Sports

Marsh, Short, Abbott sparkle as Australia seal series

Published

3 years ago

2023/09/2

Priyan

Sean Abbott celebrates with his team-mates (Cricinfo)

The southern hemisphere’s equinox is still three weeks away but September 1 is celebrated as the day the seasons change in this part of the world, and it was Australia who left with the spring in their step after they wrapped up the T20I series in Durban. After defending 226 in the first T20I, they chased down 165 with more than five overs to spare in the second to suggest their depth is far stronger than that of their hosts.

The standout player in both fixtures was Australia’s new captain Mitchelle Marsh , who is yet to be dismissed in this series. He followed up his unbeaten 92 with 76 not out in the chase and shared a century stand with Mathew Short to leave the inconsistency in the South African attack exposed for the second successive match.

South Africa’s most experienced bowler, Lungi Ngidi, has conceded the most runs in the series so far and his variations have not threatened enough, while the back-up seam options do not have the discipline to hold their own. In contrast, Australia’s pace pack was impressive and incisive and kept South Africa under control for most of the innings.

Sean Abott conceded at 5.50 runs an over and Nathan Ellis and Jason Behrendorff at 6.25 as Australia made run-scoring difficult for South Africa upfront. A 51-run fifth-wicket stand between Tristan Stubbs and Aiden Markram steadied them through the middle-overs before 41-runs between Markram and Gerald Coetzee gave the innings some late impetus but after the way Australia batted on Wednesday, it was never going to be enough.

Temba Bavuma moved on from duck in the first match with an aggressive 17-ball 35 in the first three overs before he skied Abbott to Josh Inglis. It opened the door for Australia to take the early honours. Abbott could have had Rassie van der Dussen in the same over when he beat him on the flick and struck the pad but Marsh decided it was too high to review.

Australia did not have to wait too long to see the back of the South African No.3. In the next over, van der Dussen was out lbw to Behrendorff and reviewed the decision but replays confirmed the ball would have gone on to his middle and off.

Then it was over to Ellis who closed out the powerplay with a double-wicket maiden. He tested Reeza Hendricks with a full and then shorter delivery before the length ball hit him under the knee roll, for which he was given out lbw. He then had Dewald Brevis reaching for a full ball that shaped away and was caught behind. His hat-trick delivery almost found Stubbs’ edge but the batter pulled out of the shot in time and South Africa went from 36 without loss to 46 for 4 in 18 balls.

At 115 for 6 at the start of the 15th over, South Africa needed a strong finish to get to a competitive total and it was up to the captain to get them there. Markram started the last five overs with an 80-metre helicopter shot over long-on. He went on to flick Adam Zampa through mid-wicket and then drive him aerially over the covers for six and turned a run-a-ball 25 into a 38-ball 49. He was looking for a half-century when he hit a low full toss from Abbott to mid-wicket but South Africa scored 49 runs off the last five overs to finish with a decent total to defend. And the captain decided he would be the one to begin the defence.

After not bowling himself at all in the opening match, Markram took the new ball this time. He got away with a short ball down leg upfront and gave away just a single in the first over to put the pressure on Australia’s openers. But he kept himself on for an over too many and Travis Head took three fours off his second to put Australia back on track

Known for his ability to deliver a tight first over, Bjorn Fortuin had to wait until the eighth over and it turned out to be too late. By the time Fortuin was brought on Marsh was well set and left no margin for error and took 18 runs off him to take the game away from South Africa. When Fortuin went wide, Marsh first fetched him from outside off to hit him over midwicket then cut him through point; when Fortuin overpitched, Marsh drove through the covers and when Fortuin followed Marsh as he made room for himself outside off, the Australian captain saved the best for last and smashed him over mid-on for six. At 79 for 1, Australia were scoring at almost 10 runs an over after eight overs and had broken the back of the target.

