Dilshan punishes the Australians

A punishing century from Captain Tillekeratne Dilshan had the kangaroos hopping mad as they tumbled to defeat by 35 runs in the first of two Twenty20 games at the housefull picturesque Pallekelle Stadium under lights on Saturday.

In an innings of savage hitting Dilshan rediscovered his form of old that had made him a feared batsman as he slammed 5 sixes and 12 fours that sent the spectators into raptures. With this innings he also steered Sri Lanka to its first home victory in this format of the game.

It was inexplicable the decision of the Australians in winning the toss and asking the Lankans to bat. It would have been the uncertainty as to how the wicket would play that would have prompted the decision. In so doing they put themselves under pressure, as Dilshan began to pile on the agony for them.

Arguably one of the best

Dilshan played, arguably one if not the best three figure score seen in this style of the game. He had an ordinary series against England in the one-day series. With this knock it was apparent that he has recovered from the injury to his thumb suffered in England.

The five sixes he thumped were well timed and from the meat of the bat as they sailed well over the boundary.

The 12 fours too were exquisite and it was amazing to watch him execute his now famous ‘Dil Scoop’ which he invented with great finesse.

When Sri Lanka made 199 in the 20 overs, only a cricketing miracle could have got the Aussies to that score. Miracles happen only to the deserving. But the Aussies did not deserve that considering that their batsmen seemed like little boys lost in their quest.

Indi an cricketers bashed

Former Indian cricketing greats unable to accept the two crushing defeats by England in the on-going series in England have lashed out at the cricketers, with Sunil Gavaskar labeling them as schoolboycricketers playing against professionals.

Even new coach Duncan Fletcher has not been spared with some of the greats querying his appointment. The greats are doing right in lashing at the cricketers, who seem to be lackadaisical in their approach.

But we cannot condone the bashing of the coach. That is because a coach can guide, instruct and motivate the team. If the cricketers fail out in the middle, it’s not the coach who should be fried.

Hunger must return

Anil Kumble the former leg spinning Indian captain opines that the Indians lack the desperation and the hunger which has been the hallmark of the team which was missing in the last Two Tests. Kumble further states that they will have to get the hunger back. If that comes in, the rest of it falls in place because the ability is there,he says.

Generally when the Indian cricketers fail, the tendency of the cricket fans was to stone the cricketers’ houses or at times torch them. Even security guards had to be posted to protect the players’ houses and families from harm. But thankfully those primitive practices seem at least for now are no more. Probably because the cricketers obliged by winning the 2011 World Cup.

Everything is not lost for Dhoni’s Indians. If they can win the remaining Two Tests, with the Third beginning in Birmingham onThursday, they can still maintain their status as the best in Test cricket. Will the hard hitting Virender Sehwag’s inclusion galvanize them? It will be interesting to watch.

Goonasena’s passing away sad

It is with sadness that we record the passing away of one of Sri Lanka’s former cricket captains Gamini Goonasena in Canberra, Australia after a brief illness.

Goonasena was one of the earliest leg spinning all rounders to emerge in the early 1950s. After a successful run at Royal College where he played cricket and shone like a beacon, he won a scholarship to Cambridge University.

He continued his good form with both bat and ball for the University which he captained and had the distinction of scoring a double hundred in the big match against Oxford University.

County cricket

After his career with the University, he sported Nottinghamshire colours in the County cricket scene in England. Although playing most of his cricket in England he answered the call of his country and had the honor of captaining Sri Lanka against India in an unofficial game in 1956.

Goonasena’s forte was slow leg spin. He was a master of flight most times to bemuse and baffle the batsmen. In addition to his well flighted leg spinners, he also had a well disguised googly and not very many batsmen could read or spot.

After spending his time in England and Australia, he returned to Sri Lanka and got involved in the game and administration and was the manager of a team to India and later served in a committee that was tasked with the unearthing spin bowlers.

When playing for the Burgher Recreation Club in the early sixties I had the opportunity of facing him when he played for the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Last wicket stand

Former Thomian captain and paceman Dennis Ferdinands and the writer put on a last wicket stand of 34 runs, prolonging the Havelock Park’s agony before losing a Sara trophy encounter at the SSC ground by 162 runs. Goonasena captured 3 wickets for 37 runs in 14 overs in that game.

This game was played just before the MCC toured here and here’s what former Sports Editor of the ‘Daily Mirror’ Lawford Martinus wrote after that game: ‘Gamini Goonasena bowled his leg spinners with venomous spin and fight and is in fine fettle to take on the MCCbatsmen.

‘Goonasena was flighting the ball beautifully and his fingers made that ball really turn. While he failed to score (he made 5) in the first innings he batted with ease in the second innings. Goonasena’s form is a happy augury for Ceylon cricket’.

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