Sports

Jadeja, Santner and Rahane hand Mumbai a drubbing

Published

4 years ago

2023/04/10

Ajinkya Rahane hit three sixes while scoring 61 off 27 balls

Chennai Super Kings lost their premier seamer Deepak Chahar to injury after he had bowled just one over. They were already without the match-winner from their last game, Moeen Ali (illness), and Ben Stokes (injured), but Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner combined to carve up Mumbai Indians’ middle order on a Wankhede pitch that offered some grip and turn.

Mumbai boy Tushar Deshpande also pitched in with the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Tim David as Super Kings limited Mumbai to 157 for 8. Ajinkya Rahane, another Mumbai boy, dashed out of the blocks for Super Kings, hitting a 19-ball half-century to set up their chase. His 27-ball 61 on Super Kings debut allowed Ruturaj Gaikwad and rest of the batters breathing room after Devon Conway had fallen for a duck.

In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who has been sidelined from the entire tournament with a back injury, and Jofra Archer, who sat out of this game as a precautionary measure, Mumbai’s attack lacked experience and penetration.

Rohit, Kishan start strongly for Mumbai

As Santner suggested during the mid-innings chat, the ball slid onto the bat nicely in the early exchanges before the pitch slowed down. Rohit charged out of the crease third ball and pumped Chahar over extra-cover before backing away and carving Deshpande over point for four in the next over.

Sisanda Magala had a tough initiation to the IPL as Ishan Kishan took him for three fours in his first over, the third of the innings, which cost 14 runs overall. Magala, a death-bowling specialist from South Africa, was operating early in the powerplay because Chahar had left the field, clutching his hamstring, after bowling the first over.

But Deshpande stepped up, drawing movement off the surface to beat Rohit’s outside edge and hit the top of middle and off with a beauty. Kishan then smashed Magala for two more fours, helping Mumbai end the powerplay at 61 for 1.

Left-arm spin is right for CSK

In Super Kings’ previous game at Chepauk against Lucknow Super Giants, Jadeja bowled just one over as MS Dhoni kept him away from first Kyle Mayers and then Nicholas Pooran. On Saturday, Dhoni brought Jadeja into the attack immediately after the powerplay and the allrounder responded by having Kishan hole out for 32 off 21 balls.

Jadeja kept bowling into the Wankhede pitch and came away with the wickets of Tilak Varma (22) and Cameron Green (12) as well.

Santner might not have played this game had Stokes or Moeen been available for selection, but he proved his worth once again. In stark contrast to Jadeja, Santner tossed the ball up at a much slower pace and dismissed both Suryakumar Yadav (1) and the left-handed Arshad Khan, who had been promoted to No.6 to counter him and Jadeja.

Tim David, who was pushed down to No.7, went 6, 4, 6 against Deshpande before the seamer struck back to have him dragging an offcutter to deep midwicket. After taking a pasting in the powerplay, Magala unleashed his yorkers and slower variations at the death to finish with 4-0-37-1.

Rahane slots into Uthappa role

After Conway fell in familiar fashion, chopping on in the first over, Rahane went on an unfamiliar boundary-hitting spree in the powerplay He crashed Arshad for 6, 4, 4, 4, 4 in the fourth over, and by the end of the powerplay he had zoomed to his half-century, setting Super Kings up for a net-run-rate-boosting victory.

Before Robin Uthappa retired from international and Indian cricket last September, he used to be the enforcer in the powerplay and middle overs for Super Kings. Rahane slotted into this role straightaway, affording Gaikwad space to go at a run a ball or thereabouts.

Mumbai brought in left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya as their Impact Player, but Super Kings messed with their plans by promoting their spin-hitter Shivam Dube to No. 4. Kartikeya eventually bowled Dube for 28 off 26 balls, but the game was all but up by then. Rayudu, who replaced Chahar as Super Kings’ Impact Player, and Gaikwad completed the formalities with seven wickets and almost two overs to spare.

Super Kings notched up their second successive victory and will be bolstered further by the arrival of Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana ahead of their home game against Rajasthan Royals on April 12. On the other hand, Mumbai slipped to their second successive loss and are still searching for their first points this season.

(cricinfo)

Scores:

Mumbai Indians 157 for 8 wkts in 20 Overs (Tim David 31, Ishan Kishan 32; Ravindra Jadeja 3/20)

Chennai Super Kings 159 for 3 wkts in 18.1 Overs (Ajinkya Rahane 61; Jason Behrendorff 1/24)

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Sports

Dilshan, Hirupama named best athletes at All Island Schools Games Athletics Championships

Published

5 hours ago

2026/10/21

Sahan Weerasooriya

Lyceum International School, Wattala dominated the girls' category.

Hurdler Kaveesha Dilshan of Kularathna MV, Godakawela and sprinter Risansa Hirupama of Lyceum International, Wattala were named best athletes for their outstanding performances at the All Island Schools Games Athletics Championships, which concluded at Diyagama on Tuesday.

‎Dilshan earned the title with a 14.02-second run in the Under 20 boys’ 110m hurdles. Kishal Oshada, the best athlete in the Under 18 category, also comes from his school. Both hurdlers are trained by Thiron Gamage, and both outclassed their opponents in the sprint hurdles.

‎Hirupama excelled in the Under 20 girls’ 200m. Her time of 24.23 seconds earned the highest score in the girls’ events (1,026 points).

