Sports
Mahanama look for maiden Under 19 cricket title
Braced with a strong batting lineup and a balanced bowling attack, Mahanama will take the field as strong favourites when they meet Richmond in the Under 19 Division I Tier A limited overs cricket tournament final at Surray Village ground today.
Mahanama are in their first ever Division I tournament final. But historical data doesn’t seem to have any bearing as the team captained by Dulnith Sigera look formidable in the batting department than their counterparts who have frequented this territory before.
From openers Sineth Weerarathne and skipper Dulnith Sigera, Venura Kaveethra, Chamika Heenatigala, Sanul Weerarathne, Yashen Gunathilake, Sithum Vihanga to Eshan Withanage all have made contributions with the bat during the limited exposure they received this season. With the top order batsmen sealing victory early, the middle and late order batsmen had their work cut short. The only time the entire batting lineup came to bat was when they batted first in the quarter final.
In the bowling department, Sigera will lead the pace attack with Geeth Sandaruwan.
Left-arm spinners Chamika Heenatigala and Sithum Vihanga and off-spinners Venura Kaveethra and Sanul Weerarathne share slow bowling duties.
Mahanama have remained unbeaten throughout and will look to extend the same to bag their maiden title.
Richmond have produced some exciting results during the knockout stage having eliminated the defending champions and strong title contenders St. Joseph’s in the quarter final with a strong bowling performance.
The team captained by Bevin Jayawardhana also produced an impressive semi-final win after being four wickets down for 30 runs at one stage to beat Gurukula by five wickets.
Richmond’s confidence will be high after Bevin Jayawardhana and Tenusha Nimsara eased middle order tensions in the semi final with a match turning sixth wicket stand.
The odds are stacked heavily against Richmond but as they have proven during the knockout stage, they will be looking to upset the favourites.
For Richmond, Tenura Dias and Nethsara Akash will share the new ball. They have three left-arm spinners, namely, Nethuja Basitha, Tenusha Nimsara and Hiruk Akalanka performing slow bowl duties with off spinner Minaga Ariyadasa
Teams:
Richmond (from):
Bevin Jayawardane (Captain), Minaga Ariyadasa, Tenusha Nimasara, Nethuja Basitha, Risinu Rupasinghe, Ameesha Rasanjana, Daham Mendis, Shevan De Zoyza, Ranindu Chanik, Hiruk Akalanka, Randinu Abeysirigunawardena, Tenura Dias, Nethsara Akash Hewa, Senuk Dulneth, Gayuka Kavishka, Udula Kumudaka, Vihansa Thejas, Arosh Jerial, Tharul Shanilka, Chalindu Dulmina, Vihanga Indusara.
Official:
Chamith Rangana (Master in Charge), Mahesh Sandaruwan (Head Coach), Lahiru Maduwantha (Asst. Coach), Avindu Theekshana (Asst. Coach), Sidath Priyankara (Asst. Coach).
Mahanama (from):
Dulnith Sigera (Captain), Chamika Heenatigala, Eshan Withanage, Gimantha Dissanayake, Sithum Vihanga, Venura Kaveethra, Geeth Sandaruwan, Sineth Weerarathne, Sanul Weerarathne, Sithum Sathnindu, Yashen Gunathilake, Yenitha Gunasekara, Kaushika Thilakarathne, Thaviru Perera, Vimash Madanayake, Navindu Rodrigo, Yasith Angammana, Tehnuj Rashmin, Sanuka Ganepola, Abhinu Thathsuka, Dulnith Algewatte.
Officials:
Akila Rajapaksha (Master in Charge), Ashan Priyanjan (Head Coach), Sonal Dulshan (Asst. Coach).
by Reemus Fernando
Viran Chamuditha’s 94-ball 110 helped Sri Lanka Under 19 chase 262 and keep their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026 alive. Sri Lanka will now have to hope Afghanistan lose to Ireland; otherwise, Afghanistan will go through. South Africa on the other hand, have lost all four of their games and are placed fifth in the six-team group.
The day began well for South Africa Under-19, who won the toss, chose to bat and added 96 for the first wicket. Once Vigneshwaran Akash got Adnaan Lagadien, Jorich Van Schalkwyk – the other opener – had to do the bulk of the scoring, with regular wickets falling at the other end.
Akash finished with a four-for and Kavija Gamage got two. There was a missed chance off Van Schalkwyk in the 21st over off Gamage, when he was on 50.
Van Schalkwyk made Sri Lanka pay with a 130-ball 116, featuring 13 fours and two sixes. After he fell, Paul James (37* off 36) and Michael Kruiskamp (21* off 15) gave South Africa a good finish, with an unbeaten 40-run stand off 31 balls.
Sri Lanka’s chase started shakily as Dimantha Mahavithana fell cheaply to Kruiskamp. Chamuditha then began a match-defining 143-run stand off 130 balls with Senuja Wekunagoda. Chamuditha contributed 85 of those run, and brought up his century during his stand with captain Vimath Dinsara, who chipped in with 32 off 38 balls.
Chamuditha finished with 13 boundaries and a six. After he fell, there were two handy partnerships of 31 and an unbeaten 28 between Chamika Heenatigala and Dulnith Sigera, which took Sri Lanka home with four overs to spare.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Under 19s 265 for 5 in 46 overs (Viran Chamuditha 110, Senuja Wekunagoda 48, Vimath Dinsara 32; M8chael Kruiskamp 2-59, Come Botha 2-37) beat South Africa Under 19s 261 for 7 in 50 overs (Jorich Van Schalkwyk 116, Adnaan Lagadien 46, Paul James 37* ; Vigneshwaran Akash 4-64, Kavija Gamage 2-61) by five wickets
Akash Vigneswaran celebrates a wicket with his team-mates, South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Under-19 World Cup, Bulawayo, January 29, 2026 (Cricinfo)
(Cricinfo)
Pavan Rathnayake has re-entered Sri Lanka’s T20I squad following his 121 off 115 balls in the third ODI against England. Omitted from the squad to play England in three T20Is, however, are fast bowler Nuwan Thushara and batting allrounder Kamindu Mendis. Legspinner Dushan Hemantha has also been left out.
Left-arm-spinning allrounder Dunith Wellalage retains his place in the T20I squad, though he hasn’t played a T20I since September. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga are the two other frontline spinners. Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka – who both bowl fingerspin – are in the squad too.
On the seam-bowling front, Eshan Malinga and Pramod Madushan are in the squad, in addition to Dushmantha Chameera and Matheesha Pathirana. Thushara had been a consistent presence in Sri Lanka’s T20I squads over the past two years, but his omission comes after several modest performances since September.
Aside from Rathnayake’s inclusion, the batting is largely as expected, with Kusal Perera coming back in the only format he now plays.
Sri Lanka are yet to announce their squad for the T20 World Cup, which will start on February 7. Teams have time till January 31 to make changes to squads, following which they will have to get the approvals from the ICC to make changes.
Sri Lanka squad for England T20Is:
Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga
Australia Under 19s 314/7 in 50 overs (Oliver Peake 109, Nitesh Samuel 56; Jakeem Pollard 2-37, R’Jai Gittens 2-45) beat West Indies Under 19s 292/9 in 50 overs (Zachary Carter 64, Joshua Dorne 62; Charles Lachmund 4-66, Aryan Sharma 2-47) by 22 runs
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