Sports

Zumri steps onto a field of rugby magicians

Published

1 year ago

2025/01/8

By A Special Sports Correspondent

Kandy Sports Club is a bit under pressure when it comes to being committed to rugby. This is because rugby seems to be the only worthwhile entertainment in sport for the folks in the central hills. Hence all eyes are on them and the expectations are that they’d win all the time when the players from the Nittawela club take to the field. It’s not easy to make it to the team wearing the blue, white and red jerseys for new entrants to the club. But last season’s schools rugby sensation from Isipatana College Shahid Zumri made the grade at Kandy SC and sees his name in the team list. He made his debut in club rugby when he played for Kandy SC in the match against Army; which was Kandy’s second match this season. Unofficial reports state that Zumri was unavailable for the first match this season due to an education commitment.

Now it’s going to be a new chapter in life for this lad. He’ll be considered an adult from now onwards, but he’ll have to make his own choices when tempted with choices that are either good or bad. Unlike in Colombo, the distractions are minimum up here in the hills and the Kandy rugby authorities are sticklers for discipline. It’s the disciplined way of life and commitment to the sport that have driven this club to resemble a bullet train. When everything is well set ‘the Kandy bullet train’ is a sight to witness. Anything that blocks its way will be crushed under its wheels. But sadly, last season was an exception. Kandy SC lost its title to CR&FC; losing both the home and away fixtures in the league tournament to the red shirts. Kandy SC even pulled out of the Clifford cup knockout tournament, disappointing rugby fans in the process.

Shaheed Zumri

Players like Zumri have joined the Kandy side at a crucial juncture. This period can be witnessed as a team building time. This means the coaching staff will be experimenting with players, to find the best starting line-up. It’s good for players like Zumri to be groomed into being the next set of players who’d take on the mantle at Kandy Sports Club. That grooming will be done by players in the likes of Tharinda Ratwatte, Nigel Ratwatte and skipper Srinath Sooriyabandara who are the stars in the three quarter line. By the fourth match this season, a veteran of many seasons, Dhanushka Ranjan, lost his place to Zumri. That’s how rugby is; an old hand reigns supreme till a young guy comes knocks him out. The new rugby terms don’t allow us to call the non playing seven or eight players on the bench to be termed as reserves. They are known as finishers. Yes, reserves are very important and are needed to reinforce the side, but not being in the starting lineup gives so many messages to the players on the bench. A club starts off the game with the best it has and not being in that initial 15 means you need to work harder. Dhanushka Ranjan is a sensation when at his best and what we’ve seen from him when at his peak of perfection is perhaps what some of the best moments of Sri Lanka rugby is made of, here and overseas. But Ranjan’s position is threatened.

This is also perhaps a nice time to recall how one of Isipatana’s best products, the late Sajith Mallikarachchi, came to Kandy after a few seasons with at least two Colombo based clubs and become a darling with Kandy’s rugby crowds. He single handedly gave Kandy some of its best wins and even went on to captain both the Nittawela side and the Sri Lanka team. Zumri can take a cue from how Mallikarachchi made the transition from school rugby to club rugby and then the national team.

Now let’s look at the Kandy SC back division. It’s a virtual Sri Lanka three quarter line. How would other clubs play against them or negotiate this challenge. As much as doing wonders with the running skills they possess, if the Kandy three quarters work on their defence and become ruthless tacklers as well, then opposite sides will be forced to play only with their forwards when taking on Kandy. Something similar happened at the time when Mallikarachchi played for Kandy SC as fly half and the side comprised players like Fazil Marija and Pradeep Liyanage as centres and Sanjeewa Jayasinghe and Radeeka Hettiarachchi as the wings and Nalaka Weerakkody as full back. Back then, this writer forgets the year, CH&FC took the fight up to Kandy SC by playing with their forwards and used one strip of the ground (like ten metres from the touch line inwards) and kept hitting with their forwards. That was the brainchild of coach Wazeel Hafeel who was the coach of the Gymkhana Club at that time. The late George Simpkins (Sri Lanka national coach at one time) who watched the game had complimented Hafeel for designing that ploy. And we know that George would only praise a feat in rugby only if it’s up to his level of thinking.

