Sport in brief

VB tourney for Gamage Trophy

Sampath BANDARA

A volleyball tournament for Piyasena Gamage Championship and Six-a-side Cricket Tournament for Randima Gamage Championship which is being organised by Young Stars Sports Club will be held at Mapalagama Public grounds from January 2 to 4.

The champion team of Volleyball Tournament will receive the Piyasena Gamage Championship and cash prizes 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams will receive cash prizes.

Best and Outstanding Players of Volleyball tournament will also get cash prizes.

Further details could be obtained from President of Young Stars Sports Club, Nayanajith Muthukuda, Telephone 072-757030.

Superb double by Lahiru as Sokians take first innings lead

A splendid all round performance from Lahiru Ashen helped Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda to take a surprise first innings lead of 41 runs over Ananda College, Colombo on the opening day of their under 19 inter-school cricket tournament match which commenced at Ananda Mawatha yesterday.

Ashen hit a top score of 51 to lift his side to 168 and followed up with a superb four wicket haul to dismiss the home side for just 127 runs. Earlier left-arm spinner Mathisha Perera returned excellent figures of seven wickets for 47 for Ananda College.

Dharmasoka 168 (Lahiru Ashen 51, Ashen Kavinda 40, Nilusha Uttamadasa 27, Mathisha Perera 7 for 47, Ruvinda Sharmain 3 for 43).

Ananda 127 in 36.2 overs (Sameeera Wijesuriya 39, Dinesh Chandimal 30, Lahiru Ashen 4 for 17, Venuka Ashen 4 for 31, Imesh Udayanga 2 for 31).

(CD)

Smith will miss one-day series

Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, will miss this month's one-day series against Australia because of an ongoing elbow injury, coach Mickey Arthur said. Smith's participation in the final Test in Sydney which starts on Saturday is also not confirmed, though Arthur rated him a "90%" chance to play.

The spinner Johan Botha, who led the side during ODIs against Kenya and Bangladesh in November, will captain the one-day team and opener Neil McKenzie will stay on after the Tests as a standby batsman.

"It's unfortunate to lose your captain but we need to give him the best opportunity of being ready for the Test series in South Africa (against Australia starting on February 26 in Johannesburg)," Arthur said. (Cricinfo)