British press hails Sri Lanka's victory

The Daily News

23 August 1998


THE English daily news papers praised Sri Lankan victory over England in the Emirates Trophy final played at Lord's on Thursday.

Some papers furiously criticised England captain Alec Stewart over an incident with Sri Lanka batsman Hashan Tillekeratne.

Some of the banner headlines that appeared:

England undone by lapses in field.

Muralitharan shows the importance of attacking spinner - The Daily Telegraph.

Stewart double agony

He curses as England get hiding - The Mirror

Savaged by a MUTT

Spin King takes five wickets to tear Stewart's boys apart - The Sun.

Skipper Stew caught up in swear storm - The Sun

Atapattu punishes England for failures to consolidate advantage - The Times

High-flying champions gain revenge - The Guardian

England's most famous cricket writer Christopher Martin-Jenkins The Daily Telegraph states ``Marvan Atapattu not only did bat with a marvellous wristy flourish, but he got the better of Darren Gough who will confront him with the new ball in the Test match. Little victories like this made it an even more memorable day for the Sri Lankans.

It is seven years since Sri Lanka last toured England and in that time they have become world one-day champions, a success they could well repeat next year if the force is with them and the weather dry.

The Mirror correspondent Chris Lander: ``Fumbling England were put to the sword by world champions Sri Lanka. They lost the final of the Emirates Trophy by 5 wicket with 17 balls to spare, showing that their own hopes of winning the World Cup next year are as distant as ever''.

And England skipper Alec Stewart had a black mark to his excellent summer by calling batsman Hashan Tillekeratne an ``a...hole'' in the closing stages.

John Etheridge of The Sun: Muralitharan is the world's most controversial bowler. And now, England know all about his box of tricks. Some say Muttiah Muralitharan is a 'chucker'. Others claim that he is a double-jointed genius with spell-blinding skill. Muralitharan will be a handful in this week's one-off Test if the pitch at the Oval offers turn.

Pat Sheehan of Sun Sports: Alec Stewart was caught up in a swearing-storm as England crashed in the final of the Emirates Triangular Tournament at Lord's. The England captain was accused of calling Hashan Tillekeratne an ``a...hole'' during the five-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka.

Stewart was 'caught' swearing by a Sky TV mike hidden in a stump. He was furious that Tillekeratne took a cheeky single when he clearly impeded spin bowler Robert Croft.

England cricket boss Lord McLaurin is bound to demand an explanation from Stewart after issuing strict guidelines on bad language.

The affair did not sour the day for Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga. He said ``This was our best win since we won the World Cup. We can repeat it in the Test at the Oval.''


Source: The Daily News

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Date-stamped : 23 Aug1998 - 10:39