Sports
Rohit, Kohli and Suryakumar power India to the top of Group 2
Fifties of vastly different moods and tempos from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav laid the platform for India to brush Netherlands aside and move to the top of the Group 2 table with a healthy net-run-rate boost. Choosing to bat first on an SCG surface that was considerably slower than the one they played their tournament-opener on at the MCG, India put on a classic display of controlled dominance over Associate opposition, posting a getable total and defending it ruthlessly.
Chasing 180, Netherlands were never in the game, and for a while seemed in danger of being bowled out for under 100. They avoided that fate, and the No. 11 Paul van Meekeren finished the innings with 4, 4, 4 off Arshdeep Singh to narrow their margin of defeat, but it was still a resounding 56 runs.India’s five specialist bowlers shared the wickets, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep, Axar Patel and R Ashwin picking up two apiece, and Mohammed Shami one.
The new ball swung, and occasionally stopped on the batter too. India scored just 11 runs in the first 2.4 overs of their innings, and van Meekeren picked up a well-earned early wicket too, having an lbw shout upheld after KL Rahul missed the flick off a late inswinger. Rahul didn’t review the decision, even though his opening partner Rohit seemed to suggest to him that the ball might have been swinging down the leg side; ball-tracking eventually proved Rohit correct.
Rohit struggled for fluency on this sluggish surface but he kept trying to hit boundaries. He survived a dropped chance – Tim Pringle putting down a sitter at mid-on when he was on 13 – and finished his innings with a control percentage of just under 59, but his preparedness to look ugly ensured he kept the scoreboard moving in the first 12 overs of India’s innings. He made 53 off 39 balls; during his time at the crease, the two batters at the other end – Rahul and Kohli – combined to score 28 off 31.
Kohli finished with a control percentage of 75. During the first 21 balls of his innings, when Rohit was at the other end, Kohli’s control percentage was 81. Unlike Rohit, he didn’t take chances early on and chose to trust in his ability to score quickly once set. He did this, and found the boundary with increased frequency in the last five overs to score 30 off his last 14 balls, having scored 32 off 30 balls before that.
India’s total of 179 was their lowest in T20I innings where they have lost only two wickets or fewer, and Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik didn’t even come out to bat, but India probably only aimed for par on a sluggish pitch against Associate opposition. Kohli may probably have taken more risks early on against a stronger team.
SL to field biggest team at World Indoor Championships
Sri Lanka Athletics is set to field its biggest contingent to a World Indoor Athletics Championship this week after World Athletics extended an invitation to include men’s and women’s 4×400 metres relay teams for the global event starting in Nanjing, China on Friday.
Sprinter Kalinga Kumarage is set to lead a young group of sprinters for the 4×400 metres relay after World Athletics invited its affiliate to fill the vacume created by the absence of some sprint powerhouses in the two relays.
Sri Lanka Athletics has selected men’s and women’s teams for the 4×400 metres relays based on the performances at the second selection trial held early this month.
The absence of leading sprinter Aruna Dharshana and the shocking defeats to some of the Asian medallists at the selection trial have opened a great opportunity for junior sprinters at the global track and field event where they will brush shoulders against USA, Jamaica, Hungary, Nigeria and China in the final.
S.B.R. Madushan, Sadew Rajakaruna and Omel Shashintha will form the men’s 4×400 metres relay team with experienced campaigner Kumarage. Rakakaruna who created a new national junior record recently and Shashintha are both school athletes and the opportunity at a global event will augur well for the duo. The reserve in the men’s 4×400 metres team is Isuru Lakshan.
Dharshana is currently training and competing in Australia. According to Sri Lanka Athletics Dharshana is not available as he has decided to complete all his commitments in Australia before returning. His absence will hinder country’s chances of producing a top performance in Nanjing where the country has a chance of qualifying for the World Relays and the World Championships.
Asian medallist Nadeesha Ramanayake will form the women’s 4×400 metres team with young aspirants Nishendra Harshani, Sayuri Lakshima and Jayeshi Uththara. Jithmi Wijetunga is the reserve selected in the team.
The women’s team will vie against China, India, USA Australia and Poland.
