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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday March 18, 2016
Sri Lanka see off Afghanistan challenge DEFENDING champions Sri Lanka produced a strong batting display to see off a spirited Afghanistan side and claim victory in their World Twenty20 opener. Captain Asghar Stanikzai’s 62 from 47 balls had fired the underdogs to 153-7, having been 51-4 with nine overs left. But Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 83 after a solid opening with Dinesh Chandimal, while some poor fielding helped Sri Lanka reach their target in Kolkata. The 2014 winners have struggled of late but won with seven balls to spare.
STANIKZAI SHINES FOR UNDERDOGS Afghanistan, coached by former Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq, reached the Super10 with three wins out of three in the first round, including a 59-run victory over closest competitors Zimbabwe. The Central Asian side only began playing Twenty20 internationals against ICC members in 2010, and are ranked ninth in the world, one behind Sri Lanka. One of their most impressive performers in qualification was Mohammad Shahzad, but here the opening batsman was out cheap-
ly, top-edging an Angelo Mathews delivery to Dushmantha Chameera having made eight runs from 12 balls. From there it looked as though Sri Lanka would go on to force a critical advantage, with Rangana Herath claiming two wickets as three batsmen fell for just 15 runs and Afghanistan slumped to 51-4. But then step forward Stanikzai and Samiullah Shenwari, who scored five sixes between them to move Afghanistan forward at an impressive rate in a vital partnership of 61. Even with Shenwari out
for 31 from 14 balls, Stanikzai continued to bat superbly. The highlight of his highest T20 international total was a soaring six off Thisara Perera as Afghanistan scored 106 off their last 10 overs. CHAMPIONS RE-GAINING THEIR FORM? Sri Lanka were crowned champions in Bangladesh in 2014 but have since had to rebuild their Twenty20 squad following the retirements of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. They won just one of four matches at the Asia Cup in the build-up to the tour-
nament - against the United Arab Emirates - but remain the best-performing team at the World Twenty20 since its inception in 2007, now with 22 wins from 32 matches. Here they were also missing Lasith Malinga, the fourth most prolific wicket-taker in Twenty20 internationals, who was not fit to play, and their best performances came with the bat. Openers Dilshan and Chandimal steamed ahead with a partnership of 41, the former delighting the crowd with his trademark scoop shot before the latter was out cheaply, caught at mid-wicket. After Thirimanne fell to
17-year-old Rashid Khan the second youngest player to appear at a World T20 after Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir - Thisara was moved up the order and made 12 before being run-out at 85-3. At that stage the Afghans might well have believed they were still in with a fighting chance, but Dilshan continued to score and several errors in the field allowed boundaries to seep through and relieve any pressure. And fittingly it was 39-year-old Dilshan who secured the win with a boundary to square leg, the final flourish in his third highest international Twenty20 total.
England must forget loss to Windies
GuyOil supports GMR&SC, racers
JOS Buttler has urged England to focus all their energies on a crucial World T20 meeting with South Africa and the dangerous AB de Villiers. England knows they cannot afford to dwell on a tournament-opening defeat to West Indies as they prepare to face South Africa at the World Twenty20. A spectacular unbeaten hundred from Chris Gayle ensured the Windies eased to a target of 183 in Nagpur on Wednesday. As a result, Eoin Morgan’s side already have a stiff task on their hands to progress from the Super10 phase, with only two semi-final places available in each five-team group. However, England were beaten in their opening match at the 2010 World T20 – a tournament they went on to win – and wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler is eager to remain positive ahead of today’s meeting with the Proteas in Mumbai. “If we lose one game and win five in a row and win the World Cup, we’d be happy with that,” said Buttler. “We just have to park that game (against
THE Guyana Oil Company GuyOil yesterday delivered on its promise to the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) as well as individual racers by
West Indies). We know it’s gone now. To advance in this tournament we need to focus all our energy on the next game.” South Africa will be playing their first match at the tournament and can take confidence from winning each of the two home T20s they played against England in February. DE VILLIERS THE DANGERMAN After suffering at the hands of one batting superstar in Gayle, England would appear to have reason to fear AB de Villiers this time around. In addition to thrashing 71 from 29 balls as the Proteas hammered England in Johannesburg last month, de Villiers has produced sensational innings in his last two visits to the Wankhede Stadium. Having struck 133 not out from just 59 deliveries for Royal Challengers Bangalore in an Indian Premier League fixture in May 2015, de Villiers made a 61-ball 119 to help South Africa post 438-4 in an October one-day international against India in Mumbai.
By Stephan Sookram
Street head office, the company, through acting General Manager Reggie Bhagwandin, expressed its commitment to the sport as well as the drivers, calling on them to represent the brand with pride, adding “may the best team win”.
GuyOil managers and representatives stand with the drivers for a photo opportunity. (Adrian Narine photo) handing over sponsorship cheques. The company handed over an undisclosed sum to the GMR&SC for race sponsorship during this weekend’s first national Race of Champions at the South Dakota Circuit and also presented funding to the five group one racers - Daniel Deokie, Paul Jiwanram, Azzad Hassan, Troy Muir and Sharima Khan. During a brief ceremony at its Camp
The cheques were presented by Castrol Brand Manager Seon Daniels as well as Marketing Assistant Sharvin Robertson in the presence of other managers. Apart from GuyOil, GTT and Fly Jamaica are also on board for this weekend’s races. Admission has been set at $500 per child and $1 000 per adult. Race time is 09:30hrs.
GCB engages Minister of Tourism on Tri-series and other partnerships
A GUYANA Cricket Board (GCB) delegation consisting of president Drubahadur, secretary Anand Sanasie, Marketing manager Rajendra Singh and TDO Colin Stuart held discussions with the Minister of Tourism, Catherine Hughes, regarding the June 2016 ODI Tri-series featuring Australia, South Africa and West Indies, among other partnerships. A release from the GCB yesterday stated that the team met with Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Donald Sinclair, and
Minister Hughes. The gathering examined possible undertakings that would boost Guyana’s Tourism industry and complement the GCB’s activities during these cricket events on the calendar for 2016 and beyond. Minster Hughes was particularly excited about the ODI Tri-series in early June since it would be an opportunity for Guyana to further showcase its Tourism packages as it follows very shortly after Guyana’s 50th independence celebration.
She explained that the short time span would allow for easy airline and hotel accommodation and possibly encourage visitors already in Guyana to remain for the matches. Matches are scheduled for June 3, June 5 and June 7. This series would be the first where Guyana would be hosting more than two international teams at the same time since the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup. “Further, the first leg of the series would be played in Guyana, giving us a significant amount of days to host
visitors - a distinct advantage for our Tourism industry” the GCB release said. Strategies and ideas were discussed between the delegations and how best to promote and market these events on a joint basis. It is expected that the WICB would be having their next Board of Directors meeting in Guyana during that Tri Series tournament. The minister was also enlightened on the GCB-organised cricket festival, April 29 and 30, in observance of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee Independence celebrations.
The festival is a T20 one and would feature teams from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. Minister Hughes said she was willing to work along with the GCB for the promotion of the event. The GCB officials sought other partnerships between the GCB and the Tourism Ministry. Minister Hughes was optimistic that these ventures can be realised; noting that they were definitely stimulating ideas which were indeed positive and exciting that her Ministry can embrace.
The Secretary of the GCB also took the opportunity to present a copy of the recent Economic Impact Assessment study that was conducted by an independent firm on the tour of England to the Caribbean in 2015. The minister shared some statistics regarding the value and importance of tourism to the economy of several states and acknowledged the growing importance of sports tourism to our country and the need for diversification from our traditional products.