Sports

Need to get the right combination

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/25

Sri Lanka lost the first ODI against Bangladesh by 33 runs. The second ODI will be played today in Dhaka followed by the final game on Friday.

by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka are languishing at 12th in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League with minus two points and at this moment automatic qualification looks a dream for the sport’s showpiece event. These are tough times no doubt to be in selectors’ boots. They have made the call to axe a whole lot of seniors and need to show faith in the young charges they have chosen. In the meantime, the team also needs to pick up a few points to improve their poor ranking. Bangladesh were the ideal opponents to get some points to your name for England and India over the next two months would prove to be formidable opponents.

If Sri Lanka can win the next two games, they can move up to number nine; ahead of teams like Zimbabwe and Ireland. If they don’t, they have got to bite the bullet and face harsher realities having let grass grow under their feet having ignored vital aspects like fitness, fielding and discipline.

There were some glaring errors during the first ODI that Sri Lanka lost by 33 runs and of the main aspects was that the team got the combination wrong.

Opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka played so well with an array of attacking shots – there were five boundaries in his 21 – but he perished playing one too many drives. On a track where the ball was not coming onto the bat the batsmen were struggling with their timing. More than the drive, the sweep and the reverse sweep would have been an ideal tool on this track. Talking of the sweep, there’s no better batsman to execute it than Niroshan Dickwella.

His mannerisms at times can be irritating but Dickwella can be such an important asset to the team with his ability to put the bowlers off their rhythm with his unconventional batting. Why he has not played an ODI since March 2019 is beyond us.

One of the things that they had identified in our ODI cricket was that the team had not been able to utilize the quota of 50 overs often. So they came up with a solution. It was to pick someone to bat through the innings. The person who was chosen to do that job was Dimuth Karunaratne. His calming influence in leading the side was an additional bonus. He did such a wonderful job having brought together a team that was in disarray.

Karunaratne was in the form of his life having amassed 427 runs in three innings during the recent Test series in Kandy. His numbers were Bradmansque but for some strange reason he was kicked out of the ODI side. Nobody had told him that his strike rate was poor in limited over cricket. Nobody had told him that he had to play a few attacking shots. All what he had been told was to bat through the innings and he finds himself out of the side for doing exactly what was asked of him to do. It does not make sense.

Sri Lanka opted to play two wrist spinners in the opening match. There’s Dhananjaya de Silva too. He was the pick of the bowlers claiming three wickets with his off-spin. Should they have played Ramesh Mendes is an interesting question. Bangladesh are depending heavily on spin. Should you bring your specialist off-spinner into the side is something for the authorities to ponder. Or should he replace Lakshan Sandakan? The left-arm wrist spinner goes for runs. That doesn’t matter if he can pick up three of four wickets. If he does not, since you already have a wrist spinner in Wanindu Hasaranga, you need to look at the other Mendis.

It was a brilliant show by Hasaranga. His clean hitting was so good to watch and had the top order stretched a few partnerships, Sri Lanka could have got over the line. There are those who are talking that Hasaranga should bat up the order. He is someone who is ideal for number seven; a good finisher. Let him not do more than what he could chew.

All News Advertisement

Sports

Hasaranga backs Sri Lanka for World Cup semi-final push

Published

9 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka’s leg-spin spearhead Wanindu Hasaranga has warned rivals not to write off the hosts ahead of the World Cup, after his four-wicket burst in the final T20I against Pakistan helped Sri Lanka square the three-match series on Sunday.

Hasaranga’s spell turned the game on its head and restored belief in a side that has blown hot and cold. Speaking after being named Player of the Match and Player of the Series, the leg-spinner said Sri Lanka, buoyed by home conditions, remain very much in the hunt for a semi-final berth.

Under head coach Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka have made steady strides over the past 18 months. There have been a few distractions recently like changes in selectors and captaincy among them, but the dressing room, Hasaranga insisted, is quietly confident.

“We know the conditions and we’ve grown up playing in these conditions,” Hasaranga said. “If we use them well, we can have a major impact. Players need to identify their roles. Once that happens, we can put on a good show.”

Sunday’s decider was reduced to 12 overs a side after rain delayed the start by more than two hours, but Hasaranga felt the shortened contest still offered valuable lessons.

“Today we looked good,” he said. “We’ve been lacking a bit of consistency in recent years. In a World Cup, you have to minimise mistakes and keep moving forward.”

Bowling with a wet ball tested the spinners’ skills and patience, but Hasaranga viewed it as useful match practice rather than an inconvenience.

“It was challenging with a wet ball,” he explained. “But it’s good these things happen before a World Cup. It prepares you for all kinds of situations. I even spoke to our batters about what deliveries they’d prefer to face, and that input helped when we went out to defend.”

Sri Lanka now enjoy a week’s breather before hosting England with Hasaranga keen to see his side peak at the right time.

