[Videos] Chaminda Vaas | This is Cricket

The Chaminda Vaas Montage

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Gayle and his struggle against Vaas

For a batsman of his ability, the manner in which Gayle has been dominated by Vaas is amazing - seven dismissals for ten runs in all. Writes S Rajesh for Cricinfo.

"It's no secret. Yes, he has got me out the majority of times in Test cricket whenever I play against Sri Lanka." This was Chris Gayle's honest admission after West Indies lost the first Test against Sri Lanka in Guyana. The bowler he was referring to was Chaminda Vaas, who won the Man-of-the-Match award in the game and was probably the reason why Gayle dropped down to No. 6 in the batting order in the second innings.

For a batsman of his ability, the manner in which Gayle has been dominated by Vaas is amazing. It isn't only the fact that he has fallen to Vaas seven times in six Tests; all seven dismissals have come about early in his innings, in Vaas' first spell. In those seven innings, Gayle has scored a grand total of ten runs, and the last five dismissals have all been for ducks, over three different series.

Thanks largely to Vaas, Gayle averages a paltry 16.30 against Sri Lanka, and his unbeaten 51 in the second innings in Guyana was his first 50-plus score against them in 11 innings. His early departures have also meant he has hardly faced Muttiah Muralitharan in Tests: in all he has played 92 deliveries from Murali, 76 of which were during the course of his defiant innings at the Providence Stadium.

Though Gayle has been all at sea against Vaas, he hasn't necessarily struggled against all left-arm seam-and-swing bowlers - his overall average against them since July 2001 is a fairly reasonable 29.37, though it's still a fair way lower than his career average.

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[Video] Sanath Jayasuriya 253 Vs Pakistan | 2004

Cricinfo: Jayasuriya tore the bowling apart on his way to his third double-hundred, a wonderful 243, and almost single-handedly boosted the lead to a daunting 418. Fernando then prised out Pakistan's top four with subtle cutters and Sri Lanka's fightback, after playing catch-up for one-and-a-half days, was all but complete.

Of the 154 runs that Sri Lanka added this morning, Jayasuriya made 123. But unlike yesterday, when he was uncharacteristically subdued, he was back to his devastating best. He lost partners at regular intervals, as a middle-order collapse reduced them to 337 for 8, but his whirlwind 101-run partnership with Fernando - of which Fernando made just 1 - left the bowlers bruised and Pakistan's morale dented. Click to expand...

[Video] Sri Lanka vs West Indies 1st Test post match analysis

Courtesy powen001
From The Line & Length Cricket show, Barbados.

The West Indian fans question the low turn out at Guyana and ponder on why the wickets were made to suit the opposition(SL). Click to expand...

Sri Lanka's tour game scrapped due to flight problems

Cricinfo: Sri Lanka will have no practice game ahead of the second Test in Port of Spain from April 3 after the cancellation of their scheduled fixture against West Indies A in Tobago. The match was to be a three-day affair, starting on March 29, but the West Indies board said "flight problems" had led to it being scrapped. The visitors will instead practice in the nets at Tobago's Shaw Park.

Sri Lanka lead the two-match series 1-0 after securing their first Test win in the West Indies at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Wednesday. It has been a disrupted trip for Sri Lanka after heavy rain led to the tourists' opening practice game, against a Guyana President's Select XI, being shifted from Bourda to the Providence Stadium.

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[Video] Classic Catches | Muttiah Muralidaran Vs West Indies | 1st Test Guyana 2008

Spectacular catch by Murali during the 5th days play of the 1st Test match Vs West Indies | 27 MAR 2008

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[Video] West Indies v Sri Lanka, 1st Test - Day 5 | Guyana 2008

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2nd Session


3rd Session





5th day
Bulletin - Sri Lanka create history in the Caribbean
Audio - Michael Holding: Windies were lackadaisical
Gallery - Sri Lanka overcome spirited Windies
Quotes - Vaas stands tall to seal tight success
Quotes - Gayle looks to regroup

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[Video] West Indies v Sri Lanka, 1st Test - Day 4 | Guyana 2008

1st and 2nd session highlights

4th day

Bulletin - Sri Lanka hold advantage over spirited Windies

Gallery - Windies make promising start chasing 437

Quotes - "History says that it is possible to get a total like that"

