Wesley College, Colombo and St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota registered convincing victories against their counterparts in the Under 17 Division I cricket encounters played on Tuesday.

‎While Wesley rattled Galahitiyawa Central for 36 runs in 26.3 overs before cruising to a ten-wicket win, St. Anthony’s amassed 359 for nine wickets before reducing Wayamba Royal College, Kurunegala to 90 runs. Yenula Hewavitharana was the cynosure of all eyes as he hammered 190 runs off 138 balls, inclusive of 25 fours and five sixes, to lead the home team to a commanding position after being asked to bat. Adeesha Rathnayaka took four wickets for just five runs as he produced outstanding figures of 6-4-5-4 to seal a 269-run win at Katugastota.

‎At Godagamuwa, Charana Malimbada (3/08), Adhyaan Zian (3/10) and Ramika Ediribandara (3/02) shared three wickets apiece for Wesley to rattle Galahitiyawa Central for 36 runs before the openers sealed the match within three overs.

‎Meanwhile, at Bambalapitiya, S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia pulled off a stunning victory against St. Peter’s College. Chasing 210 runs to win, they were 131 for seven at one stage before Kushen Perera (24 off 47 balls) and Tharul Jayasuriya, with an unbeaten 37 off 76 balls, helped the visitors seal victory.

(RF)

Sri Lanka’s young tennis players made an impressive start to the SSC ITF J30 Junior Circuit 2026 Week 2 tournament, recording dominant straight-set victories in their opening-round matches played at the SSC Courts.

‎Lithum Jayabandu produced a confident performance to defeat India’s Hridhay Hridhay 6-1, 6-2 in the boys’ singles first-round encounter. Jayabandu controlled the match from the outset, to secure a comfortable win.

‎Aahil Kaleel was equally impressive as he brushed aside India’s Tanish Dasari 6-1, 6-0. Kaleel dictated play throughout the contest, allowing his opponent little room to settle as he sealed one of the most convincing victories of the opening round.

Lithum Jayabandu / Ashlin de Silva

‎Meanwhile, Ashlin de Silva delivered the most emphatic performance of the day, overpowering India’s Arsh Walke 6-0, 6-0. De Silva was in complete command from the first point to the last, producing a flawless display to book his place in the second round without conceding a single game.

‎The victories ensured a strong Sri Lankan presence in the boys’ singles draw as the SSC ITF J30 Junior Circuit 2026 Week 2 tournament, which runs from June 1 to June 6 at the SSC Courts, gathered momentum. With three players advancing comfortably, local hopes remain high for another successful week on the international junior tennis circuit.‎‎

Medium pacer Nuwan Thushara is among 46 men’s cricketers awarded national contracts by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), after he withdrew the legal case he had filed against the board in April.

Thushara’s inclusion indicates a re-setting of his relationship with the board. The bowler had objected to SLC making a fitness test a requirement for the board granting him a No-Objection Certificate to play franchise cricket overseas. But since the board members whom he had been at a loggerheads with were ousted en-masse by the Sri Lankan government, Thushara decided to withdraw his case.

He had then written to the new administrators at SLC, announcing his eligibility for national selection, which the new Transformation Committee has since accepted.

Also in the contracts list are Jaffna legspinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth , ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake, batters Kamil Mishra and Lasith Croispulle and allrounders Isitha Wijesundara, Wanuja Sahan and Dilum Sudeera who have all been included for the first time. Batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa was not awarded a contract, though he had played domestic cricket in Sri Lanka earlier this year.

There are otherwise no major surprises in what is a substantial roll of cricketers. The list features players such as Dinesh Chandimal and Kasun Rajitha who primarily play Tests, as well as limited-overs specialists like Binura Fernando.

The SLC release said the players had been graded into six different categories, but did not divulge which players were in which category. The period of the contract runs from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.

Men’s national contracted players

Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Wanindu Hasaranga, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Niroshan Dickwella, Jeffrey Vandersay, Prabath Jayasuriya, Vishwa Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Eshan Malinga, Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ramesh Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Sonal Dinusha, Sahan Arachchige, Pramod Madushan, Lasith Croospulle, Lahiru Udara, Nuwanidu Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Isitha Wijesundara, Nishan Madushka, Akila Dananjaya, Chamika Karunaratne, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Mohammed Shiraz, Wanuja Sahan, Dilum Sudeera, Tharindu Rathnayake

(Cricinfo)