Sports
Lucknow Super Giants outwit Rajasthan Royals in low-scoring contest
Marcus Stonis’s all-round efforts (a 16-ball 21 & 2-28) helped Lucknow Super Giants secure a 10-run win over Rajasthan Royals, in Jaipur, to retain the second spot on the points table. After posting 154 for 7, courtesy Kyle Mayers’ half-century and Nicholas Pooran’s late blitz, the visitors restricted Royals to 144 for 6, despite an 87-run opening stand by Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Lucknow Super Giants’ start was extremely slow. Trent Boult’s tight lines notwithstanding, KL Rahul and Kyle Mayers didn’t attempt too many attacking strokes. The left-arm pacer bowled 11 dot balls in his first two overs. The openers managed only 37 runs in the powerplay, with the former going at run-a-ball 17 and the latter even slower – 18-ball 16. It was the lowest score registered in the powerplay without the loss of a wicket in IPL 2023.
On a pitch that stayed low despite being hard on the surface, shot-making was difficult. The duo brought up their half-century stand in 46 balls, but then broke free for a few overs. Mayers flatbatted Jason Holder for a six over the long off boundary and followed it up by off-driving Chahal for another maximum in the next over. KL Rahul also joined his opening partner in the attack, by hitting a boundary and a six in those two overs.
By the time the duo was separated – when Rahul holed out to Buttler at long on, after being put down twice earlier in the innings (on 6 and 12) – LSG had picked up pace, at 82 for 1 in 10.4 overs.
In a space of 20 balls, Rajasthan Royals struck four times. Following Rahul’s dismissal, Boult returned to bowl his final over and cleaned up Ayush Badoni, who missed out on a lap shot. Ashwin then struck twice in an over, having Deepak Hooda caught at deep midwicket and cleaning up Mayers, reducing LSG to 104 for 4 in 14 overs. Boult, who had finished his spell by then, returned figures of 1 for 16.
While most batters struggled to get going early on, Stonis got off the mark by reverse-sweeping Ashwin for a boundary. The hard-hitting Australian was able to rotate the strike easily but Nicholas Pooran, his partner at the other end, struggled for the majority of his stay.
However, Pooran turned it around in the penultimate over when he took down Jason Holder, hammering his fellow West Indian for two boundaries and a six in a 17-run over.
With what seemed like a below-par total, Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal were content in going slow early on. While Jaiswal managed only 1 run in his first five balls, Buttler was pacing at 5 runs in 14 balls before cracking his first boundary. While both the batters took some risks, and even managed 47 runs in the powerplay, they seemed in little difficulty.
Barring one thick edge off Jaiswal that was dropped by Naveen ul haq at short third while he was batting on 22, in the sixth over, there wasn’t much threat from the bowlers on a slowish wicket. The duo went on to add 87 runs for the opening wicket before the southpaw was eventually dismissed in the 12th over, cutting to Avesh at short third. Even at that point, Buttler was comfortably cruising at run-a-ball 35.
The stutter started with the fall of Sanju Samson, who was short of his crease while attempting a quick single amidst some miscommunication over the run with his partner, Buttler. The opener followed soon after, getting caught at deep midwicket.
Hard lengths with slower balls worked well on the surface that was playing slow and low, not allowing the batters to time their shots well, especially with one end of the boundary being extremely long. Stoinis used that to good effect, and bagged the wickets of the LSG openers.
The tactic allowed LSG to strangle RR’s scoring and even paved the way for the wickets of batters who went early in their shots, like Shimron Hetmyer a couple of overs later, when he top-edged an Avesh delivery to Rahul at long on. LSG also slipped to a similar position – 104 for 4 – but in 15.1 overs.
Devdutt Padikkal, who was brought in as an Impact Substitute, smashed Stonis for three boundaries in this final over, but Riyan Parag’s struggles from the other end didn’t help. The required rate kept climbing quickly, and despite three boundaries off Stoinis’s last over, RR were left needing 19 runs in the final over.
With an additional fielder inside the 30-yard circle due to LSG’s slow over rate, Avesh Khan was up against a nervy challenge which he aced despite getting hit for a boundary off the first ball. He had Padikkal caught behind and Dhruv Jorel caught at long on to end RR’s hopes.
Brief Scores:
Lucknow Super Giants 154/7 in 20 overs (Kyle Mayers 51, KL Rahul 39; R Ashwin 2-23) beat Rajasthan Royals 144/6 in 20 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 44, Jos Buttler 40; Avesh Khan 3-25, Marcus Stoinis 2-28) by 10 runs
Sri Lanka will begin their three match T20I series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Friday with an opportunity for several youngsters to stake their claims, although the absence of Pathum Nissanka leaves a sizeable hole at the top of the order.
Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s highest-ranked batter in the ICC T20I rankings, has been one of the side’s most consistent performers in recent years and his absence deprives the tourists of a proven match-winner against a Pakistan attack that will still carry plenty of firepower despite resting several senior players.
