Category: Sports
Sri Lanka ponder life after golden generation
COLOMBO, August 20, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka are banking on young talent to see them through a transitional phase in Test cricket despite the departure of one batting great, another approaching retirement and an ageing spinner in the ranks. Former captain Mahela Jayawardene, who ended his 17-year Test career on Monday following the 2-0 […]
” prompted Test retirement
COLOMBO, August 18, 2014 (AFP) – Mahela Jayawardene Monday said a “gut feeling” prompted him to quit Test cricket as he turned his attention to one last World Cup campaign after near-misses in 2007 and 2011.The modest former Test captain, one of only five batsmen to top 11,000 runs in both Test and one-day cricket, […]
Gentleman Jayawardene, the elegant run-machine
COLOMBO, August 18, 2014 (AFP) – One of the game’s most elegant stroke-makers, Mahela Jayawardene, enjoyed a fitting farewell to Test cricket at his home ground as Sri Lanka completed a 2-0 series sweep against Pakistan on Monday.Few cricketers exemplified the spirit of the game better than the gentlemanly 37-year-old, though his pleasant demeanour hid […]
Pakistan must score 271 to ruin Jayawarde
COLOMBO, August 17, 2014 (AFP) – Pakistan were set a target of 271 to record a series-levelling win in the second Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday and ruin the retiring Mahela Jayawardene’s farewell party. The hosts, trailing by 12 runs on the first innings, were bowled out for 282 in their second knock just […]
Cricket: Sri Lanka prosper as Herath wrecks Pakistan again
COLOMBO, August 17, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka stepped closer to giving former captain Mahela Jayawardene a winning farewell after Rangana Herath skittled Pakistan once more in the second Test in Colombo on Sunday.Pakistan, set a series-levelling target of 271 runs, slumped to 50-5 before plodding to 127-7 by stumps on the fourth day at […]
Cricket: Fired-up Pakistan rattle Sri Lanka in second Test
COLOMBO, August 14, 2014 (AFP) – Mahela Jayawardene scored four streaky runs in his last Test as Pakistan’s bowlers dismantled Sri Lanka’s first innings at the start of the second and final match in Colombo on Thursday.“For us seamers to take so many wickets on a dead wicket like this is fantastic,” said the 24-year-old […]
Sri Lanka bat against Pakistan in second Test
COLOMBO, August 14, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and elected to bat in the second Test against Pakistan in Colombo on Thursday, the final one for the home team’s retiring Mahela Jayawardene.Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Richard Illingworth (ENG) TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS) Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM) […]
Cricket: Sri Lanka beat the rain to down Pakistan in first Test
GALLE, August 10, 2014 (AFP) – Retiring Mahela Jayawardene took on the unusual role of opening batsman to hand Sri Lanka a thrilling seven-wicket victory on the final day of the first Test against Pakistan in Galle on Sunday.– ‘Dropped catches cost us badly’ – Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq rued the missed chances on the […]
Cricket: Pakistan 347-5 in first Test vs Sri Lanka
GALLE, August 7, 2014 (AFP) – Younis Khan was unbeaten on 171 as Pakistan moved to 347-5 in their first innings by lunch on the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Thursday.Resuming at the overnight total of 261-4, Khan and Asad Shafiq took their fifth-wicket stand to 137 before […]
Pakistan bat against Sri Lanka in first Test
GALLE, August 6, 2014 (AFP) – Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Wednesday.The start was delayed by 30 minutes due to a wet outfield caused by overnight rain.Bad weather has been forecast on all five days of the Test. Both […]
Cricket: Sri Lanka, Pakistan gear for Jayawardene finale
GALLE, August 4, 2014 (AFP) – Hosts Sri Lanka hope to give retiring former captain Mahela Jayawardene a winning farewell when they take on Pakistan for a sixth Test series in as many years from Wednesday.The elegant right-hander, sixth in the all-time scorers’ list with 11,671 runs in 147 Tests since his debut in 1997, […]
Cricket: Spinners bowled their hearts out, says Mathews
COLOMBO, July 28, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews on Monday lavished praise on his ace spinners for nearly winning his team the second Test against South Africa with a lion-hearted effort.The hosts were agonisingly close to victory, having taken eight wickets in the second innings, but South Africa’s tailenders hung on to […]