A six wicket haul by Sasith Manuranga and four wickets by Sajitha Rajapaksa helped Rahula College restrict the Dharmapala first innings to 126 runs and put Rahula in control of the 7th Battle of the Golden Lions which commenced at the Uyanwatta stadium yesterday.

Dharmapala electing to bat first got off to a solid start with Malith Sandakelum (44 off 71 balls) and Amila Dayanaka (21 off 40 balls) sharing a 71 run partnership for the first wicket but the rest of the Dharmapala batsmen fell victim to Sasith and Sajitha to be dismissed for 126 runs.

Binara Sanketh and Sham Bandara opening the Rahula innings shared a 95 run partnership for the first wicket and Rahula were in a strong position of 124/3 at stumps on day one with skipper Uraj Chalaka and his deputy Sasith Manuranga as night watchmen. . Chamindu Samarasinghe bowling left arm spin claimed all three wickets that fell. Rahula are in a position to force a decision if they can add another hundred or more runs to the score when play resumes this morning.

Dharmapala 126 in 41.4 overs (Malith Sandakelum 44, Amila Dayanaka 21, Lakshitha Purasinghe 17, Avishka Hasarinda 16 Sasith Manuranga 6/25, Sajitha Rajapaksha 4/36)

Rahula 124/3 in 51 0vers at stumps (Binara Sanketh 55, Sham Bandara 53, Chamindu Samarasinghe 3/32) 

The Battle of the Mangosteen limited overs encounter between Tissa Central College and Kalutara Vidyalaya was concluded with Tissa Central completing a comfortable four wicket victory at the Panadura Cricket Cloub Ground and this was their fifth consecutive win in this limited over match history.

The Kalutara Vidyalaya skipper won the toss and elected to bat first on a good batting surface but their batsmen were struggling with Tissa powerful balling attack and they kept losing wickets at regular intervals until the side was dismissed for just 161 runs in 49th over. Tharaka Sandaruwan, who spearheaded the Tissa bowling attack with 4 wickets for Chasing 161 to win, was an easy task for Tissa Central with their strong batting line up. Nilupul Darshana 43 batted superbly and Rohan Sanjaya was unbeaten on 41 runs at the crease and guided his team to a comprehensive victory and they chased down the target in 33.2 overs with 4 wickets remaining.

Kalutara Vidyalaya– 161 (49.3 Overs) (Anushka Lakshan 31, Ravindu Jayawikrama 24 Tharaka Sandaruwan 4/35)

Tissa Central College– 166/6 (33.2 overs) Nilupul Darshana 43, Rohan Sanjaya 41 no, Ramesh Manushanka 34 Anushka Laksha 3/27

Ashan Priyanjan (Dambulla) and Roshen Silva (Galle) made centuries on the opening day of the SLC Super Provincial tournament yesterday.

Priyanjan scored an unbeaten 151 off 231 balls with 17 fours to help Dambulla to 382-7 at close against Kandy at FTZ ground Katunayake.

Roshen Silva also scored an unbeaten 146 off 249 balls with 10 fours for Galle against Colombo at Sooriyawewa. Silva was involved in a double century (202) stand with Dasun Shanaka (95) for the fifth wicket.

There were also runs for Sri Lanka Test opener Dimuth Karunaratne (71) and Manoj Sarathchandra (57) for Dambulla.

Matches will be continued today on day two.

* At FTZ Katunayake: Dambulla: 382/7 at close in 90 overs (Ashan Priyanjan 151 n.o., Dimuth Karunaratne 71, Manoj Sarathchandra 57, Ishan Jayaratne 35, Sachithra Senanayake 29 n.o., Kasun Rajitha 3/59) vs Kandy

* At Sooriyawewa: Galle:321/6 at close in 87 overs (Roshen Silva 146 n.o., Dasun Shanaka 95, Chathuranga de Silva 47, Kavishka Anjula 2/45, Dilruwan Perera 2/75) v Colombo.

- (YK) 

The annual one-day game between Sri Sumangala (St. Paul’s College) and Sri Rahula College known as the Battle of the Gold’s ended in a tie at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Both schools made the identical totals of 151.

Sri Sumangala batting first went onto score 151 in 45 overs and in reply Sri Rahula College was all out for 151 in 47 overs.

The Man of the Match award went to Amila Wijesooriya of Sri Rahula for scoring 51 runs and taking 4 for 24.

Scores:

Sri Sumangala College 151 in 45 overs.

Sri Rahula College 151 in 47 overs. 

Zimbabwe Cricket have reacted to the team's failure to qualify for the World Cup with a widespread purge, removing captain Graeme Cremer and giving Heath Streak and his coaching staff a deadline by which they must resign.

