Category: Sports

GALLE, July 30, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene says his team is well-prepared for India’s expected fight-back in the second Test starting here on Thursday.The hosts outplayed India in all departments of the game in the opening match of the three-Test series in Colombo, winning by an innings and 239 runs on […]

NEW DELHI, July 29, 2008 (AFP) – India travel to the Olympics without their trademark field hockey team, but determined to prove they will not compete at Beijing just to make up the numbers. The hockey stars, India’s flag-bearers at past Olympics despite winning the last of their eight gold medals way back in 1980, […]

GALLE, July 29, 2008 (AFP) – India’s batting reputation will be at stake when they attempt to solve Sri Lanka’s spin puzzle in the second Test starting here on Thursday.The tourists collapsed twice in the opening match of the three-Test series in Colombo, losing by an innings and 239 runs on Saturday. Sri Lankan spinners […]

BEIJING, July 28, 2008 (AFP) – China is on the brink of becoming the most dominant sporting power in the world, with expectations running high that they will bounce the United States from the top of the Olympic medal table.At Athens four years ago, China finished with 32 gold, 17 silver and 14 bronze medals […]

July 27, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis said that team-mate Muttiah Muralitharan played a key role in his success against India in his debut Test here. Mendis took eight wickets in the match as Sri Lanka thrashed India by an innings and 239 runs to gain a 1-0 lead in the three-Test […]

July 26, 2008 (AFP) – Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis made a mockery of India’s strong batting reputation as Sri Lanka won the opening Test by a record innings and 239 runs here on Saturday.But Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene requested the officials to review the decisions under a new experimental rule and they changed […]

BEIJING, July 26, 2008 (AFP) – “What is that?” asked a surprised and intrigued local resident as he looked at the missiles deployed near the main Olympic stadia in Beijing.Retired 55-year-old Ji Xiu had taken advantage of the new number six bus route to cross from her home on the opposite side of Beijing with […]

July 25, 2008 (AFP) – Tillakaratne Dilshan completed a century as Sri Lanka posted a massive 552-6 in their first innings at lunch on the third day of the opening Test against India here on Friday. The middle-order batsman (102 not out) reached his fifth Test hundred in the last over before the break when […]

BEIJING, July 25, 2008 (AFP) – Its ancient city walls were demolished decades ago, but with the Olympic Games fast approaching Beijing is raising a new defence that is echoing those long-gone fortifications.The capital has gone into fortress mode for next month’s Games, with police checkpoints choking road traffic into Beijing, tightened security across the […]

July 25, 2008 (AFP) – Muttiah Muralitharan triggered India’s collapse with four quick wickets to boost Sri Lanka’s hopes of enforcing a follow-on in the third Test here on Friday. The wily off-spinner grabbed 4-38 as India struggled to reach 159-6 in their first innings at stumps on the third day in reply to Sri […]

July 24, 2008 (AFP) – Malinda Warnapura completed an impressive century to help Sri Lanka reach 205-2 in their first innings at lunch on the second day of the opening Test against India here on Thursday.The left-handed opener reached his second Test hundred in five matches when he cut fast bowler Ishant Sharma for his […]

July 24, 2008 (AFP) – Mahela Jayawardene equalled former Australian legend Don Bradman’s record of nine centuries at one venue to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position in the opening Test against India here on Thursday. Skipper Jayawardene cracked a stylish 136 to help his side post 422-4 in the first innings at stumps […]