Sports
Hiran creates history against Royal, Chamindu’s marathon effort saves Petes
St. Sebastian’s, Nalanda record victories
by Reemus Fernando
St. Joseph’s batsman Hiran Jayasundara, St. Peter’s opener Chamindu Perera and Nalanda bowler Minod Caldera recorded remarkable achievements for their respective schools in the Under 19 traditional matches completed over the weekend.
Jayasundara became the first batsman from any school in the history to score a double century against Royal in their traditional cricket encounter ended in a draw at Darley Road. According to Royal College statistician M.L. Fernando, the 199 runs scored by R. David from Wesley (1990) remained the highest score by a batsman from a rival school against Royal until Jayasundara scored the double century on Saturday. His unbeaten knock of 200 runs came in 309 balls (18x4s, 3x6s).
The Josephian also broke nearly a century old batting record in the historic Royal-St. Joseph’s series as he took under his belt the record for the highest individual score overtaking the 194 runs scored by L.D.S Gunasekara for Royal in 1925. The Josephian record in the series was the 174 runs scored by Milroy Brohier in 1952. The Joes amassed 414 runs for six wickets against Royal. The visitors made 311 for seven wickets at close as the 126th encounter, which is one of the oldest traditional matches in the country ended in a draw at Darley Road.
At Bambalapitiya, St. Peter’s were rescued by their open bat Chamindu Perera who batted the whole second day for the home team to force a draw to their match against Trinity. After Petes were reduced to 67 runs, Trinity took a firm grip posting 285 for six wickets declared. The Petes commenced the final day with a huge first innings deficit and Perera rose to the occasion as he anchored the batting line up with a dogged knock. His marathon innings propelled the home team to post 247 for five wickets at close. The Philip and Eddie Buultjens Trophy remained at Bambalapitiya.
At Campbell Place, Nalanda laid their hands on the Bandula Warnapura memorial trophy as Caldera collected a match bag of nine wickets to lead the team to ten wickets victory against Dharmaraja.
St. Sebastian’s pulled off a stunning two wickets win over formidable Mahanama in their match at Moratuwa as Sandeesh Fernando bagged nine wickets to for them to fight back. At Mount Lavinia, S. Thomas’ took batting honours against Wesley as Mahith Perera top scored for the home team in the Mahadevan Sathasivam memorial trophy encounter.
Match Results
S. Thomas-Wesley ends in draw at Mount Lavinia
Scores:
S. Thomas’ 312 for 6 decl. in 81 overs (Romesh Mendis 37, Romesh Mendis 37, Senesh Hettiarachchi 66, Mahith Perera 152n.o., Charuka Peiris 32n.o.; Sanithu Amarasinghe 2/53) and 204 for 5 in 42.4 overs (Sadev Soysa 32, Thisen Ehaliyagoda 22, Romesh Mendis 81, Dineth Goonewardene 47; Sanithu Amarasinghe 2/35)
Wesley 226 all out in 69.4 overs (Sanithu Amarasinghe 58, Chamath Gomez 37, Anuga Pahansara 30, Nilupul Liyanage 25n.o.; Abheeth Paranawidana 2/47, Charuka Peiris 2/48, Kavindu Dias 2/28, Akash Fernando 3/43)
A draw at Sooriyawewa
Scores:
Lumbini 217 all out in 65.4 overs (Dhanitha Sandeth 49, Shahan Kaushalya 62, Yasiru Yugath 30; Puljith Wathuska 4/79, Irushka Thimira 4/68) and 169 for 9 in 47 overs (Dhanitha Sandeth 55, Malith Kawindu 35, Dumindu Sewmina 26; Irushka Thimira 3/38, Pathum Shaminda 2/24, Gimhan Rasanjana 3/32)
Devapathiraja 295 all out in 84.2 overs (Yasiru Lakshan 24, Pawan Sandesh 90, Jeewaka Shashen 54, Gimhan Rasanjana 35, Irushka Thimira 47; Dumindu Sewmina 2/51, K B Sathmina 2/24, Sasanka Nethmina 2/82, Malith Kawindu 4/71)
Chamindu saves St. Peter’s at Bambalapitiya
Scores:
St. Peter’s 67 all out in 29 overs (Nimutu Gunawardana 14, Sanshay Gunathilaka 14; Manula Kularathna 2/26, Kavindu Jayaratne 3/26, Dinuka Tennakoon 2/01, Theeraka Ranathunga 2/06) and 247 for 5 in 105 overs (Chamindu Perera 82n.o., Vishen Helambage 43, Nimutu Gunawardana 23, Kavika Jayasundara 28, Shennan Rodrigo 17n.o.; Wathila Udara 2/28)
Trinity 285 for 6 decl. in 71 overs (Kusal Wijethunga 45, Supun Waduge 65, Dinusha Peiris 70, Manula Kularathna 55; Shennan Rodrigo 2/83, Nimutu Gunawardana 3/32)
