the 145th WORLD POSTAL DAY under the guidance of the Post Master General of Sri Lanka with the help of the Deputy Post Master General Western Province South Sisira Kumara Kalutara Divisional Superintendent P. Champika Perera and Kalutara Chief Post Master Sisira Palliyaguru and approximately 150 competitors participated in this men's Elle competition from all seven provinces with out Northern and Eastern Province.

Moratu Vidyalaya drew with St. Anthony's College Wattala in their inter school first eleven first game for the 2019/20 cricket season and played at Wattala. But any how Antonians were able to get a first innings lead of 12 runs.

Batting first homesters scored 163 runs and in reply Vidyalaians made 151 runs with skipper Madushan Dilakshana scoring 52 runs. In their second innings Anthonians scored 145 runs with Sandum Madushanka scoring 59 runs and Eranga hansamal claiming 5 for 45. Set to make 18 for an outright victory at stumps visitors were 78 for 1. St. Anthony's 163 in 59 overs (Kaveesha Dulanjana 45, sAndun Madushanka 31, Eran hansamal 3/48, Vishva Didulana 3/40 Dilan Tharnaka 2/19 and 145 (kaveesha Dulanjana 36, Sandun Madushanka 59, Eran Hansamal 5/45, Niraj Kavishka 2/7).

Moratu Vidyalaya 151 in 63 overs (Madushan Dilakshana 52, Vishva Didulana 23, Chamalka Pushpakumara 21, Dilshan Dulakshana 19, Kaveesh Dulanjaya 3/28, Romesh Suraliga 2/29, Vihang 3/29, Pahan Kavishka 2/13, and 78/1 (Vishva Didulana 27 n/o, Madura Gimhana 30 n/o).

He was born in Kurunegala and studied at St Anne’s Kurunegala and Trinity College Kandy. His student days were short lived, he saw a Holywood movie called “Silver Dreamed Racer”, this film induced the young boy to set his sight in becoming a World Champion.

There was no looking back thereafter. He never used the reverse gear.

He raced a Honda CB 50 JX bike at Katukurunda and won the novices race when he was 16.His father never liked his racing and he got a real beating after that victory. His hunger for success and be a World Champion drove him forward and wanted a thorough bred bike and Chandra De Costa had a YamahaTZ 350 cc bike which after a lot of persuasion from his sisters who were ardent fans of his.His father bought him for Rs 45,000/- With that bike he entered to race on the power bike category at Kurunegala and came third.

His thirst to become a World Champion compelled him to race outside Sri Lanka and applied to race in India. Alas the motor racing club in Sri Lanka refused permission repeatedly for 10 times, it was pure discrimination. This never say die guy applied to race in Madras and finally got the okay provided he bore all the cost. At last Dilantha Malgamuwa saw the light at the end of the tunnel and with two of his loyal friends got into a train from Kurunegala and went to Talaimannar and boated to Rameshwaram and took a train to Madras. After all the bother Dilantha got a rude shock when The President of The Madras Motor Sports Club said ‘Sorry son we cannot let you race” the reason being that if he permits him to ride The Ceylon Motor cycle club will not send any participants. Dilantha was flabbergasted and he broke down and cried, .S.A Amarasiri who was a Sri Lankan driver consoled him and said there was a possibility for him to ride in Calcutta provided he could pay his way there. He was stone broke and he had to sell his wristwatch and managed to take the cheapest train to Calcutta which took two agonising days.

Dilantha was the youngest and he had the oldest bike a 1973 bike which was 10 years old. He came a distant sixth in the race and a Japanese rider came up to him and chatted and Dilantha told him one day he wanted to be a world champion by going to America or Europe, then the Japanese rider advised him that Japan was the better option. Dilantha jokingly inquired whether he could help him if Dilantha came to Japan and he consented. He had to return to Sri Lanka but he was hell bent on getting to Japan and he sold his old car for Rs 10,000/= , The Air Fare to Japan was Rs 7,000/= he had Rs 1000/= with him and he ran away to Japan and he put up for a couple of days with a friend of his. Then he did some odd jobs and bought a van and started living in the van. When he was travelling back to Madras from Calcutta his pocket was picked and he had lost the address of that Japanese rider.Dilantha tried many a time to meet him in the circuit but his efforts were futile.

