Sports

Sri Lanka seal Australia series with a game to spare

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/22

Charith Asalanka scored a maiden international hundred to help Sri Lanka post 258 in the fourth ODI against Australia at R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday.

by Rex Clementine

A nation facing its worst economic crisis and high inflation for months had finally something to smile about as Sri Lanka sealed a come from behind series win over Australia at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday. Having set Australia a target of 259, the hosts bowled out the tourists for 254 to complete a four run win and clinch the five match series 3-1 with a game to spare. Friday’s final ODI will be a dead rubber.

Australia were on course for the target and had the required run rate under control as David Warner and Travis Head added 58 runs for the fifth wicket. Part-timer Dhananjaya de Silva then removed both batsmen in successive overs to put Sri Lanka back in the hunt.

Head was bowled for 27 by de Silva and in the next over Maheesh Theekshana trapped danger man Glenn Maxwell leg before wicket for one as de Silva came back for his final over and delivered the killer punch when he had Warner smartly stumped by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella as Australia lost three wickets for the addition of three runs in the space of eight deliveries.

Warner was unlucky to be dismissed for 99 missing out on his 19th ODI hundred. The opening batsman now has not scored an international hundred for more than two years across all formats.

There was some resistance from the lower order with Pat Cummins (35) putting up some fight and then Matthew Kuhnemann keeping Australia’s chances alive until the last delivery. Australia needed 19 off the last over bowled by skipper Dasun Shanaka. Kuhnemann then hit three boundaries and Australia required five runs off the last ball. He was deceived by a slower delivery hitting it straight up in the air and Charith Asalanka completed the catch at covers.

De Silva finished with two for 39 in his ten overs to back up his half-century during the Sri Lankan innings. The middle order batsman scored 60 off 61 deliveries with seven fours and was spectacularly caught by Glenn Maxwell. De Silva had added 101 runs for the fourth wicket with Charith Asalanka before Maxwell pulled off the terrific one-handed catch at mid-wicket to break the partnership.

Asalanka was the hero for Sri Lanka with the bat posting a maiden hundred. He had joined de Silva with the side in a spot of bother at 34 for three. The pair rescued the innings and then after de Silva’s dismissal, Asalanka added a further 57 for the sixth wicket with Dunith Wellalage (19).

Sri Lanka appeared to be 20 runs short as they were bowled out in the 49th over. However, in the end, it proved to be just enough.

It is Sri Lanka’s first ODI series win over Australia in more than a decade and their first series victory at home against the Aussies in 30 years.

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Sports

Dinsara anchors SL Under 19s to post 267

Published

41 mins ago

2026/01/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

ICC Youth World Cup

After in-form openers were dismissed cheaply skipper Vimath Dinsara held the middle order together with a top score of 95 runs for Sri Lanka Under 19 to post 267 for five wickets against Ireland in their Group A Youth World Cup encounter at Windhoek on Monday.

‎Ireland’s new ball bowlers dismissed Dimantha Mahavithana and Viran Chamuditha for one digit scores after Sri Lanka decided to bat first. The Sri Lankan openers had posted a record breaking first wicket stand against Japan in their first World Cup encounter at the same venue two days earlier.

‎Sri Lanka were 59 for three wickets when Royal College batsman Dinsara joined Kavija Gamage to steady the innings with a stand of 80 runs. While Kingswood batsman made 49 before being run out, Dinsara went on to add another hundred runs partnership with Mahanama batsman Chamika Heenatigala.

‎Dinsara was dismissed five runs short of the three figure mark in the 46th over.

‎Heenatigala remained unbeaten to post 51 in 53 balls.

‎Dinsara’s knock which came in 102 balls included six fours and a six.

‎For Ireland Oliver Riley took two wickets.

Sports

Finalists found in Under 16 singles

Published

43 mins ago

2026/01/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

SSC Open Tennis Championship 2026

Ashlin de Silva is set to meet Mayooran Kubherane and Navya Banagala will encounter Sahansa Damsiluni in the boys and girls singles finals as they won their respective semi finals of the SSC Open Tennis Championship continued in Colombo on Monday.

‎In the boys’ semi finals Ashlin de Silva beat Dehan Wickramasinghe 6-2, 6-3 and

‎Mayooran Kubehrane beat Nevan Kannangara 6-1, 6-7 and 6-4.

‎Girls semi finals saw Sahansa Damsiluni beat Jenifa Mercy 6-1, 6-2 and Banagala recording 7-6, 6-3 win against Sheshandri Fernando.

Sports

Big partnerships highlight day one

Published

44 mins ago

2026/01/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

Under 19 Division I Cricket

Two big partnerships and a six wicket haul were the most impressive performances on day one of the Under 19 Division I Tier A and Tier B matches which commenced on Monday.

‎‎Tier A

‎Maris Stella College Negombo

amassed 391 for nine wickets against S. Thimas’ Mount Lavinia and the highlight was the 121 runs stand for the seventh wicket between Ameesha Fernando (121 in 94 balls) and Dasun Nethsara. Ameesha hammered nine fours and seven sixes in the match started at Negombo.

‎Tier B

‎‎Open batsmen Mario Fernando (102) and Tehan Bitar (152n.o. in 226 balls) put on a partnership of 181 runs for St. Benedict’s to score 358 for five wickets declared against Dharmaraja in their Tier B match in Kandy.

‎At BRC ground, Isipatana had a slight edge as they reached 168 for eight wickets at stumps after left armer Menula Sadev took six wickets to bowl out Wesley for 150 runs.

‎At Ananda Mawatha, half centuries by Shanon Silva (84 in a total of 202) for De Mazenod and Kithma Widanapathirana (63n.o.) and Danindu Sellapperuma (54 for Ananda (168/3) were the highlights.

‎At Katuneriya, Maheesha Sithum took five wickets for St. Sebastians‘ to restrict Sri Sumangala Panadura to 212 for nine wickets. (RF)