The painstaking efforts of Pakistan’s top order put their side in control against a helpless Sri Lankan attack which was remorselessly taken apart on an unresponsive surface, first by the positivity of Mohammad Hafeez and then by the self-denial and accumulation of Taufeeq Umar and Azhar Ali.
After Hafeez had batted with purpose in a productive morning session, Taufeeq and Azhar stonewalled at under two runs an over till tea before displaying some urgency in the final session to leave Sri Lanka deflated in the Abu Dhabi heat. Taufeeq played second fiddle to Hafeez, blocked half-volleys after lunch along with Azhar Ali and displayed refreshing freedom after tea to reach his second century in three Tests. Azhar, mostly bordering on the over-cautious, continued to display the solidity that has marked his short career with another half-century in a partnership which grew to 141 by the end of the day.
Pakistan 259 for 1 (Taufeeq 109*, Hafeez 75, Azhar 60*) lead Sri Lanka 197 by 62 runs
(ESPN)
October 19, 2011 at 7:03 pm
Pakistan’s openers survived a testing spell from Sri Lanka’s spinners, who managed to restrict the scoring rate but could not strike after the fast bowlers struggled to make an impact in the morning. Sri Lanka would have wanted more from their seamers after the batsmen failed yesterday, but an in-form Mohammad Hafeez proved hard to crack on the flat surface.
The heat also restricted the length and effectiveness of the seamers’ spells; only Rangana Herath, the left-arm spinner, consistently troubled the batsmen and tied them down with clever use of flight and variations.
Herath and Tillakaratne Dilshan bowled a spell of nine overs for only 11 runs after the Pakistan openers had taken Chanaka Welegedara and debutant Nuwan Pradeep for 37 in the first eight overs of the day. Herath beat Hafeez with flight and turn off his third delivery and almost sneaked a carrom ball through him but for a late inside edge.
The Pakistan openers’ response, as with their Sri Lankan counterparts had done yesterday, was to withdraw from scoring almost totally. Four consecutive maidens from Herath and Dilshan followed and suddenly there were plays-and-misses, caught-behind appeals, edges past slip and general tentativeness among the batsmen.
Lunch Pakistan 115 for 0 (Hafeez 73*, Taufeeq 35*) trail Sri Lanka 197 by 82 runs
(ESPN)
October 19, 2011 at 2:00 pm
United States delegation including 03 Congressmen accompanied by Sri Lankan Ambassador to U.S and Mexico Jaliya Wickramasuriya met Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapksa yesterday(18). The delegation led by Congressman Hon. Albert Benjamin Chandler, III, is currently on a three day visit to the island under the Sri Lanka- U.S Parliamentary Exchange Programme, Ministry of Defence said.
The delegates were given the opportunity to witness the ‘Lies Agreed Upon’ documentary exposing the false propaganda attempts made against Sri Lankan security forces. Subsequently a cordial discussion was held between the delegates and Secretary Defence.
Hon.Jack Heddents Kingston, Hon.Joseph Heath Shuler, Ira Hayden Alexander Rogers, Worku Gachou, Ambassdor Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Sainna Brielle Girgenti, Anurag Varma, Vinoda Basnayake, David Wijewickrama were also present at the occasion.
(JNW)
October 19, 2011 at 1:05 pm
General Secretary of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Tilvin Silva says, internal issues of the party are over. He also disclosed a protest will be held on Monday (24) demanding budget concessions.
The internal crisis of the JVP was talk of the town during the last couple of weeks. It was caused due to an ideological differences between two fractions of the party on its stance on certain topics including the ethnic issue and formation of political alliances. The sufracing of the group headed by Premakumar Gunaratnam, who was a hidden hand of the JVP’s past struggles, led to an internal crisis of the party.
