Sports
Viren and Sangeeth fastest at 30th edition of Southern Eliyakanda Hill Climb
Viren Botheju driving a Mitsubishi Evo 9 clocked 33.700 seconds and Sangeeth Suriyage riding a Yamaha YZ 450F clocked 36.270 seconds to be the fastest driver and rider at the 30th edition of the Southern Eliyakanda Hill Climb on Sunday [22]. Viren’s timing of 33.700 seconds was the fastest timing of the day as well.
Expecting the weather gods to play spoil sport, the competitors were restricted to a single run and were unable to achieve their best. The record for the 540 meter Eliyakanda track is held by Ashan Silva who in 2021 established a time of 31.260 seconds while this year’s winner Sangeeth Suriyage holds the record for the fastest rider with a time of 33.439 seconds set in 2023.
Fourteen Motorcar events and 16 Motorcycle events were worked off at this year’s event with the participation of 55 drivers and 147 riders
The Southern Eliyakanda Hill Climb is the flagship event of the Southern Motor Sports Club and has been held continuously since the year the club was formed.
MOTOR CAR EVENTS
Event 1 SLN Ford Laser / Mazda 323 up to 1500 cc – BD, BE, BF Hatchbacks & Sedans
1 Rajith Uluwita Ford Laser 41.710
2 Minura Pinidiya Mazda BF 42.690
3 M. Dheshram Ford Laser 44.940
Event 2 SLN Ford Laser / Mazda 323 up to 1300 cc – BD, BE, BF Hatchbacks & Sedans
1 Thenuka Liyanarachchi Mazda Familia 41.870
2 Nishan Dunuwila Ford Laser 41.870
3 Chamath Palliyaguru Ford Laser 41.970
Event 3 Formula Cars Modified (Up to 1665 cc)
1 Viren Botejue Formula 1300cc 38.020
2 Nigel Perera Formula 1300 40.100
3 Rajith Uluwita Formula 1300cc 43.120
Event 4 Formula McLarens 1300cc EFI
1 Chandima Gooneratne Formula F1300 37.100
2 Pansilu Abeywickrama Formula 1300cc 38.260
3 S. T. Samarasinghe Formula Formula 38.850
Event 5 Formula Cars 1300cc Carburetor
1 Sameera de Silva Formula McLarens 42.200
2 M. G. Dilip Formula McLaren 50.410
Event 6 SLA up to 1050cc
1 Praveen Madugalle Austin Mini 39.830
2 Amir Faraji Nissan March 40.190
3 Chamika Ranatunga Nissan March 40.290
Event 7 SLX 650CC
1 Kalim Iqbal Syren RCX 38.490
2 Nadeera Jinasena Syren RCX 40.680
3 Emdad Hussain Syren RCX 43.420
Event 8 SLH Cars up to 1618cc (One make – Honda 3 door Hatch back Cars only)
1 Prageeth Pravinda Honda EG4 V Tec 37.910
2 Nigel Perera Honda EK2 38.500
3 Thushan Madusanka Honda EG 3 39.270
Event 9 SLH Subaru Legacy cars up to 2000cc
1 Shiran Dool Subaru BC5 38.130
2 Nigel Perera Subaru Legacy 39.680
3 Krishan Senaratna Subaru Legacy 44.950
Event 10 SLH Mini up to 1275 – One Make
1 Havindu Silva Austin Mini 42.430
2 Tharun Perera Austin Mini 42.700
3 Gaindu Aberathna Morris Minor 43.540
Event 11 SLH Nissan March 1300 CC – One Make (5 Door Cars Allowed)
1 S K Kisal Nissan March HK11 41.920
2 Suren Cooray Nissan March HK11 41.940
3 Dilupa Palliaguru Nissan March 42.420
Event 12 SLGT Up to 3500 cc
1 Viren Botejue Mitsubishi Evo 9 33.700
2 Darin Weerasinghe Toyota GR Yaris 36.120
3 Dasaraj Dahanayake Mitsubishi Evolution 36.410
Event 13 SLE Cars up to 1000CC – one make Nissan March (Entry Level)
1 Nesh Cooray Nissan March 41.430
2 Ranga Perera Nissan March 43.490
3 Krishan Jayasekara Nissan K11 43.720
Event 14 SLS Cars up to 1500CC