While Cremer was informed of the board's decision on Thursday (March 29), Streak and his backroom team have been given an ultimatum. In a brief email sent to Streak by Faisal Hasnain on Thursday evening, ZC's managing director wrote: “Further to our discussions, please give your technical staff (and yourself included) until 3 pm tomorrow to formally resign. After which time the technical team can consider themselves dismissed and relieved of their duties with immediate effect.”

While Streak's contract is only due to come to an end in October, the majority of his support staff have contracts expiring at the end of May. It is understood that the group, which includes batting coach Lance Klusener, bowling coach Douglas Hondo, fielding coach Walter Chawaguta, team analyst Stanley Chiwoza and strength and conditioning coach Sean Bell, have taken legal council in order to determine a response to ZC.

Should Streak be removed, he will be the fourth coach to be pushed out of ZC's revolving door since Alan Butcher left the post of his own accord in March 2013.

ZC's purge is set to be extended to other teams within its structures, with Under-19 coach Stephen Mangongo and A team coach Wayne James also expected to be removed from their roles. Zimbabwe's Under-19 side fell at the first hurdle during the World Cup in January, while the A team was thrashed 5-0 on a tour of the United Arab Emirates last year.

The wholesale clearout brings into question who ZC will find to fill the positions, given the general lack of qualified coaches in Zimbabwe. Streak, Klusener, Chawaguta, Bell and James all possess a level three certificate or better, but there are thought to be no more than three other coaches in the country holding an equal qualification. The prospect of luring a foreign coach of good standing will also be more challenging after Zimbabwe failed to qualify for next year's World Cup. 

JOHANNESBURG, Friday - Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has been ruled out of the fourth Test against South Africa as well as the Indian Premier League because of a stress fracture in his lower right leg.

Captain Tim Paine said at the toss on Friday that Starc had been “battling some injuries throughout the tour” and had been rested from the final Test.

But Cricket Australia’s website later stated that his injury was a stress fracture and that he would fly home after the Test for further assessment.

Starc had been signed by Kolkata Knight Riders for the IPL, which starts on April 7.

He is the third high-profile Australian to be ruled out of the lucrative tournament following the cancellation of the contracts of Steve Smith and David Warner, both banned by Cricket Australia for their part in the ball tampering controversy during the South African Test series.

Starc was man of the match in the first Test in Durban but only took three wickets for 304 runs in the next two Tests. – AFP 

Defending champions Devapathiraja College Rathgama will meet last year runner up Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda in the final of the ‘Singer Under 19’s Girl’s Cricket tournament today at Lyceum ground Wattala.

Defending champion Devapathiraja College Rathgama beat St. Anthony’s Girl’s College Kandy by 151 runs and last year runner up Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda beat Rathnawali Balika Vidyalaya Gampaha by 7 wickets in the semi final at Ananda Mawatha yesterday.

nAt Ananda Mawatha.. Devapathiraja won by 151 runs.

Devapathiraja Rathgama:234/4 in 25 overs (Shikhari Nuwantha 70, Pooja Rashmi 39, Kaveesha Dilhari 29 n.o., Sathya Sandeepani 23, Nilakshana Sandamini 20 n.o., Sachini Dayarathne 1/31)

St. Anthony’s Girls Kandy: *83 in 23.3 overs (Sanduni Nisansala 30, Sachini Nisnasla 3/17, Kaveesha Dilhari 2/13)

Anula Vidyalaya won by 7 wickets.

Rathnavali Balika Gampaha: 65 in 17.5 overs (Pabasara Ranabahu 23, Sithmi Hirasha 2/07, Ashmini Gunawaradane 2/11, Himasha Sewwandi 2/15, Janadi Anali 2/20)

Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda: 66/3 in 10.4 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 29 n.o.) 

CHRISTCHURCH, Friday - Keith Murdoch, the only All Black to be sent home from a tour for disciplinary reasons, has died aged 74, New Zealand Rugby said Friday.

“New Zealand Rugby mourns the loss of former All Black #686 Keith Murdoch,” the All Blacks tweeted.

Murdoch's sister confirmed his death to Newshub, but did not provide further details.

The huge prop -- weighing 110 kilogrammes (242 pounds) and 1.83 metres (six feet) tall -- was widely known for being expelled from the All Blacks ranks after a late-night punch-up with a security guard in December 1972.

The incident had occurred after he was denied a late-night drink at the Angel Hotel in Cardiff.

Hours earlier, Murdoch was the toast of the All Blacks when he scored the winning try in their 19-16 victory over Wales across the road from the hotel at the Cardiff Arms Park.

When the bar closed on the victory celebrations, Murdoch is said to have gone looking for more beer in the hotel kitchen where he ended up in a confrontation with security guard Peter Grant.

“He tried to punch one of his tour officials and I stepped in to restrain him. They managed to get him away but then he came round from some pillars and punched me,” Grant told reporters at the time.