(JNW)
October 19, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Sri Lanka squandered away what seemed to be an inviting proposition in the morning – being put in to bat on a flat wicket under the hot sun against inexperienced bowlers – by refusing to score, and ultimately succumbed against a relentless Pakistan attack. Angelo Mathews, however, batted intelligently with the lower order, as he had done during the recent series against Australia, to lift Sri Lanka from the lows of 114 for 7 before Junaid Khan’s maiden Test five-for kept them to a first-innings tally of 197.
Pakistan’s bowlers were nearly sold short at the toss by their captain who thought that any chance of taking wickets lay in utilising the scant moisture on a flat and deceptively green-tinged pitch. With a large heart and perseverance, though, they prised out six wickets in the second session after Lahiru Thirimanne’s guide to slip off Saeed Ajmal gave them an opening at the stroke of lunch.
Aizaz Cheema epitomised Pakistan’s hunger with a relentless spell, either side of the break, that claimed Kumar Sangakkara cheaply and troubled Mahela Jayawardene with consistent pace and zip off the placid surface. Jayawardene managed to survive Cheema’s spell but soon joined Tillakaratne Dilshan in the dressing room. Dilshan had earlier briefly breathed life into the doddering innings, before being wrongly adjudged caught-behind by umpire Tony Hill, as Sri Lanka slipped to 112 for 4.
Jayawardene went in the next over, prodding at Junaid outside off stump and edging to slip. Junaid capitalised on the panic in the line-up to claim Prasanna Jayawardene and Rangana Herath with searing full deliveries to reduce Sri Lanka to 114 for 4, but the fight had gone out of the Sri Lanka innings some time ago.
Cheema, 32, displayed the tireless zeal of a player made to wait almost ten years for his Test debut. He even hit Jayawardene on the helmet grill when the batsman failed to get out of the way of a short one. Cheema’s aggression was in contrast to the way Thirimanne and Tharanga Paranavitana added 26 runs in the first hour, treating the benign Sheikh Zayed Stadium surface with the extreme respect that an overcast Headingley morning would deserve.
Though the three Pakistan fast bowlers, Gul, Cheema and Junaid – chosen ahead of the quicker and more experienced Wahab Riaz – ran in with heart, they were rendered ineffective in the first session by the lifeless pitch.
The openers’ approach, however, bordered on the extreme of being over-cautious. The first boundary came in the 14th over from Paranavitana off the part-time offspin of Mohammad Hafeez. Having played sedately all morning, Thirimanne guided Ajmal straight to slip in the penultimate over before lunch. Sri Lanka had managed only 50 runs in the session.
Cheema struck with the first ball of the second over after lunch, getting Sangakkara to edge behind for Adnan Akmal to take a flying one-handed catch in front of first slip. Paranavitana contrived to survive longer with his defensive mindset but the manner of his dismissal – gloving an attempted pull to the wicketkeeper off a Gul short ball down the leg side – showed that patience without purpose inevitably comes unstuck against sustained pressure.
Just as Pakistan had used Sri Lanka’s diffidence to spark a collapse, Mathews took advantage of Misbah’s listless field-settings to add 54 – the highest partnership of the innings – with Suranga Lakmal. Mathews did everything that the earlier batsmen had not – he did not get tied down and attacked when allowed to, shielding Lakmal initially and taking advantage of the spread-out fields. Misbah helped Mathews by repeatedly keeping the field back even for the final two deliveries of the overs. On the rare occasions when he brought them in, Mathews went after the bowling, slicing and punching Cheema for consecutive boundaries off the final two balls of the 61st over.
Pakistan eventually got through the tail when Junaid cleaned up the last two wickets to end with 5 for 38, and set up the game for the Pakistan batsmen.
Pakistan 27 for 0 (Hafeez 17*, Taufeeq 8*) trail Sri Lanka 197 (Mathews 52*, Paranavitana 37, Junaid 5-38, Gul 2-37) by 170 runs
(ESPN)
October 18, 2011 at 7:24 pm
The appropriation bill for year 2012 was presented to the parliament by Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne a short while ago. The highest amount of Rs 229.94 billion has been allocated to Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, the Government Information Department said. Health and Education ministries have been allocated Rs 74 billion and 33.25 billion respectively, it added.
