Date-stamped : 02 Mar97 - 10:17 Report: Sri Lanka v Northern Districts ====> DAY 1 (27 Feb 1997) Vaas Nabs Six Wickets TAUPO -- Sri Lankan cricketer Chaminda Vaas produced a world-class bowling performance in a match against Northern Districts yesterday that was denied first-class status. The left-arm seamer was a class above his opponents as he snared six for 22, including a hat-trick, from just 13.4 overs as Northern Districts capitulated for a mere 116 at Owen Delaney Park. The tourists' batsmen then proved there were no terrors in the pitch by scoring 138 for two by stumps on the first day of the two-day fixture. Vaas's hat-trick, when he dismissed the last three Northern batsmen with successive deliveries, was his first at any level of cricket, but the game's status means his achievement will not be noted in the record books. That was the only disappointment for the Sri Lankans as their first day in competitive mode on tour panned out almost to perfection. Sri Lanka lost Dulip Samaraweera and Marvan Atapattu cheaply before Roshan Mahanama and Hashan Tillekaratne consolidated. Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz) ====> DAY 1 (27 Feb 1997) Sri Lanka play tour opener 2-day game vs Northern Districts Vaas strike with deadly spell of 6/22 including hattrick Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from New Zealand OWEN DELANEY PARK, Taupo, Thursday An excellent spell of in-swing bowling by Chaminda Vaas which also included a hattrick helped Sri Lanka to skittle out Northern Districts for 116 in their first innings shortly after lunch on the first day of their two-day game here today. At the close Sri Lanka had replied with 138 for 2. When Northern Districts won the toss and batted first on a feath- erbed wicket, they did not reckon with left armer Vaas who stuck with telling force to finish with 6 for 22 in 13.4 overs with 5 maidens. Vaas` first spell was 10-5-103-3 and his second spell 3.4-0-12-3. ``This is the first hattrick in my entire career and I am delighted,`` said Vaas who said that the conditions were ideal for his style of bowling. ``I got the inswing going. I dropped into line and length immedi- ately and the inswing had the batsmen all at sea`, said Vaas who is determined to carry this form into the important two Test matches to follow. Vaas had two wickets in the second and third balls of his third over and missed a hattrick. He started off with a telling 10-over spell. His hattrick came in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th balls of his fourth over in his second spell. It was high class bowling and none of the batsmen could read him. Ravindra Pushpakumara who also bowled well had 2 for 37, with Sa- jeeva Silva and Muttiah Muralitheran chipping in with a wicket each. Muralitheran who is going to be an important member of the at- tack, came off well in his first bowl. When Sri Lanka batted they lost two early wickets, that of Samaraweera and Atapattu. Mahanama and Tillekeratne two of the most experienced batsmen then got together to add 94 for the third wicket and take Sri Lanka to 138 at the close. Mahanama was immediately into this stride and made a stylish 73 n.o. and Tillekeratne was his usual sound self in making 39 n.o. ====> DAY 2 (28 Feb 1997) Bradburn spins out 5 Lankans for a single run Mahanama retires on 106 Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from New Zealand Owen Delaney Park, Friday After a well-compiled century from Roshan Mahanama and a sedate 90 from Hashan Tillekeratne, a sensational Sri Lankan collapse engineered by former New Zealand off spinner Grant Bradburn were the highlights of the drawn encounter between Sri Lanka and Northern Districts here today. Sri Lanka who dismissed Northern Districts the previous day con- tinued merrily when Mahanama and Tillekeratne resumed their in- nings on 138 for 2 with Mahanama on 73 and Tillekeratne on 39. Mahanama who retired on 106 had a good look at the bowling and his knock included 14 fours and a six made in 261 minutes. Til- lekeratne who could not reach three figures had 12 fours in his 90 made in 254 minutes. From 252 for 4, the Lankans lost their last 5 wickets for 4 runs. The man who caused the collapse was Bradburn turned his offices viciously to pocket the last five wickets for just one run. With this effort, Bradburn may earn a recall to the test side. Mahanama and Tillekeratne were involved in a third-wicket stand of 162 in 205 minutes and 321 balls. Chaminda Vaas` hattrick the previous day held little significance because this two-day game has been tagged a second class fixture. However it was a wonderful effort. When Northern Districts batted a second time they replied pur- posefully and made 161 for 4. Muralitheran was once again given a long bowl and captured all the home team wickets to fall for 42. Source :: Daily News (http://www.lanka.net/) ===> Day 2 (1 Mar 1997) Sri Lanka Loses Poise Against ND TAUPO -- Sri Lanka lost some poise and Northern Districts regained some pride on the final day of their two-day tour cricket match at Owen Delaney Park yesterday. The non-first class fixture ended in a predictable draw when Northern Districts reached stumps at 161 for four in their second innings. After dismissing Sri Lanka for 256 in the afternoon session, Northern Districts were confronted with a first innings deficit of 140 after their collapse for 116 on Thursday. There was no repeat of that dismal performance though as openers Michael Parlane, who struck six fours and three sixes in a lusty innings of 65, and Matthew Bell put on 82 for the first wicket. Alex O'Dowd, unbeaten on 34, and Joseph Yovich, with 24 not out, later enjoyed an unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 52. Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan appreciated the opportunity for a solid workout, worrying all the batsmen as he picked up four for 42. Sri Lanka resumed yesterday on 138 for two and continued to prosper as Roshan Mahanama raised his century before retiring on 106. Hashan Tillekaratne's dismissal for 90 heralded a startling collapse as Sri Lanka inexplicably lost its last six wickets for just four runs. The chief beneficiary of all the action was former New Zealand off-spinner Grant Bradburn, who finished with the excellent figures of six for 22. NORTHERN DISTRICTS First innings 116 Second innings M Bell c Mahanama b Muralitharan 27 M Parlane c Samaraweera b Muralitharan 65 A O'Dowd not out 34 M Bailey c Mahanama b Muralitharan 4 G Bradburn c Tillekaratne b Muralitharan 0 J Yovich not out 24 Extras (7lb) 7 Total (for 4 wkts, 45 overs) 161 Fall: 82 (Bell), 103 (Parlane), 107 (M Bailey), 109 (Bradburn). Bowling: R Pushpakumara 7-1-28-0, S de Silva 5-0-36-0, M Muralitharan 16-4-42-4, A Ranatunga 8-2-13-0, K Dharmasena 9-2-35-0. SRI LANKA First innings (overnight 138-2) D Samaraweera c Bell b Tait 11 R Mahanama retired 106 M Atapattu c Bell b Tait 12 H Tillekaratne c R Hart b Bennett 90 A Ranatunga c Parlane b Bradburn 11 R Kaluwitharana c Parlane b Bradburn 15 K Dharmasena st R Hart b Bradburn 1 C Vaas c R Hart b Bradburn 0 R Pushpakumara c Tesar b Bradburn 2 S de Silva not out 0 M Muralitharan c Bennett b Bradburn 0 Extras (4lb, 4nb) 8 Total (92.1 overs) 256 Fall: 26 (Samaraweera), 44 (Atapattu), 206 (Mahanama), 222 (Ranatunga), 252 (Tillekaratne), 252 (Kaluwitharana), 252 (Vaas), 254 (Pushpakumara), 256 (Dharmasena), 256 (Muralitharan). Bowling: A Tait 19-4-65-2, J Yovich 17-4-31-0 (2nb), M Tesar 13-3-47-0, D Bennett 20-4-45-1 (2nb), G Bradburn 14.1-6-22-6, M Hart 9-1-42-0. Result: Match drawn. -- NZPA Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)