“They held me back to stop me getting at him. Our men restrained him, with one or two of the New Zealand players helping.

“It was ridiculous. We were there to protect the New Zealanders. This should never have happened.”

Two days later All Blacks manager Ernie Todd decided to send Murdoch home “for his own good” but he never made it back to New Zealand.

Instead he disembarked in Australia and was rarely sighted again.

Rugby writer Terry McLean traced Murdoch to an oil drilling site near Perth, only to be told to get “back on the bus” by the former All Black.

In 2001 he was a witness at an inquest into the death of an Aboriginal man in the Northern Territory.

The legend of Keith Murdoch has remained with the All Blacks and whenever they are in Cardiff, players will gather at the Angel Hotel to drink a few beers.

Murdoch played three Tests and 24 other matches in his brief All Blacks career.

– AFP 

Miami, Sunday: John Isner finally put an end to his ATP Masters final agony on Sunday, winning the Miami Open for the first time by beating Germany's Alexander Zverev 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4.

The 14th seed had lost his previous three major tour final appearances in 2012, 2013 and 2016 but came back from a set down to beat Zverev in two hours and 29 minutes.

The victory capped a superb tournament for Isner, who endured a difficult start to 2018 which included an early-round exit at Indian Wells in his lead-in to Miami.

"I couldn't have scripted this. I came into this tournament, I won one ATP [World Tour] match all year and was playing very poorly," Isner said. "I won my first match in three sets and that's how tennis goes — you start to gain a little confidence and next thing you know things start to roll your way." Isner is the first US player since Andy Roddick in 2010 to lift the Miami title.

Isner will also reclaim a career high world ranking of ninth after the victory, the 13th title of his career.

"It’s up to me now to keep pushing forward," he said. “To get over the hump in tournaments like this is a big thing mentally for me.

"We cleared that hurdle this week. I went into every match super fresh and loose. I will be a force if I can continue to play freely."

Both Zverev and Isner were faultless in their service games and the first set predictably went the distance before fourth seed Zverev prevailed when Isner sprayed a backhand wide.

The break, however, finally came for Isner at 4-4 in the second set and when Zverev, who missed the chance to return to number three in the world with this defeat, failed to hold at 5-4 in the third, Isner sealed the best win of his career with an ace.

The German, whose frustrations boiled over when he smashed his racket on the ground after that critical break, proved his billing as one of stars of the future by making his third Masters final and now heads to Spain where Germany play in the quarter-final of the Davis Cup.

"I missed more shots today than I did the whole tournament. I played badly from the baseline but it’s not easy against John," said Zverev who admitted he will have just one day of practice before taking on the Spaniards in Valencia.

"He always makes it difficult.

"I kind of lost the match myself but I have known him since I was 14 so although I am never happy to lose, I am happy for him that he’s won his first Masters."

It was a fitting way for American players to say goodbye to Key Biscayne, home of the Miami Open for the last 32 years, before the move to Hard Rock Stadium next year. Florida born Sloane Stephens won the women’s title on Saturday before Isner stepped up to the plate 24 hours later.

"With the atmosphere and the support, it was amazing," said Isner.

"You just can't replicate that and for me to come out the winner in the last men's single match ever here is unique."

- AFP

Karachi, Sunday: Pakistan thrashed a depleted West Indies side by 143 runs in the first Twenty20 on Sunday at the National Stadium in Karachi, the first international match in the city for nine years.

Pakistan, the world's top-ranked T20 side, equalled their highest total in the format of 203-5 in 20 overs before bowling the West Indies out for their lowest-ever T20 total -- 60 runs -- in 13.4 overs.

The West Indies, missing their regular skipper Carlos Brathwaite and stars like Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard, could not handle Pakistan's varied bowling attack.

Only Marlon Samuels (18), Rayad Emrit (11) and Keemo Paul (10) reached double figures.

Pakistan's margin of victory is the second-biggest in T20s, behind Sri Lanka's 172-run win over Kenya in Johannesburg in 2007.

Previously, the hosts' biggest victory in T20s was a 102-run win against Bangladesh in Karachi in 2008, after scoring 203-5.

Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz and Shoaib Malik got two wickets each.

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed praised his team's performance in the series-opener.

"I think we were excellent today," said Ahmed. "We have an important match tomorrow and with another win we can seal the series win."

The West Indies' new T20 skipper Jason Mohammad blamed the defeat on poor batting.

"It was a tough day. We did well with the ball till the last two overs. It was a good wicket, but our shot execution wasn't good," said Mohammad, who fell for nought.

The West Indies' previous lowest T20 total was 79-7 against Zimbabwe at Port of Spain in 2010.

Debutant Hussain Talat top-scored for Pakistan with a 37-ball 41, hitting a six and two boundaries. He added 75 for the third wicket with Sarfraz, who scored a 22-ball 38 with a six and four boundaries.

