Sri Lanka Cricket gets new sponsor
7 hours ago
COLOMBO (AFP) — Sri Lanka's second largest mobile phone operator has agreed to a three-year deal worth nearly five million dollars to sponsor the island's cricket team, Sri Lanka Cricket said.
Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel takes over as main sponsor of the national team from April.
The team is currently sponsored by Malaysia's Dialog Telekom, in a deal worth 89,000 dollars for a three-month period that ends in March.
Sri Lanka's national team includes Test and one-day cricket's leading wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan.
Sri Lanka Cricket called for fresh bids for a long-term sponsor in January after the national team failed to attract backers because of the ongoing economic slowdown in the country, Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge said.
Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel had offered the highest bid of 4.85 million dollars, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.
"Current sponsors Dialog Telekom and National Development Bank were also among the bidders," the statement said Thursday.
The previous team sponsor, Sri Lanka's Dilmah Tea, paid two million dollars over a three-year period.
The Sri Lankan team, led by outgoing captain Mahela Jayawardene, leaves for Pakistan on Saturday for a two-Test series, which begins on February 21
Muralitharan claims record 503rd 1-day wicket
Top Test wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan claimed a world record 503rd one-day international victim but finished on the losing side against India in Colombo on ThursdaySri Lanka star Muralitharan nudged ahead of Wasim Akram in the record books by dismissing Gautam Gambhir whose sparkling 150 was the foundation for India's 67-run victory at the Premadasa Stadium.
India have the chance of a 5-0 series whitewash when the sides meet again on Sunday after Sri Lanka faltered after being set a 332 victory target.
They were all out for 265 -- Kumar Sangakkara top-scored with 56 -- after play was temporarily halted when skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni led India off after one of his players was reportedly hit by a missile thrown from the crowd.
Dhoni earlier hit 94 as India -- they rested Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan -- set a formidable challenge Gambhir's career-best one-day return coming off 147 balls and including 14 fours and a six.
Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya put on a quickfire 55 in reply before wickets began to tumble.
The end came after Irfan Pathan dismissed Farveez Maharoof and Muralitharan with successive balls in the 43rd over, Praveen Kumar wrapping up the win
Dilshan reached his fifty when he firmly drove Sharma past point for his sixth four. He also hit a boundary and a six off the next two balls before falling in the same over.
Jayasuriya went for big shots from the beginning, pulling Sharma for a boundary and then lofting over the covers and mid-wicket for two sixes in the same over.
His 18-ball knock ended when Sharma held a one-handed catch at mid-on off seamer Irfan.
The run-rate declined after Jayasuriya's dismissal as only 26 came in the next five overs, with spinners Yusuf and Jadeja bowling tightly.
Yusuf struck in his third over when he held a return catch to dismiss Mubarak (13). He took his second wicket in his next over when he had Chamara Kapugedera caught by Sehwag at point.
Sri Lanka scored 50 runs in the closing five overs, with Dilshan and Chamara Silva (21 not out) doing the bulk of the scoring.
"I thought a total of 171 was defendable," said Dilshan.
"We started well and picked some early wickets, but Yusuf and Irfan played really well. We also conceded too many extras."
Leg-spinner Malinga Bandara (3-32) raised visions of a Sri Lankan victory when he dismissed well-set Suresh Raina (35), Dhoni (13) and Ravindra Jadeja (five).
But the Pathan brothers shattered the hosts' dream with their bold stroke-making on a flat track in the day-night match.
Raina and Yuvraj Singh (32) propped up the innings when they added 67 runs off seven overs for the third wicket after openers Gautam Gambhir (13) and Virender Sehwag (one) had fallen in the opening two overs.
Yuvraj hit two sixes and three fours in his 21-ball knock before he was caught by wicket-keeper Dilshan while attempting to cut off-spinner Jehan Mubarak.
Sri Lanka got off to a brisk start after winning the toss as Sanath Jayasuriya (33) and Dilshan added 53 off just five overs.
Dilshan, dropped by Irfan at mid-off off paceman Zaheer Khan, held the innings together before falling in the 17th over.
The Sri Lankan captain cracked one six and seven fours in his 47-ball knock before being caught by Raina at mid-off while attempting a big shot off paceman Ishant Sharma.
Brothers Irfan and Yusuf Pathan plundered 59 runs off 25 balls as world champions India posted a thrilling three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the one-off Twenty20 international match here on Tuesday.
India were struggling at 115-7 chasing a 172-run target before the Pathan duo steered their side home with four balls to spare in the first-ever Twenty20 game in Sri Lanka.
Yusuf, who had earlier taken two wickets with his off-spin, remained unbeaten with a 10-ball 22 with the help of two sixes and one boundary. He was named man of the match for his all-round display.
His younger brother Irfan finished the match when he swung paceman Lasith Malinga over mid-wicket for a six. He cracked two sixes and as many boundaries in his 16-ball 33 not out.
"There are a lot of youngsters in our team and stiff matches like these are a great learning experience. Their spinners bowled really well and made our batsmen struggle," said India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Sri Lanka skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan (61) earlier smashed a maiden half-century to help his side set a challenging target after being dropped in the opening over. He had yet to open his account at that stage.