In just his second T20I, Short scored a match-winning first half-century in the format, at a strike rate of 220. After a fairly quiet start, he showed his intent as the powerplay came to an end and took 20 runs off Ngidi, whose slower ball only encouraged Short’s quick reactions. But it was later in the innings, when Gerald Coetzee was brought on to bowl a second that Short really showed off his touch. Although Coetzee’s inconsistency helped, Short timed the ball well through backward point, reached fifty with a powerful pull, helped a low full toss to fine leg for four, drove through the covers, and pulled over mid-wicket. The over cost 24 runs and the game was all but done.

Brief scores:

Australia 165 for 2 (Marsh 76, Shamsi 1-40) beat South Africa 164 for 8 (Markram 49, Abbott 3-22) by eight wickets

(Cricinfo)

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Sports

President’s Balika win gold at All Island School Games

Published

12 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

President’s Balika Nawala, won the girls’ hockey title at the All Island Schools Games, held recently at the Astro Turf, Reid Avenue. It was the second consecutive year the school had claimed the title.

Nethuli Dinethmi, who played a vital role in the team’s success, was named Best Player of the tournament.The victorious team is pictured here with the school’s officials, namely, H.P.M.P.D.Hasanthi Pathirathna, Principal, S.K.Tharsha Ranasinghe, Vice Principal, M.D.D. Aloka Dissanayake, Teacher in Charge of Sports, R.P.D. Dilrukshi, Teacher in Charge of Sports and Chathura Kalum Rupasinghe (Coach).

(Pic by Thushara Athapaththu)

Sports

Sorry state of Sri Lanka’s T20 cricket

Published

12 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka were once pioneers in limited overs cricket, setting the bar so high that the rest of the world was left scrambling to catch up. And mind you, this was not confined to the 50 over format, where Sri Lanka tore up the coaching manuals, embraced an unconventional brand of cricket and took the world by storm.

Even in T20 cricket, despite not possessing an abundance of power hitters, Sri Lanka punched well above their weight.

Clever improvisation, fearless innovation and a willingness to back unorthodox talent helped them make the cricketing world eat humble pie. Fast forward to the present, however, and the picture is anything but rosy. Sri Lanka’s T20 cricket is in a sorry state, and there is no hiding the mountain of work ahead.

In Pakistan, their shortcomings have been laid bare, with the team repeatedly found wanting and left high and dry.

Successive administrations have tried every trick in the book to arrest the slide. Power hitting coaches have been brought in, psychologists engaged, players given unrestricted access to franchise leagues and emerging talent afforded regular exposure. Yet, for all these efforts, Sri Lanka’s players, particularly the batters, have struggled to raise the bar.

The series defeat to Pakistan was Sri Lanka’s fifth this year. Add to that the disappointments at the World Cup and the Asian Games and the picture becomes even more depressing. True, Sri Lanka returned from Japan with a bronze medal, but India provided a brutal reminder of the widening gulf between the haves and the have nots.

So, where do Sri Lanka go from here?

The Cricket Committee would do well to pick the brains of captains and coaches who have cracked the T20 code in recent years. There is no shame in learning from those who have mastered the format. The challenge is to identify a blueprint for su ccess and see how best those ideas can be adapted to Sri Lankan cricket.

Head coach Gary Kirsten himself has worked with successful franchises around the world. Perhaps he should be given a free hand to bring in specialist expertise if he believes that is what the team needs.

For all the disappointments in T20 cricket, fielding had remained one area where Sri Lanka could still hold their heads high. Alarmingly, even that department is beginning to unravel. The wheels appear to be coming off in a discipline that was once a hallmark of Sri Lankan cricket.

There were, however, a few encouraging signs in the final game against Pakistan. The manner in which Kusal Mendis went about his business was a breath of fresh air. The Sri Lankan captain struck at an impressive 181, combining clean hitting with the sort of innovation that has been conspicuously absent from the team’s batting.

Kamindu Mendis, too, showed signs of returning to form and Sri Lankan supporters will be hoping the pair can carry that momentum into the triangular ODI competition, also featuring England, which gets underway later this week.

