Sports

Fijian forwards hold their own against All Blacks

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/12

by Rajitha Ratwatte

The first of two tests All Blacks vs Fiji played in the dead of winter in Dunedin at the Forsyth Barr Stadium with the roof up. At least that meant dry conditions underfoot, but the temperature remained below 10 degrees Celsius! Fiji missing just three of their players (two halfbacks) who were trapped in Australia due to Covid 19 but having all their European players back in the fold. The AB’s captained by Aaron Smith with Brodie Retallick back in the second row and Beauden Barret starting at no10. The Fijians had come to PLAY and Retallick soon found that this was a different level to the rugby he had been playing in Japan, having the ball ripped away from him in the loose and the Fijians opening the scoring with a penalty earned in loose play right in front of the posts. 0-3 inside five minutes. Three minutes later the Blacks retaliated off a line out, having had their rolling maul stopped, the left-winger joined the line and a series of great passes by the three-quarters saw Jordie Barret who was in the number 15 jersey score mid-right. Duly converted by his brother Beauden 7–3 NZ ahead. Fiji came right back earning another penalty and having Volavola convert with ease 7-6 with just over 12 minutes played. David Havili playing his first home match for the ABs in the number 12 shirt showed his skills scoring twice in quick succession, once stepping nicely off his left foot and the second time breaking three tackles. Barret senior was able to convert both 21–6. 23 minutes into the game Beauden Barret collected a nasty injury to his eye and face by getting in the way of a flailing boot and had to go off for repairs. The Fiji forwards were playing very well and actually getting the better of the ABs in the loose. The Fijians had the services of the Crusaders forwards coach and he had obviously done a great job. So much so that they scored an unconverted try in the 27th minute and kept many determined attacks by the Blacks at bay until halftime to finish the scoreline reading 21 – 11.

The Abs scored first after the break with George Bridges going over the line from another great move by the backs. David Havili again looping around from first center and forming the overlap. Only a five pointer as Barret senior who was back on the field but looking bruised and battered missing the kick 26–11. Fijians pulled off a great move in front of the line out and caught the ABs blind side defence napping scoring another unconverted try and taking the score to 26–16. At this point around 50 minutes into the game, the ABs replaced their entire front row and Dan Coles came in at no2. Coles went straight into the limelight scoring in what has become his trademark method, off a rolling maul starting off a line out inside 10 meters in opposition territory. Scoreline 31–16. The Fijians continued to put the ABs defence under severe pressure and earned themselves a penalty and a yellow card for David Havili (collapsing a maul with a “hot” ball) who had played an exemplary game up to that point. 31–21 in the 63rd minute and the Blacks one man short. Dan Coles was not intimidated however and scored another of his trademarks that Beaudie was able to convert taking the score to 38–21. Will Jordan who had five tries in last week’s annihilation of Tonga came on off the bench and strolled over the line off a great long pass by Beauden Barret who was coming into his own and realizing that this level was different from the rugby he had been playing in Japan! Barret couldn’t convert, however, and the score read 43–23. The last stages of the game had been reached and the ABs put on their famous spurt with Dan Coles scoring twice more, one “trademark” and the other by pouncing on a loose ball well inside Fijian territory. Coles became the first ABs forward in history to score four tries in a test match and Beauden Barret converted both tries to take the final score to 57–23.

The ABs had always scored over 60 points against Fiji in the past and the Fijians had never scored 23 points against the Blacks.

A much more closely contested game than what was seen last week and even a different level of rugby. Fiji is going to make a welcome entry to the first level of xv a side world rugby. This may also serve as a good call to the coaches and selectors of the stronger sides not to succumb to pressure from the press and choose weaker sides for what is deemed “lesser opposition”. Some sections of the press insinuated that the NZ teams were almost guilty of sin, by winning so comfortably last week against Tonga and Samoa!

The Samoans who gave much better opposition to the Maori All Blacks last week showed their superiority over Tonga by beating them 42–13 earlier in the afternoon after leading by only 6–3 at halftime.

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Gujarat Titans knock out Chennai Super Kings and seal top-two finish

Published

3 hours ago

2026/05/22

Priyan

Shubman Gill and Co in GT's huddle [Cricinfo]

Chennai Super King’s (CSK) slim playoff hopes were crushed emphatically by Gujarat Titans [GT] in Ahmedabad on Thursday night as they sealed a top-two spot with an 89-run win.

Sent in to bat on a red-soil surface with pace and bounce, GT went all-in to post 229. Shubman Gill’s 23-ball half-century set it up for late fireworks from B Sai Sudarshan (84 off 53) and Jos Buttler (57 not out off 27).

In reply, CSK’s top five perished inside eight overs before Shivam Dube tonked 47 off 17 to briefly inject life into the chase. His dismissal left the door ajar for GT to knock over the lower order, which they did courtesy Rashid Khan to bowl CSK out in the 14th over.