Last week Kandy SC pulled off a victory from the jaws of defeat. Nigel Ratwatte, who was struggling to play at his best till last week this season, suddenly came alive in the crucial game against Havecloks Sports Club and set up the match winning try in the dying stages of the game to send Dinal Ekanayake over for a touchdown. One of the inspiring features about Nigel is that he isn’t a selfish player and wants his side to win. The same can be said about Tharinda, his cousin, who is right now easily the best player the county possesses in any form of rugby.

Zumri has come from Colombo and climbed a mountain to reach the summit, Kandy Sports Club. The lad must be warned that being on top has its dangers because there are other hungry ‘wolves’ climbing the mountain and eyeing a piece of the rugby pie. If Zumri wants to remain in Kandy he has to cultivate the ability to be always hungry. Complacency has no place at the Nittawela club. At Kandy Sports Club, players are conditioned not to allow successes to go to their heads. Right now Kandy SC’s flag is fluttering and the lion emblem in it can be depicted as being very happy if an emoji is used redo the animal. But there is unfinished business for Kandy SC this season, hence no one is allowed to smile till the league is won and the cup is brought back home.

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BCB’s integrity unit finds ‘credible suspicion’ during BPL

Published

7 hours ago

2026/01/12

Priyan

"Such measures are part of BCB's zero-tolerance policy and drive against corrupt cricketing activities" - BCB [Cricinfo]

The BCB’s integrity unit found “credible suspicion” during the ongoing BPL, which made them undertake “routine” operations, including questioning players and seizing mobile phones of franchise officials. According to a BCB press release on Sunday, the unit hasn’t put any player under investigation nor have they found anyone guilty thus far.

“As part of standard integrity procedures, several foreign players have been spoken to privately as witnesses in order to verify recruitment processes, contractual arrangements, and payment structures,” the BCB statement read. “Such meetings are confidential and preventive in nature, and do not imply that any player is under investigation or has already been found guilty.”

The statement follows Dhaka Capitals’ chief executive Atik Fahad accusing the integrity unit officers of barging into their batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz’z hotel room in Sylhet over the weekend. Fahad also suggested the mental toll on his players could force the franchise to rethink its participation in the future editions.

“The anti-corruption unit should have at least considered this before going to such a player, but this type of behaviour with a big player is something neither he can accept nor can we accept,” Fahad said during a press briefing. “Going into the room of a big foreign player – someone who is playing in the ILT20 and elsewhere – and creating trouble like that.

“If the management is not content mentally, if my players are not content, what better result can we expect? We are running the BPL while losing BDT 2-3 crore every year. On top of that, if we are mentally tortured like this, I don’t know how we can stay competitive or continue to operate a franchise. If this situation continues, we won’t have the courage to continue at all. I invest money, absorb losses, bring CSR funds from different companies, and then leave with humiliation. That is simply not possible.”

Players and officials of Noakhali Express were also reportedly questioned, though the franchise has said they have protested against the integrity unit officials’ behaviour.

The BCB, however, declared they have full confidence in the integrity unit’s process, as it has helped them reduce suspicious activities in the past.

“Such measures by the BCB IU [integrity unit] are part of BCB’s zero-tolerance policy and drive against corrupt cricketing activities,” a BCB statement said. “The BCB IU operates in accordance with the general processes under the prevailing anti-corruption code of the ICC. Therefore, there has been no violation of the rights of any player or franchisee personnel by the BCB IU team in any way.

“These preventive measures by the BCB IU have resulted in an approximately 80% reduction in alerts relating to suspicious activities. The BCB reiterates its zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, and remains firmly committed to protecting the credibility, transparency and reputation of the Bangladesh Premier League.”

[Cricinfo]

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Devine’s 95 trumps Lee, Wolvaardt fifties in see-saw thriller

Published

7 hours ago

2026/01/12

Priyan

Sophie Devine missed out on a WPL hundred for the second time [BCCI]

Gujarat Giants (GG) put on a commanding 209 and would have thought they were well ahead when Delhi Capitals’ (DC) equation read 48 off 18. But Laura Wolvaardt turned things around – almost – for DC with a 19-run over to make it 29 off 12 and then seven from six. But GG turned the tables again when Sophie Devine , who had smashed a belligerent 95 off 42, removed the two set batters in the last over and conceded just two runs to snatch a four-run victory to help GG top the table.