‎St. Joseph Vaz’s College, Wennappuwa, and Lyceum International, Wattala, claimed the overall boys’ and girls’ championships respectively.

Kaveesha Dilshan and sprinter Risansa Hirupama with
their best athlete awards. (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi

‎St. Joseph Vaz’s amassed 118 points to finish ahead of Maris Stella College, Thimbirigaskatuwa (95). Rahula College, Matara, took third place with 82 points. Former track and field powerhouses St. Benedict’s, Kotahena (54), and Maris Stella, Negombo (54), missed out on the top three.

‎Lyceum dominated the girls’ category with 215 points. Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya (70), and Ave Maria Convent, Negombo (62), finished second and third respectively.

‎For the first time in more than two decades, Ratnayake Central were not among the leading teams in the girls’ category. Most of their athletes struggled after an outbreak of flu, but late performances over the last two days helped them secure fourth place. (RF)

Sports

Wesley upset Richmond to join Mahanama and Nalanda in semis

Published

5 hours ago

2026/10/21

Sahan Weerasooriya

St. Joseph Vaz's College Wennappuwa won the boys' overall championship.

Mahanma College, Colombo and Nalanda College Colombo registeted convincing victories in the quarter finals while dark horses Wesley ended Richmond’s unbeaten run with a win according to the DLS method to seal the semi-final spots of the Under 19 Division I Tier A tournament on Tuesday.

‎Mahanama rattled St. Joseph’s for meagre 84 runs before cruising to a seven-wicket win at Mattegoda. Kaushika Thilakarathne and Sanuka Ganepola shared seven wickets between them to trouble the Joes.

‎Thilakarathne spearheaded the bowling attack, claiming four wickets for 13 runs in nine overs, while Sanuka Ganepola supported him with an impressive spell of three for nine in nine overs. Sanul Weerarathne captured two wickets for 12 runs.

‎Mahanama reached 85 for three wickets as Sineth Veerarathne top scored with 52 runs (53 balls).

‎Nalanda College defeated St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota by 77 runs at Campbell Place.

‎Nalanda posted a competitive 234 for six in their allotted 50 overs, with Ranmith Senarath top-scoring with 52 off 79 balls. Nemindu Akmeemana contributed 47, while Lithum Wijekumara made 32. Mihin Zoysa added 29 before Santhul Wijeyarathne provided a late boost with an unbeaten 30 off just 13 deliveries.

‎In their essay St. Anthony’s were dismissed for 157 in 44 overs. Sadew Amarakoon fought hard with 47 off 94 balls, while Kaushika Kumarasinghe scored 38 off 41 deliveries. However, Nalanda’s bowlers maintained control, with Rusandu Silva taking four wickets for 22 runs. Osanda Pamuditha supported him with two wickets for 22 runs to seal a convincing victory for the hosts.

‎After posting 141 for six in 30 overs, Wesley did well to restrict Richmond to 109 for eight in 23 overs to stay ahead according to DLS method at Weeraketiya.

‎Adhyaan Zain and Senura Lakshan bowled controlled spells taking three wickets each to seal the semi-final place. Wesley are set to meet Nalanda in the semis. (RF)

Sports

Heshara, Shashen, Dilini among top performers

Published

5 hours ago

2026/10/21

Sahan Weerasooriya

by Reemus Fernando

Heshara Jayasinghe, Shashen Rajapaksha and Dilini Rajapaksha were among the athletes who excelled creating meet records during the morning session of the final day of the All Island Schools Games Athletics Championship at Diyagama on Tuesday.

‎Shashen Ravihansa Rajapaksha of Ratnayake Central Walala set the tone on the track, clocking an impressive 8:58.50 to win the Under 18 boys’ 3000 metres. The time established a new meet record and made the school’s presence felt to a great extent. Many Ratnayake Central athletes had fallen ill recently denying them their usual top positions in the overall points table.

Dilini Rajapaksha in action in the Under 18 girls’ triple jump (L) / K.K. Baalasooriya of Sumana Balika Vidyalaya Ratnapura in action in the Under 20 girls’ discuss throw (R)

‎In field events, Heshara Jayasinghe of St. Joseph Vaz’s College Wennappuwa produced a landmark performance in the Under 20 boys’ shot put. His effort of 17.30 metres made him the first athlete in the event’s history to clear the 17 metre mark, and it also broke the meet record previously held by Jayavi Ranhinda Alwis.

‎Abhimani Kodituwakku of Dharmapala College Pannipitiya delivered a remarkable run in the Under 20 girls’ 400 metres hurdles. Her time of 1:01.57 erased the nine-year-old record held by Yamani Dulanjali of Ambagamuwa Central.

‎K.K. Baalasooriya of Sumana Balika Vidyalaya Ratnapura joined the record-breakers with a throw of 41.82 metres in the Under 20 girls’ discus throw.

‎Lyceum International Wattala’s Dilini Rajapaksha then created a new meet record in the Under 18 girls’ triple jump, clearing 12.73 metres.

Shashen Ravihansa Rajapaksha of Ratnayake Central Walala
won the Under 18 boys’ 3000 metres with a new record mark. (L) / Gimhani Pulle of St. Andrew’s MV won the Under 18 girls’ 3,000 metres. (R)