The budget for year 2012 is to be presented in Parliament on November 21.
The debate on the second reading of the budget will be held from November 22 to 30. Vote on the budget will be taken on November 30. The Committee stage debate will be held for 17 days including Saturdays except on December 10, from December 01 to 21. The vote on the third reading is scheduled to be held on December 21.
As per the appropriation bill the government’s total expenditure has been estimated as Rs.2,220 billion. Estimated total income is Rs.1,115 billion. The government aims to maintain the budget deficit at 6.2 percent of the GDP and targets an economic growth of 8 percent next year. Proposals will also be presented to contain the inflation between 6 and 7 percent. The government hopes make its expenditures under the three year fiscal management policy.
Furthermore, the capital expenditure for next year will be Rs.1,111 billion. The government’s investment for year 2012 will be Rs.541 billion.
(JNW)
October 18, 2011 at 5:45 pm
Colombo High Court is to give its verdict on the “White Flag case” against Sarath Fonseka on November 18. It was taken up for hearing September 27 last year.
(JNW)
October 18, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Upper Kotmale reservoir is to be filled by December 15, this year, Ceylon Electricity Board said. The power plant will add 150 Mega Watts to the national grid, it disclosed.
(JNW)
October 18, 2011 at 10:55 am
First test of the three match series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan will get underway at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Both teams will be keen to improve their test rankings by gaining a win. However, Pakistan will have the edge with experienced seam department. The match is scheduled to begin at 11.30 a.m. Sri Lankan time.
(JNW)
October 18, 2011 at 9:00 am
The 2012 appropriation bill will be presented to the parliament today(18). Accordingly, the budget for the next year will be presented on November 21. As per the appropriation bill the government’s total expenditure has been estimated as Rs.2,220 billion. Estimated total income is Rs.1,115 billion.
The government aims to maintain the budget deficit at 6.2 percent of the GDP and targets an economic growth of 8 percent next year. Proposals will also be presented to contain the inflation between 6 and 7 percent. The government hopes make its expenditures under the three year fiscal management policy.
Furthermore, the capital expenditure for next year will be Rs.1,111 billion. The government’s investment for year 2012 will be Rs.541 billion.
(JNW)
October 18, 2011 at 7:40 am
India has signed a deal with Sri Lanka to procure 80 fast interception crafts. The contract worth three billion Indian rupees has been reached with the Sri Lanka-based SOLAS Marine Company. They are scheduled to be delivered in the next three years, Press Trust of India reported. The Indian news agency also disclosed the Sri Lanka-based firm was selected after a global tendering process by the Navy in June.
The fast interception crafts will be deployed to protect the naval and other assets, bases and harbours on both west and east coasts of India. It was also one of the steps announced by the Indian government after the Mumbai attacks took place.
(JNW)
October 17, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Tillakaratne Dilshan has said the future of Sri Lanka’s bowling lay in the hands of the fast men, and not spinners who have been their traditional strength.
“In the past 20 years or so we have depended on the spin of [Muttiah] Muralitharan for our success,” Dilshan said before the team left for the UAE to meet Pakistan in a series of three Tests, five ODIs and a one-off Twenty20 International. “Murali is a bowler who can take six-eight wickets in an innings, we have still not found anyone who can do it consistently as him.
“The future for our success lies with our fast bowlers. In the spin department only Rangana Herath has proved himself a top-quality bowler. If we hope to win Test matches we will have to have the support of the other spinners as well.”
Sri Lanka suffered a blow when one of their most promising young fast bowlers Shaminda Eranga was ruled out of the tour with a shoulder injury to his bowling arm. He has been replaced by allrounder Kosala Kulasekara.
