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Thirimanne flies in, saves Sri Lanka

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 03 Januari 2013 | 23.34

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Concentration ... Thirimanne was prepared to take the fight to the Australians. Source:News Limited

It took a 23-year-old who had been in the country for just 48 hours to display the application and drive Sri Lanka have been begging for all summer.

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Lahiru Thirimanne, who only landed in Australia on New Year's Day as a late call-up to an injury-ravaged squad, typified Sri Lanka's renewed attitude in the Sydney Test on Thursday by crafting a career-best 91 in their total of 294.

It's not the sort of score that will cause Michael Clarke any sleepless nights, but it's light years ahead of their twin disasters at the MCG a little over a week ago - when the top order crumbled on both occasions.

And central to it was Thirimanne, dropped after a poor series in England last April and waiting by the phone in Sri Lanka less than a week ago.

A veteran of just seven Tests and boasting the less-than-intimidating average of 19.84, Thirimanne came within nine runs of producing just the visitors' second century on tour - something even the man he replaced, all-time great Kumar Sangakkara (fractured finger), was unable to achieve.

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And after just one training session with the team, he briefly assumed the role as the team saviour.

"Kumar Sangakkara is a great player, one of the greatest cricketers in the world," Thirimanne, whose previous best was 68 against Pakistan, said afterwards.

"It's a great opportunity for me to replace him for a Test match in Australia. I thought I grabbed that opportunity with both hands."

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That he threw away his century with a rash shot - and to an athletic David Warner catch - was unfortunate, and certainly a sore point afterwards for the young left-hander.

"Actually I'm really disappointed because this is a great opportunity for me after a long break from Test cricket," he said.

"But I feel I batted really well. At the end of the day, I'm really happy with my performance."

Thirimanne combined well with captain Mahela Jayawardene, putting on 62 for the third wicket as the pair looked to guide Sri Lanka to an imposing total.

But losing four wickets for just 23 runs in the final session, before a handy 21-run 10th wicket partnership, cruelled the visitors' chances of posting a dominant score.

Still, they'd followed through on Jayawardene's pre-game message to take the fight to Australia's fearsome pace attack led by MCG man-of-the-match Mitchell Johnson.

In Sydney, Johnson (0-58) went wicketless and Thirimanne weathered the best short balls that Australia's tattooed left-armer could offer.

"It's about individuals taking responsibility and knowing what they need to do," Jayawardene said on match eve.

"If you really sit down and look at what we've achieved so far in this series, I think it's not that hard to say 'no, we haven't done enough' and that we need to really stand up and count ourselves.

"It has to come within themselves."


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Christian, McKay go toe-to-toe

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Personal space ... Dan Christian and Clint McKay swap recipes. Source:FOX SPORTS

Brisbane Heat batsman Dan Christian and Melbourne Stars paceman Clint McKay have gone toe-to-toe in a feisty KFC T20 Big Bash League clash at the Gabba.

T20 - Gabba

3 January 2013 - Day 1, Session 2

Stars 1st Innings

C. McKay 2 5 0 0 40
L. Malinga 2 7 0 0 28.57
A. McDermott 4 0 21 2 5.25

McKay took exception to Christian's running between the wickets as he tried to get to the ball and attempt a run out.

However, Christian didn't take a backward step and got right in McKay's face despite having a helmet on.

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The umpire eventually was forced to separate the two.

The argument went on for some time afterwards and the Heat took advantage as Thisara Perera hit a six and a four off the next two balls.

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Earlier in the innings, Stars teammates Shane Warne and Luke Wright also had a tiff after a missed catching chance.

It was a comedy of errors as Wright appeared to call for the ball only for it to float towards Warne, who got right out of the way.

Warne later dropped a simple catch that allowed Christian a life.


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It is the latest in a string of heated exchanges in the BBL with Sydney Sixers captain Brad Haddin and Sydney Thunder batsman Chris Gayle getting into the spat that spilled over onto Twitter.