Opener Fakhar Zaman hit a 24-ball 39, while Shoaib Malik played a fiery knock of 37 not out, facing 14 deliveries and hitting two sixes and four boundaries.

The charge helped Pakistan get 66 runs in the last five overs.

Despite this being the first international match in Karachi -- Pakistan's largest city -- only 18,000 people watched the match in the 33,000-capacity stadium. But those present were in a celebratory mood.

"It's something we've been trying to prove, that it's safe to play here," said Zehra Kazmi, a housewife.

Aftab Khan, a student, said he was hoping for more top-level cricket on Pakistani soil.

"I can't express my feelings in words so we welcome all the players from the international cricket," he said.

"They should come to Pakistan and play... because Pakistan is a very peaceful country."

The three-match T20 series against the West Indies is seen as a big step towards reviving international cricket in Pakistan, which was suspended in 2009 following a 2009 militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.

Pakistan hosted five limited over internationals against Zimbabwe in 2015 before last year's final of the Pakistan Super League, followed by a T20 series against a World XI and a T20 against Sri Lanka.

This year Pakistan staged two PSL play-offs in Lahore before last Sunday's final of the T20 tournament in Karachi.

- AFP

With a lot of persuasion I managed to get hold of Brendon Kuruppu for an interview at the Bloomfield pavilion, his appearance belied his age, smartly dressed, still looking good enough to don pads for Sri Lanka both as an opener and wicket-keeper.

Whilst talking about pads, the readers should note the following: Brendon made his debut in an ODI against Australia in 1983, Greg Chappell was the captain of Australia, Brendon was in his element that day whacking Bruce Yardley over midwicket for two mighty sixes, and he was equally harsh on Dennis Lillee and Rodney Hogg. He ended up unbeaten on 72 and Greg Chappell was so impressed by Brendon’s knock that he gave his own set of pads to Brendon which he cherishes to this day.

Getting back on track Brendon, the gentleman that he is and modest to fault. I found it difficult to extricate some of his views on cricket in some instances, during his era. Was it frustration or was he keeping to his norms as a gentleman cricketer? One wonders!

Brendon stated that he played Test cricket from 1987 to 1991, those were the days that Test were few and far between (these days Test fixtures are so saturated and as a result it has taken the lustre out of the noble game, I really feel that we need squads of about 50 to 70 to sustain match-winning performances from the players. It’s the money that matters, even during live broadcasts they show snippets of some highlights on a previous match, which to me is annoying and this to me is hard on the connoisseurs, we simply cannot absorb the beauty of a well timed hit or the sheer class of an in-dipping yorker will it be like baseball or is it the Indianisation of cricket!)

Back on the groove again, I have already written about Brendon’s epic double hundred in 2017 July in this column and hence I need not harp on that any more. During that period of 1987 to 1991 Brendon pointed out that he was an automatic choice as a dashing opening bat cum wicket keeper.

According to Brendon the best bowler he faced was Sir Richard Hadlee, being an opener he must have got the full brunt of Hadlee, who according to Brendon was a class apart on the green seaming wickets where he seamed the ball in or out at will or in other words “ let the ball talk.” On batting friendly wickets he swung the ball late at will, and had change of pace, to cap it all Brendon insisted that all this assortments of deliveries were sent without a hint of change in action.

This came from the horses mouth since he got that double hundred at the CCC against Hadlee and Co. I can still recall that Brendon was lucky to get an lbw decision in his favour against late Martin Crow, who was so annoyed that he bowled a thundering beamer to Brendon who managed to weave his head away.

Ashantha de Mel came for high praise from Brendon due to his late outswing at brisk pace. He also mentioned that in that era the only noteworthy spinner was Don Anurasiri - his line and length was good all the time although he was no Ajith de Silva when it came to sharp turn.The other left-arm spinner who was in the fray at that time was Roger Wijesuriya who was rather mediocre in comparison to Test level. Brendon also recalled that tall Ranjith Madurasinghe was a useful off spinner.

Amongst the batters according to Brendon, Sir Viv Richards took pride of place. In the 1987 World Cup Sri Lanka played against the Windies and Viv Richards came to the wicket when Gordon Greenidge and Richie Richardson were back in the hatch in next to no time. Brendon watched the proceedings at close quarters from behind the wickets, Richards at first started sedately consolidating with Desmond Haynes whose defence as we know was water tight. Once Richards got his eye in, he picked Don Anurasiri who was bowling accurately till then slammed him for four consecutive sixes through mid off, cover, mid-on and mid-wicket, he was well set by then and there was no stopping him stated Brendon. Towards the end of his mammoth innings of 189, he was hitting sixes at will the ball sailing about 40 meters from the boundary line. Brendon noted that it was sheer power, timing and good balance. He was full of praise for Abdul Qadir’s fastish leg spin, googly and flippers.