Courtesy Cricinfo



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[Video] West Indies v Sri Lanka, 1st Test - Day 3 | Guyana 2008

2nd Session H/L


3rd Session H/L


West Indies 269 for 9 (Sarwan 80) trail Sri Lanka 476 for 8 by 207 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

3rd day
Bulletin - Efficient Sri Lanka maintain upper hand
Quotes - 'We would like more pace and bounce' - Sarwan

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[Video] Interview with Mahela | 1st test Sri Lanka Vs West Indies 2008

Tony Cozier chats with Mahela at the end of Day 2.
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[Video] Hong Kong Cricket Sixes | Sri Lanka Vs All Stars

Hong Kong cricket sixes 2007 Final (I)
Uploaded by Cricket-Fans

Hong Kong cricket sixes 2007 Final (II)
Uploaded by Cricket-Fans

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Windies fans feel the absence of Lasith Malinga

Ceylon Daily News: Walking out of the National Stadium after the drawn game between Sri Lanka and a Guyana Cricket Board President’s Eleven team I was confronted by a group of Guyanese cricket enthusiasts who noticed me sporting a Sri Lanka Cricket tee shirt.

‘You playing for Sri Lanka’, asked one of them in the group. ‘My playing days were long over’, I said, laughing to myself.

‘Hey mann, where is that mann Malinga? asked another in the group. I said is it Malinga Bandara? ‘No, no mann. That guy with the weired hair do and the peculiar slinging action. Oh, is it Lasith Malinga? That de guy’, they all shouted.

‘He didn’t play in this game. Is he being rested for the Test match’, they queried.

I said: ‘No my friends, he has been emitted due to injury and is not in the squad’, I said much to their disappointment.

‘Mann, when Malinga was here he took 4 in 4, you remember’, they asked. I said I was at the scene of action that day and lapped up every moment of that 4 in 4 blast, in the World Cup game at this venue, against South Africa, and described it to my newspaper.

‘We were all waiting to see that mann in action. He has a big following here. We are all very disappointed mann’, they lamented.

While talking to the group, who were the very friendly type, some of them in the group were imitating Lasith Malinga’s bowling action and weren’t they enjoying it.

‘You know mann, we have some bowlers playing here, who are imitating Maligna’s action, hoping that we too can take 4 in 4. We are very upset that he is not here!.

‘When you get back, tell Malinga that we missed him and would be waiting to see him play here when Sri Lanka tours. Give him our regards and tell him we missed him’, they shouted in unison before wishing me and the Sri Lanka team good luck.

With Sri Lanka playing the first Digicel Test on the same venue The National stadium, where Lasith Malinga produced his heroics, it is worth recalling those magical moments to Sri Lankans.

It would not have been very many Sri Lankans who would have been awake watching that spell from Malinga, other than for the diehard supporters, because Malinga’s effort was in the wee hours of the morning in Sri Lanka.

This is how it went. With the South Africans cruising to victory, skipper Mahela Jayawardena tossed the ball to Malinga and probably said: ‘Make the ball talk’. And Malinga did not disappoint his skipper. he made the ball more than talk, as he performed a cricketing bowling miracle to send four South African batsmen hurring back to the pavilion and promising Sri Lanka a victory from the jaws of defeat.

Wicket number one was when he shattered Shaun Pollock’s stumps with a well disguised slow yorker. Wicket number two was Andrew Hall top edging a catch to Upul Tharanga, Wicket number three was Jacques Kallis who going for a big drive, snicked to Sangakkara who took a brilliant diving catch. Players gathered from everywhere to hug and congratulate Malinga on his hat-trick.

Malinga them kissed the ball and with the crowd urging him on, ran in and delivered a toe crushing yorker to Makaya Nitini who could do nothing but hear the rattle of his timber. Malinga would have had 5 in 5. But his next delivery to Robin Peterson missed the wicket by a coat of varnish. How that ball missed hitting the wicket only the ball and the wicket could tell.

With two runs for victory, Chaminda Vaas the ever reliable came on and bowled an excellent maiden over.

With many hearts skipping a beat and with spectators standing up and wildly cheering the bowler, Malinga let fly another of his famed yorkers. It looked another wicket taking delivery. But luck was with last man Pieterson as he jabbed down at the last moment for the ball to hit the bottom edge and fly to the third man boundary, to signal a victory for the Proteas and a travesty of justice defeat for the gutty Lankans.