Sri Lanka are taking five fast bowlers and two spinners to the UAE. Dilshan said that he was not duly worried that Sri Lanka had yet to record a win in their previous 11 Tests. “We have lost two matches and drawn nine and that is not a bad record. We lost the two Tests to very good sides England and Australia, one of them was due to a poor batting performance at Cardiff and in the other at Galle the toss played a crucial role. If you look back on the rest of our performances I am quite satisfied.”
(ESPN)
October 16, 2011 at 8:54 pm
The chance to repeat history awaits the All Blacks following their dominant 20-6 semi-final victory over Australia at Eden Park on Sunday night(16). A try by centre Ma’a Nonu, four penalties by Piri Weepu and a cool drop goal from Aaron Cruden secured New Zealand a place in the Rugby World Cup 2011 final against France, the team they beat the last time they lifted the Webb Ellis Cup, in 1987.
“It’s awesome,” captain Richie McCaw said. “We realised that we were going to have to front up and be on the job for 80 minutes.
“The intensity was there. Every single man out there did their bit tonight. That’s what you have to do in World Cup rugby.”
New Zealand’s ferocious play left the Australians scrambling to respond for much of the match, with the Wallabies now set to face Wales in the play-off for bronze.
“There’s not much to say,” wing James O’Connor said. “They beat us in every facet. They used the ball well and the physicality was up there. I guess that’s what you need to win a Rugby World Cup semi-final and the All Blacks had it.
“They deserved that win. They lifted their physicality and we’ve never met physicality like that before.”
(rugbyworldcup.com)
October 16, 2011 at 3:20 pm
President Mahinda Rajapakse has informed newly appointed heads of local government bodies which were won by United People Freedom Alliance, to assume their duties while focusing attention on fulfilling the pledges given to the public. Lessons should also be learned from the incidents occurred recently. The newly appointed heads of local government bodies should have a clear understanding on the government’s programme before they commence their duties.
He made these remarks at the swearing in ceremony of the newly appointed mayors, deputy mayors and chairpersons of 22 local government institutions, held at Temple Trees this morning(16). Speaking further President Rajapakse also said that a special competition will be organized to choose the best town of the country.
General Secretary of United Peoples Freedom Alliance Minister Susil Premajayanth who also spoke at the occasion said the results of the recent local government polls, are another indication of that the people has further approved the President’s leadership. The country is moving towards a development era after defeating the tiger terrorism. Therefore, the Minister pointed out it is important that all heads of local government institutions serve the public identifying their responsibilities.
(JNW)
October 16, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Veteran film maker and children’s programme producer Titus Thotawatte has passed away at a private hospital a short while ago, family sources said. He was one of the pioneer film makers in Sri Lanka, a contemporary of Dr. Lester James Peiris. Mr. Thotawatte was also a prominent film editor, who edited number of films including ’Rekhawa’.
His maiden film ‘Chandiya’ was a turning point in his film career as well as of Veteran actor Gamini Fonseka’s. ‘Handaya’, his last film was dedicated to the younger generation of Sri Lanka, which won an international award as well.
He also made a great contribution to the children of Sri Lanka as the head of the dubbing unit of the National Television. Sinhala dubbed programmes like ‘Dosthara Honda Hitha’, ’Ha Hari Hawa’, ‘Oshin’, ‘Count of Monte Christo ‘ and ‘Iron masked man’ were very popular not only among the children, but among the general masses as well.
(JNW)
October 15, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Over 50,000 applicants will sit for the Korean language examination which will be held today and tomorrow, Minister Dilan Perera said. However, only 9300 would be chosen for job opportunities in Korea, he added.
(JNW)
October 15, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Five more new aircrafts are to be added to national fleet of Sri Lanka within the next five months, Minister of Civil Aviation Services Priyankara Jayaratne said. Among them are three A-320 Air buses and two aircrafts with wider body, which are used for long journeys. Two out of the three A-320 Air buses would be received by the country by the end of this year, the Minister disclosed. Rest of the aircrafts will be added to the national fleet in March next year.
(JNW)
October 15, 2011 at 10:13 am