Dilantha had many accidents with bikes and decided to switch to cars.He had a BMW- M 3 and one day he took this car to a place where they were teaching racing drivers. He asked for a test drive and the instructor who has his own racing team obliged and was impressed by his driving and asked him to join his team.That was a golden opportunity for Dilantha and he went from strength to strength and in 1995 he became the first non-Japanese Asian to win a Japanese champion ship.Inspite of winning this race he still couldn’t break the ice with the top Japanese drivers who were Jealous of him.

He took all that sarcasm on his stride and from that day onwards he used to fly a large Sri Lankan flag in his cars. Then in 1997 he became the first non Japanese Asian to participate in the highest form of racing formula Nippon (F300) bridging the process to Formula1. He qualified to participate in the highest form of racing close to Formula 1,

The Japanese Prime minister felicitated him because he was the first non Japanese to participate.

The Prime Minister then related this storey to the media. Then NHK

National TV of Japan wanted to do a documentary.

He did not want because motor racing is a glamorous sport where only the rich gets in. In Dilantha’s case he had to work 22 hours a day at times to be the man for all seasons and there was not much glamour in his life.

They said THE DOCUMANTRY would inspire people to take to motor sport.It took 3 months to complete the documentary and they wanted Dilantha to have a look at the last shooting at Fuji circuit , and then” lo and behold” he was surprised to see that Japanese rider Matsu Moto Kenmi whom he met 17 years ago coming to him and embracing him.

To be continued.

LONDON, Sunday: Sustained excellence from Steve Smith, who scaled new heights with 774 runs, complemented by the searing pace and accuracy of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood enabled Australia to cling on to the Ashes despite losing the final test against England on Sunday by 135 runs.

Smith, the former captain who returned to the national side for this year’s World Cup and Ashes after he was suspended for his part in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, finally fell to earth when he was out for 23 in Australia’s second innings on a glorious sun-drenched autumn afternoon at The Oval.

With his departure, greeted with generous applause from a capacity crowd aside from a few scattered boos, Australia’s faint hopes of reaching a victory target of 399 also vanished despite a battling century from Matthew Wade. However, victory in the fourth test at Old Trafford meant the Australians could not lose the series and the 2-2 scoreline meant they retained the urn.

It was the first drawn Ashes series since 1972 when Ian Chappell’s Australians squared the series 2-2 at the same London venue.

Smith, who missed the third test after he was concussed by a blow to the neck at Lord’s, scored 144, 142, 92, 211, 82 and 80 before Sunday.

Each knock was the highest for his team and the first innings at the Oval was his 10th successive score exceeding 50 against an England test attack.

In the history of test cricket only his incomparable compatriot Don Bradman, who averaged 99.94 from 52 tests, stands ahead of Smith whose average has risen to fractionally below 65.

“The series has ebbed and flowed, I’ve loved every minute and I’m proud to have been able to perform for Australia and bring the urn home,” Smith said.

“You always want to get better as a played and I’ll continue to work hard,” he said.

PRODIGIOUS SCORING

Smith’s prodigious scoring, with able assistance from Marnus Labuschagne who became test cricket’s first concussion substitute when he replaced Smith at Lord’s and then scored four half-centuries, helped paper over some woeful Australian upper-order batting.

David Warner, who also served a year-long suspension for the same offence as Smith, returned to the national side to score 647 runs at the World Cup where the defending champions were beaten by the home side in the semi-finals. England defeated New Zealand to win the trophy for the first time.

However, in the Ashes series the pugnacious left-handed opener, who with Smith has been the bulwark of the Australian batting in recent years, had his technique picked apart by Stuart Broad, bowling around the wicket with the new ball. Broad dismissed Warner seven times in 10 innings, in which his average was 9.5. The average opening partnership was also in single figures and the highest stand a dismal 18.

To compensate for their batsmen’s failures, Cummins in five tests and Hazlewood in the final four took 49 wickets between them and all the England batsmen struggled against their speed and aggression.

But at the Oval even they were showing the effects of five tests in seven weeks, which was reflected in indifferent shots and uncharacteristic dropped catches, and the team will be delighted to return home for a break before the Australian season begins.