Malinga’s 4 in 4 was the first in World Cup cricket and it will stay that way for a long, long time to come. Georgetown, Guyana, Thursday

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[Video] Basnahira North v Wayamba | 2008

Basnahira North 298 for 6 (Dissanayake 88*, Peiris 77, Gunawardene 73, Mendis 4-50) beat Wayamba 198 (Mubarak 57, Pushpakumara 3-37, Vaas 2-22) by 100 runs
Scorecard

After raking up 298 in their alloted 50 overs, Basnahira North's bowlers dismissed Wayamba for 198 to complete a comprehensive 100-run win at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Chaminda Vaas, the Basnahira North captain, opted to bat, and his batsmen capitalised. Avishka Gunawardene's 73 off 62 deliveries set the tone at the top of the order, before Ruwin Peiris and Shanuka Dissanayake added 120 runs for the fifth wicket after Ajantha Mendis had struck three times to leave Basnahira North at 105 for 4 after 20.1 overs.

Peiris also perished to Mendis for 77, but Dissanayake stayed until the end as his team finished with 298 for 6. Dissanayake scored 88, while Mendis bagged 4 for 50. Farveez Maharoof was expensive, returning 0 for 74 runs off his ten overs.

Wayamba's chase came apart in the first over as Vaas struck twice to leave them struggling at 0 for 2. From then on Wayamba were never in the hunt. Jehan Mubarak top scored with 57, but the bowlers picked up wickets regularly to stifle the chase.

Gayan Wijekoon bagged two wickets while offspinner Muthumudalige Pushpakumara removed three late-order batsmen as Wayamba were bowled out for 198. The win put Basnahira North at the top of the points table, with a maximum of ten points from their two games.

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Ten Sports to bring Live telecast of Sri Lanka’s Caribbean tour

Cricket is back on the television menu, what with the ICL tournament underway and the upcoming IPL tournament, Future Cup, India-SA Test series and Sri Lanka-West Indies series. Whipping some more cricket fever, Taj TV’s Ten Sports will telecast Live Sri Lanka’s tour of the Caribbean this month. Sri Lanka and West Indies would play two Test matches and three ODIs.

Ten Sports had recently renewed its partnership with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for another five years to distribute television coverage of all cricket sports that would be played in the West Indies between 2008 and 2012. Also, Ten Sports has the broadcasting right to the Middle-East and South-East Asia, and would also distribute the events worldwide, with the exception of the UK, Ireland and the Caribbean.

The first Test match would commence from March 22, while the ODI matches would commence from April 10.

Ten Sports is available in over 50 million cable and satellite homes worldwide. The channel broadcasts cricket from Sharjah, West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the Indian Sub-continent and Asia, as well as to the US and Canada (Cricket Plus), the Middle-East and North Africa.

Ten Sports also owns the exclusive rights in its Sub-continent territories for the WWE, the UEFA Champions League, the US Open and Hockey World Cup.
© exchange4media 2008
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[Video] Line and Length Cricket Show | Barbados

FLASHBACK: Sri Lanka Vs West Indies | June 20th 2003

Courtesy powen001

The Line and Length Cricket Show from Barbados, SL VS WI 1st Test preview.



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Why have the Windies humiliated Sri Lanka?

The Island (LK): Sri Lanka ‘s encounter with the West Indies is that of a rejected lover. For years, Sri Lankan fans have venerated the West Indian legends ranging from Constantine to Lara. In the pre-test years, cameo appearances in Ceylon by the West Indies were an integral part of the folklore. Old-timers such as Berty Wijesinghe spoke in superlatives when describing the six that Sir Frank Worrell hit out of the Colombo Oval during his monumental 285 in 1951. When Sir Gary Sobers was coaxed into coaching Sri Lanka in the early days of test cricket, his arrival was treated as though it was the second arrival of the messiah.

Sadly, the West Indies has treated Sri Lanka with arrogant disdain. In the 26 years of test cricket, Sri Lanka has played only four tests in the West Indies. In the same period, New Zealand a team that has consistenty ranked below Sri Lanka in the ICC rankings has played eight tests there. The West Indies have lost five tests in a row in Sri Lanka and can hardly afford such condescension. To add insult to injury, the West Indian board even took the hostile step of withdrawing from the 1996 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka on flimsy security considerations, possibly to curry favour with the Australian board.



