Italy’s first men’s World Cup appearance arrives with a level of attention the team has rarely experienced. Coverage back home has widened and television exposure is expected to follow as matches go out live. This T20 World Cup, there are lots of eyes on them, helped by the novelty of the occasion and the promise of their squad.

Former South Africa international JJ Smiuts brings firepower and experience. Ben Manenti comes in after a strong BBL campaign with Sydney Sixers and a frugal economy rate of  under six.  His brother Harry can go big. The Mosca brothers – Justin and Anthony – as openers have a strong understanding of each others’ games. Thomas Draca has the potential to be an X-factor. And 42-year-old captain Wayne Madsen has decades of experience under his belt across different cultures to hold it all together.

Jumpers Madushani Herath and Pasindu Malshan and distance runner Rasara Wijesuriya took the opportunity at the Asian Indoor Championship to improve the National Indoor Records of their respective disciplines.

‎Nannapurawa athlete Herath was placed seventh in the triple jump final but her performance of 13.10 metres emerged as the best feat so far by a Sri Lankan woman at an Indoor event.

‎She cleared 13.10 metres to improve on the record held by Hashini Prabodha.

‎She also improved on the national indoor long jump record with a feat of 6.11 metres.

‎Malshan was placed fifth with a feat of 15.70 metres in the men’s triple jump. His feat erased the national indoor record held by Manjula Kumara.

‎Wijesuriya took 24 seconds off the record held by the US based athlete Hiruni Wijeratne (9:46.35 secs) with a feat of 9:22.97 seconds in the 3,000 metres.

Sri Lakan athletes rarely compete indoors and could not win podium places at the Asian Indoor Championship took place in Tianjin, China.

by Reemus Fernando

Sri Lanka 163 for 6 in 20 overs  (Pathum Nissanka 24, Kamil Mishara

Catches win matches. Ireland dropped seven, of varying difficulty, and that proved to be a major factor in their 20-run loss to Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium.

Sent in, Sri Lanka started briskly but the Ireland spinners George Dockrell and Gareth Delany,  handcuffed them in the middle overs. After 16 overs, they were on 104 for 4. That they could add another 59 to finish on a competitive 163 for 6 was down to Ireland’s sloppy fielding.

Kamindu Mendis was dropped on 14; he went on to smash 44 off 19 balls. Kusal Mendis  was first put down on 34; he finished on 56 not out off 43. The pair added 67 off 30 balls for the fifth wicket to inject the much-needed momentum.

Ireland made a solid start to their chase, reaching 52 for 1 in seven overs. But Wanidu Hasaranga, who had hurt his hamstring after sending down just two balls, derailed them. Bowling with hardly any follow-through, he picked up 3 for 25 from his four overs. Maheesh Theekshana also took three, hastening the end as Ireland were bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs.

Earlier, Kamil Mishara barely looked assured during his brief stay. In the third over, he hit one uppishly back towards Barry McCarthy but the bowler had little time to react. In the same over, he was dropped by Ross Adair at short midwicket. But Mishara failed to make it count. In the following over, he was caught at mid-off off a slower delivery from Mark Adair. Kusal started briskly, hitting three fours in his first eight balls to take Sri Lanka to 50 for 1 by the end of the powerplay.