Sport in brief

MCS Cricket Carnival

The Moratuwa Cricket School which celebrates its 20th anniversary has made arrangements to conduct a cricket carnival among its students on January 24 and 25 commencing at 9 a.m. each day. Students from the many age groups are expected to participate at this cricket tourney. In addition to these games, the parents too will play an exhibition game.

The organisers led by Bandula de Silva has made arrangements to give awards to best performers.

SLC Media Manager removed

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) yesterday removed their Media Manager Shane Fernando with effect from January 22, 2009.

A media release from the SLC Media Unit stated that Shane Fernando is no longer with the SLC and will not be responsible for any statements or press releases.

A replacement for Shane Fernando will be named shortly before the home series against India which begins on January 28.

Venus ousted at Australian Open

Venus Williams squandered a match point before losing 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 Thursday to 46th-ranked Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain in the biggest upset so far at the Australian Open. Williams hardly looked like the reigning Wimbledon champion against the 20-year-old Suarez Navarro, whose best showing in three previous Grand Slams was reaching last year's French Open quarterfinals.

MELBOURNE,

Thursday, AP

Nalanda by an innings

Nalanda College recorded their first outright win for the season when they defeated Richmond College, Galle by an innings and three runs in their under 19 inter-school cricket tournament match concluded at the FTZ ground in Katunayake yesterday.

Nalanda: 280 for 7 declared (Chandimandu Rodrigo 79, Chethan de Silva 61, Dinesh Gunawardena 22, Adeesha Nanayakkara 60 n.o., Dananjaya de Silva 3 for 66, Yasoda Lanka 2 for 20)

Richmond: 79 (Yasoda Lanka 25, Adeesha Nanayakkara 4 for 16, Nipun Karunanayake 3 for 19, Navin Subasinghe 2 for 16) and 198 (T. Nadeera 27, Yasoda Lanka 26, Irosh Samarasuriya 25, Charith Priyadharshana 25, Pabasara Waduge 21, Hemil Sarathchandra 20 n.o, Dinuk Jayasinghe 4 for 60, Nipun Karunanayake 3 for 55, Navin Subasinghe 2 for 32)

D.S. Senanayake College were 169 for 6 in reply to Isipatana's first innings total of 143 at the end of the first days play in the Under 19 Inter-School Cricket Tournament match which commenced at Wijerama Mawatha yesterday.

Isipatana: 143 (H. Kalindu 32, N. Sasanka 28, Navin Kavikara 4 for 34, Charith Jayampathi 2 for 61)

D.S. Senanayake: 169 for 6 (Nadun Pathirana 51, Thusith Silva 30, Chamara Kariyawasam 26, Nipuna Mudalige 25).

Pakistan fined for slow over rate

Pakistan's cricket team was fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its 129-run defeat against Sri Lanka in the second one-day international here on Wednesday.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said match referee Chris Broad of England imposed the fines after Shoaib Malik's side was ruled to be two overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

"In accordance with the ICC code of conduct regulations governing over-rate penalties, players are fined five percent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount," said an ICC statement.

Malik was accordingly fined 20 percent of his match fee while his players received 10 percent fines.

The fine added to Pakistan's miseries after losing the second match, leaving the three-match series tied at 1-1.

Pakistan won the first match in Lahore last Saturday. The final match is in Lahore next Saturday.

KARACHI, Thursday (AFP)

Niwanka shines for Sri Sumangala

Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya, Panadura recorded a first innings win over Lumbini Vidyalaya in their under 19 cricket encounter played at the BRC ground recently.

Lumbini Vidyalaya scored 124 runs in their first innings while the visitors replied with 196 with Niwanka Abeyratne scoring 61 to be the top scorer for them. In the second innings, Lumbini Vidyalaya scored 178. Buddhi Perera bowled brilliantly to capture 7 for 47. The visitors were 74 for 5 at close with Vikum Sanjaya took 4 for 29.

Lumbini Vidyalaya: 124 (E. Sandaruwan 40, Dhanushka Sandaruwan 29, Buddhi Perera 4/30, Chathura Silva 2/27) and 178 (Anoj Tharuka 47, Vikum Sanjaya 35, Saranga Malshan 30, 7/47)

Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya: 196 (Niwanka Abeyratne 61, Vimuktji Kaushall 38, Madhawa Fonseka 22, Asanga Chamara 15 n.o., Mohomed Aslam 4/87, Saranga Malshan 2/17, Vikum Sanjaya 2/21) and 74 for 5 (Buddhi Perera 20, Chatura Nilaweera 20, Vkum Sanjaya 4/29).