Sports
Pradeeptha, Inuka dazzle
Under 19 Division I Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Centuries by Thamindu Pradeeptha and Diniru Abeywickramasinghe and a seven wicket haul by Inuka Karannagoda helped their respective schools do well against their opponents in the Under 19 Division I cricket encounters on Tuesday.
An unbeaten century by Thamindu Pradeeptha helped Richmond change the day one script at Mount Lavinia as they posted 249 runs against S. Thomas’ in their encounter. The teams bating first at Mount Lavinia had collapsed to low scores this season but the dogged 258 ball knock by Pradeeptha and a valuable half century by Malsha Tharupathi prevented Richmond from being bowled out for a low score. Pradeeptha’s knock contained 13 fours and a six (in 258 balls).
Abeywickramasinghe’s 116 runs helped St. Servatius’ score a first innings win over Moratu Vidyalaya at Uyanwatta. The visitors however managed to compensate for their dismal first innings performance as Deneth Sithumina top scored with 88 runs for them to post 207 for five wickets at stumps in the second innings.
At Katunayake, left-arm spinner Inuka Karannagoda took seven wickets (24.3-1-49-7) to lead Mahanama to a thrilling first innings win over St. Joseph’s.
Match Results
Inuka takes seven wickets for Mahanama to take first innings
points at Katunayake
Scores:
Mahanama
215 all out in 91.1 overs (Sachira Weliwatta 55, Viranga Yeshan 44, Rashmika Perera 43; Yenula Dewthusa 6/57, Muditha Dissanayaka 2/28) and 136 for 2 in 27 overs (Anjala Bandara 53n.o., Duvindu Ranathunga 38n.o., Sachira Weliwatta 28)
St. Joseph’s
12 for no loss overnight 175 all out in 73.3 overs (Muditha Dissanayake 59, Hirun Kapurubandara 41n.o., Sadeesh Jayawardana 20, Abishek Jayaweera 20; Inuka Karannagoda 7/49, Koojana Perera 2/24)
St. Servatius’ dominate
at Uyanwatta
Scores:
Moratu MV
111 all out in 45.1 overs (Isuru Nidarshana 20, Sukitha Devthilina 32; Viran Chamuditha 3/10, Chiran Neththaru 5/23) and 207 for 5 in 84 overs (Hashen Isuru 32, Thushan Ferdinando 25, Deneth Sithumina 88)
St. Servatius’
180 for 3 overnight 294 for 7 decl. in 76 overs (Denuwan Pramod 63, Chiran Neththaru 60n.o., Diniru Abeywickramasinghe 116; Kaviska Oshan 2/39, Thushan Ferdinando 2/30)
Thurstan on first innings
at Campbell Place
Scores:
Nalanda
218 all out in 61.2 overs (Yasiru Samarakoon 28, Senesh Wijesinghe 65, Sajitha Vithanage 48, Thisara Dewdunu 26; Thenuka Dewapriya 3/34, Vihas Thewmika 3/32) and 189 for 4 in 54 overs (Rusiru Vilochana 41, Sadew Samarasinghe 45, Kushmitha Silva 45, Eranga Jayakody 54)
Thurstan
146 for 2 overnight 272 all out in 83.3 overs (Ramika Sonal 22, Shanikya Deshapriya 75, Thenuka Dewapriya 71, Navindu Fernando 29, Vihas Thewmika 30; Azeem Mohomad 27; Sajitha Vithanage 5/93, Minod Caldera 4/56)
DSS post 227, St. Sebastian’s 24 for no loss at DSS ground
Scores:
DSS
227 all out in 73.1 overs (Senura Silva 58, Malitha Perera 32, Sahan Yapa 29, Chenul Pinsara 33; Sandeesh Fernando 4/59, Manuja Chanthuka 2/39, Ryan Dissanayaka 2/17)
St. Sebastian’s
24 for no loss in 3 overs (Ryan Dissanayaka 22n.o.)
Thamindu anchors Richmond
at Mount Lavinia
Scores:
Richmond
249 all out in 84.1 overs (Thamindu Pradeeptha 114 n.o., Malsha Tharupathi 59; Nathan Caldera 2/47, Kavindu Dias 6/76)
S. Thomas’
15 for 1 in 5 overs
St. Joseph Vaz’s 220, De Mazenod 94/4 at Kandana
Scores:
St. Joseph Vaz’s
220 all out in 66.3 overs (Rishith Menusha 41, Dasun Perera 64, Tharindu Eshan 50; Kavindu Kaushalya 3/38, Sithum Fernando 2/65, Thareen Sanketh 2/64)
De Mazenod
94 for 4 in 31 overs (Hasith Silva 47, Maleesha Mihishan 25n.o.)
