Sanath Jayasuriya’s call-up by Sri Lanka minimal loss to Dolphins

Top Dolphins signing Sanath Jayasuriya’s call-up to Sri Lanka’s national one-day side for the series with home side Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in January means he will only miss the semi-finals and final of the MTN one-day series in the unlikely event of the struggling KZN side advancing to the play-offs.

The Dolphins manager of playing affairs, Jay Naidoo, told Weekend Witness yesterday that Jayasuriya (39) is currently back in Sri Lanka, but he will return to Durban next week.

Naidoo said Dolphins coach Yashin Ebrahim had spoken to the agent of the highly experienced Sri Lankan and it was confirmed that Jayasuriya will be available for the seven remaining preliminary matches and the entire Pro20 Series that follows.

“A clause was included in Jayasuriya’s contract with the Dolphins that should he miss matches, barring because of injury, it would affect his remuneration,” said Naidoo.

Jayasuriya, who is still contracted to Sri Lanka cricket, was given permission by his board to join the Dolphins for the limited-over section of their season on condition that any selection for his national team during that period would be honoured.

The hard-hitting batsman and spinner has 421 ODI appearances behind him, but he has misfired with bat and ball in the three Dolphins matches so far. Naidoo, who is also convenor of the selection panel, is convinced that the player’s class will prevail.

Naidoo said Jayasuriya was signed on a contract befitting his status but his total package — paid in U.S. dollars — “is well below the exaggerated sums mentioned in certain sections of the media”.

“Sanath has yet to come good, but he is a complete professional and has had a positive influence on the squad,” said Naidoo.

The Dolphins, yet to win a game in seven outings this season, and bottom of both the four-day and 45-over logs, play four MTN matches in eight days, beginning against the Cape Cobras in Cape Town next Sunday and ending against the Lions at the PMB Oval on Sunday, December 21.

“If we win those matches, that takes us through to the semis,” said an optimistic Naidoo.

Jayasuriya to light up Potchefstroom | Dolphins

Sri Lankan maestro will spice up the local one-day series

NATURAL BORN HITTER: Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya will make his debut for the Dolphins in the domestic one-day series against the Lions in Potchefstroom

CRICKET fans have one compelling reason to follow the domestic limited-overs championship: Sanath Jayasuriya.

The Sri Lankan legend, who has scored a staggering 12875 runs in one-day internationals in a career spanning 421 matches, has joined the Dolphins for the season and has been included in the squad to play the Lions in Potchefstroom today .

Forming part of a formidable batting order that includes HDAckerman, captain Ahmed Amla and Jon Kent, Jayasuriya provides an attacking dimension that cannot be matched by any other domestic opening batsmen.

His canny slow left-armers might also prove vital to a Dolphin attack that has so far not once taken 20 wickets in any of the side’s first-class matches.

Their opponents will be without their captain, Neil McKenzie, who was suspended after showing dissent in last week’s round of first-class matches, and Andre Nel is still struggling with a knee injury.

Though the Lions’ batting has stroke makers such as Alviro Petersen, Stephen Cook and Vaughn van Jaarsveld, the bowling looks vulnerable, with Garnett Kruger the only bowler of proved class.

The defending champions, the Titans, who are away to the Eagles in Bloemfontein, should be regarded as favourites for the match, if not for the tournament. Their talented batting line-up is matched by an enterprising and potent bowling attack that includes three spinners: Roelof van der Merwe, Paul Harris and Imran Tahir.

It is perhaps their opponents on Sunday, the Warriors, who are the biggest threat to their supremacy.

The Eastern Cape men have arguably the best one-day bowling attack in the country, which includes South Africa under-19 captain Wayne Parnell, record-breaker Juan “Rusty” Theron, and spinners Robin Peterson and Johan Botha. Captain Davey Jacobs, who in 2004-2005 scored a hundred off 79 balls for the Eagles, is South Africa’s nearest equivalent to Jayasuriya.

It would, however, be foolhardy to discount the Eagles. The Free Staters are the only team to have won two titles since the formation of the franchises.

Veterans Boeta Dippenaar, Loots Bosman and Morne van Wyk will anchor the batting, and Ryan McLaren will spearhead the bowling. Spinner Con de Lange was the leading wicket taker in 2006-2007.

Sanath Jayasuriya gives Dolphins a huge boost

THE mere presence of legendary Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya in the Dolphins line-up is set to reinvigorate them for their opening MTN Domestic Championship match against the Highveld Lions in Potchefstroom today.

The Dolphins have recently completed a disappointing first half of the SuperSport Series, ending last on the table, and the 45-over format represents a fresh chance to get on the winning trail.

With 421 one-day internationals behind his name (12 875 runs and 310 wickets), the 39-year-old Jayasuriya should add a major thrust to the Dolphins squad and with the experienced HD Ackerman back from suspension and key all-rounder Johann Louw surplus to South Africa’s Test requirements, the Dolphins pose a danger to the home side.

Imraan Khan and skipper Ahmed Amla have shown good form with the bat and a winning start will be just the tonic the Dolphins need, although the KZN side’s bowling attack has been their Achilles heel this season.

Lions skipper Alviro Petersen carries a big responsibility at the top of the order and he will need strong support from the likes of Stephen Cook, Vaughn van Jaarsveld and the promising Jonathan Vandiar.

Neil McKenzie won’t feature in this televised match (SuperSport 2 and CSN from 4 pm) as he is serving a two-match ban for dissent.

A further incentive for the Dolphins is the inaugural edition of the Champions League Twenty20 to be played in Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai from December 3 to 10.

The Dolphins and Northern Titans qualified after fighting their way into the finals of the Standard Bank Pro20 series last season.

