26
GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 19, 2013
PM Mitchell wants stadium finished ahead of deadline
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) - Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell has asked Chinese constructors to push to see if that country’s remodelled football and athletic stadium could be finished early in 2015. The construction project has a completion date by the summer of that year, but Prime Minister Mitchell hopes that the country’s inter-college athletic games will be staged there early in 2015. The annual games, which unearthed Olympic champion Kirani James is staged just before Easter each year. The next edition of the Inter-College Games in 2014 is expected to be staged on the grass tracks at the cricket stadium while the facility is under construction. “I know the Chinese workers work miracles. So
Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell (middle) and other officials at the sod-turning ceremony while we talk 15 months I am looking forward to it being done within a year and I will
tell you why,” Dr Mitchell said during a sod-turning ceremony on Tuesday.
“While we await the CARIFTA games in 2016, I will love to see the secondary
Pakistan pulls off sensational win over Sri Lanka in first ODI MOHAMMAD Hafeez returned to his best one-day form with a gritty 122 off 129 balls as Pakistan pulled off a sensational 11-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first oneday international. Hafeez’s seventh ODI century with seven fours and four sixes was well assisted by half-centuries from Sohaib Maqsood (73) and debutant opener Sharjeel Khan (61) in what appeared to be a strong Pakistan total of 322-5. Sri Lanka were tottering at 221-7 but Seekkuge Prasanna (42) and Sachithra Senanayake (42) smashed 87 runs off 43 balls before Pakistan held their nerves and bowled the opposition out for 311 in 49.4 overs. “It was a much needed innings from Hafeez, but we need to improve on the bowling and fielding, too many lapses,” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said. Sri Lanka required 27 runs off the last two overs and Senanayake collected 12
off left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir’s first four deliveries but was caught in the deep while attempting a big shot off the next ball. With 14 needed off the last over, Lasith Malinga was runout off the first ball before last-man Suranga Lakmal scampered through for a single. But Junaid Khan (3-44) wrapped up the match as Prasanna offered an easy catch at long off while looking for a much needed boundary. “We witnessed a great match, especially the stand between Seekkuge and Sachitra, very pleasing to see how they fought,” Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said. “I thought it was still a pleasing performance so no need to panic.” Hafeez, who had been criticised after scoring just 93 runs against South Africa in the last six ODIs, regained his lost form after Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Hafeez set the tempo for
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday December 19, 2013) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: 1972 Viv Richards Today’s Quiz: Where and when did Alvin Kallicharran make his highest Test score? Who are the only two men to have crack a century and taken a five-wicket haul in the same ODI game? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
Mohammad Hafeez struck seven fours and four sixes in his 122.
school games precede that activity because I believe that will be a shining moment for all the young people throughout the length and breadth of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique.” The US$20M refurbishment project is being undertaken by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation. It will include the building of three main stands with an 8 000-seat capacity, international standard athletic tracks, a professional size football field and cutting-edge media facilities. “This ceremony comes at a right time when we are celebrating the Christmas season and this is a Christmas gift to all Grenadian people, a gift from the government and people of the PRC to the government and people of Grenada Carriacou and Petit
a big total by sharing 83 runs with opener Khan (61) for the second wicket, then putting on better than a run-a-ball 140 runs with Maqsood. Shahid Afridi hammered 34 off 11 balls as Pakistan added 64 runs in the last six overs to post their best ODI total of the year. Left-hander Khan, who impressed in the drawn Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, showed no signs of nerves in his debut ODI when he lofted Malinga (0-59) over mid-wicket for a six and took two more boundaries in the fast bowler’s second over. On a perfect batting strip of Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the Sri Lanka bowlers could not contain the flow of runs before Khan was caught on the edge of the long-on boundary and departed after hitting six fours and three sixes in his run-a-ball knock. Maqsood kept on pressing the accelerator by hitting four sixes and two fours in his 68ball innings as Hafeez raised his seventh ODI century off 111 balls when he lofted Lakmal (2-73) over mid-wicket
Martinique,” said China’s Ambassador to Grenada “This is a gift for Christmas but not for that only it is a gift for the People of Grenada in your future life.” Sports Minister Emmalin Pierre said Tuesday at the official ceremony, which signals the immediate start of construction, that Grenada will be vying to host the 2016 CARIFTA Games. The CARIFTA Games is the region’s foremost junior meet, and was staged once before in Grenada. The Grenada government had signed an agreement eight years ago for the refurbishment of the facility following its destruction by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. However, only the cricket stadium next door was built before Keith Mitchell lost the 2008 general elections.
for a six. Maqsood also looked set for his maiden century before he was run-out in a mix-up with Hafeez, who refused to go for the second run. Afridi took charge and hit three sixes - one of which went out of the stadium off Thisara Perera - and also smashed two fours after he was promoted ahead of captain Misbah-ulHaq and Umar Akmal. Hafeez was finally dismissed in the last over when he offered a catch to Dinesh Chandimal at mid-wicket to give Lakmal his second wicket. Off-spinner Hafeez bowled steadily with the new ball and after taking a brilliant catch in the deep to dismiss Tillakaratne Dilshan (30) he had top scorer Kusal Perera (64) leg-before-wicket. Experienced Kumar Sangakkara (23) was well caught by wicketkeeper Umar Akmal off Afridi’s wide delivery while Chandimal (46) and Mathews (31) also departed in quick succession. Prasanna and Senanayake could not pull off Sri Lanka’s best ever run-chase.
Riggs brace earns Vasco 2-1 over Trainline … win also for Hi-Stars By Joe Chapman
A BRACE from Odera Riggs for Vasco and a late strike by Joseph Spencer was all that mattered for Hi Stars yesterday as both teams moved to the next round, eliminating Trainline and Botofago in the process when the Upper Demerara Football Association/GT Beer Christmas football championship continued at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. Both teams triumphed by similar scorelines in front of another good crowd as Vasco overcame Trainline 2-1 and Hi Stars flew past Botofago 2-1. Hi Stars were able to earn s a spot in the next round after trailing early when Mark Hope hit in a nice penalty awarded to Botofago as early as the 7th minute after a foul was committed in the box. However, the Hi Stars side fought back and evened things in the 22nd minute when the same favour was afforded to Hi Stars and Colin Davidson did the honours to tie the scores which remained level up to halftime.
The see-saw chances continued for both teams in the second half and, when the regulation play ended, it was still a 1-1 stalemate. Ten minutes into overtime the game winner was sealed through a flat drive by Joseph Spencer which also saw the final whistle with the Hi stars moving through with a 2-1 scoreline. The second game was also very entertaining under the wet conditions which continued to prevent the best of football for spectators but Odera Riggs first nudged Vasco ahead for his first goal in the 14th minute and they held on to that lead until halftime. As play continued in the second half the Trainline side were able to even the scores when Troy Delamazon scored with a neat shot in the 58th minute. As the teams made the best of their efforts to no avail the Vasco side were able to gain the edge in the 85th minute through another strike by Riggs who netted in the 85th minute to ensure his team reach the next round where they will play Hi Stars in game one on Saturday at 19:00hrs and Blueberry Hill and Eagles United clash in the second.