1 Dulanjana Perera Honda EG6 39.160
2 Chamika Ranatunga Nissan Micra 43.620
3 Roshitha Aluthwala Suzuki Swift 46.630
MOTORCYCLE EVENTS
Event 15 Classic Standard Motorcycle 250cc
1 Ragunathan Keshev Honda CRM 43.000
2 M. G. Sarath Kumarasinghe Honda CRM 44.040
3 Shavindu Shenal Honda CRM250 44.500
Event 16 O – Standard motorcycles over 100cc upto 160cc 4T Mono Cylinder
1 Dinusha Perera Honda CBR 150 42.900
2 Vinod Madumal Honda CBR 43.530
3 Hansika Madubashini Honda CBR 47.650
Event 17 M – Sports Touring Motorcycles 700cc 4T
1 Vinula Pathirage Triumph 39.370
2 Kevin Liyanage Triumph 765RS 41.260
3 Tharindu Dinendra Kawasaki ER400 42.260
Event 18 M – Sports Touring Motorcycle over 700cc upto 1400cc
1 Sasindu Prashansana Triumph 37.950
2 Supun Suraj Yamaha MT09 SP 41.510
3 P. D. Akila Udayangana KTM Superduke 43.450
Event 19 M – Standard Modified Motorcycles over 100cc upto 125cc (Air Cool) 4T
1 W.M.Gihan Sanjeewa Honda JX 125 44.770
2 J. M. Manjula Jayasundara Honda JX 45.510
3 Sanjeewa Udayakumara Honda JX 125 46.160
Event 20 M – Standard Modified Motorcycles over 100cc upto 125cc 2T
1 W.M.Gihan Sanjeewa Yamaha TZR 42.060
2 Shashika Chamodya Yamaha TZR 42.480
3 T. A. Rusith Shamika Yamaha TZR 43.800
Event 21 M – Standard Modified Motorcycles over 175CC upto 200cc 4T
1 M. G. Sarath Kumarasinghe TVS 41.950
2 Ragunathan Keshev TVS Apache RTR 42.210
3 D Sadeepa Munasinghe TVS 46.420
Event 22 M – Standard Modified Motorcycles over 175cc upto 250cc 4T Supersports
1 Nipun Dilanka Honda CBR 250 37.180
2 Nikila Pathirage Honda CBR 250 37.280
3 Janaka Dinesh Honda CBR 250 38.500
Event 23 M – Standard Modified Motorcycles over 400cc upto 600cc 4T Supersports
1 Vinula Pathirage Honda CBR 600 36.410
2 Nipun Dilanka Honda CBR 600 38.900
3 Lahiru Randeep Hansa Honda CBR600 39.440
Event 24 M – Standard Modified Motorcycles over 900cc upto 1000cc 4T Supersports
1 Sasindu Prashansana Suzuki GSXR1000 36.390
2 Vinula Pathirage Honda CBR 1000 37.700
3 Jeff Chi Yamaha YZF R1 38.590
Event 25 M – Standard Modified Street Trail 125cc 2T & 4T
1 Sanjeewa Kahagalla Kawasaki KDX 44.910
2 Sudesh Jayalath Husqvarna WRE 46.740
3 Hashan Bagya Yamaha DT 47.690
Event 26 M – Standard Modified Streel Trail Motorcycles over 175cc upto 250cc 2T and 4T
1 M. G. Sarath Kumarasinghe Yamaha WR 38.480
2 Maheel Pavithra Kawasaki Klx 41.930
3 Yesith Bimsara Mayadunna Yamaha Serow 250 48.950
Event 27 M – Standard Motorcycle One Make 160CC Yamaha FZ
1 G.Nadeesh Dhanushka Yamaha FZ S V2 42.310
2 W. H. Dilan Rathnayaka Yamaha FZ 44.550
3 W.M.Gihan Sanjeewa Yamaha FZ 150 47.950
Event 28 SM – Super Motard Motorcycles over 175cc upto 250cc 4T
1 Isuru Maduranga Yamaha YZF 37.490
2 Shashika Chamodya Honda CRF 38.660
3 Buddika Dinesh Yamaha YZF 39.250
Event 29 SM – Super Motard motorcycles over 250cc Open
1 Sangeeth Suriyage Yamaha YZ450F 36.270
2 Buddika Dinesh Honda CRF450R 38.780
3 H.G.W. Bhanuka Suranjan Lakmal Yamaha YZ 450F 41.430
Event 30 SM – Super Motard One Make 250cc 4T – KAWASAKI Tracker
1 Maheel Pavithra Kawasaki Tracker 37.860
2 Imesh Pathum Kawazaki Tracker 38.780
3 Ravindu Sankalpa Jayasundara Kawasaki KLX 39.330
[PDES]
Will the Women’s T20 Asia Cup semi-final against Sri Lanka be a full-circle moment for Pakistan ?
Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in the semi final 9f the 2024 edition to qualify for their first Asia Cup final since 2008. Now Pakistan enter this contest having not been at an Asia Cup final since 2016. Moreover, the two teams played a bilateral series only last month. So there is enough familiarity.
Sri Lanka are unbeaten in this tournament, notching up easy wins over UAE and Indonesia before being pushed hard by Bangladesh.Chamari Athapaththu has topped the wickets tally, this time, her seven-for against Indonesia providing a reminder of what she can do in spin-friendly conditions at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Her pairing with Imesha Dulani at the top of the batting order has given Sri Lanka a close-to-ideal combination. Nilakshika Silva’s half-century from a tricky spot against Indonesia, and Harshitha Samarawickrama’s composure in a tight chase against Bangladesh have instilled confidence in their batting order.
Pakistan, on the other hand, are slightly short on batting confidence. They posted 119/9 against Thailand and were bowled out for 55 against India. It was only thanks to their bowlers that they could brush Tailand aside. Pakistan also lost the three-match bilateral series against Sri Lanka last month, though they did not have Fatima Sana’s services then.
Shawaal Zulfiqar’s presence at the top allows them to start at a higher gear, and Muneeba Ali’s experience only adds to the heft. Both are yet to fire together in this tournament, and Pakistan would hope it comes in the semi-final in order to end their finals drought.
Being Sri Lanka’s trailblazer, there is so much focus on Athapaththu that it is easy to miss that Harshitha Samarawickrema, still only 28, has already completed a decade in international cricket. She is the vice-captain, and almost the captain-in-waiting when Athapaththu decides to relinquish the role. Samarawickrama has grown in consistently winning games for Sri Lanka. Her unbeaten 48 off 37 against Bangladesh on Sunday is a case in point. Moreover, that knock has also highlighted her versatility. Primarily a top-order bat, she was moved down to No. 5 in order to accommodate Vishmi Gunaratne in the middle-order. She batted in that spot at home against Pakistan last month and finished the chase. Expect Samarawickrama to sit easy under the spotlight against Pakistan in a win-or-go-home contest.
Fatima Sana’s 407 T20I runs in 2026 have come at a strike rate of 150.74, the fourth best this year (minimum 300 runs). There were calls for her to bat higher up than her usual Nos. 7 and 8. Add to it, she has picked up 23 wickets, the most for Pakistan. While she has taken five wickets in the Asia Cup thus far, she is yet to show off her batting might. That is partly down to the surfaces in Dubai. Sri Lanka, though, would be a little wary of her considering she can bash spin, and strikes at 143.24 against them.