The Dolphins leave for India in two weeks’ time and their first round-robin encounter is against India’s Rajastan Royals on Wednesday, December 3.

But for the moment at least, the Dolphins must keep their eye on the ball tonight in Potchefstroom, as they need to savour the taste of victory before heading on the path to the biggest prizes in provincial cricket’s history.

TEAMS
Highveld Lions: Alviro Petersen (capt), Craig Alexander, Richard Cameron, Werner Coetsee, Stephen Cook, Cliffie Deacon, Christiaan Jonker, Garnett Kruger, Jean Symes, Jonathan Vandiar, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Dane Vilas.

KZN Dolphins: Ahmed Amla (capt), Imraan Khan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Grant Rowley, HD Ackerman, Jon Kent, Pierre de Bruyn, Daryn Smit, Johann Louw, Saidi Mlongo, Yusuf Abdullah, Quinton Friend.
TV: live of SuperSport 2 and CSN from 4 pm.

Master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya to lift KZN Dolphins

THE Dolphins, after slipping to last on the SuperSport Series log this past weekend following five forgettable draws in five outings, receive a timely boost today with the arrival in Durban of Sri Lankan master blaster, Sanath Jayasuriya. And the former Sri Lanka captain was immediately included in the KZN franchise’s side for their opening MTN 45-over match against the Highveld Lions in Potchefstroom on Friday. The 39-year-old Jayasuriya was honing his renowned big-hitting skills at the Hong Kong Sixes over the weekend and will need to play a key role in uplifting the intensity of the Dolphins’ game. He has played a world record 421 one-day internationals for Sri Lanka, scoring 12 785 runs in the process with 27 hundreds and 66 half centuries to his name. Only India’s “little genius” Sachin Tendulkar is in the running to break that record and could well do so once his country’s impending seven ODIs against England are over. Jayasuriya, however, has still not hung up his bat for his country’s one-day side, so his personal duel with Tendulkar is not over. A 1996 World Cup winner with Sri Lanka when they beat Australia in the final in Pakistan, Jayasuriya is also a useful left-arm spinner with 310 ODI wickets behind him, and his presence could well put paid to Morn´e van Vuuren’s chances of making the Dolphins’ limited-over side this season, as the man regarded as one of the best one-day players in history is also contracted for the Standard Bank Pro20 Series that follows the crowded MTN schedule in late January. SS SERIES STANDINGS (halfway stage): 1. Northern Titans 54,62 points; 2 Free State Eagles 49,92 pts; 3 East Cape Warriors 42,24 pts; 4 Highveld Lions 39,22 pts; 5 West Cape Cobras 29,52 pts; 6 KZN Dolphins 26,54 pts. KZN Dolphins: Ahmed Amla (capt), Imraan Khan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Grant Rowley, HD Ackerman, Jon Kent, Pierre de Bruyn, Daryn Smit, Johann Louw, Saidi Mlongo, Yusuf Abdullah, Quinton Friend. KZN Coastal - to meet Boland in Paarl: Darren Govender, Myren Pillay, David Miller, Martin Bekker, Sarel Erwee, Greg Fotheringham, Bradley Barnes, Keshav Maharaj, Vyash Gobind, Ugasen Govender, Emanuel Mkhize, Craig Woods.

Sanath Jayasuriya - New Dolphins signing heads for SA

Sri Lanka star Sanath Jayasuriya arrives in South Africa on Thursday, and will join up with the Dolphins squad for their opening MTN Domestic Championship match against the Lions at Senwes Park, in Potchefstroom, on Friday. Dolphins supporters will have their first opportunity to see Jayasuriya in action at Kingsmead next Wednesday, November 19, when the Durban-based franchise take on the Eagles. The domestic scene will be dominated by limited-overs cricket from now until the end of February, beginning with the 45-over format (November 14-January 16) and then the Standard Bank Pro20 competition (January 21-February 20), before the completion of the SuperSport Series. Meanwhile, a 12-man squad for the Lions match was announced yesterday afternoon. It is a powerful, well-balanced team with H D Ackerman returning from his three-match ban, while Johann Louw is back in the franchise fold after playing for the Proteas in the limited-overs series against Bangladesh. Despite a disappointing run of form in the SuperSport Series, big-hitting Grant Rowley keeps his place in the team for Friday's match. He has been preferred to David Miller, who will play for the Amateur team in the South African Airways Provincial Challenge matches against Boland in Paarl this weekend. The selectors have chosen four specialist pacemen in the squad - Louw, Yusuf Abdullah, Saidi Mlongo and Quinton Friend - with Jon Kent and Pierre de Bruyn providing back-up. The Dolphins will also have the option of using the left-arm spin of Jayasuriya and the right-arm wrist-spin of Daryn Smit. The Dolphins played a practice match at Kingsmead on Friday night. Bowling all-rounder Alfonso Thomas, who is contracted to the Dolphins for limited-overs cricket only this season, is getting married in England next week and will miss the first two matches. Dolphins (v Lions on Friday): Sanath Jayasuriya, Imraan Khan, H D Ackerman, Ahmed Amla (capt), Grant Rowley, Jon Kent, Pierre de Bruyn, Daryn Smit (w/k), Johann Louw, Quinton Friend, Saidi Mlongo, Yusuf Abdullah. KZN Amateur team (for 3- and 1-day matches v Boland on Nov 13-16): Darren Govender, Myren Pillay, David Miller, Martin Bekker (capt), Sarel Erwee, Greg Fotheringham, Bradley Barnes (w/k), Keshav Maharaj, Vyash Gobind, Ugasen Govender, Emannuel Mkhize, Craig Woods.