Sport in brief

Ekanayake 1000 runs

S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy sports corr.

Last year's Dharmaraja skipper Bhuwaneka Ekanayake became the first schoolboy batsman from the hill capital this season to score 1000 runs when he made 22 runs on the opening day of their inter school cricket match against President's College, Rajagiriya which began at Pannipitiya on Thursday.

Bhuwaneka Ekanayake, a brilliant opening bat has scored two centuries and five half centuries and before the commencement of this match had scored 986 runs and scored the 14 runs on Thursday to reach four digit figure.

Rajans appear to be in full control of this match, having dismissed their opponents for 153 had scored 154 for 3 at stumps on the first day with Theekshana Wedagedera scoring an unbeaten 65 with 8 fours. Earlier spinners Ramesh Yapa Bandada 5 for 49 and Rahula Ekanayake 2 for 31 wreaked their opponents batting.

Presidents College Rajagiriya 153 all out in 63 overs (S. Wimukthi 42, C. Gunasekera 29, P. Silva 28, R. Ekanayake 2 for 31, Ramesh Yapa Bandara 5 for 49)

Dharmaraja College 154 for 3 wickets at close in 39.4 overs (Bhuwaneka Ekanayake 22, Kavinda Wijekoon 24, Sanjaya Kalubowila 40, Theekshana Wedagedera 65 not out)

Lahore - a cruel contrast

Our cricketers had a miraculous escape in Lahore, that beautiful city in Pakistan. Upto now it had only the sweetest of memories for us Sri Lankans. It was on that night in March 1996 that we won the World Cup at cricket where all the others were our victims and we wore the crown. All of us were able to sing out joyously "We are the champions."

Exactly 13 years later in the same month but in the morning all hell broke out for our cricketers and this time we were the victims of the champions of terror. The sweet memories of Lahore had turned bitter it was the Pakistan's who cheered us and rejoiced in our victory that day and today they are sad and have to console us.

D. L. Seneviratne

MCC regrets events in Lahore

The Marylebone Cricket Club has written to Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka regarding the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.

Dear Prime Minister,

I write on behalf of the President, Committee, Members and the staff of MCC to express the Club’s deep regret at Tuesday’s events in Lahore. The heinous nature of the crimes which those men committed has sent shockwaves throughout the world, and especially through the game of cricket.

To those who follow the sport it is unthinkable that cricketers, whose purpose it is to provide enjoyment and entertainment at the grounds where they play, should have been the target of such a horrible atrocity.

The MCC flag at this Ground has been lowered to half mast as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives in the brutality, and as a symbol of the deep sorrow which is being felt at Lord’s.

C. Maynard Acting Secretary MCC