Murali saves Lankan blushes

Before going on to take the Sri Lankan cricketers to task, I would like to congratulate the Bangladeshis for the wonderful effort they put up to instil fear on the Lankans, before unfortunately losing by 2 wickets.

The Bangladeshis the hosts of the triangular which also featured Zimbabwe, conducted a pleasing tournament and showed that they would do even better when some of the next World Cup matches are played there.

After beating the Lankans in an earlier game that was reduced to 31 overs because of fog, the homesters took the field in this final with a lot of confidence.

Sri Lanka were lucky to win the toss and ask Bangladesh in. After Nuwan Kulasekera 3 for 19 and Ajantha Mendis 3 for 24 helped skittle the opponents for 152, it looked as though the Lankans would waltz to victory what with a powerful batting line up.

But what one saw when the Lankans faced was a comedy of errors. It was unbelievable, unimaginable and unacceptable the Lankan scoreboard which read 5 wickets for 6 runs.

At that stage no Lankan or their supporters would have been faulted if they imagined that the Lankans would be dismissed for the lowest score in the history of the one-day game.

Lankan cricket which so far has had a chequered history, what with having won the World Cup, suddenly looked wobbly and the early batsmen looked jelly-kneed as they made their way back to the pavilion, no sooner they went in.

It looked as though the first five batsmen were looking to hit the cover of the ball in the first ten overs and finish the game. Coach Trevor Bayliss would have given them a telling off after the game was won by the skin of their teeth.

However gettable the Bangladeshi score was, the Lankan batsmen who are all experienced should have been aware that a match is not won or lost till the final ball is bowled.

It must be mentioned for posterity the sad dismissals of the first five batsmen. It went like this: Sanath Jayasuriya 0, Upul Tharanga 2, Mahela Jayawardena 0, Chamara Kapugedera 1 and Thilina Thushara 1. 5 for 6. A collapse beyond belief. But it was there in black and white for all to see the chicken hearted batting of the early Lankan batsmen.

It all started with the run out of Jayasuriya in the first ball. The culprit in this instance was Tharanga who pushed the ball to the off, took off and when Jayasuriya was haring down, sent him back. The fielder's throw with only one stump to aim at was spot on and Jayasuriya was doing the lonely walk back to the pavilion.

Now a question to ask is: With 50 overs to be faced (300 balls) what is the undue hurry to scamper a risky single in the first ball. Isn't it committing hara-kiri?

This is not the first time that Jayasuriya had been run out in the first over. With his tremendous experience he should have known better. Silly, he looked when walking back.

Thanks to Kumar Sangakkara who played a responsible innings for 59, Jehan Mubarak 16, Farveez Mahroof unbeaten on 38 and Muttiah Muralitharan a blistering 33 not out in 16 deliveries saw the Lankans home.

At 8 for 114 it looked as though the pride of Sri Lanka cricket would be dead and buried at the Stadium in Bangladesh, until Muralitharan walked in to take the opponents bowling by the scruff of its neck and scatter it to all corners of the field as well as over it to save the blushes for Sri Lanka.

Muralitharan who is not a stylist to watch, at times playing strokes that are not in the book, adjusted himself to what this game is all about and played some 'come or go, Chicago' shots which were ungainly to watch, but which paid dividends.

50 over cricket which is called 'cowboy cricket' was invented to bring in the spectators because the established game was beginning to be a big bore and a yawn.

Even the 'reverse sweep' was invented for this style of game and Muralitharan played the strokes that is associated with it and though not lovely to watch was rewarding. Muralitharan invented shots would one day find a place in the book.

Anyway a victory is a victory and the Lankans would have to pull up their socks if they are to come out of Pakistan with their heads held high. Skipper Mahela Jayawardena must show the way.

TOP CLASS SCHOOLS SOCCER

A high standard of school football was witnessed during the Hameed Al Husseinie organised tournament to mark the school's 125th anniversary. It was organised by the Group of 80s old boys.

16 leading schools in the country took part and every game was evenly contested and the final between Zahira and St. Benedict's was anybody's game, until an own goal sealed victory for the Zahirians.

From reports it was one of the best conducted tournaments and it is hoped that it would be an annual feature. It is this type of tournaments that give the schoolboys the opportunity to play at international venues like the Sugathadasa Stadium and get a feel of what it is to be big time.

The spectator support for the final had to be seen to be believed, and brought back memories when football was played in the sixties and seventies by schools such as St. Benedict's, St. Joseph's, De Mazenod, Zahira, St. Anthony's Wattala and St. Anne's Kurunegala who would fight for supremacy.

M. Z. Farook, Chairman of the Organising Committee, who needs no introduction to soccer people in the country with an efficient band of helpers conducted an exemplary tournament.

Farook was former secretary of the School Football Association.