“When this series started, we had six games leading into the World Cup,” he said. “Rain in Dambulla meant things didn’t always go to plan. As a team, we wanted winning momentum. There are only a couple of games left now and we need to be firing on all cylinders when the World Cup begins.”

Sri Lanka had stumbled in the opener, losing by six wickets after being bowled out inside 20 overs, while the second match was washed out without a toss. A 14-run win in the final game, however, ensured honours ended even.

Rex Clementine
in Dambulla

Sports

Sunil Gunawardana among contenders for top post of Sri Lanka Athletics

Published

9 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

It will be a four-way battle for the top post of Sri Lanka Athletics as fresh nominations for the election of office bearers closed at the Sports Ministry on Monday. Former president Sunil Gunawardana, Bimal Wijesinhge, Sugath Kumara and Prasanna Indika are the nominees for the post of president and they are subjected to objections.

‎This is the second time the Ministry of Sports called for nominations after different stakeholders successfully challanged the earlier niminations alleging that there were errors in the process.

‎Informed sources said that this time too the Ministry of Sports has left enough room for allegations as it announced the names of the nominees without waiting for the nominations sent by post.

‎”There was a fundamental error as they did not wait for nominations sent by post. They informed the stake holders by post. Some member federations had received the letters only on last Thursday. They were in a mighty hurry to announce the names of the nominees soon after the nominations closed,” a source close to athletics told The Island.

‎Following are the nominees for various posts of Sri Lanka Athletics.

‎‎President: Sunil Gunawardana, Bimal Wijesinhge, Prasanna Indika, Sugath Kumara

‎‎Vice President: Prasanna Indika, Lal Chandrakumara, Lt. Col. G.N. Jayathilaka, Irangani Rupasinghe, Jagath Silva, G.J. Siyamudali, Prasanna Aluvihare

‎‎Secretary: Dr. Dhammika Senanayake, Sameera Perera, Madawa Herath

‎Asst. Secretary: Sameera Perera, Aloy Wickramasinghe (RF)

Sports

Lakmal, Pravina win trophies at Eagles Monsoon Cup Golf Tournament

Published

9 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

Wing Commander Lakmal Gunewardene (Retd) won the Eagles’ Monsoon Cup Trophy. (L) / Pravina Dunuwille emerged as the Ladies' Trophy winner. (R)

Wing Commander Lakmal Gunewardene (Retd) secured the Eagles’ Monsoon Cup Trophy, achieving the highest score in the gents’ category and Pravina Dunuwille emerged as the Ladies’ Trophy winner at the fourth edition of the Eagles Monsoon Cup Golf Tournament which came to a close at the picturesque China Bay, near the harbour city of Trincomalee.

‎The Sri Lanka Air Force, in collaboration with Eagles’ Golf Links and Courses, successfully conducted the fourth edition of the Eagles’ Monsoon Cup Golf Tournament on Sunday.

‎The tournament, conducted under the Stableford Scoring System, commenced in the morning with the participation of 80 enthusiastic golfers, including 13 women golfers. The tournament was officially inaugurated when one of the former Commanders of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody, took the first tee-off.

‎Wing Commander Nalin Bentharaarachchi (Retd) claimed the Runner-up position in the Gents’ category, and Niloo Jayathilake was awarded the Ladies’ Runner-up position. In addition, Buddika Amarasinghe and Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody received accolades for the Longest Drive and Nearest to the Pin, respectively, in the Gents’ category, while Sandra Cadien secured the Longest Drive in the Ladies’ category. The Wooden Spoon was awarded to Nimal Jayasinghe.

‎The Eagles’ Monsoon Defence Challenge Trophy, presented to members of the Tri-Services in the Men’s category, was won by Wing Commander Asantha Gunaratne from the SLAF. Lieutenant Commander Mevan Perera from the SL Navy was the Runner-up of the Defence Challenge Trophy. Commodore Mangala Mummullage received the award for the Longest Drive in the Defence Challenge category.

‎The Best Total Net Score in the Six Hidden Holes competition segment was achieved by Wing Commander Lakmal Gunewardene (Retd) and Group Captain Prabath Wijekoon received the Commander’s Island Green Award for the 2025 year’s Eagles’ Monsoon Cup iteration.

‎The awards of the Eagles’ Monsoon Cup were presented at a gala Awards Ceremony held at Eagles’ Golf Links during the evening of the same day. The Director General Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal Dhammika Dias, graced the Awards Ceremony as the Chief Guest. Further, Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkodi, Chairman of SLAF Golf, Air Commodore Erandika Gunewardene, Secretary of Air Force Golf Links and Courses, Group Captain Asanka Rathnayake, Secretary of Air Force Golf, Wing Commander Thushan Fernando, Sales Manager of Aviyana Ceylon Resorts, Suranga Fernando (representing the Chairman of Aviyana Ceylon Resorts) and other golf enthusiasts attended the ceremony.

‎Adding to the prestige of the occasion, Aviyana Ceylon Resorts sponsored the tournament, enhancing its grandeur and providing a memorable experience for all participants.‎