St. Sebastian’s stun Mahanama at Moratuwa
Scores:
Mahanama 211 all out in 58.1 overs (Kavindu Amameth 41, Inuka Karannagoda 35, Anjala Bandara 57; Sandeesh Fernando 3/41, Manuja Chanthuka 5/52) and 121 all out in 28.1 overs (Banula Algawatte 32, Rashmika Perera 50; Manuja Chanthuka 2/56, Sandeesh Fernando 6/44, Yashin Fernando 2/13)
St. Sebastian’s 135 all out in 53.5 overs (Adesh Almeda 35, Sanesh Fernando 35, Mahen Silva 25; Duvindu Ranathunga 3/43, Viranga Yeshan 4/38, Inuka Karannagoda 2/23) and 198 for 8 in 54 overs (Vimath Dinsara 69, Mahen Silva 31, Sasindu Prarthana 41; Viranga Yeshan 4/76)
Hiran breaks records at Darley Road
Scores:
St. Joseph’s 414 for 6 in 116.4 overs (Naren Muralidaran 47, Hiran Jayasundara 200, Muditha Dissanayaka 73, Hirun Matheesha 21, Lahiru Amarasekara 21; Dan Poddiwela 2/42, Anush Polonowita 2/36)
Royal 311 for 7 in 84 overs (Sineth Jayawardena 27, Rehan Peiris 62, Sanvidu Senaratharachchi 78, Uvindu Weerasekara 64, Dasis Manchanayake 27; Yenula Dewtusa 2/95, Gagan Chamodh 2/24)
Nalanda win Bandula Warnapura memorial trophy at Campbell Place
Scores:
Dharmaraja 97 all out in 44.5 overs (Onajith Siva 26; Minod Caldera 6/32, Sajitha Vithanage 2/11) and 167 all out in 45.4 overs (Pulindu Perera 36, Isuru Pannala 31, Dulara Bandulasena 26, Thisaru Wanninayake 43; Minod Caldera 3/70, Eranga Jayakodi 3/32)
Nalanda 208 all out in 66.1 overs (Yasiru Samarakoon 49, Sadew Samarasinghe 45, Eranga Jayakody 26, Sajitha Vithanage 25, Thisara Dewdunu 20; Nisala Abeyrathne 2/32, Thisaru Wanninayake 2/62, Pulindu Perera 4/08, Kalana Herath 2/42) and 57 for no loss in 11.4 overs (Rusiru Vilochana 30n.o., Yasiru Samarakoon 27n.o.)
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Holder, Rashid and Arshad give Gujarat Titans NRR-boosting win
Jason Holder was so omnipresent that his involvement in five dismissals enabled the Gujarat Titans (GT) to bowl Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) out for 155 in Ahmedabad. Such a middling chase was right up the alley of Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudarshan, but once GT lost both their openers in the powerplay, their soft underbelly was exposed once again. They needed cameos from Holder (12 off 10 balls) and their Impact Player RahulTewatia (27* off 17 balls) to get over the line, handing defending champions RCB their third defeat in IPL 2026.
Virat Kohli flew out of the blocks for RCB, hitting Kagiso Rabada for four successive fours in the second over after they were asked to bat first by GT. Even Rabada’s traditional hard length was pumped over mid-off. In the next over, Kohli charged at Mohammed Siraj and deposited him over mid-on for four more. However, when Kohli tried to charge at Rabada in the fourth over, the South Africa quick hit the deck harder and drew a top edge to midwicket. Rabada had the last laugh and gave the departing Kohli (28 off 13 balls) a death stare.
Siraj had earlier dismissed Jacob Bethell, who got another game in place of the injured Phil Salt, for a run-a-ball 5. Rabada and Siraj bowled right through the powerplay and kept RCB to 59 for 2.
Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Padidar forged a 44-run partnership for the third wicket before Holder caught the RCB captain at deep square leg in the eighth over. Doubts, however, emerged around the legality of the catch when slow-mo replays suggested that Holder may have grassed it more than once, including while sliding. The TV umpire, Abhijit Bhattacharya, perhaps deemed that Holder was in control of his movements and ultimately ruled Patidar out.
Some of RCB’s players and staff disagreed with the TV umpire’s decision, gesturing that Holder had grassed it. Kohli was seemingly remonstrating with reserve umpire Parashar Joshi after which RCB coach Andy Flower was also spotted having an intense chat with Joshi. Having waited near the boundary, Patidar dragged himself off the field.
Holder was involved in four other dismissals. He had Jitesh Sharma nicking off in the ninth before taking the catches of both Tim David (9) and Krunal Pandya (4) at midwicket. Holder claimed his second wicket when he had his West Indian compatriot Romario Shepherd holing out.