– Agencies

LONDON, Sunday: Sustained excellence from Steve Smith, who scaled new heights with 774 runs, complemented by the searing pace and accuracy of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood enabled Australia to cling on to the Ashes despite losing the final test against England on Sunday by 135 runs.

Smith, the former captain who returned to the national side for this year’s World Cup and Ashes after he was suspended for his part in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, finally fell to earth when he was out for 23 in Australia’s second innings on a glorious sun-drenched autumn afternoon at The Oval.

With his departure, greeted with generous applause from a capacity crowd aside from a few scattered boos, Australia’s faint hopes of reaching a victory target of 399 also vanished despite a battling century from Matthew Wade. However, victory in the fourth test at Old Trafford meant the Australians could not lose the series and the 2-2 scoreline meant they retained the urn.

It was the first drawn Ashes series since 1972 when Ian Chappell’s Australians squared the series 2-2 at the same London venue.

Smith, who missed the third test after he was concussed by a blow to the neck at Lord’s, scored 144, 142, 92, 211, 82 and 80 before Sunday.

Each knock was the highest for his team and the first innings at the Oval was his 10th successive score exceeding 50 against an England test attack.

In the history of test cricket only his incomparable compatriot Don Bradman, who averaged 99.94 from 52 tests, stands ahead of Smith whose average has risen to fractionally below 65.

“The series has ebbed and flowed, I’ve loved every minute and I’m proud to have been able to perform for Australia and bring the urn home,” Smith said.

“You always want to get better as a played and I’ll continue to work hard,” he said.

PRODIGIOUS SCORING

Smith’s prodigious scoring, with able assistance from Marnus Labuschagne who became test cricket’s first concussion substitute when he replaced Smith at Lord’s and then scored four half-centuries, helped paper over some woeful Australian upper-order batting.

David Warner, who also served a year-long suspension for the same offence as Smith, returned to the national side to score 647 runs at the World Cup where the defending champions were beaten by the home side in the semi-finals. England defeated New Zealand to win the trophy for the first time.

However, in the Ashes series the pugnacious left-handed opener, who with Smith has been the bulwark of the Australian batting in recent years, had his technique picked apart by Stuart Broad, bowling around the wicket with the new ball. Broad dismissed Warner seven times in 10 innings, in which his average was 9.5. The average opening partnership was also in single figures and the highest stand a dismal 18.

To compensate for their batsmen’s failures, Cummins in five tests and Hazlewood in the final four took 49 wickets between them and all the England batsmen struggled against their speed and aggression.

But at the Oval even they were showing the effects of five tests in seven weeks, which was reflected in indifferent shots and uncharacteristic dropped catches, and the team will be delighted to return home for a break before the Australian season begins.

– Agencies

LONDON, Sunday: England captain Joe Root spoke of his pride in his team after they won the final test against Australia by 135 runs on Sunday to draw the Ashes series 2-2.

Australia won the fourth test in Manchester last week to move 2-1 ahead and retain the Ashes but the hosts battled back at The Oval to deny the touring side their first test series win in England since 2001.

“It is Ashes cricket,” Root said. “Every game you turn up and you are playing for your country. It means so much to everyone. You can see at different periods someone wrestled it back into our favour.”

England made 294 in their first innings after being put into bat and Jofra Archer took six wickets as Australia were bowled out for 225 to give the hosts control of the match. “For the first time in this series we felt in front of the game all of the way through. We have to get used to it more and more,” Root said.

Joe Denly made a battling 94 to ensure England had a healthy lead and despite Matthew Wade’s defiant century, fast bowler Stuart Broad and spinner Jack Leach took four wickets each on the fourth day to secure victory for Root’s side.

“I thought we were brilliant,” the captain said. “To bounce back from a very difficult emotional week, to come and play in the manner we have, the team has character in abundance.”

England had been criticised for some lacklustre performances in the Ashes following their World Cup victory on home soil and Root admitted they had not been good enough at times.

“This was more of a template of how to play moving forward,” he said. “It is a step in the right direction. I am very proud of everyone’s effort throughout the summer.”

Archer was part of the World Cup-winning side before making his test debut against the Australians at Lord’s.

He hit Australia’s Steve Smith with a short ball which forced the batsman to miss the third test, but Smith returned for the final two matches to take his tally for the series to 774 runs.

