Sports

Deja vu in Galle?

Published

3 years ago

2023/07/20

Prabath Jayasuriya claimed two wickets and ran out Nauman Ali to reduce Pakistan to 48 for three, chasing a target of 131 in the first Test in Galle on Wednesday.

by Rex Clementine

When Pakistan were in Galle in 2009, they went to their hotel; the fabulous Jetwing Lighthouse; on the penultimate day, thinking they had the Test match in the bag. They were 71 for two and needed a further 97 runs to take the lead in the series. But what followed the next morning was absolute carnage. Pakistan were shot out for 117 as Rangana Herath spun Sri Lanka to a famous win.

It was a game of many milestones. Kumar Sangakkara’s first Test as captain and Angelo Mathews debuted. The brightest man to play the game since Mike Brearley, Sanga rather than relying on spinners who were at home, was convinced that Pakistan’s Achilles heel was left-arm spin and Herath would do the job. So he appealed to the board to fly Herath from Manchester where he was playing League Cricket to replace the injured Murali. The rest as they say is history.

Of course, some believe that the game was dodgy. Left-arm quick Mohammad Amir played that game and so did Salman Butt and was dismissed in horrendous fashion. Both crooks ended up in jail a year later for spot fixing.

Similarly, chasing a target of 131, Pakistan finished day four on 48 for three this time around and need a further 83 runs to win the game. Can Prabath Jayasuriya do a Rangana Herath and become an hero? We shall know today.

Catching has been the big difference in this game between the sides. While Pakistan pulled off some stunners, Sri Lanka dropped Saud Shakeel twice as he went onto become the first Pakistani to score a double hundred in Sri Lanka.

Several Sri Lankan batters in their second innings got starts but failed to support Dhananjaya de Silva. The vice-captain, who had smashed his tenth Test hundred in the first innings again top scored with 82 runs and looked set to do a Duleep Mendis by scoring twin hundreds in a Test match.

But Pakistan took the second new ball just when things were getting out of hand and Shaheen Afridi is too good a bowler not to make an impact and once Dhananjaya was gone, Sri Lanka were done and dusted.

Nishan Madushka did score a half-century opening the innings. He was dismissed soon after completing his milestone as Sri Lanka lost three wickets each either side of the lunch break.

Ramesh Mendis proved what a capable player he is scoring 42 and added 76 runs for the seventh wicket with Dhananjaya. If not for that stand, this game would have ended with a day two spare.

The Galle pitch offers turn for the spinners and if Sri Lanka can put Pakistan under pressure, take their catches and review rightly, this could be their game. Cricket they say, is a funny game.

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Rasara, Puvitharan rewrite meet records as National Athletics Championship begins

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/5

Thilina Walpola

Rasara Wijesuriya

The 104th National Athletics Championship got off to an impressive start at the Diyagama Stadium, with Rasara Wijesuriya and Arunthavarasa Puvitharan producing record-breaking performances on an action-packed opening day.

‎Rasara dominated the women’s 10,000m to win the gold medal in 33:32.77 seconds, setting a new meet record in the process. G. W. O. N. Fonseka finished second in 38:25.55, while H. I. S. Fernando took the bronze in 39:00.69.

‎Puvitharan provided another record-breaking highlight in the men’s pole vault, clearing 5.10m to establish a new meet record. H. S. Eranga Janith followed with 5.00m for silver, while M. H. I. Sandaruwan secured bronze with 4.90m.

‎The men’s 10,000m produced a closely contested battle, with M. Kobinathan claiming the national title in 30:58.50. M. S. A. Fernando was second in 31:10.08, while D. P. S. S. Senanayaka completed the podium in 31:22.72.

‎As expected Madushani Herath secured the women’s triple jump title with a best effort of 13.60m, finishing ahead of I. S. W. Arachchi, who recorded 13.13m. G. I. S. Lankathilaka took third with 13.00m.

‎In the men’s shot put, Suseenthirakumar Mithunraj produced a winning throw of 16.41m to take gold. W. J. R. Alwis was second with 14.91m, while R. S. Jayawardana secured bronze with 14.47m.

‎Ovini Chandrasekara completed the women’s shot put podium-topping performance, winning gold with a throw of 12.82m. V. D. V. Gimhani took silver with 12.29m and A. D. W. Mendis won bronze with 11.84m.

‎With two new meet records already providing the opening-day highlights in thr morning, the championship has begun on a high note, setting the stage for further strong performances as Sri Lanka’s leading athletes battle for national honours.

Sports

Kusal Mendis, Binura Fernando ruled out of T20I series in England

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/5

Thilina Walpola

Charith Asalanka is currently playing for St Lucia Kings in the CPL (Cricinfo)

Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando have been ruled out of Sri Lanka’s upcoming T20I series against England with the SLC saying that the two were “still undergoing rehabilitation” after injuries picked up at the 2026 Lanka Premier League.

The update came just over a day after the two were named in the 16-member squad, with Kusal retained as captain of both the T20I and the ODI sides.Charith Asalanka, who had returned to the vice-captain’s position for the series, will now lead the side in the T20Is. Though Kusal hasn’t been ruled out of the ODIs just yet, were he to miss out, Asalanka, as the designated vice-captain, might step in there too.

Kusal has been out of action since July 19 with a right hamstring injury, while Binura hasn’t played since August 5, SLC putting his absence down to a back injury.

Pavan Rathnayake, the 24-year-old top-order batter, has replaced Kusal in the T20I touring party, while Dilshan Madushanka, the fast bowler who was in the squad for the Tests against India recently but didn’t get to play, has come in for Binura.

Asalanka returned to the leadership group three months after being deposed as ODI captain and six months after being sidelined from the T20I unit. He last played a T20I in February this year, but is currently part of St Lucia Kings’ line-up at CPL 2026. His returns have been mediocre, though: 93 runs at a strike rate of 124 from six innings.

The T20Is will be played on September 15 (Southampton), September 17 (Cardiff) and September 19 (Manchester), while the ODIs will take place on September 22 (Chester-le-Street), September 24 (Leeds) and September 27 (The Oval).

Sri Lanka T20I squad for the tour of England

Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara (wk), Lahiru Udara (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (capt), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka

(Cricinfo)

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Kusal Mendis, Binura Fernando ruled out of T20I series in England

Published

11 hours ago

2026/09/4

Priyan

Kusal Mendis hasn't played competitively since July 19 (Cricinfo)

Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando have been ruled out of Sri Lanka’s upcoming T20I series against England, with the SLC saying that the two were “still undergoing rehabilitation” after injuries picked up at the 2026 Lanka Premier League.

Kusal has been out of action since July 19 with a right hamstring injury, while Binura hasn’t played since August 5, SLC putting his absence down to a back injury.

Sri Lanka T20I squad for the tour of England

(Cricinfo)