Sports in Brief

Eight-wicket Masters stuns Leicestershire

CRICKET: LONDON, July 30 (AFP) - David Masters took eight wickets as Leicestershire were bowled out for just 34 by Essex in English cricket’s County Championship on Friday.

Masters, a 33-year-old seam bowler, finished with the astonishing figures of eight wickets for 10 runs in 7.4 overs as hosts Essex cruised to a crushing 280-run Second Division victory.

Leicestershire, set 315 to win, saw their second innings last just 72 minutes at Southend, east of London.

Kumar fined

NOTTINGHAM, England, July 31 (AFP) - India seamer Praveen Kumar was fined 20 percent of his match fee for dissent at an umpire’s decision during the first day of the second Test against England at Trent Bridge.

Kumar, who pleaded guilty at a post-play hearing, couldn’t hide his frustration after an lbw appeal against England’s Kevin Pietersen was turned down by South African umpire Marais Erasmus in the 18th over.

Matara Ladies win by 8 wkts

by Priyan de Silva - Matara Sports Corr.

CRICKET: Matara Ladies beat Pushpadana Ladies Cricket Club by eight wickets in the Inter-Club Ladies division two cricket tournament match played last Saturday at the Uyanwatte Stadium, Matara. PUSHPADANA LADIES C.C.: 76 in 15.5 overs (Harshani Wijeratna 13, Shani Somaratne 11; Nadeesha Dilani 5 for 18, Malsha Gamarachchi 3 for 18, Tharanga Janaki 1 for 12).

Matara Ladies: 79 for 2 wkts in 9 overs (Kaumadi de Silva 13 not out, Malsha Gamarachchi 7 not out, Hirunika Indraratna 1 for 19)