Brendon retired from international cricket in 1991 at the young age of 27 years! I inquired from him why he retired at a comparatively young age. Brendon didn’t say anything but the expression in his face said it all. Romesh Kaluwitharana was drafted in as the new wicket-keeper. Brendon opted to coaching and begun the Brendon School of cricket. Brendon is also the international tournament director at Red Bull, from 2012 to-date.

When asked about his comments on the recently concluded Nidahas trophy, Brendon was of the view that the team blended well, however he pointed out that our bowlers should be trained to bowl on the spot on good batting tracks. He noted that during the last 2 to 3 years there has been constant changes in the team thereby players never had time to settle down.

Brendon was the team manager for the national team on several different occasions and he picked out Mahela Jayawardene as one of the best skippers who stood by his decisions without wavering. In his tenor as the cricket manager, he managed all the top Sri Lankan cricketers at the time.

A table tennis team from Wuppertal, Germany who are on a two week tour of Sri Lanka played a match against the Sri Lanka National Team last week and will play two more matches during the tour. The Mayor of Colombo Rosy Senanayake and Minister of Prison Reforms D.M. Swaminathan, welcomed the team after the match. The visiting team presented a table tennis table to the prisons table tennis team.

The match was organized through Asian German Sports Exchange Programme in order to promote cultural exchange between Germany and Sri Lanka and give them the much needed foreign exposure.

The table tennis team from Wuppertal, consisting of 43 players of different ages, arrived in Sri Lanka on March 26 and will stay for two weeks until the 8th of April. The team captain who had been to Sri Lanka before motivated the table tennis team to join the tour.

The team will also go on a sightseeing tour of Sigirya, Dambulla, Kandy and Mirissa during their stay which will help to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination.

Three volunteers of the AGSEP played a major role in organising this tour - Anja Weitzel, a 20 year of student of the Hochschule Niederrhein in Monchengladbach Germany, Julia, Meier, a 24 year old student of the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich and Nora Giller, a 25 year of student of the University of Passau, Germany.

The Junior Match Play Golf Championship Sponsored by Perera and Sons Bakers Ltd is being held from April 2 to 5 at the Royal Colombo Golf Club. This tournament was inaugurated in 2014 as an annual feature tournament arousing immense spectator interest and providing experience to juniors in handling pressure as a golfer.

Perera And Sons Ltd the family company of the late Rukmini Kodagoda will continue their sponsorship for the fifth consecutive year. The match-play format will be worked off in four age categories comprising Gold Division ( 15 – 18 years ) Silver (12 – 14 years ) Bronze Division ( 10 – 11 years ) and Copper Division ( 9 years and under ). The winner of the overall championship would carry away the Rukmini Kadagoda Challenge Trophy. Last year for the first time the junior girls segment was carved out into a seperate division and the first winner of the girls “ Rukmini Kodagoda Tania Minel Balasuriya has improved leaps and bounds since that victory. “ I am delighted to see Tania Minel’s progress winning the Sri Lanka Ladies amateur Golf championship as well, in the Match-play format said Gihan Perera – Managing Director of P & S.

Such tournaments have molded our junior golfers to secure wins overseas and locally such being junior girl – Tania Minel has done us proud finishing Runner-up in the All India Junior Golf Championship and her excellent golf to win the national Title and the Ladies Stoke-play Championship recently confirms the value of the junior Match-play Championship said Priath Fernando, President of

the Sri Lanka Golf Union. The qualifying medal round of the championship in all Age Categories, would be a designated round to accrue points for National junior ranking for the year 2018. The tournament will be played over four days and will comprise of four age groups with Girls and Boys in the Gold and

Silver Division played separately, since the Boys play off the Men’s Tees and girls off the Ladies Tee Markers.The Bronze and Copper Divisions Boys and Girls will play-off the same tee markers.

The manner of play would be based on a qualifying stoke play round for each age catagory,with the best eight qualifying to play match play knock out A-Format, Semi-final and Final to determine the Gold, silver, Bronze and Copper Division winners However the girls in the Gold and silver Division and Boys in the Gold Categories will vie for the Rukmini Kodagoda Trophy and the Title of Junior Boys Champion and Junior Girls Champion respectively.

The junior match play championship is a fitting tribute to Rukmini Kodagoda, who won the Sri Lanka Amateur Championship in 1979 and several other club tournaments.

RukI as she was popular known established herself as one of Sri Lanka’s talented sports woman having won National titles and represented Sri Lanka in both tennis and golf. She also held the prestigious position of Chairman Sri Lanka Ladies Golf Union in 1990 and 1991 and Captain of the Ladies Section of the Royal Colombo Golf Club.

