Date-stamped : 06 Jun97 - 10:32 Friday 06, June 1997 Report- Daily News `Second string' Lankan side beaten by 3 wkts Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from the Caribbean Islands. POINTE-A-PIERRE, Trinidad, Wednesday - Fielding a side with a full complement of reserves, Sri Lanka were beaten by three wickets by Caribbean one-day champions Trinidad and Tobago in the lung-opener of their first-ever official cricket tour of the West Indies here today. With key players skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, vice-captain Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumara Dharmasena, all recovering from `flu, Sri Lanka barely put out 11 men for their first match, played at Guaracara Park in the city of oil refineries. ROSHAN ACTING CAPTAIN Sri Lanka made 226 for 8 off 50 overs after acting captain Roshan Mahanama had won the toss and chosen to bat first on a flatbed pitch tailor-made for runs. The total proved insufficient despite nine overs being knocked off, and the target reduced to 215, due to rain during the lunch break and the slow over rate maintained by the home side. An unbeaten century (110 off 130 balls, 3 fours, 6 sixes) by right-handed opener Suruj Ragoonath steered Trinidad and Tobago to victory with seven balls to spare, despite a sensational middle-order collapse when they lost five wickets for 15 runs in four overs. Three of those wickets fell in the 36th over bowled by Russell Arnold, which included two runs out. The collapse followed the dismissal of star batsman and captain of the local team Brian Lara for 21 in the 33rd over. Lara was comprehensively beaten and bowled by left-arm paceman Sajeeva de Silva, who also broke through the defences of Nigel Francis to have the home side struggling at 189 for 7 in the 37th over at one stage. However, Ragoonath dropped at 80 by De Silva at deep midwicket off Muttiah Muralitharan made Sri Lanka pay heavily for that lapse by staying till the finish. The home side were given a flying start by Ragoonath and fast bowler Ian Bishop, who made good use of his promotion to open the batting by hitting an exciting 53 off 56 balls (1 six, 6 fours) out of a first wicket stand of 105 in 20 overs. From Sri Lanka's point it was heartening to see some of their regular players get some useful runs ahead of Friday's one-day international against West Indies. Marvan Atapattu hit a stylish 55 off 70 balls (8 fours), Hashan Tillekeratne 49 off 86 balls (5 fours) and Romesh Kaluwitharana 42 off 50 balls (4 fours). However, it was the Sri Lanka bowling, especially the fast men that left much to be desired. Source :: Daily News (http://www.lanka.net) Report- Trinidad Express Thursday, June 5, 1997 Ragoonath, Bishop stroke T&T to Guaracara glory... Sri Lanka conquered By GARTH WATTLEY THEY were not top of the world this season, but at Guaracara Park yesterday Trinidad and Tobago's cricketers were kings for a day. Confronted with World One-day champions Sri Lanka, Brian Lara's men did more than come out even. Doing themselves and the 3,000-odd delighted spectators at the Park proud, the local team bested the Sri Lankans by three wickets. But as the faithful excitedly recalled the afternoon's dramatic goings-on, they were eagerly seeking another glimpse of Suruj Ragoonath. For even though the Caribbean kings had more than one hero on the day, Ragoo was the Prince Regent, holding court for all 189 minutes, 39 overs and five balls as T&T successfully chased a reduced target of 215 in 41 overs. By the time he made his weary way through the happy throng in front of the players pavilion, the T&T opener had played another royal hand: 110 not out (six sixes, three fours). It was an innings that put a firm stamp on a memorable season for the 29-year-old. But even as they shared their victory with him, Ragoonath's teammates would also have been feeling the feeling of a job well done. From the time they restricted the explosive Sri Lankans to 226 in 50 overs, to the moment Ragoonath got the single that sealed the win, Lara's men were in charge. The helter-skelter 36th over aside when the locals contrived to lose three wickets including run-outs off successive balls, Lara's men played an inspired game. Given, their task was eased somewhat by the enforced absence of regular captain Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda De Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya. Accepted, the tourists were on an acclimatisation exercise, searching for form more than they chased success. But the rigorous fielding drills Lara had put his team through in practice produced refreshingly sharp if not flawless out-fielding and catching. Lara's diving one-handed effort to dismiss Sanjeeva Ranatunga was the highlight. The out-cricket complemented bowling that was disciplined, and in the case of Mervyn Dillon (9-0-30-1) and Ian Bishop (10-0-35-1) especially, skilful. Romesh Kaluwitharana, a pocket dynamo in the shorter game, was restricted to a brisk, but hardly devastating 42 off 50 balls, while opener Mavan Attapattu 55 and the left-hander Hashan Tillekeratne, 49, played measured, rather than free-flowing innings. And even as a sharp lunch time shower steamed across the ground, the fans would have enjoyed a satisfying lunch. The food proved to be just the first course in the feast. Ragoonath and his pinch-hitting partner Bishop seemed not the least intimidated by their task. Sajeeva De Silva had delivered just one ball before Ragoo cut him backward of point for the first four. Next ball, he square cut for six into the stands. It would not be the last time those folks would have to dodge a Ragoonath stroke. But they also had to beware of Bishop. He was also full of shots in his fine 53 (55 balls) that included six well stroked fours and a huge swung six over mid-wicket. Together, the pair added a rapid 105 in 20.1 overs. T&T were on their way. Even after a tired Bishop was bowled by off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and Andre Lawrence succumbed to Ranatunga, Lara gave Ragoonath support in a partnership of 61 in 10 overs. The skipper watched as his in-form partner prospered. But Ragoonath was forced to take stock when he got two chances in the seventies. And effective left-arm fast medium Sajeeva de Silva (8-0-44-2) silenced the Park, bamboozling Lara (21) with a fine in-swinging yorker at 174 in the 33rd over. By the 36th over the crazy run-outs of David Williams and Dennis Rampersad, Nigel Francis' disappointing dismissal, plus the earlier loss Darren Ganga had left T&T 21 runs adrift with three overs remaining. It was now a test of character for Ragoo. But he stood that test. His fifth six, this time off Muarlitharan, and a dab for three brought up the magic ton. And with the tension still sky high at 207 in the 39th, he sent Nuwan Zoysa sailing into the fans at deep backward square. The game was as good as won. And when he finally got the single that mattered, a memorable victory was complete. They may not have played on easy street this season. But for the Prince of Port of Spain and his men, yesterday was one sweet day in their life. Source :: The Trinidad Express (http://www.trinidad.net/express/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)