Sports
Roshan guides MAS Active to MCA ‘G’ Division title
Opening batsman and wicket-keeper, Roshan Wijesekera with a rock solid 62 runs in 46 balls, inclusive of one six and eight fours, guided MAS Active to a convincing 24 runs win over, Citizens Development Business Finance ‘B’ team, in the 11th Stafford Motor Co. (Pvt) Ltd, sponsored, ‘Honda’ Trophy – MCA ‘G’ division 25 Over League Tournament 2022 Final, concluded at the MCA Grounds on Saturday(23).
Thus, MAS Active took sweet revenge over CDB ‘B’ on their earlier loss in the League stage by eight runs whilst, Roshan Wijesekera took his series tally to 345 runs in nine innings.
MAS Active, who won the toss and batted, posted a respectable 177 for nine in 25 overs with Roshan Wijesekera playing the anchor, helped by breeze innings by skipper Geeth Sankalpa (26 runs in nine balls, inclusive of four towering sixes) and a useful 13 runs in five balls with two sixes by the number nine batsman, Heshan Thenuwara. Spinner, Isuru Jayaranga (5-22-4) bowled intelligently for CDB ‘B’.
CDB ‘B’ unbeaten up to the final was felled by their complacent batting. Most of their batsmen going for big shots early were out getting caught inside the ring.
CDB ‘B’ Captain Weranga Dissanayake was one such victim. He opened the batting with Tharindu Madusanka. In the second ball he faced, he went for a big hit and got caught in the deep by Heshan Thenuwara (0 for 1).
CDB ‘B’ never recovered from that shock start and four more wickets fell at 22, 23, 51 and 79. They finally succumbed to 153 for 09 in 25 overs. The match-winning bowlers for MAS Active were Gihan Charuka (5-32-3), Dushamantha Dissanayake (5-29-1), Thilina Nupahewa (5-36-1) and Tharaka Sandaruwan (4-15-2).
Match Referee, Sudath Munaweera had no hesitation in naming MAS Active’s, Roshan Wijesekera (62 runs, one stump, and one catch) as his Man of the Match.
The other three special awards, based on performances up to the semi-finals went to Tharaka Sampath Silva from Brandix Essentials, best bowler (eight matches, 187 balls, 181 runs, 18 wickets) and Pawantha Maduranga Weerasinghe from Softlogic Life, best batsman and Man of the Series (eight matches, 339 runs and 13 wickets for 183 runs).
Awards were given away by Director/CEO, Charaka Perera (Chief Guest), General Manager Administration, Damitha Jayasundera, Guest of Honour, both from Stafford Motor Co. (Pvt Ltd; President, Nalin Wickramesinghe, Ex-co Member and Chairman, Digital and Information Committee, Hasitha Dassanayake and Secretary Tournament Committee, Lakmal de Silva, all from MCA.
Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute from a rebound yielded by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory.
Merino was the late hero for the second straight match for Spain, who advanced to face tournament favourite France in the semifinals on Tuesday in Dallas.
Merino came on in the 86th minute and scored from his second touch of the match, charging into the box and pouncing after Lammens spilled a Pau Cubarsi shot from outside the area.
The Arsenal forward also scored as a substitute early in injury time to secure Spain’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the last-16.
Lammens, the Manchester United keeper, was forced into the match in the 71st minute after longtime Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois left with an apparent thigh injury.
Belgium desperately pressed for an equaliser in the final minutes, but Aymeric Laporte volleyed their best chance out of the box.
Fabian Ruiz scored the opening goal in the 30th minute for Spain after Courtois had parried a shot from Dani Olmo from Pedro Porro’s cut-back from the right of the area, but Belgium forward Charles De Ketelaere scored the first goal allowed by Spain in the entire World Cup in the 41st minute.
His header from Timothy Castagne’s cross from the right ended a record streak of 649 minutes without conceding at the World Cup.
The annual rugby encounter between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College, played for the William Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy, is set to take place today (July 11, 2026), at 4:00 PM at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy.
The official unveiling of the trophy took place this week at the Dharmaraja College premises with the participation of the Principals of the two schools, teachers-in-charge of sports, coaches, the Rugby teams, and several distinguished guests, including Dharmaraja College Old Boys’ Association President Mahesh Wijetunga, Kingswood College Old Boys’ Association President Muditha Abeykoon,
Text and Pic by SK Samaranayake
The annual rugby encounter between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College, played for the William Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy, is set to take place tomorrow (July 11, 2026), at 4:00 PM at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy.
The official unveiling of the trophy took place this week at the Dharmaraja College premises with the participation of the Principals of the two schools, teachers-in-charge of sports, coaches, the Rugby teams, and several distinguished guests, including Dharmaraja College Old Boys’ Association President Mahesh Wijetunga, Kingswood College Old Boys’ Association President Muditha Abeykoon,
by S K SAMARANAYAKE
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