The prize giving will be held on April 5 at 12 noon at Royal Colombo Golf Club.

Maliyadeva cricket team: Front row from left - Dulaj Ranathunga (Captain), Shirantha Bandaranayake (Teacher In Charge) Assistant Principal Chalinda Illankoon, Saman Indrarathne (Principal) Thusitha Herath (Coach), Mahinda Uduweralla,(Teacher In Charge), Kaveen Bandara (Vice Captain). 2nd row from left - Sanjeewa Priyadarshana, Supun Nishsanka, Lakitha Ranawaka, Brayan Karunanayake, Ravindu S Senavirathne, S. Gunarathna, Anjana Sewrathne, N. Hettiarachchi, Chaluka Athapattu. Back row standing from left -Muditha Premadasa, Vidath Batepola, Maduranga Haffes, Pasidu Tennakoon, Gayantha Wickramarachchi, Supun Sumanarathne, Kalidu Ranwala. Pictures by Francis Warnakulasooriya, Pothuhera special corr.)

The two cricketing giant in the North Western Province, St Anne’s college and Maliyadeva college will vie for honours in their 35th annual Battle of the Rocks cricket encounter for the Dialog challenge trophy at the picturesque Welagedara Stadium, Kurunegala on April..6...and ...7.... The 23rd annual limitted over match between the two schools will be played on the following day (April .8..) at the same venue.

St. Anne’s celebrate their 150th anniversary while Maliyadeva celebrate its 130th anniversary this year. Up to now out of 34 encounters Maliyadeva has won two matches while Annites are yet to savour victory. The rest of the matches ended in draws.

In the annual limited over match series, Maliyadeva has a slight edge over Annites, winning twelve matches while Annites have won the one day encounter 11 times.

Maliyadeva has played 15 matches so far this season and they have recorded one outright win and three 1st innings wins. Dulaj Ranathunga 5th year player leads Maliyadeva College team.

St. Anne’s College played Eleven (11) matches and recorded three outright wins and four 1st innings. wins Fifth-year coloursman Randeer Ranasinghe who has already scored 650 runs in this season leads St. Anne’s side.

Annites got four centurions in captain Randeer Ranasinghe (115 Vs Richmond, Galle), Dineth Randima (114 Cs St. Anthony’s, Wattala) Wanitha Wanninayaka (101 Vs Kingswood, Kandy) and Dhananjaya Bandara (101 Vs Kingswood, Kandy) in their side. Annites’ Pasindu Tennakoon captured a 7-wicket haul against Kalutara Vidyalaya while their bowling department also included three bowlers with five-wicket hauls (Randeer Ranasinghe, Wanitha Wanninayaka, Pubudu Ganegama).

CHRISTCHURCH : England Monday sensed a chance to end their woeful winless run in overseas Tests even though New Zealand will start the final day of the second Test with all 10 wickets still intact.

When bad light ended play 24 overs early in Christchurch, New Zealand were 42 without loss but still 340 runs short of their formidable 382-run target.

Tom Latham was not out 25 and Jeet Raval unbeaten on 17 after surviving a testing 23 overs before play ended more than an hour early.

England batsman-wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow said there were enough signs to believe the tourists’ run of 12 away matches without a victory could be about to end.

But New Zealand were hopeful of a rare series victory against England if they can at least hang on for a draw after winning the first match in the two-Test series.

“There’s definitely enough in the pitch for us to take the wickets,” Bairstow said.

“We’ve beaten the bat consistently. Leachy (spinner Jack Leach) bowled three overs this evening and there were some chances created there.” England’s new-ball pair James Anderson and Stuart Broad repeatedly pressured Latham and Raval, with one tough chance off Latham dropped by James Vince at third slip. Bairstow believed that “without a shadow of a doubt” his team were in charge.

But with 10 wickets in hand, New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan was eyeing what would be only the fourth series win over England in 36 series -- and the first since 1999.

“It would be huge. We love playing England. Series wins have been few and far between for New Zealand Test sides and in terms of history it will be very special,” he said praising Latham and Raval for their stubborn start to the innings.

“It was really impressive. It was obviously a tough period against two world-class new ball bowlers.

“They got examined and tested in different areas but they did a great job to get through.” After England declared on 352 for nine, Latham and Raval had some difficult moments in a hostile first-up spell from Anderson and Broad.

Anderson did everything but claim Latham’s wicket as the New Zealand opener flirted outside off stump while Broad struck Raval a painful blow in the ribs.

When the New Zealand innings began with a minimum of 137 overs to reach the target, the required run rate was 2.78 per over. When the light ended play early, costing 16 available overs, the run rate was 3.46.

England flourished at the start of the day when they resumed on 202 for three, with Joe Root and Dawid Malan moving the score to 262 before Colin de Grandhomme rallied New Zealand.