“From the moment I have put an England shirt on it has been exciting cricket,” Archer said. “I am glad we were able to draw the series. Jeez... bowling at Steve Smith was a task. I am glad to see the back of him.”

- Agencies

ISLAMABAD: The best Sri Lankan players opting out of their upcoming tour of Pakistan should not be a problem for the hosts according to former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad.

Sri Lanka are scheduled to play three One-day Internationals and as many T20s in Karachi and Lahore respectively with the first ODI on Sept 27.

However, citing security fears, Sri Lanka’s top players, namely T20 skipper Lasith Malinga, former captains Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, Suranga Lakmal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Thisara Perera, Akila Dhananjaya, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera and Niroshan Dickwella have decided not to visit Pakistan for the limited-overs games.

“It does not matter which Sri Lankan players visit and Pakistan must only look to put up their best performances regardless of the visitors’ squad quality,” Miandad told APP.

Miandad, however, believed that Sri Lanka Cricket should take action against their players who prioritise foreign T20 leagues over international duty.

“International matches should be the top priority for the players and SLC should penalise the ones who have opted out of the Pakistan series,” the 62-year-old said.

Miandad said the series will help Pakistan make a good start to their international cricket calendar which also includes series against Australia and Bangla­desh. He said playing Sri Lanka at home will give Pakistani players confidence.

The right-hander, who amassed 8,832 runs in 124 Tests for Pakistan, said Pakistan batsman should try to aim higher and improve their averages. He urged them to try and get 200 runs whenever they make a century.

“This will help them improve their mentality,” said Miandad.

The Karachi-born legend said the Pakistan Cricket Board should use former players to work with blossoming cricketers at the grassroots level. Miandad also urged the board to work on school and club cricket.

“A player after making it to the national team cannot learn the way a youngster can,” he said.

– Dawn

Dhaka, Monday: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday axed top-order batsman Soumya Sarkar and called up three uncapped players in a further shuffle of their squad for the ongoing tri-nation Twenty20 international at home.

Batsmen Mohammad Naim, Aminul Islam, Nazmul Hossain will join the squad for the third and fourth match of the tournament after Bangladesh’s senior players failed to deliver in the first two matches.

Bangladesh were 60-6 in the opening match against Zimbabwe before somehow managing a three-wicket win while failed to recover in Sunday’s second match against Afghanistan after being reduced to 32-4 and lost by 25 runs.

Soumya bore brunt criticism for Bangladesh’s woeful batting performance at top, having scored just four runs in two matches.

“He did not look in a very good form. So we thought better if we could try some new players,” said BCB chief selector Minhajul Abedin.

Pacer Rubel Hossain and Shafiul Islam were also recalled while uncapped Mahedi Hasan and Yeasin Arafat were released from the squad.

Bangladesh will play their next game against Zimbabwe in Chittagong on Wednesday.

The tournament will run until September 24.

The Tigers have been facing criticism after losing the recent Test match against newcomer Afghanistan.

Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Liton Das, Afif Hossain, Taijul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mohammad Naim, Aminul Islam and Nazmul Hossain. AFP

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 was the most watched ICC event ever, with a global cumulative average audience of 1.6 billion for live coverage, a 38% increase over the 2015 edition and a unique broadcast audience of 706 million viewers, demonstrating the phenomenal reach and power of live cricket around the world.

The event also recorded a 42% increase in average time watched per unique viewer in comparison to the 2015 Men’s Cricket World Cup.

Emphasising cricket’s continued appeal, the 706 million unique audience was a 22% increase compared to that of Cricket World Cup 2015. 41% of the audience were women, whilst 32% of the 706 million were aged 18 to 34 years old.

Fans watched the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup for a longer amount of time than ever before, with the event amassing a record 13.7 billion global viewing hours. This is a record for an ICC event seeing an 18% increase from the 2011 Cricket World Cup and 72% increase from the 2015 event.

The most watched match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 globally was India against Pakistan with 273 million unique viewers tuning into linear TV coverage with over another 50 million digital-only viewers.

ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney said: “These quite astounding numbers demonstrate the power of live cricket to connect and engage more deeply with diverse audiences around the world. The theatre and drama of live cricket is compelling and the added jeopardy of tournament cricket enables our sport to cut through and aggregate audiences like never before even in our increasingly fragmented world.”