In the game’s second over, Sanju Samson left the field to nurse a finger injury after Spencer Johnson’s hard-length delivery down the leg side suddenly swerved away after passing the batter. He left the field immediately, and didn’t return for the rest of the innings with Kartik Sharma taking over the wicketkeeping duties. The nature of his on-field injury meant Samson could return to bat in his original position, but he lasted all of one ball, nicking a Mohammed Siraj away-swinger in the very first over.

Having taken a wicket off the first ball in GT’s defense of 230, Siraj then saw Ruturaj Gaikwad loft him through the line over the covers, and then walk across to scoop him for six. In his next over, he saw the CSK captain whip him nonchalantly over the midwicket fence. Siraj, though, remained unperturbed and removed him with a length ball that ducked back in to crash into the stumps. One ball later, he silenced the home fans rooting for local hero Urvil Patel by having him top-edge a flick straight down Prasidh Krishna’s throat at deep backward square leg.

At the start of the ninth, CSK were 72 for 5. It took Dube all of two overs to get the fans excited. Having endured a poor season, he began by thumping left-arm seamer Arshad Khan for 6, 4 and 4 in an over that went for 19. He went into overdrive in the next, thumping Jason Holder’s hard-length delivery over long-on for six. And when Holder went full, Dube’s long levers helped scythe the ball behind square. Overs 8-10 fetched 37. But one ball after launching Rashid over deep midwicket, Dube was out to him when Gill, running back from cover, pulled off a stunner. CSK lost their last four wickets in the next three overs, with Rashid finishing with 3 for 18.

Long before his catching brilliance and the direct hit to run out Kartik, Gill began like a bullet train, surging to a 23-ball half-century to lay down the marker, even as Sai Sudharsan buckled down to play second fiddle. He was run-a-ball for his first 22 deliveries en route to a seventh century stand with Gill – the most by an opening pair in the IPL.

Gill survived on 51 despite feathering an attempted pull with none of the opposition appealing for caught behind. But it didn’t cost CSK a lot as he fell soon after for 64. Once Gill perished, Sai Sudharsan carried on to bring up his fifth consecutive IPL fifty – joining Virender Sehwag, David Warner and Buttler to this feat.

Sudharsan would eventually fall for 84, along the way surpassing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s tally to take back the Orange Cap.

Buttler, who came in after Gill’s wicket, launched into the bowling from the get-go. He took particular liking to Noor Ahmad, depositing him deep into the stands to quickly offset a brief slowdown. Amid the carnage from one end, left-arm seamer Gurjanpreet Singh held away, mixing his cutters with wide yorkers to finish with 4-0-31-0, the figures taking a dent only because his final over went for 15.

Buttler too got to his half-century off 23 balls when he scythed two attempted wide yorkers from Anshul Kamboj to the cover boundary. Kamboj went for 56 off his four overs, along the way conceding the most sixes in a single IPL season. It left CSK needing a mammoth 230, which they never looked like challenging on the night.

Brief scores:
Gujarat Titans 229 for 4 in 20 overs (Sai Sudharsan 84, Shubman GIll 64, Jos Buttler 57*; Mukesh Choudhary 1-36, Spence Johnson 1-47, Anshul Kamboj 1-56) beat Chennai Super Kings 140 in 13.4 overs (Mathew Short 24, Rutraj Gaikwad 16, Kartik Sharma 19, Shivam Dube 47, Anshul Kamboj 19; Rashid Khan 3-18, Mohammed Siraj 3-26, Kagiso Rabada 3-32) by 89 runs

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Brandix Apparell clash with Maliban Biscuits for the ‘Honda Trophy’ on Sunday

Published

3 hours ago

2026/05/22

Thilina Walpola

Maliban Biscuits Team

15TH STAFFORD MOTORS – MCA G DIVISION T20 LEAGUE CRICKET TOURNAMENT

Brandix Apparel and Maliban Biscuits two undefeated teams will clash in the final of the Stafford Motors sponsored MCA G Division cricket tournament final to be played at the MCA ground on Sunday [24] morning. The winners will remain undefeated and take home the ‘Honda Trophy’.

In the league stage Brandix Apparel playing in group G defeated Millenium IT ESP by 61 runs, Stafford Motors by 60 runs and Sitecore by 7 wickets to qualify for the knock out stage. The game against Coats Thread Exports was not played as the result wouldn’t have changed the group’s rankings. In the knockout stage Brandix defeated Pyramid Wilmar by 12 runs in the pre-quarter final, Future Life Holdings by 72 runs in the quarter final and Stafford Motors by 70 runs in the semifinal to reach the final undefeated.

Maliban Biscuits ‘B’ playing in Group A in the league stage, defeated WSO2 by 8 wickets, Sysco Labs by 6 wickets, Jetwing Travels by 136 runs, Hayleys Group ‘C’ by 9 wickets and CDB ‘B’ by 4 wickets to reach the knockout stage. Maliban beat Fairfirst Insurance by 7 wickets in the pre-quarter final, Allianz Insurance by 4 wickets in the quarter final and Star Garments by 3 wickets to reach the final undefeated.