GG’s second win in a row became DC’s second loss on the bounce and placed them at the bottom even though their batters buried the ghosts of being bundled for 145, under 24 hours before this game. The run-fest that swung wildly throughout at the DY Patil Stadium saw a total tally of 414 – the second highest in WPL – and was the second day in a row that GG posted a 200-plus total.

Their total could have been a lot more had DC not pulled things back through Nandani Sharma’s hat-trick after Devine’s demolition of the bowlers. DC, however, came agonisingly close, within seven runs of sealing the highest WPL chase. But Devine took the pace off the ball and the steam out of DC’s chase.

Devine came out all guns blazing and muscled the ball to all sides of the park as the DC bowlers failed to keep it outside her hitting arc. After a thick edge off her bat fell short of the keeper in the first over, Devine got going with a couple of fours in the next, off Chinelle Henry, and took off properly in the fourth by smashing Nandani for a 16-run over. The real damage came in the sixth over with the introduction of spin, when Devine smoked Sneh Rana for 32 in an over, which became the most expensive in WPL history.

After starting the over with two consecutive fours – the second nearly taken by a one-handed Marizanne Kapp at cover point – Devine bludgeoned Rana for four sixes, all on the leg side as the ball was aimed for the stumps again and again. By the time the over ended, Rana had lost her length so horribly that she bowled a full toss and Devine lapped it up for her fifth six, soon after her 25-ball fifty.

N Shree Charani and Henry managed to pull things back briefly by conceding just 15 off the next 14 balls and also sent back Beth Mooney, but there was no stopping Devine. She hammered another three sixes in four balls even as Charani took the pace off the ball and Devine raced into the 90s, looking set to become the first centurion of the tournament.

But Devine’s wait for a century continued; she had also scored 99 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru a couple of seasons ago. Nandani, who made her WPL debut on Saturday, sent down a back-of-the-hand variation which Devine top-edged behind the wicket and Charani, running back from short fine leg, hung on to a catch that nearly touched the sky before coming down. Charani got her second wicket when Rodrigues flung to her right at cover in the next over to send back Georgia Wareham and the promising Anushka Sharma soon holed out for 13.

Gardner then took charge after getting a life on 22, even as DC exposed GG’s inexperienced lower order, and peppered the boundary regularly. She went after both pace and spin alike before finding long-on to finish on a quick 49 off 26 before DC conceded just eight runs in the last two overs. GG suffered a collapse of 4 for 8 in the end with Nandani striking thrice in a row in the last over to take the fourth hat-trick and the first by an uncapped player in the WPL

Renuka Singh put down Lizelle Lee’s tough return catch on the second ball of the chase, and the DC opener showed how costly the drop was. She crashed the next ball through the covers and finished the over with a no-look six straight down the ground. She continued to pepper the boundary even as Shafali Verma struggled for rhythm. Though DC’s powerplay score read 47 for 1 compared to GG’s 80 for 0, Lee ensured they weren’t too far behind.

If Devine’s innings was about brute force, Lee combined her well-timed drives with the odd aerial shot to keep the run rate close to nine an over. She went 4, 4 and 6 against Wareham for her 33-ball fifty as Wolvaardt played second-fiddle with GG still needing 120 from the last 10. The equation became a lot stiffer when GG’s spinners conceded just 23 in the three overs after the halfway mark before Lee tore into Wareham again.

Wolvaardt was on 28 off 20 when Lee eventually found Devine at long-on for 86, which left DC to get 79 of 34. DC promoted the big-hitting Henry ahead of Jemimah Rodrigues and Kapp, but she also holed out after just one six. Rodrigues eventually walked out at No. 5 and crashed her first ball wide of long-on for a 17-run 16th over.

GG were still well ahead with the equation reading 60 off 24. Wolvaardt then used her long limbs to attack the spinners, especially going after Gardner in the 18th over when they needed 48 from 18. She often went straight down the ground when she had the length and otherwise found the gap square or through the covers to find the boundary regularly. After three fours and a six off Gardner, she dispatched Kashvee Gautam, who started the 19th over with two no-balls, for a six over midwicket which swung the game further for DC.