This was the most widely available ICC event in history as more than 20,000 hours of live action, repeats and highlights coverage was carried by 25 broadcast partners across more than 200 territories.

Locally in participating countries the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 also demonstrated the scale cricket has to engage fans in a number of markets. In the host country, the tournament reached a unique audience of 24 million across live and highlights coverage with the final becoming the most watched game of cricket in the United Kingdom.

A unique audience of 15.4 million witnessed the most exciting final in Cricket World Cup history via Sky Sports, Sky, Channel 4 and More 4, peaking with 8.92m unique viewers at 19:29 at the start of the historic Super Over. This is the highest ever peak for a cricket match on record for UK television audiences. The Final also received the highest viewing hours for a live cricket match on UK record with 36.6 million.

India led the way with the consumption of live matches on digital platforms with Hotstar reporting a world record for the highest ever concurrent viewership of a live stream with 25.3 million viewers during the India v New Zealand semifinal.

The most watched match in India was India against Pakistan which had a unique TV audience of 233 million from the 273 million unique viewers that had tuned in globally. The tournament reach within India was 545 million across TV and digital platforms.

In Australia an overall audience of 6.1 million watched the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup with the most watched match the semifinal played between Australia and England with 2.1 million unique viewers.

There were more fans watching the 2019 edition compared to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Pakistan with a 37% increase, Bangladesh saw 35% more fans watching and in Sri Lanka the figures were up 11% on 2015, reaching a unique audience of over 100 million.

The Bangladesh ‘A’ cricket team will tour of Sri Lanka to play a series of two 4-day unofficial tests and three unofficial one-day internationals from September 23 to October 12.

The team is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka on September 18.

The tour itinerary:

18 September: Bangladesh ‘A’ team arrives

23-26 September: 1st Four Day game at MCG, Katunayake

30 Sep-3 October: 2nd Four Day game at Galle Intl. Cricket Stadium

7 October: 1st ODI at MRICS, Hambantota

9 October: 2nd ODI at MRICS, Hambantota

12 October: 3rd ODI at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

13 October: Team departs

School cricket is the bedrock of cricket in Sri Lanka. It is from these very foundations that the country has produced world class cricketers who have rubbed shoulders with the rest of the world and won accolades and world titles and made us a proud nation.

For years Sri Lanka’s school system has been the envy of all other nations and if at any point we have faltered it is the poor domestic club system that is in place and one which keeps on changing like the proverbial Lankan weather each time a new administration takes over.

What our focus today is the schoolboys who have gone onto represent the country. It is not everyone who is lucky enough to wear the national cap, there have been several brilliant schoolboy cricketers who have failed to make the grade.

What every boy relishes is for his performances to be recognized and rewarded so that it becomes the stepping stone to reach the higher echelons.

In this aspect the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL), the flagship of newspaper journalism in this country has played a pivotal role in recognizing the outstanding talents of these young students and projecting them to the rest of the country and thereby helping them earn the recognition they may not have got and eventually showing the path to international stardom.

The history of the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award shows that it was first awarded by the patronage of Warner-Hudnut Ltd in 1978 and the first winner was Ranjan Madugalle. But it was not until the ANCL’s Sunday paper the Sunday Observer took over in 1979 and started running it as an annual much look-forward to event that the award really got its true meaning, value and momentum. The event has been run in collaboration with other companies like Bata and Mobitel the current sponsors.

No doubt Madugalle was the winner of the 1979 award as well and the first conducted by the ANCL’s Sunday Observer. Since then for the next 40 years these awards have taken place without a break and on September 20, the 41st awards night is due to take place at the Colombo Hilton and like all its predecessors in grandeur.

What is so unique about this event is that the ANCL with its ever changing administration at the top has been able to keep it going for so long and all credit to those behind the scenes who over the years has taken the trouble and time not only to make it happen and become a reality, but ensured that its continuity has made the awards night something similar to the Academy Awards (the Oscars) connected to the film industry which is 91 years old, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket Awards to recognize and honour the best international cricketers since 2004 and the Laureus World Sports Awards for achievements in sports established in 2000. The Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year awards may not have the same global audience but the manner in which it has been organized and conducted for 40 consecutive years alone should give it some credibility to be ranked with some of the other annual international awards.