Dimath, Gayana restrict Gurukula to 214 runs at Kurunegala
Scores:
Gurukula
214 all out in 52.3 overs (Thathsara Eshan 80, Denura Dimansith 31, Janith Mihiranga 23, Tharusha Dilsara 41; Gayana Weerasinghe 3/52, Dimath Abeysinghe 4/64)
Maliyadeva
144 for 5 in 45 overs (Jayamin Muthukumarana 33, Pasindu Menaka 24, Chandupa Abeysinghe 25n.o., Gayana Weerasinghe 34; Mohomad Mursad 3/34)
St. Anne’s amass 300 for nine
wickets at Kurunegala
Scores:
St. Anne’s
300 for 9 decl. in 93 overs (Kevin Shewantha 31, Mahima Kotuwila 34, Manaan Muzammil 58, Yomesh Subasinghe 45, Kalindu Wijesinghe 36; Bhanuka Insamal 2/47, Navija de Seram 2/68, Senura Perera 3/55)
St. Thomas’
no runs for 1 wicket in 0.5 overs
Mahinda take upper hand against
St. Aloysius’ at Galle
Scores:
St. Aloysius’
114 all out in 36.2 overs (Induwara Udena 20, Kalana Pathum 26n.o.; Shehan Hasaranga 4/35, Dinura Kalupahana 3/23, Dhanuja Induwara 3/17)
Mahinda
162 for 3 in 51 overs (Dinura Kalupahana 41, Savidya Ranmina 38n.o., Tharusha Dilshan 48n.o.; Vidura Lakshan 2/27)
St. Peter’s 252, Dharmaraja 94/5
at Bambalapitiya
Scores:
St. Peter’s
252 all out in 60.2 overs (Vishen Halambage 70, Rusanda Gamage 52, Nimuthu Gunawardena 50, Lakindu Samarajeewa 21, Sean Roberts 16n.o.; Thisaru Wanninayake 3/77, Kalana Herath 2/14, Dulara Bandulasena 2/37, Nisala Abeyratne 2/44)
Dharmaraja
94 for 5 in 39 overs (Pulindu Perera 27, Isuru Pannala 34n.o.; Shennon Rodrigo 4/07)
The Asian Youth Games gold medallist who has run sub four minutes previously returned a time of 3:55.97 seconds to become the first athlete in his age category at these championships to run the distance under four minutes.
Achintha who has a personal best of 3:53.05 from last year was representing Prince College Ratnapura today.
In another impressive 1,500 m feat Tharushi Abhisheka of Lyceum International School, Wattala established a new meet record in the Under-20 Girls’ 1,500m as she returned a time of 4:34.59 seconds to win.
By the end of the second day of the meet seven new meet records had been established.
D. V. C. de Soysa (of Galewela Central College) Under-16 Boys’ Discus Throw – 55.83m.
D. G. Lahiru Achintha (of Ratnapura Kumara Vidyalaya) Under-18 Boys’ 1,500m – 3:55.97 secs.
W. P. Nethula Induwara (Rahula College, Matara) Under-14 Boys’ 100m – 11.70 seconds
K. V. R. Gayesha (Ira Handa Kotuwa Wewa Maha Vidyalaya, Polonnaruwa) Under-16 Girls’ High Jump – 1.70m
H. M. D. S. Herath (Maris Stella College, Thimbirigaskatuwa) Under-20 Boys’ Long Jump – 7.65m
P. M. Amaya Semindi (Vijitha Central College, Dikwella) Under-14 Girls’ High Jump – 1.58m
Sri Lanka’s men begin this match having won an international in the past week. This is more significant than it sounds. Their 2026 has been abysmal, with the team losing 22 matches to the 10 they have won. New captain Kusal Mendis had carried his team to that victory with his 87 not out off 48 balls, after Sri Lanka’s seamers had also had an encouraging outing.
But the game was only a dead rubber, Pakistan having sewn up the T20I series already. Pakistan have hardly been lighting up 2026 either, but they have had substantially more success than Sri Lanka. They had won their most recent ODI series, against Australia, 2-1. In that series, Pakistan may even have discovered a bright young all-round talent, left-arm spinner and lower-order batter Arafat Minhas, who claimed the Player of the Series award for his seven wickets at an average of 12.28. He has been in penetrative form in the past 10 days as well, having claimed five wickets across the three T20Is against Sri Lanka. Against Australia, Pakistan had also had excellent performances from Shaheen Afridi and legspinner Abrar Ahmed. It had, in fact, been Pakistan’s bowlers who dominated in a low-scoring series.