Team news
With both teams coming off wins, they are likely to go in with the same teams. Sri Lanka might be tempted to play slinger Mithali Ayodhya since it is a knockout match
Sri Lanka (probable): Imesha Dulani, Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Sanjana Kavindi, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harsthitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Chethana Vimukthi/Mithali Ayodhya, Chamudi Praboda
Pakistan (probable): Muneeba Ali (wk), Shawaal Zulfiqar, Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, Fatima Sana (capt), Umm-e-Hani, Eyman Fatima, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal
(Cricinfo)
A Pakistan Under-19 cricket team suddenly became the centre of focus when it was mistaken for a group of asylum seekers in Portsmouth. A group of protesters gathered outside the Marriott Hotel in Portsmouth after reports that asylum seekers were staying there. The situation had to be later diffused when it was ascertained that the hotel was hosting the Pakistan Under-19 team.
According to the Guardian, the situation became tense when a crowd gathered outside the Marriott hotel after reports that about 40 men who did not seem to be English arrived at the hotel. George Madgwick, a Reform councillor, called the hotel to mediate between the Pakistan Under-19 staff and the assembled crowd, following which the crowd dispersed.
“I spoke to the coach of the team, who was very understanding,” Madgwick told the Guardian. “I went out to the protesters and told them, ‘You’ve got it wrong guys, it’s a cricket club.’ They left within a couple of minutes. It was a massively unfortunate incident.
“From the perspective of the people of Portsmouth who are already on high alert, this was a coach from the same company which was turning up with about 40 foreign men.”
The ECB has been in touch with the Pakistan management following the incident and is reviewing security arrangements.
The Pakistan Under-19 team played a four-day game against England Under-19 in Arundel from September 2 to 5, which they lost by ten runs. The two teams faced off in a Youth ODI on September 9, with Pakistan winning by 177 runs. Pakistan’s senior men’s team are also playing the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston.
[Cricinfo]
by Rex Clementine
Sri Lanka’s Chairman of Selectors Kapila Wijegunawardene held his first media briefing yesterday since assuming office four months ago, a period in which several decisions have left the cricketing fraternity scratching their heads.
To his credit, the Chief Selector admitted that picking Lahiru Kumara for the tour of the Caribbean without first proving his fitness had been a mistake. It proved a costly one too, with the fast bowler breaking down after sending down just one over.
The former medium pacer was considerably more guarded when confronted with other contentious issues, including Dhananjaya de Silva’s defensive captaincy and the decision to recall Niroshan Dickwella after more than three years in the wilderness.
“We learned a tough lesson after what happened in the Caribbean with Lahiru Kumara and now we have made it mandatory for players to prove their fitness in domestic cricket when they come back from injuries,” Wijegunawardene told reporters.
That perhaps summed up the philosophy of this selection panel. Having burned their fingers once, caution appears to be the watchword. There seems little appetite for bold calls – the sort Duleep Mendis made when he gave Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana licence to tear into attacks during the field restrictions, or Sidath Wettimuny when he entrusted the vice-captaincy to a 22-year-old Mahela Jayawardene.
Ironically, as Wijegunawardene addressed the media, NCC were taking on Moors in a domestic T20 quarter-final right in front of his eyes at the SSC. One of those making an impression was seam bowling all-rounder Milan Rathnayake, who dismissed Dickwella for a second ball duck.
Wijegunawardene was duly asked why Milan had not been considered for the forthcoming tour of England.
Until now, the impression had been that the selectors were investing in Milan, giving the all-rounder sufficient international exposure with an eye on next year’s World Cup in South Africa. Suddenly, however, it appears to be back to square one, with Wijegunawardene indicating that the selectors have turned again to Dasun Shanaka for the all-rounder’s slot.
Shanaka has not played an ODI for more than two and a half years and has earned his recall largely on the strength of his T20 form. Yet he has repeatedly struggled to convince in the 50 over format, particularly if the selectors view him primarily as a batting all rounder.
This is where the selectors appear to have failed to do their homework. A proper analysis of Shanaka’s record would tell them that his batting has seldom been reliable enough in ODI cricket. The numbers tell that story quite clearly.
What the numbers will not tell you is that Dasun has instigated more bloodless coups than General Zia-ul-Haq and General Pervez Musharraf put together.
Pakistan seek revenge, Sri Lanka eye another Asia Cup final
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Steps are being taken to provide accommodation facilities for 16,000 university students – Prime Minister
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