Date-stamped : 12 Oct95 - 10:27 3NAT-SHJ Match #1: Sri Lanka v West Indies Sharjah, 11 October 1995 ====> Prematch, 9 Oct 95 Sri Lanka vs West Indies curtain-raiser in Sharjah Sri Lankans, full of confidence, will take on West Indies on Wednesday in the `curtain raiser` of the tournament and Pakistan on Thursday. The Sri Lankan team, led by Arjuna Ranatunga will arrive on Tues- day night in Sharjah to play in the three-nation Champions Trophy which starts on Wednesday. Pakistan and the West Indies are the other participating countries in the triangular limited over con- test. The Sri Lankan is expected to leave Colombo`s Bandaranaike Inter- national Airport at 5.15 p.m, and are scheduled to arrive here at 10.45 p.m. on Monday. They will open their campaign when they take on the West Indies in the `curtain raiser` match on Wednes- day (11). Ranatunga and his team will arrive in Sharjah brimming with con- fidence following their success in New Zealand and Pakistan this year. Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga, in a pre-tour interview, said that they aim to win their first trophy in Sharjah, a venue which has not been too favourable for them. Since making their debut in the desert in 1984, Sri Lanka has won only six of their 27 out- ings here. Ranatunga said that his team is in top form and will go all out to clinch the trophy. He said that they will do their utmost to beat Pakistan and the West Indies. Sri Lanka, on present form, stands a good chance of winning the title as the West Indies too are fielding a makeshift side, minus eight of their regulars. Among the top players missing in the Caribbean side are Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Carl Hooper, Keith Atherton, Junior Murry, Kenneth Benjamin, Vesbert Drakes and Rajindra Dhanaraj. Ramiz Raja`s Pakistanis are crisis-ridden following the humi- liating defeats in the home series. Pakistan selectors will have a big problem in picking the side which will have to regain their lost prestige as world champions in limited over cricket. The triangular Champions Trophy cricket tournament would give Pakistan an early chance to shake off the humiliation of defeat by Sri Lanka in the recently concluded home series. Pakistan will meet Sri Lanka in the first of the two first round match on Thursday (12). Source :: The Daily News (http://sri.lanka.net/lakehouse/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Prematch, 10 Oct 95 To play Kalpage or Upashantha? Lanka undecided on final slot Bandula Molligoda reporting from Sharjah. Sri Lanka is undecided about the 11th man to be played in the opening game against West Indies in the Three-Nation Singer Cham- pions Trophy . ``We will pick the eleventh man a few minutes before the toss``, said Manager of the team Duleep Mendis when asked whether Sri Lanka had picked its team to play West Indies in the opening game of the Three-Nation Singer Champions Trophy here in Sharjah. ``There are two players vying for this berth - Ruwan Kalpage and Erik Upashantha. In case Kalpage plays, either Gurusinha or Ara- vinda will share the new ball with Wickremasinghe,`` said Mendis. The 10 certainties in the Sri Lanka side: Mahanama, Jayasuriya, Gurusinha, de Silva, Ranatunga, Tillekeratne, Dharmasena, Kaluwitharane, Muralitheran and Wickremasinghe. LIKE CONCRETE Manager Mendis further said that the Sharjah wicket is like a concrete. ``The wicket will help seam in the first couple of hours``, he said. The Sri Lankans arrived on Monday night and had a strenuous three- hour training stint at the stadium, on Tuesday morning. The boys from the Carribean led by Richardson arrived from London on Sunday on Airlanka, the official carrier for the tourney. TWO SESSIONS The Windies opted for two three-hour training sessions on Monday afternoon and again on Tuesday morning. the Pakistanis led by Ramiz Raja arrived in Sharjah from Lahore on Monday morning minus Wasim Akram. An hour after checking in at the hotel they were on the bus to the Sharjah Stadium for a `net`. AKRAM DOUBTFUL Their speed ace Wasim Akram is in London having his shoulder injury examined by a specialist and his playing in the tourney will depend on the specialist giving him the all clear. Akram is expected in Sharjah today and according to reports the Pakistan Cricket Board has asked him to miss the first round games if he wishes to, if he is not fully there. The Pakistanis beaten by Sri Lanka in the Test as well as the one- day series are minus their uniforms and blazers. CONFIDENT ``A win here will help to get our act together. I am confident that we will bounce back``, said Pakistan coach Mushtaq Mohammed. Richie Richardson, the West Indies captain refused to make any predictions. ``Sri Lanka Pakistan have come here after a series, which ended in victory for Sri Lanka. So we will not be taking any of them lightly``, said Richardson. Source :: The Daily News (http://sri.lanka.net/lakehouse/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Match Report, 11 Oct 95 SRI LANKA EDGE OUT WINDIES Sri Lanka banked on their new-found confidence to snatch a dramatic six-run victory over the West Indies in the opening match of the Champions Trophy here on Wednesday. The Lankans, buoyant after their historic double in Pakistan earlier