This year’s awards night will break new ground when for the first time schoolgirl cricketers’ achievements will also be given due recognition. With women’s cricket gaining more and more popularity over the world, this new concept of Observer-Mobitel to introduce awards for girls will certainly boost cricket in schools, like it did with the boys when the first awards were held 40 years ago.

Girls’ cricket unlike the boys is not so popular and needs a shot in the arm and this is one way to encourage the schools to take to the game and spread it far and wide across the length and breadth of the country. Recognition is something that every schoolboy, schoolgirl and the schools yearns for and the Observer/Mobitel School Cricket Awards has provided that platform for them.

May the ensuing years provide the organisers of this most prestigious awards more power to their elbow so that we will one day see not only schoolboys but also schoolgirls going onto gain national honours by representing the country and winning many accolades.

We are just one day away from the greatest event in Sri Lanka’s school cricket, the 41st Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, to be held at Colombo Hilton on Friday (20).

Thousands of schoolboy cricketers and their supporters eagerly look forward to this event every year, which generates tremendous enthusiasm. Most importantly, This event has been the talking point among schools, big and small, across all corners of the country for over four decades.

Hence, the latest edition of the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year is bound to be a resounding success, maintaining the high traditions for over four decades. Moreover, there are several other school cricket awards shows which has emerged following the Sunday Observer’s initiative but the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year remains the Mother of All Battles!

Hence, come Friday it will be a memorable day for the country’s outstanding schoolboy cricketers who have performed exceptionally well during the 2018/19 inter-school first X1 season.

Interestingly, such performers during the 1978/ 1979 season who became winners of the very first Mega Show have climbed many steps from Sri Lanka captain to ICC Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle who was the Chief Guest at the 40th show last year.

The Chief Guest for this year’s show will be another stalwart of Sri Lanka Cricket. He also played a match-winning role in Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup triumph with a century in the final against Australia played in Lahore on March 17. He is none other than Aravinda de Silva, a household name in Sri Lanka’s cricketing history.

Many leading Sri Lanka cricketers have commended the feats of the Sunday Observer in recognizing top schoolboy cricketers since 1978/79 in which Madugalle became the first ever recipient of the prestigious award.

Following Madugalle to the Observer Cricketer of the Year was Sri Lanka’s World Cup winning captain Anjuna Ranatunga in 1980. After being the runner up to Rohan Buultjens in 1981, Ranatunga once again became the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1982, while still a schoolboy and representing Sri Lanka in their inaugural Test against England in February, 1982.

Ranatunga (54) and Madugalle (65) scored maiden Test fifties in that historic match. Ranatunga scored the first ever Test half century for Sri Lanka and a few minutes later, Madugalle achieved that feat.

Besides Madugalle and Ranatunga, this Mega Show has produced several other celebrated Sri Lanka cricketers whose stepping stone has been the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest. Among them are Sri Lanka captain turned ex-ICC Match Referee Roshan Mahanama (twice in 1983 and 1984), Sri Lanka World Cup star and ex-Sri Lanka manager Asanka Gurusinha (1985), former Sri Lanka cricketer Roshan Jurangpathy (1986), ex-Sri Lanka opener Sanjeewa Ranatunga (1988), World Cup star who is the ICC’s best elite panel umpire Kumara Dharmasena (1989), former Sri Lanka captain turned Ex-Sri Lanka coach Marvan Atapattu (1990) and world record holder for most Test wickets Muttiah Muralitharan (1991) to name a few.

Former Sri Lanka captain and ex-chairman of selectors Sanath Jayasuriya won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer outstation title for St. Servatius College, Matara in 1988.

Among the other winners of the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer titles who represented Sri Lanka are Thilan Samaraweera (1994 and 1995), Muthumudalige Pushpakumara (1999), Kaushalya Weeraratne (2000), Kaushal Lokuarachchi (2001), Ferveez Maharoof (2003) and Bhanuka Rajapakse (2010 and 2011). Among the recent most successful winners still in the Sri Lanka squad are former captain Dinesh Chandimal (2009), Niroshan Dickwella (2012) and Kusal Mendis (2013).