The three T20Is will be played in Rawalpindi on October 9, 11 and 13 before attention switches to the seven match ODI tri-series involving hosts Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England.
While Sri Lanka will miss Nissanka, his absence opens the door for highly rated Sineth Jayawardene, who has been earmarked as one for the future. The former Sri Lanka Under-19 captain now has an opportunity to show that he can make the considerable jump from domestic and age group cricket to the international stage. Sineth skippered Royal College, Colombo with distinction.
There will also be considerable interest in leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, another player Sri Lanka have invested in with an eye on the future. With Wanindu Hasaranga out of the equation, Viyaskanth has an opportunity to make a strong case for a regular berth rather than remain on the fringes.
Sri Lanka will be encouraged by the fact that Pakistan too have opted to look beyond some of their established names for the T20I leg of the tour.
Sahibzada Farhan will captain Pakistan after leading them at the recently concluded Asian Games in Japan, taking over from Salman Ali Agha, who has been left out of the T20I squad. Salman remains part of Pakistan’s ODI plans.
Pakistan have also rested Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the T20Is, although both return for the ODI tri-series, where Shaheen will continue as captain.
The hosts have named uncapped all-rounders Razaullah and Mohammad Imran Randhawa in their 15-member T20I squad, while Maaz Sadaqat and Hasan Nawaz have been rewarded for impressive performances at the Asian Games.
Hasan finished the tournament as Pakistan’s leading run scorer with 123 runs, including a blistering 96 off 51 balls against India in the final, although Pakistan had to settle for silver.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah returns to Pakistan’s T20I squad having last played the format against Sri Lanka in February, while Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed provide experience.
For Sri Lanka, while Nissanka’s runs will be sorely missed his absence means someone else has the chance to put his hand up. Sri Lanka will hope one or two of their young guns grab that opportunity with both hands.
The ODI tri-series will follow the T20Is, with the first three matches being played in Rawalpindi before the tournament moves to Lahore for the remaining league games and the final.
Pakistan have retained a more experienced core for the 50-over competition, with Babar, Salman, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf among those included.
Former Pakistan Under-19 captain Saad Baig has earned his maiden ODI call-up after scoring more than 1,000 runs in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, while left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Moqim is another notable inclusion.
Pakistan have also strengthened their backroom staff, bringing back former Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait as bowling consultant. Tait previously served as Pakistan’s bowling coach in 2022-23 and replaces Ashley Noffke, who left after the Asian Games to take over as Netherlands head coach.
ATF Under-16 Colombo Week 1 Tennis
Sri Lanka’s junior players delivered a series of impressive performances on Wednesday, with the girls claiming all four semi-final places at the ATF Under-16 Colombo 2026 Week 1 tournament, held at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts.
Damsath Peiris
Methuli Naotunne led the charge with a notable quarter-final win over India’s Yashmitha Santhosh, recovering from a set loss to prevail 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. Kiara Jayamanne also came from behind to beat India’s Ahnavi Shaw 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Risindi
Hewawasam
In an all-Sri Lankan quarter-final, Risindi Hewawasam overcame Desandi Peiris 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, while Disini Samaraweera defeated Sayli Basnayake 3-6, 6-2, 6-0.
The Sri Lankan boys also impressed. Damsath Peiris beat Buvindu Jayawardhana 8-2, 7-6, and Yonal Dankumbura battled to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Jayan Sebastian.
The visiting players, however, proved tough to beat. The Philippines’ Anthony Castigador defeated Sri Lanka’s Dehan Wickramasinghe 6-2, 6-4, and India’s Gurshaan Chahal fought back to overcome Udeera Gunasinghe 2-6, 7-5, 7-5.
(RF)
Mosvold Sixes 2026 concluded on Sunday at the Colombo Malay Cricket Club with Travel Trends Leisure crowned champions after a closely fought final against last year’s winners, Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka, who finished as runners-up. Transco Travels were second runners-up.
Twenty three destination management companies took part in the six-a-side softball cricket tournament, organised by Mosvold Sri Lanka.
The Mosvold Martinus Challenge Trophy 2026 was presented to the champions by Nilanka Martinus, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Mosvold Boutique Hotels. Chief Guest Farveez Maharoof, the former Sri Lanka all-rounder, presented the runners-up award to Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka.
This year’s twenty three competing DMCs were Tangerine Tours, Sri Lanka Tailormade, Olanka Travels, Antiquity Sri Lanka, Travel Trends Leisure, House of Travels & Tourism, NKAR Travels & Tours, Jetwing Travels, Walkers Tours, Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka, Delux Holidays, Ceylon Roots, Spiceland Holidays, Infinity Vacations, Tropiculture, Serene Travels, Authenticities, Red Apple Travel & Holidays Lanka, DTH Travel Lanka, Hayleys Travels, We stay Ceylon, Transco Travels and Ceylon Tours.
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