Sri Lanka is represented by two other athletes at the World Indoor Championships. Hurdler Kaveesha Bandara, sprinter Chamod Yodasinghe and Kalinga Kumarage secured spots for individual events through World Athletics event rankings.
The final entry lists confirmed by World Athletics include 576 athletes from 127 countries. The 576 entries comprise 264 women and 312 men.
by Reemus Fernando
Under 19 Cricket
A century by Pulisha Thilakarathne was the highlight of the day’s traditional Under 19 cricket encounters as Trinity posted 333 for seven wickets against St. Thomas’ Matara on day one of their match at Moneragala on Monday.
Thilakarathne top scored with 143 runs inclusive of 16 fours as he anchored the top order batting line up to produce a strong batting performance. Trinity were 333 for seven wickets when rain interrupted play.
At Kurunegala, the match between Mahanama (Colombo) and Maliyadeva ended in a draw after the visitors earned first innings advantage.
At Katugastota, St. Anthony’s restricted D. S. Senanayake to 142 runs as Kevan Fernando and Charuka Ekanayake shared seven wickets between them.
Match Results
Mahanama on first innings at Kurunegala
Scores:
Maliyadeva
214 all out in 66.2 overs (Vinuka Galappaththi 75, Rajith Navodya 69, Dimantha Arusha 30, Dinath Abeysinghe 23; Chamika Heenatigala 3/64, Anuka Wijewardana 2/41, Sithum Vihanga 2/41, Dulnith Sigera 2/42) and 53 for 3 in 15.2 overs (Dulnith Sigera 2/23)
Mahanama
98 for 1 overnight 247 all out in 61.4 overs (Dulnith Sigera 23, Anuka Wijewardana 45, Sanul Weerarathne 43, Venura Kaveethra 37, Chamika Heenatigala 30, Osanda Muthugama 25; Dimath Abeysinghe 4/68, Nethra Nirmala 2/37)
Pulisha shinea for Trinity at Moneragala
Scores:
Trinity
333 for 7 in 86 overs (Pulisha Thilakarathne 143, Aadham Hilmy 34, Rajindu Thilakarathne 26, Vathila Udara 65; Loshitha Diksith 3/59)
DSS struggle against St. Anthony’s at Kandy
Scores
DSS
142 all out in 55 overs (Sohan Yapa 45; Tharusha Dasun 2/29, Charuka Ekanayake 3/39, Kevan Fernando 4/17)
by Reemus Fernando
Corbin Bosch has been served legal notice by the PCB, alleging breach of contractual obligations, after the South Africa allrounder signed for Mumbai Indians for IPL 2025, thus pulling out of PSL 2025.
This season is the first in which the PSL will be played concurrently with the IPL: The IPL will run from March 22 to May 25, and the PSL from April 11 to May 18. Bosch had been picked by Peshawar Zalmi, in the diamond category, at the PSL draft that was held in January. But on March 8, it was announced by Mumbai Indians that he would be replacing the injured Lizaad Williams in their squad.
The PSL franchises have been keen to take some sort of action on Bosch, as they are worried it could set a precedent for players signing up with the PSL but then switching to the IPL. The idea of an outright ban on such players has also been floated in informal discussions.
A PCB statement said: “The legal notice was served through his agent, and the player has been asked to justify his actions of withdrawing from his professional and contractual commitments. The PCB management has also outlined the repercussions of his departure from the league and expects his response within the stipulated time frame. The PCB will not make any further comments on the matter.”
The statement did not specify what the time frame was for Bosch to respond.
The PCB had shifted the PSL window with a view to improve the quality and availability of overseas players whom the league would be able to sign. When the PSL was in the February-March window, it also had to compete with the SA20, ILT20 and the BPL for players. ESPN Cricinfo had reported last year when the window was changed that holding the PSL draft after the IPL auction had also been discussed, to have greater clarity about the availability of overseas players for the league. Leading into this season, the IPL auction was held in November 2024 and the PSL draft in January 2025.
The PSL draft duly attracted a large number of high-profile players, including David Warner, Daryl Mitchell, Jason Holder, Rassie van der Dussen and Kane Williamson.
[Cricinfo]
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