Travesty

The two visits that Sri Lanka has made to the Caribbean have been low-key affairs, where Sri Lanka was treated shabbily and subjected to the misnomer of a two-test series. On both occassions, Sri Lanka were the guinea pigs on debut venues – St. Vincent in 1997 and St. Lucia in 2003. Both these islands are specks in the Atlantic Ocean , with pathetic cricket facilities. It is a travesty that the World Cup runner-up that has the world’s highest ranked batsman (Sangakkara) and bowler (Muralitharan) has been given just two tests. Perhaps, the attitute of the West Indian board suffers from a post-colonial complex, where teams such as New Zealand , South Africa and England are higher in their pecking order. The callous approach of the Windies board is in contrast to the popularity that the Sri Lankan team enjoys throughout the islands. With the early exit of the home team in the 07 World Cup, Sri Lanka were without doubt the favored team. Apart from Jayasuriya’s cavalier hitting, Lasith Malinga’s freakish action and his unique feat of four wickets in four balls placed Sri Lanka on a pedestal in the Carribbean.

Aussie Debacle

This series will take place with Sri Lanka struggling to shrug off the indignities of the Australian tour. Mahela Jayawardene, who presided over one of the country’s worst ODI forays in recent years, will be anxious to bury the past. The scoreline of 2 wins, 5 losses and an abandoned game does not do justice to the meek manner in which the batsmen performed. At times, the batting was a throwback to the country’s dark days as a minnow. Sanath Jayasuriya, the patron saint of opening, failed repeatedly. The rest of the batting, except the ruling duo of Jayawardene and Sangakkara, was inept. The worst offender was Chamara Silva, a dynamic middle-order batsmen who starred in 2007 World Cup campaign. Silva failed to reach fifty in the tournament. While the bowling delivered, the fielding was timid and at times embarassing.

Murali looms Large

But the test tour of West Indies is not only in another continent, but also the cricket will be far removed from ODIs in Australia. As is the custom, the exalted Muttiah Muralitharan will loom large over his opponents.With 70 wickets against the West Indies at an awesome average of 17 a piece, the home side will fear Murali. They will face him without his nemesis Brian Lara for the first time in the West Indies. Ominously, the matches will be played in Georgetown and Port-of-Spain, venues where test cricket’s highest wicket-taker had robust success in the World Cup. Muralitharan will be touring the Windies as a geriatric in a youthful side. Mentally and tactically, he is as good a bowler as he has ever been. However, at almost 36 his shoulder is faltering. For the first time in his career, his famed accuracy seems to be deserting him when under pressure. This was apparent in the Australian test series, when he had meagre returns of 4 for 400. Nonetheless, the brittle West Indian batting should be wary of underestimating Murali. None of them have scored centuries against him. Murali will be heartened by the naming of left-armer Rangana Herath as his spin partner. The tiny Herath has a proud record of 555 first-class wickets, which places him head and shoulders above other Sri Lankan spin aspirants. Injuries to Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando deprives Sri Lanka of their fastest and most penetrative seamers. However, the reserve strength of Ishara Amerasinghe and Thilan Thurshara Mirando are more than capable of aiding Vaas. Both Amerasinghe and Mirando have a long record of success in domestic cricket and will be anxious to reverse frustration of being neglected.

Gayle’s Inept Leadership

Happily for Sri Lanka, captaincy is one of the many causes for turmoil in the host’s cricket. In the past few seasons, the West Indian administrators have conjured a merry-go-round of the captaincy between Chanderpaul, Sarwan, Gayle and Bravo. Gayle has been named captain for this series, but he is as indisciplined a captain as he is an attacking batsmen. There are dark rumours of his unpopularity, which may worsen with reports that he will prefer to skip the Australian tour in favour of the IPL. The feeble West Indian bowlers will find it hard to contain the Sangakkara-Jayawardene duo. The senior pair have outstanding shot selection and reserves of patience. Their form will determine the team’s fate. Above all, they should be aware that nothing short of a series win will erase the humiliation of a two test tour. Click to expand...

Warnapura fires again in drawn tour match

Cricinfo: Sri Lankans 492 for 5 dec and 177 for 6 (Warnapura 50, Bishoo 3-25) drew with Guyana President's XI 248.