Marlon Samuels has also been at the centre of a controversy over his bowling that has seen Heat coach Darren Lehmann reprimanded and Strikers coach Darren Berry reported for misconduct.

In the end the Heat won the war as James Hopes starred with bat and ball to inspire a 24-run win that keeps his team in the hunt for semi-final action, while the Stars remain in second spot behind cross-town rivals Melbourne Renegades.


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Tomic, Barty make short work of Italy

Three in a row ... Tomic finished his singles rubbers in Perth with a perfect record. Source: News Limited

Australian Bernard Tomic continued his winning run at the Hopman Cup with a 6-3 7-5 triumph over world No.23 Andreas Seppi at Perth Arena on Thursday night.

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Tomic, who stunned world No.1 Novak Djokovic on Wednesday night after accounting for German Tommy Haas earlier in the tournament, had too many weapons for Seppi, with the 71-minute win giving Australia a 1-0 lead in the tie.

"I think I played really well against Novak yesterday and today was really good as well," Tomic said.

"It's amazing preparation before the Australian Open and I'm really glad I came.

"The last few months were very hard. I was focusing a lot on my fitness and my serve. You need to serve well when you play against these top players."

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Tomic had to save three break points on his first service game.

But from there, the 20-year-old took control of the match, breaking Seppi in the fourth game on the way to first-set honours.

Seppi and Tomic went toe-to-toe for much of the second set.

But a double fault from Seppi on break point in the 11th game ended the Italian's resistance, with Tomic easily serving out the match.

Teenager Ashleigh Barty then claimed the biggest scalp of her fledgling career with a 6-0 6-3 demolition of 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone.

Australia will reach Saturday night's final if Germany upset Serbia's top-seeded pairing of Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic on Friday.

Barty was only playing at the mixed-teams tournament after Casey Dellacqua was forced to pull out with a foot injury.

The 16-year-old lost to Ivanovic in straight sets on Wednesday night, but came out with all guns blazing against world No.35 Schiavone, who couldn't keep pace in the opening set.

Schiavone committed 10 unforced errors in the first set, with two of her double faults handing Barty crucial breaks.

The 32-year-old veteran won the first two games of the second set but, from there, Barty took control to break Schiavone three times to secure the win.


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Chelsea, Ba agree to terms: reports

Demba Ba ... looks set to make move to Stamford Bridge. Source: SCOTT HEPPELL / AP

Newcastle striker Demba Ba has agreed to join Chelsea on a three-and-a-half-year contract, it is understood.

The Senegal international is undergoing a medical with Rafa Benitez's side after a release clause was triggered in his Newcastle contract once Chelsea offered £7 ($A11) million for him.

Ba was left out of the Magpies' squad for their 2-1 home defeat to Everton, with manager Alan Pardew admitting afterwards that he was on his way to Stamford Bridge.

A deal between the Premier League rivals appears close to being finalised, with Benitez keen to add to his attacking options to ease the burden on Fernando Torres.

"He has done fantastic for us and it's not a bad thing, all the uncertainty is now done and we can move on.

"The ball was always in Demba's court. But this club is bigger than any player for sure."

Ba joined Newcastle on a free transfer from West Ham in June 2011 and after impressing last season he has already scored 13 goals this campaign.

"It's done. He will go to Chelsea with our blessing," Pardew told Sky Sports ahead of their defeat by Everton.

"He has done fantastic for us and it's not a bad thing, all the uncertainty is now done and we can move on.

"The ball was always in Demba's court. But this club is bigger than any player for sure."

Chelsea officials held initial discussions with Ba's representatives earlier this week but had been unable to reach an agreement.

Newcastle released a statement which read: "Newcastle United can confirm Chelsea Football Club has made an official offer for Demba Ba which has triggered the release clause in the player's contract.

"The club has given the player permission to speak to Chelsea FC and therefore he will not be included in the squad for tonight's game with Everton."