He had Malan caught at mid-wicket by Henry Nicholls for 53 to start a tumble that saw six wickets fall for 90 runs before England declared.

Johannesburg: A heavily-strapped Morne Morkel made two breakthroughs as South Africa pushed for victory on the fourth day of the fourth Test against Australia at the Wanderers Stadium on Monday.

Australia, set an impossible 612 to win, were 88 for three when bad light ended play.

The tall Morkel, playing in his final Test before retirement, dismissed both opening batsmen in an impressive eight-over spell. South Africa delayed their second-innings declaration until tea, with a team spokesperson citing concerns about injuries to all three of their fast bowlers.

South African captain Faf du Plessis plays a shot. AFP

The main worry appeared to be the fitness of Morkel, who left the field and was unable to complete an over on Sunday with what was described as a side strain.

But a later diagnosis was that the problem was a less severe abdominal strain.

Morkel, with extensive strapping around his midriff, came on to bowl as second change and with his tenth ball trapped Matt Renshaw leg before wicket with a full-length delivery angled in to the left-hander.

Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj also won a leg before decision, when Usman Khawaja played no shot to a ball which spun sharply out of the rough, before Morkel struck again when Joe Burns played across a ball of almost yorker length.

Burns, one of three replacements for the Australian trio banned for their role in a ball-tampering scandal, made 42 off 84 balls with five fours and a six.

South Africa’s other fast bowlers, Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander, were struggling with a stiff lower back and a groin strain respectively. They both bowled short spells with the new ball.

Captain Faf du Plessis hit 120 and Dean Elgar made 81 before South Africa declared at 344 for six. They shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 170, the best for any wicket by either side during the series.

With South Africa leading the series 2-1, their batting effort made sure they would secure their first home series win against Australia since 1969/70, whether or not their bowling options were limited.

Du Plessis made his first major contribution of the series after scoring only 55 runs in his first seven innings.

When he was on 43, he needed lengthy treatment after a ball from Pat Cummins split open the right index finger he broke earlier in the season.

But he went on to make his eighth Test century and his third against Australia. He faced 178 balls in his innings, which included 18 fours and two sixes.

Cummins was again Australia’s best bowler, taking four for 58. His match figures of nine for 141 were the best of his career. AFP

St Thomas College won the 19th Battle of the Blues one day encounter against St Servatius College by seven runs (D/L method) at the Uyanwatta stadium last evening. St Servatius were 197/6 at the time the match was stopped.

The match was reduced to 45 overs per team as umpires Palith de Alwis and R P Massalage decided that the damp patches on the wicket should dry up sufficiently before the game could start.

Lahiru Dilshan (26 off 30 balls) and Nipun Ruchira (11 off 25 balls) gave the Thomian innings a good start with an opening stand of 39 runs in 8.4 overs after they elected to bat first.

In the 24th over the Servatian bowlers were able to take control and had the Thomians in a spot at 88/5 but a well compiled 36 off 62 balls by Kavindu Ridmal and a captains innings of an unbeaten 77 off 64 balls with 9 boundaries by Tharusha Kavindya helped them reach 226/7 at the end of 45 overs.

Servatian skipper Thilan Prashan and Pasindu Manupriya captured two wickets each.

The Servatians lost their first wicket at 7 and powered by an unbeaten 56 off 84 balls by Risira Lakwin and a cracking 27 off 14 balls which included 2 sixes by skipper Thilan Prashan helped the Servatians at 197/5 when Isuru Udayanga was caught brilliantly on the ropes by Mihisal Amoda. After the umpires ruled it out a controversy

took place if it was a six or a catch causing a delay at which time they had no choice but to call bad light. At the time the Thomians were seven runs ahead on the D/L method

The Servatian team for the 19th limited over encounter led by Thilan Prashan comprised of Isuru Udayanga, Supun Kavinda, Shashika Dulshan, Keshara Nuwantha, Pasindu Manupriya, Pushpitha Dilshan, Risira Lakwin, Chethaka Denuwan and Ruwinda Rochana with Sandaru Nethmina as 12th man.

The Thomians led by Tharusha Kavindya, Maleesha de Seram, Mihisal Amoda, Lahiru Dilshan, Gishanthika Jayaweera, Hirantha Lakshan, Sachira Rashmika, Sineth Sithara, Nipun Ruchira and Chamika Ranasinghe with Harindu Jayasekera as 12th man.