Malinda Warnapura enhanced his chances of opening in the first Test by adding a second-innings half-century to his first-innings 132 in Sri Lanka's tour match in Guyana. Sri Lanka reached 177 for 6, with an overall lead of 421 over the Guyana President's XI (GPS), when the captains agreed to end the match at tea on the third day.

Scorecard

Warnapura retired out for the second time in the game and his success means he has a strong chance of partnering Michael Vandort at the top of the Test order. His 93-ball innings featured seven fours but none of the other specialist batsmen made full use of the second innings.

Prasanna Jayawardene chipped in with 36 and Chaminda Vaas finished unbeaten on 40 as the legspinner Davendra Bishoo picked up three middle-order wickets. Bishoo, 22, has only one first-class match to his name, but he proved his worth with 3 for 25, including Mahela Jayawardene caught without scoring.

Bishoo was the only bowler to have success in the second session after the fast bowler Jason Dawes grabbed two victims before lunch. Vandort did not have the ideal lead-up to the Test, bowled by Dawes for 1 to add to his first-innings 29.

Dawes, who was a member of West Indies' Under-19 World Cup side last month, had struggled with a leg strain in the first innings and bowled only 13 balls. However, he powered through 15 overs on the third day to finish with 2 for 36 after having Kumar Sangakkara (17) caught at sip.

GPS were without their captain Patrick Browne, who was resting a sore knee, and Kemar Roach, who had an upset stomach. Rajindra Chandrika and Sharmarh Brooks shared the duties behind the stumps in Browne's absence and Brooks even registered a stumping when Prasanna Jayawardene was caught short off Bishoo.

The first Test between Sri Lanka and West Indies starts at Guyana's Providence Stadium on Saturday. A further tour match against West Indies A follows, ahead of the second Test in Trinidad. Click to expand...

Pakistan urge Sri Lanka to fill Australia gap

Khaleej Times Online: Pakistan are appealing to Sri Lanka to help fill their scheduling gap after Australia shelved a planned tour over security fears, an official said on Wednesday.

Pakistan want Sri Lanka to visit in the second half of April after Bangladesh agreed to play earlier in the month. Australia were due to tour from March 29 to April 29.

“Sri Lankan Board’s president Arjuna Ranatunga is coming to Pakistan on Thursday and I hope that he will agree to send his team for a one-day series,” Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf told AFP.

Bangladesh will play five one-day matches next month here, Ashraf added. Sri Lanka are touring the West Indies until April 15.

Ashraf also brushed off doubts over Pakistan’s hosting of the ICC Champions Trophy in September and the Asia Cup in June and July.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday confirmed Pakistan will host the elite Champions Trophy from September 11-28. But it named Sri Lanka as an alternative venue in case Pakistan is not cleared on security issues.

“ICC is sending an advanced party to Pakistan on Thursday which will assess facilities and security in Pakistan and we hope to host the event in a befitting manner,” Ashraf said.

Separately, an Asian Cricket Council delegation is in Pakistan and will announce the dates and venues for the Asian Cup in Lahore on Thursday.

“We have unequivocal confirmation from Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong to come for the Asia Cup,” said Ashraf.

Ashraf also said he held meetings with Cricket Australia (CA) chief Creagh O’Conner in Dubai and hoped that the postponed Australia series will be rescheduled very soon.

CA has invited the PCB chairman to visit Australia to fix new dates for the tour. Australia’s tour had been in doubt for months amid questions about security following a series of major blasts and serious political upheaval.

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Sri Lanka batsmen blast Guyana attack

Ceylon Daily News: Sri Lanka began their tour of the Caribbean with an impressive note as they amassed a commanding 343 for 5 at close on day one of their three-day tour opener against Guyana President's Select XI at Providence Stadium here yesterday.

Sri Lanka in search of a permanent opener in the absence of Sanath Jayasuriya, has some early prospects as Malintha Warnapura made a great start with an unbeaten century.

Opener Warnapura who made 132 before he was forced to retire hurt, showed signs of a matured batsman as he occupied the crease for 242 minutes during his 184-ball knock which included one six and 14 boundaries. Writes Elmo from Guyana for The Ceylon Daily news.

Warnapura shared a 115-run first wicket partnership with Michael Vandort, who made 29. Their fruitful alliance came to an end when Vandort bowled by leg spinner Daven