Brandix Apparell led by Tharaka Sampath Silva will be selected from, Janaka Weerapokuna, Pradeep Kumara , Shashika Udesh, Dayan Idunil, Lakshan Fernando, Sasitha Ashan, Akila Dhanuddhra, Dulaj Silva [WK], Sampath Jayalath, Kalpa Udesh, Pasal wickrasingha, Sameera Alvise, Dinusha Nishan, Nirmal Fernando, Dinesh Priyankara

Maliban Biscuits ‘B’ led by Tharindu Siriwardene will be selected from Gihan Ranasinghe [WK], Anjula Perera, Chamara Rathnayake, Dilan Alwis, Dilip Sandaruwan, Chathuranga Dewapriya, Mohomed Shilmi, Sameera Lakmal, Dilantha Sanjeewa, Nadun Kumara, Tharindu Fernando, Asiri Samarasinghe, Kelum Madushanka, Aruna Nuwan

Stafford Motors and Star Garments vie for third place

Sponsors Stafford Motors and Star Garments , the two teams that were unfortunate not to reach the finals, will battle it out on Sunday afternoon in the playoff for third place.

The Stafford Motors team led by Shanaka Sampath will be selected from Dhammika Kumara, Vishwa Rajapaksha, Sanjaya Fernando, Sanjeewa Vishan, JanithnSilva, Vihanga Malith, Nethum Manawaduge, Dulshan Attanayake, Annesley Perera, Venura Nisalitha, Ravindra Lal, K A Samantha, Lakshan Fernando, Asanka Kumarage, Gajindu Yasas [WK]

Star Garments led by Rishantha Anushka will be selected from Shakila Dulshan [WK], Randu Nawanjaya Fernando, Nadeesha Akash, Suwahas Yapa, Yohan Dewapriya, . Dunik Perera, Sanjaya Mihiran, Dhanuka Dulanja, Chathuranga Dilshan, Niranjan Fernando, Ganidu Charulochana, Sudesh Wilhara, Thushara Appuhami, Nadun Wijenayake

Brandix Apparell Team

Sports

Manyuga six-for powers Rahula to easy win

Published

3 hours ago

2026/05/22

Thilina Walpola

Hirun Manyuga

Paceman Hirun Manyuga produced a devastating spell to claim six wickets as Rahula, Matara bundled out St. Thomas’, Matara for just 69 runs before cruising to a seven-wicket victory in their Under 17 Division I cricket tournament match played at Uyanwatta Stadium on Thursday.

‎Manyuga spearheaded the bowling attack with a match-defining six-wicket haul to put Rahula firmly in control after St. Thomas’ struggled against disciplined bowling. He received fine support from Pawan Dulsara and Jineth Methmira, who chipped in with two wickets apiece to complete the collapse.

‎Rahula made light work of the modest target, with Manyuga capping a fine all-round performance by top scoring in the run chase with an unbeaten 26 runs to guide his team to victory in convincing fashion. His impressive bowling figures read 7.3-1-19-6.

‎At Campbell Place in Colombo, Dunal Sendanayaka produced a match-winning unbeaten innings as Nalanda recorded an impressive six-wicket victory over St. Joseph’s in their opening Group match of the Under-17 Division I Cricket Tournament.

‎Chasing a revised DLS target of 125 runs, Nalanda reached the target comfortably, with seven overs to spare, thanks largely to an outstanding knock by Sendanayaka.

‎The Nalanda batsman stood firm after the visitors made early inroads, reducing the home side to 26 for two wickets. Sendanayaka then combined effectively with Hasarel Rabel to produce a decisive 81-run partnership for the third wicket, which turned the contest firmly in Nalanda’s favour.

‎Sendanayaka remained unbeaten on a superb 74 off 80 deliveries, striking six boundaries and three sixes in a commanding innings. Rabel provided solid support with a patient 31 runs off 64 balls. For St. Joseph’s, Thisanga Perera was the most successful bowler, claiming two wickets for 16 runs.

‎Earlier, after being put into bat, St. Joseph’s struggled to build momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. Useful contributions from Lesandu Wijethunga (23) and Disinu Samarasinghe (24) helped the visitors post 122 all out in 34 overs.

‎Nalanda’s bowling effort was spearheaded by left-arm spinners Umasha Abhilash and Binulka Mansith, who claimed three wickets apiece to restrict the Josephians to a modest total. Vidun Gamage also chipped in with two wickets.

‎‎Scores

‎St. Joseph’s

122 all out in 34 overs (Lesandu Wijethunga 23, Disinu Samarasinghe 24; Vidun Gamage 2/40, Umasha Abhilash 3/30, Binulka Mansith 3/04)

‎Nalanda

128 for 4 in 29.2 overs (Dunal Sendanayaka 74n.o., Hasarel Rabel 31; Thisanga Perera 2/16)

‎‎Meanwhile at BRC ground, Ananda Sastralaya Kotte pulled off an exciting two wicketa victory over Lumbini. (RF)