When Rodrigues ended the penultimate over by lofting Gautam over the covers, DC would have thought they had it in the bag with just seven to get from six. But Devine, who had earlier leaked 19 in two wicketless overs, first had Rodrigues glove one behind off a slower ball, kept Kapp to just one run off two balls, and then had Wolvaardt caught at deep midwicket with five to get off two. Rana walked out for the last ball and could’t even connect, and GG scraped through

Brief scores:
Gujarat Giants Women 209 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 19, Sophie Devine 95, Ashleigh Gardner 49, Anushka Sharma 13, Kashvee Gautam 14; Chinelle Henry 2-43, Nandani Sharma 5-33, Shree Charani 2-42, Shafali Verma 1-21) beat Delhi Capitals Women 205 for 5 in 20 overs (Lizelle Lee 86, Shafali Verma 14, Laura Wolvaardt 77, Jemimah Rodrigues 15; Kashvee Gautam 1-48, Sophie Devine 2-21, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2-34) by four runs

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Amaraweera cracks quickfire century

Published

9 hours ago

2026/01/12

Thilina Walpola

Jaden Amaraweera

Under 19 Cricket

During a weekend where no team went allout for an outright victory, Jaden Amaraweera’s unbeaten century and Abheeth Paranawidana’s six wicket haul were the individual highlights in the traditional Under 19 cricket matches worked off.

‎The Thomian players’ individual efforts came in their match aganst Wesley. With the match heading for a no decision, Amaraweera hammered an unbeaten 102 runs in just 78 balls. His knock included ten fours and seven sixes as the home team posted 144 for one at close. In the first innings, Paranawidana’s six wicket haul helped Thomians take a healthy first innings lead.

‎At Reid Avenue, Aveesha Samash missed a century by two runs as he became one of the five victims of Ramiru Perera in the first innings. Incidentally, the Joes stopped their first innings three runs behind the Royal total with three wickets remaining. But a result remained a distant reality.

‎There was no result at Ananda Mawatha as well despite thirtyone wickets falling.

‎Kithma Widanapathirana with ball and bat was the standout player for Ananda, while Dinul Wijesinghe and Ryan Gregory excelled for St. Anthony’s.

‎‎Match Results

‎‎Amaraweera scores century at Mount Lavinia

‎Scores

‎S. Thomas’ 292 in 79.6 overs (Jaden Amaraweera 39, Ludeesha Matarage 73, Aaron Kodituwakku 28, Reshon Soloman 56, Shanil Perera 33; Rashmika Amararatne 4/58, Rasheed Nahyan 2/54, Methnula Mayadunna 2/46) and 144 for 1 in 23.1 overs (Jaden Amaraweera 102n.o., Avinash Fernando 39)

‎Wesley 205 all out in 77.2 overs (Sehandu Athauda 55, Charana Malinbada 21, Lithum Senuja 31, Shamma Fernando 29, Kavindu Hettiarachachi 34; Abheeth Paranawidana 6/56, Reshon Soloman 2/20)

‎‎Royal 265, Joes 262/7 at Reid Avenue

‎‎Scores

‎Royal 265 all out in 78 overs (Hirun Liyanarachchi 28, Rehan Peiris 82, Yasindu Dissanayake 24, Manuth Dasanayaka 25, Shehandu Sooriyaarachchi 20n.o.; Nushan Perera 3/100, Vishwa Peiris 5/60) and 163 for 3 in 32 overs (Hirun Liyanarachchi 28, Udantha Gangewatta 36, Ramiru Perera 53n.o., Yasindu Dissanayake 37n.o.)

‎St. Joseph’s

262 for 7 decl. in 80 overs

‎ overs (Yenula Dantanarayana 30, Aveesha Samash 98, Dilpa Ruwanaka 55, Chamath Perera 21, Nushan Perera 29n.o.; Ramiru Perera 5/72)

‎‎St. Anthony’s 163, Ananda 151 at Ananda Mawatha

‎Scores

‎St. Anthony’s 163 all out in 68.2 overs (Praveen Gamage 21, Dinul Wijesinghe 65n.o., Ryan Gregory 21; Pasan Batugahage 2/22, Kithma Widanapathirana 3/58, Sharada Jayarathna 3/29) and 161 all out in 59 overs (Sanuka Kalpana 24, Sisal Hemaka 20, Sadew Amarakoon 28, Chamalka Gunathilake 28n.o.; Himira Kudagama 4/53, Kithma Widanapathirana 2/36, Sharada Jayarathna 2/35)

‎Ananda 151 all out in 40.2 overs (Kithma Widanapathirana 74; Ryan Gregory 4/52) and 14 for 1 in 3.3 overs‎