St Thomas Matara 226/7 in 45 overs (Lahiru Dilshan 26, Hirantha Lakshan 21, Mihisal Amoda 21, Tharusha Kavindya 77 not out, Kavindu Ridmal 36, Thilan Prashan 2/45, Pasindu Manupriya 2/34, Shashika Dulshan1/38,

Keshara Nuwantha 1/29)

St Servatius 197/6 in 42.2 overs (Pushpitha Dilshan 42, Chethaka Denuwan 22, Risira Lakwin 56 not out, Keshara Nuwantha 30, Thilan Prashan 27, Sineth Sithara 2/27, Sachira Rashmika 1/34, Lahiru Dilshan 1/46, Hirantha Lakshan 1/43)

The inaugural limitted over big match, ‘Battle of the Blooms’ between Mahanama College, Peradeniya and Berrewarts College, Ampitiya, will be played at the Kandy Police grounds today, commencing from 9.00a.m. Kandy District Cricket Association president Janaka Pathirane will be the chief guest.

The organizers hope to make it a two day game from next year.

The big match became a reality, thanks to the two principals, Amith M. Jayasooriya and. D.M.N.B.Dasanayaka. This will be the newest addition to the school big match line up and the seventh big match to be played in Kandy.

Berrewarts College who will field a strong team will look forward to their batsmen for a good display, especially the skipper Nuwan Ranasinghe, a stylish stroke maker.

They are coached by Nimal Senavirthne while B.M.T. Dissanayake being the MIC.

Mahanama College is coached by Sanjeewa Bandara, assisted by the MIC Ravi Jayawardene.

Hard-hitting batsman Kasun Weerasekara will lead the Mahanama side.

Mahanama team comprised some good bowlers who will make trouble to Brrewarts batsmen.

Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda beat Sri Devananda College, Amablangoda in their 51st ‘Battle of the Blues’ cricket encounter concluded at the De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa yesterday.

Dharmasoka won the toss and decided to field first. Sri Devananda were bowled out for 167 runs in 44.2 overs. Deputy skipper Shohan de Livera scored 56 runs and Nimesh de Silva scored 42 runs. Akila Mendis took 3/23. Lohan de Soyza took 2/0. Naveen Rasanga and Dinuka Dilshan took two wickets each. In reply Dharmasoka were skittled out for 231 runs in 62.2 overs. Kavindu Nadeeshan scored 57 runs and Nimesh Mendis scored 54 runs. Sandun De Zoysa took 4/55/. Dasun de Silva and Kavindu Rajapaksha took 3 wickets each.

In their second eassy, Sri Devananda were bowled out for 142 runs in 52.4 overs. Sachindu Uddeepana scored 29 runs. Skipper Nimesh Mendis and Yohan de Soyza took shared four wickets apiece. Chasing an easy victory target of 79 runs Sokians sealed the win in 15 overs with six wickets to spare. Ushan Imantha scored 22 runs. Sandun De Zoysa took 2 wickets. Nimesh Mendis, the skipper of Dharmasoka College was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Sri Devananda: 167 in 44.2 overs (Shohan de Livera 56, Nimesh de Silva 42, Sasindu De Sila 19, Samith Madhushan 17, Akila Mendis 3/23, Lohan de Soyza 2/00, Naveen Rasanga 2/26, Dinuka Dilshan 2/41) and 142 in 52.4 overs (Sachindu Uddeepana 29, Nimesh de Silva 27, Sohan de Livera 22, Nimesh Mendis 4/27, Yohan de Soyza 4/28)

Dharmasoka: 231 (182/4 on) in 62.2 overs (Kavindu Nadeeshan 57, Nimesh Mendis 54, Ushan Imantha 40, Yohan De Silva 21, Sandun De Zoysa 4/55, Dasun de Silva 3/39, Kavindu Rajapaksha 3/67) and 79/4 in 15 overs (Ushan Imantha 22, Sandun de Soyza 2/19). YK

St. Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya beat St. Peter’s College, Negombo by 135 runs in their 7th ‘Battle of the Sea Gulls’ annual Cricket encounter at Katuneriya yesterday and bagged the ‘Protus Thisera Memmorial Challenge Trophy’.

Sithum Akilanka of St. Seastian’s Katuneriya was adjudjed the Man of the Match.

St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya: 161 in 49 overs (Sheshan Udara 43, Ravindu Dilshan 31 n..o., Rshmika Udara 22, Hirusha Shamod 3/32, Shaluka Thilina 3/42, Sanindu Madushanka 2/27) and 140 (5/1 o/n) in 40.2 overs (Sheshan Udara 45, Udara Mendis 35, Ravindu Dilshan 27, Isuru Uthpala 3/37, Shaluka Thilina 3/44, Briyan Julitus 2/40)

St. Peters Negombo: 57 in 30 overs (Shaun Maleesha 23, Sithum Akilanka 6/20, Deemantha Silva 3/07) and 109 in 29.5 overs (Briyan Julitus 31, Shane Maleesha 28, Umesh Lakshan 22, Sithum Akilanka 5/29, Deemantha Silva 3/27). YK