Sri Lanka badly missed Pathum Nissanka, their highest ranked T20I batter at number nine in the ICC rankings. His absence robbed the batting line up of much needed quality and consistency. To compound matters, a troublesome hamstring has left his participation in the ODI leg uncertain as well.

The occasional flash of brilliance may offer some comfort, but it cannot disguise the larger malaise. Sri Lanka were once the trendsetters in limited overs cricket. Today, they are struggling to keep pace with the rest. Unless there is a serious rethink, the gap will only grow wider.

Sports

Richmond seal quarter final berth as Tenusha bags another five wicket haul

Published

12 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

Tenusha Nimsara

by Reemus Fernando

Richmond College, Galle wrapped up their group stage unbeaten as Tenusha Nimsara claimed his second five-wicket haul of the tournament, steering them to a thrilling two-wicket win over D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo, in their U19 Division I Tier A Limited Overs Tournament Group B encounter at Karandeniya on Wednesday.

‎Chasing a modest target of 118, Richmond reached 118 for eight in 44.2 overs, surviving a tense battle after DSS had put up a determined fight with the ball.

‎Earlier, DSS were bowled out for 117 as Richmond’s bowlers delivered an impressive collective performance. Left arm spinner Nimsara was the standout performer, claiming five wickets for just eight runs in eight overs, including two maidens. Hiruk Akalanka and Punal Hansajith claimed one wicket each, while Tenura Dias and Gayuka Manawadu took two and one wickets respectively. It was Nimsara’s second five-wicket haul. He has 14 wickets against his name going to the quarter finals.

‎Richmond struggled in their essay as DSS bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the chase. Sadil Dias led the attack with three wickets for 26 runs, while Oshadha Perera claimed two wickets.

‎Vinuda Ravishan played a crucial role in Richmond’s chase, scoring 44 off 114 deliveries.

Unbroken seventh-wicket stand steers Wesley

‎Wesley College secured a vital four-wicket victory over S. Thomas’ College in their Tier A match at Mount Lavinia thanks largely to an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership.

‎Chasing a modest target of 140, Wesley were in trouble at 82 for six before Lithum Senuja and Lithma Perera joined forces to guide their side home. The pair shared an unbroken 58-run partnership for the seventh wicket, taking Wesley to 140 for six in 44.1 overs.

‎Senuja anchored the innings with a patient unbeaten 46 off 116 balls, while Perera provided valuable support with an unbeaten 25 off 43 deliveries. Their composed partnership ensured Wesley overcame a difficult situation to claim victory.‎

St Joseph’s secure quarter-final place

‎St Joseph’s College, Darley Road scored a 46 run win under the DLS method against Thurstan in their encounter at Darley Road to secure a place in the quarter finals.

‎Batting first, St Joseph’s posted 193 all out in 44.4 overs, with Kavith Fernando top-scoring with 53 off 53 balls. Yenula Dantanarayana contributed 38 and Aveesha Samash made 36.

‎Thurstan reached 112 for seven in 30 overs against a revised par score of 158. Rachintha De Silva scored 42 off 27 balls, while Vigneswaran Akash starred with three wickets for 21 runs. Nushan Perera and Vishwa Peiris claimed two wickets each.

‎Earlier in the tournament they beat Gurukula and St. Servatius’ while conceeding their only defeat against Nalanda.‎

Mahanama beat Cambrians

‎Mahanama College, Colombo, beat Prince of Wales’ College, Moratuwa, by five wickets in their match at Moratuwa. Prince of Wales’ scored 141/9 in 27 overs, with Matheesha Aponsu top-scoring with 58. Mahanama chased down the target, reaching in 18.4 overs. Sineth Veerarathne scored 48 off 26 balls, while Dulneth Algawatte remained unbeaten on 30. Ojash Shankar took three wickets for Prince of Wales.‎

‎Janith Panditharathna took four wickets as St. Peter’s College Colombo beat Lumbini by 58 runs in their match at Colts ground.