The tri-series is important for all three sides because there is now officially less than 12 months before the World Cup, which is set to begin on October 2 next year. Sri Lanka still have plenty to figure out – their white-ball squads having been in serious flux this year, as a new set of selectors searches (often fruitlessly) for a winning combination. Pakistan have players and stratetgies to trial as well.
In the series against Australia, Babar Azam had top-scored for Pakistan, hitting 40, 16, and 69 to average 41.66 across the matches. No one will call it a return to his heyday, but it was an encouraging sign following a modest run in 2025, in which he averaged 34 across 17 innings. Sri Lanka has been one of his favoured opponents over the years, Babar having struck four of his 20 centuries against them, averaging 58.33. The tracks in Rawalpindi at least are expected to be good for batting. Can he build up some form in the one format he now plays?
Lahiru Udara has reason to feel miffed at the selectors, many think. Having hit 188 against West Indies three Tests ago, he was left out of the squad entirely for the forthcoming Test series. But with Pathum Nissanka having been ruled out of the ODIs through an ongoing hamstring problem, Udara has surged into ODI contention on the back of a good T20I innings last week. At age 32, he knows his chances at this level are numbered. With the World Cup on the horizon, there is perhaps no better format to impress in right now than ODIs.
With neither Sahibzada Farhan nor Maaz Sadaqat in the ODI squad, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman may open.
Pakistan (possible): Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Ghazi Ghouri (wk), Minhas Arafat, Shaheen Afridi (capt.), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
Sri Lanka may bring Avishka Fernando straight into the XI, with Kamil Mishara having had a run of modest scores. Sri Lanka also have some decisions to make on the spin-bowling front, although they are likely to favour Maheesh Theekshana over legspinner Sachindu Colombage.
Sri Lanka (possible): Lahiru Udara, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige/Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando
(Cricinfo)
Mumbai Indians and their IPL head coach Mahela Jayawardene have parted ways ahead of the 2027 auction. Jayawardene was the MI head coach for the last two seasons, in his second stint with the franchise in that position. He had previously served in that role from 2017 to 2022.
“Mumbai Indians has been a very special part of my journey for over a decade now,” Jayawardene said in an MI statement. “The players, coaching team, the incredible support of the #OneFamily and above all the fans have made this an experience I will always treasure. Together, we have shared some unforgettable moments, overcome challenges and built something we can all be proud of. I want to sincerely thank Mrs. Nita Ambani and Akash Ambani for their unwavering trust, support and friendship over the years. I leave with immense pride in what we have achieved together and will always carry a special place in my heart for MI. I wish the team every success in the years ahead.”
Cricinfo has learned that the question of a possible change in coaching staff came up during the 2026 season review in August, when both the player leadership group and the franchise agreed they needed to look for a change. It is understood Jayawardene, too, agreed with the viewpoint of bringing in younger coaches to bring in fresh perspectives.
The new coach will have the choice of taking a call on the rest of the existing MI coaching staff which includes Kieron Pollard (assistant coach) and Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach).
Jayawardene’ departure leaves MI’s team management in a tricky position, with captain Hardik Pandya also under the spotlight after their second-from-bottom finish in IPL 2026. Not long after MI finished with just four wins from 14 games, rumours of a Hardik trade began circulating in reports and social media. Hardik’s individual performance also didn’t inspire much confidence: he took just four wickets in 10 games and scored 206 runs from 10 innings, striking at 138.25 with a high score of 40.
Jayawardene took over as the MI head coach before IPL 2025, replacing Mark Boucher. Before that, Jayawardene had served as their global head of performance from 2022 to 2024. In that position, Jayawardene had also overseen MI’s three other franchises – MI Emirates in the ILT20, MI New York in MLC and MI Cape Town in SA20.
In his first stint as head coach, Jayawardene won three IPL titles. The second one was less successful, with MI finishing fourth on the league table in 2025 before losing in Qualifier 2, and ninth in 2026.
“Mahela has made a significant contribution to Mumbai Indians over the years,” MI owner Nita Ambani said, “His calm leadership, integrity and deep love for the game have meant so much to us. On behalf of the entire MI family, I want to thank Mahela for his immense contribution and unwavering commitment over the years. We will always cherish the journey we have shared and the memories we have created together. Mahela will always be a part of our #OneFamily, and we wish him every happiness and success in the journey ahead.”
MI now need to look for a head coach with under a month left for the IPL retention deadline – November 15. The IPL auction is expected to take place around a month later in Goa.
MI last won the IPL in 2020 when they became the first team to successfully defend their title. Both trophy wins came under Jayawardene.
(Cricinfo)
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