Sports
Afghanistan’s Uncle – Nephew Partnership
by Rex Clementine
In politics we have seen uncles and nephews batting together. Here we have a political party too that is famous for uncles promoting nephews. If you notice the one off Test between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan at SSC this week, the opposition’s opening batters had the same surname – Ibrahim Zadran and Noor Ali Zadran. They are uncle and nephew.
Ibrahim, is a sort of veteran in Afghan cricket although he is only 22-years-old. He has featured in his nation’s six of the eight Test matches. He is the nephew. Noor Ali was making his debut and he is 35-years-old. He is the uncle.
Isn’t it strange. For a 35-year-old to make his debut and the first Test cap to be handed over by the nephew. But that is what happened at SSC at the start of the Test match. This is a funny game we told you.
So how did the uncle and nephew fare? Pretty well actually although Afghanistan lost by ten wickets.
Noor Ali is a solid opener playing the waiting game willing to bat deep. His game though is limited. Which is why it has taken him so long to make a look in. Gusty cricketer though. Ibrahim will go onto become one of the greats of the game going by the early signs. He is a treat to watch with a tight defence and attacking instinct pouncing on the loose balls.
Ibrahim has already gone onto become a sensation in limited overs cricket. He posted his maiden Test hundred at SSC.
Noor Ali scored 31 and 47 in the Test. The uncle and nephew added 106 runs for the first wicket in the second innings, a new record for Afghanistan in Test match cricket.
Uncle and nephew representing the same team is something extremely rare leave alone in Test cricket but even First-Class cricket. One occasion that you can recall is Joe Denly being joined by Jayden Denly in English County Cricket. They were playing for Kent.
Afghanistan Head Coach Jonathan Trott applauded Ibrahim’s efforts.
“Ibrahim spent the whole day in the field and then fielded in the morning on the third day of a Test with humidity and the temperature close to 40 degrees. But then also the mental strength it takes as well – getting nought in the first innings, and then being able to field for 100-plus overs, and then being able to spend the amount of time he did at the crease is credit to him as a youngster.”
“It’s a good example for the rest of the players of Afghanistan – the standards of Test cricket, and the fitness you need to call upon. The way that he trains is second to none, and he’s a great ambassador for the game, and the country,” Trott added.
The teams will now move to Kandy for the ODI series. Watch out for the nephew. This could be another Virat Kohli in the making.
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)
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)
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)
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