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/8378310/Chelsea-agree-deal-with-Newcastle-striker-Demba-Ba


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Heat outshine Stars to stay alive

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Win ... Alastair McDermott picks up a wicket on the final ball. Source: Dave Hunt / AAP

Brisbane Heat weathered a Lasith Malinga onslaught before keeping their KFC T20 Big Bash League finals hopes alive with a 24-run victory over Melbourne Stars at the Gabba.

T20 - Gabba

3 January 2013 - Day 1, Session 2

Stars 1st Innings

C. McKay 2 5 0 0 40
L. Malinga 2 7 0 0 28.57
A. McDermott 4 0 21 2 5.25

In a match where tempers frayed between Australia one-day teammates Clint McKay and Dan Christian, the Heat (5-171) ended the Stars' four-match winning streak on Thursday night.

Super slinger Malinga continued his destructive BBL form with an amazing 3-0 from his first 10 balls to have the home side staring at a sub-par total of 140.

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But thanks largely to Shane Warne's rusty fielding and Chris Lynn's late-innings hitting, Brisbane set a respectable target which couldn't be reined in.

Warne dropped a simple chance from Christian (27 from 23) before Lynn (26 not out) then peeled off 17 runs from the final over by Malinga (3-26).

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Heat skipper James Hopes followed his 49 with the bat to take 3-28 with the ball in a man-of-the-match performance which tormented the Stars' international-quality line-up.

Sri Lankan allrounder Thisara Perera, in his last match for Brisbane, chimed in with 3-18 as the visitors were kept to 9-147.

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A big crowd of 24,500 - the biggest of the BBL season - lapped up the result which moves the Heat to fifth on the table with 3-3 record.

The Stars (4-2) remain in second place on eight points.

Emotions boiled over in the Heat innings when McKay and Christian engaged in a heated exchange, trading insults from close quarters, after the batsman prevented a run-out with his running line.

Warne, who won the toss and bowled first, showed his own lack of confidence in the field by calling Luke Wright to take a skied ball from Perera that landed where the 43-year-old had been standing.

Warne admitted the Stars let the home side off the hook following their impressive start.

"It was a little disappointing tonight in all three departments - our fielding and our bowling, we didn't quite get it right, and in our batting we lost wickets at crucial times,'' he said.


Re-live the action from the Heat's win over Melbourne Stars in our BBL Match Centre, featuring video replays, ball-by-ball and all the vital stats.


"Our last four overs went for 52 and 170 was a par score here as it was a really good wicket so we thought we could chase it down.''

Hopes, who set the foundations with a two-paced 63-run second-wicket stand with surprise No.3 Chris Hartley, felt the Heat had some momentum after winning just one of their first four matches.

"It's a funny thing with our side, we tend to play our best when our backs are to the wall and we have to lose a few first to get on a winning streak,'' he said.


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Mancini to explain overeating claims

Roberto Mancini ... has been forced to explain comments about referee Kevin Friend. Source: Ian Kington / AFP

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has until Friday afternoon (UK time) to comment on his criticism of referee Kevin Friend following a Boxing Day defeat to Sunderland.

The Football Association wrote to Mancini following his claim that "maybe the referee ate too much for Christmas", as Friend missed what Mancini felt was a clear foul on Pablo Zabaleta in the build-up to Adam Johnson's winner.

Due to a busy Barclays Premier League festive period the judicial panel granted Mancini's request for an extension and it is thought the City boss is facing either a warning or fine for his reaction.

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Whilst City have made their frustration known at the investigation whilst Sir Alex Ferguson escaped without punishment for his behaviour during Manchester United's win over Newcastle the same day, it has been pointed out by the FA that there are clear differences.

The main difference is that as Mancini delivered his assessment after the game and Friend was not present - unlike Mike Dean, who described his own clash with Ferguson before the second half of United's 4-3 victory as 'cordial'.

In addition, whilst Mancini's comments could be viewed as an amusing aside, they have called into question Friend's competence which the FA, at the very least, feel demands clarification.

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11679/8378336/FA-give-Roberto-Mancini-until-Friday-to-comment-on-criticism-of-referee-Kevin-Friend


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