Winning the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer title has been the dream of every player but the feeling of winning that glorious title is an exemplary feat. Such champion of the champions to win the unique title twice are Arjuna Ranatunga (1980 and 1982), Roshan Mahanama (1983 and 1984), Thilan Samaraweera (1994 and 1995), Lahiru Peiris (2004 and 2005), Bhanuka Rajapakse (2010 and 2011) and Charith Asalanka (2015 and 2016).

“Winning the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer award twice remains the most cherished moment in my life,” says Ranatunga. He further added that the titles had given him “tremendous inspiration and confidence,” when he had stepped into the international arena.

When considering all that, it is obvious that the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year is not merely the country’s first awards show in school cricket but has the honour of producing many firsts in different cricketing spheres.

This will be the 12th consecutive year that Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel will be sponsoring the Mega Show, the country’s first schools cricket awards show which had started in an era in which there had not been even an inter-school tournament.

Winning the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year title has remained the dream of every schoolboy cricketer.

Moreover, there is a common belief among schoolboy cricketers that the prestigious title would take them closer to sporting a Sri Lanka ‘cap’. Most past winners of the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year title had made their Sri Lanka debut in double quick time. SLT Mobitel has played a praiseworthy role in the promotion of the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year.

Thanks to the untiring efforts of Sri Lanka Telecom Chairman Kumarasinghe Sirisena and SLT Mobitel Chief Executive Officer Nalin Perera who have played a dynamic role in promoting school cricket in a big way.

The unique vision of Lake House Chairman, Krishantha Cooray has always helped this event to go that extra mile.

At the last Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer event as the chief guest, Madugalle lavishly praised the Sunday Observer and SLT Mobitel for their roles as organizer and sponsor of the great event.

“No event can be completed or done successfully without the organizational capacity and sponsorship package. I like to thank Lake House for conducting this ceremony which is getting better and bigger every year.

It is marked in the school calendar as cricket’s event of the year. A big thank you to Mobitel for providing the sponsorship without whose generous resources this kind of event cannot be held,” he said.

“On behalf of the cricketing fraternity may I thank the organizers and the sponsors for the wonderful work they have done over the years. Mobitel as well as Sunday Observer and the ANCL have done great work once again for being innovators trying to make this awards ceremony bigger, better and more relevant than ever before. It’s a job well done.” Madugalle added.

On the 8th of September the Sri Lanka Super Series racing championship held in Katukurunda witnessed one of the most spectacular racing events onthe Sri Lankan motorsports calendar. Kevin Perera and Brayan Perera both participating in the SL F Formula Mclaren 1300cc EFIcategory showcased their exceptional driving skills on track securing top spots on the podium.

The race weekend was kicked off with qualifying on Saturday followed by two races on Sunday. Brayan Perera dominated qualifying with a fastest lap-time of 1:08:419 clearing a second to the rest of the pack. ChandimaGooneratne qualified second on the grid with a lap-time of 1:09:455 followed by Kevin Perera who qualified with a lap-time of 1:09:543; a tenth of a second off to Chandima. However, race day was a completely different story because it turned out to be a sprint race to the finish line. In Race 1 Brayan Perera suffered from a minor gearbox issue which hindered his straight-line speed. Despite this, it was a nail-biting finish for the top spot but ChandimaGooneratne claimed victory on that occasion with Brayan and Kevin finishing second and third respectively. In Race 2 however, we witnessed a lot of wheel to wheel action as all three drivers showed similar race pace. Brayan Perera was able to find a gap during the early stage of race and was able to pass Chandima and maintain the lead until the chequered flag. It was a close battle between Chandima and Kevin as both drivers were swapping positions back-to-back. It was an intense race between the two and the battle came down to the wire. Kevin Perera foreseeing an opportunity, made an aggressive move in the penultimate corner of the last lap allowing him to finish second in the race, followed by Chandima.

This is not the first time the Perera brothers have showcased their talents in motorsports. Both brothers have represented Sri Lanka on an international level. Brayan Perera participated in the Euro Formula BMW category in 2018 at the FMSCI National Racing Championship held in India and was even able to win a few races throughout the championship. Kevin Perera drove the LGB Formula 4 category in the same event in 2017 and emerged as second runners up in the Formula 4 Rookie Cup. Currently, both drivers are pursuing a degree in mechanical and automobile engineering and are looking forward to their next race.