this month when they won both the Test and one- day series, kept their cool amid mounting pressure to earn full points in the three-nation tournament. Defending 234 for seven, the Sri Lankans faced defeat when the West Indians coasted to 192 for three, needing 43 in the last six overs to win. But spinners Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumara Dharmasena turned the match around in sensational fashion, grabbing five of the next six wickets for 34 runs to leave the West Indies strand- ed at 228 for nine. Left-armer Jayasuriya began the slide by taking two wickets in the 45th over, including skipper Richie Richardson, who made 67 in a third-wicket stand of 96 with Sherwin Campbell (86). Off-spinner Dharmasena removed Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ottis Gibson off successive deliveries in the 48th and later had Court- ney Browne stumped in the final over to signal West In- dies` defeat. In their next league match on Thursday, the Sri Lan- kans take on Pakistan, who were dealt a blow Wednesday when prem- ier all- rounder Wasim Akram confirmed he was pulling with a should- er injury. Akram will be replaced by medium-pacer Ata-ur-Rehman for the rest of the tournament. Sri Lanka`s innings revolved around a defiant 101 from opener Roshan Mahanama, who was named man of the match, and 58 off 54 balls by skipper Arjuna Ranatunga. Mahanama, who needed a runner after developing cramps in the 39th over, hit five boundaries and a six in his 152-ball innings. Fast bowler Ian Bishop was the most successful with three for 42, while Phil Simmons shone in the field with four catches. Source :: Sapa-AFP Contributed by Donald (eitan@rucus.ru.ac.za) ====> more Exciting victory for Sri Lanka - Bandula Molligoda Sri Lanka maintained their winning form beating the West Indies by 6 runs in the first Singer trophy three-nation tourney at the Sharjah stadium here today. Pakistan are the other nation taking part and they play Sri Lanka in the second game today. Chasing 235 for victory, West Indies required 12 runs off the last over bowled by Dharmasena. Off cutter Dharmasena obliged his skipper Ranatunga and only con- ceded five runs bagging the wicket of Ian Bishop in the process. West Indies could only manage 228. It was a grand victory for the Sri Lankans following their test series and one-day triumphs in Pakkistan. Of the bowlers, Dharmasena had three wickets and Jayasuriya two. Sri Lanka once again gave an excellent exhibition of fielding with Muralitheran and Jayasuriya outstanding. Kaluvitharana too excelled behind the wickets. When West Indies began their chase, they too lost an early wicket that of Phil Simmons at 13 - caught by Aravinda de Silva off Wickremasinghe. Simmons was out to a top edge for 5. The stylish Brian Lara then joined Campbell and took the Windies out of trouble adding 53 runs for the second wicket. When Lara looked like getting in to stride, he was unfortunate to be run out for 19. that was a wicket that the Lankans badly need- ed. Opener Campbell in the meantime was cementing the innings playing watchful cricket and scoring when the opportunity presented it- self. Joined by his skipper Richardson, they began to push the score along adding 97 vital runs for the third wicket. When Campbell looked like getting a three-figure score he tried to hit Muralitheran out of the ground and was well taken by Dhar- masena. He made 86 in 113 deliveries. Richardson in the meantime was going well, playing some exciting strokes which kept the scoreboard moving. Richardson looked like taking his side to victory, until Kaluwitharane whipped off the bails off Jayasuriya. He made 67. Jayasuriya struck in the same over getting rid of the gangling Roger Harper for 1 and the Windies were struggling at 192 for 5. Opener Roshan Mahanama came back into batting form striking a steady 101. He was out in the final over playing a tired shot to be caught by Simmons off paceman Ian Bishop. Mahanama started rather shakily and was slow at the start, but accelerated as his innings blossomed. He struck his fourth one- day three-figure score. Sri Lanka`s innings was really set alight by skipper Arjuna Rana- tunga who slammed an exciting 58 off 54 deliveries. Ranatunga joined Mahanama with Sri Lanka in a spot at 84 for 3 in the 28th over. The pair added 126 runs for the fourth wicket in 116 balls. Ranatunga was the more enterprising and hammered three boundaries and two massive sixes. The hits over the ropes were off Anthony and Simmons. Mahanama who developed cramps in the 39th over, required a runner. He hit 5 fours and a six. His 101 came in 152 balls. After the Mahanama - Ranatunga stand was broken, the West Indians struck back immediately claiming 4 wickets for 22 runs. Wicket keeper Kaluwitharane added a bit of spice to the innings knocking a six and a four before being run out for 11. Ian Bishop was the pick of the Windies bowlers with 3 for 42. Phil Simmons excelled as a fielder with four catches. The West Indians bowled as many as 20 wides. Bishop bowled 8 and Simmons and Gibson contributed 5 each. When West Indies began their reply Mahanama did not take to the field. Source :: The Daily News (http://sri.lanka.net/lakehouse/) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu)