Sports in Brief

Lasith may play against Kenya

Sri Lanka is considering to play their main strike bowler Lasith Malinga for their next group match against Kenya to get his rhythm back ahead of the co-host’s fourth World Cup game with holders Australia. The speed star was rested for the first two World Cup Group ‘A’ matches against Canada and Pakistan because of a sore back.

However Sri Lanka team Manager Anura Tennekoon said that they would consider Malinga for the next game in an attempt to get his rhythm ahead of their key match against Australia next Saturday. Sri Lanka the 1996 World Cup champions won the first game against associated member Canada by 210 runs at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota last week, but lost to Pakistan by 11 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Aussies arrive in Lanka

The reigning World champions Australia arrived in the island yesterday well ahead to prepare for their high profile Group ‘A’ fixture against Sri Lanka which will be worked off next Saturday at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Australia who will be hoping to retain the title for the fourth successive year have already got their act together well with back to back victories against Zimbabwe and New Zealand respectively. However both matches were played in India and Ricky Ponting’s team will be keen to get acclimatize to the conditions in Colombo well ahead of their fixture which will be a repeat of the 2007 World Cup final.

(C.D)

Cambrians well placed

Prince of Wales College Moratuwa were well placed at 58 for 1 in reply to St. Servatius’ first innings total of 136 runs on the opening day of their inter school under 19 cricket tournament match which commenced at Matara yesterday.

St. Servatius: 136 (J. Ranasinghe 56, Y. Chanaka 21 n.o, T. Dilshan 3 for 43, S. Jayasuriya 3 for 50, C. Fernando 2 for 6). Prince of Wales: 58 for 1 (A. Mendis 21 n.o).

Mahanama on top

Off spinner Chatura Wanniarachchi took a five wicket haul and Duleeka Tissakuttige hammered an unbeaten 75 to put Mahanama College in a strong position on the opening day of their inter school under 19 cricket tournament match against Maliyadeva College which began at Kurunegala yesterday.

Maliyadeva: 222 (D. Dharmasiri 34, N. Karunaratne 34, R. Jayaratne 34, S. Manishka 30, T. Abeysuriya 24, C. Wanniarachchi 5 for 58, D. Dayananda 3 for 36)

Mahanama: 146 for 3 (H. Perera 40, D. Tissakuttige 75 n.o, D. Rusiru 19 n.o).