Despite wickets falling around him, Padikkal kept up RCB’s high intent and manufactured scoring opportunities by making swinging room. He top-scored for RCB with 40 off 24 balls before Rashid Khan had him chopping on with a slider.
At 126 for 7, RCB pressed the emergency switch and brought in Venkatesh Iyer as their Impact Player at a cost of a specialist bowler in Rasikh Dar. Venkatesh struggled for fluency and also copped a blow on his unprotected elbow. His 29-run stand for the ninth wicket with Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped drag RCB to 155 before they were dismissed with four balls unused in their innings.
Gill kickstarted GT’s chase by whacking Josh Hazlewood for three fours and two sixes in a 24-run over. Hazlewood had not conceded more runs in an IPL over ever. Gill pressed on to score 43 off 18 balls – the most he has scored in an IPL powerplay – before he slapped Bhuvneshwar to cover, where Kohli grabbed the fast-travelling ball with both hands.
Buttler then took over from Gill and attacked both Hazlewood’s pace and Suyash Sharma’s wristspin. Buttler cracked 39 off 19 balls before he exposed his leg stump, only for Bhuvneshwar to knock it out in the eighth over. Bhuvneshwar also removed Sai Sudharsan during his four consecutive overs. While Hazlewood leaked 56 runs in his four overs for no wickets, Bhuvneshwar ended up giving away only half as many while picking up those three wickets.
Shepherd had to step in as their fourth bowler after they had sacrificed a specialist bowler in Rasikh Dar for Venkatesh’s batting. He responded by taking out both Shahrukh Khan and Washington in one over, the 11th of the chase. Holder then diffused the tension that Shepherd had built up by hooking his first ball for six. When Holder fell in the 14th over, GT needed 15 off 37 balls. Tewatia and Rashid got the job done with 25 balls to spare.
Brief scores:
Gujarat Titans 158 for 6 in 15.5 overs (Shubman Gill 43, Jos Buttler 39, Washington Sundar 12, Rahul Tewtia 27*, Jason Holder 12; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3-28, Suyash Sharma 1-44, Romario Shepherd 2-30) beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru 155 in 19.2 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 40, Virat Kohli 28, Rajat Patidar 19, Romario Shepherd 17, Venkatesh Ayer 12, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar 15*; Mohammed Siraj 1-38, Kagiso Rabada 1-44, Arshad Khan 3-22, Rashid 2-19, Jason Holder 2-29) by four wickets
[Cricinfo]
Sports
Akash stars as Josephians spin their way to title
A superb display of spin bowling led by Sri Lanka Under-19 spinner Vigneswaran Akash powered St. Joseph’s College to a first innings victory over Royal College in the Under-19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket final concluded at the P. Sara Oval on Thursday.
Defending a formidable first innings total of 443, the Josephians relied on their spinners to dismantle a strong Royal batting line-up, eventually bowling them out for 378 to secure the title on first innings.
The spin trio of Akash, Vishwa Peiris and Nushan Perera shared all ten wickets between them, maintaining tight control throughout Royal’s reply. Leading the charge was Akash, the Jaffna-spinner, who delivered a match-winning performance with five wickets for 136 runs in a marathon spell of 44.2 overs.
Akash’s key breakthrough came when he removed his Sri Lanka Under-19 captain Vimath Dinsara, who top-scored with a valiant 95. Dinsara, along with Ramiru Perera (90), kept Royal in contention with a strong fourth-wicket stand after early setbacks.
Royal showed resilience through several useful contributions. Rehan Peiris made 43, while Dushen Udawela added 45. However, the Josephian spinners struck at crucial intervals to halt any momentum, with Peiris claiming three wickets and Perera chipping in with two.
Earlier, St. Joseph’s built the foundation for victory with an imposing 443 in their first innings. Senuja Wakunegoda led the batting effort with a magnificent 123, supported by Rishma Amarasinghe (73), Chethina Kavinda (78), Dilpa Maduranga (56) and Nushan Perera (54). For Royal, Mahiru Kodithuwakku and Himaru Deshan claimed three wickets apiece.
Despite a spirited batting effort, Royal ultimately fell short against a disciplined and relentless spin attack, as St. Joseph’s celebrated a well-deserved championship triumph.
(RF)
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Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari shine as Sri Lanka clinch T20I series
Harshitha Samarawickrama blasted an unbeaten 49 off just 29 deliveries to set up Sri Lanka’s series-clinching win over Bangladesh in the second T20I at Sylhet. The visitors, riding on Samarawickrama’s flourish at the end, posted 154 and ran home comfortable victors by 21 runs.
Asked to bat, Sri Lanka put together a substantial total, built on the back of a composed top-order effort and a strong finishing kick. Sri Lanka got off to a sedate start with Hasini Perera falling cheaply to Fariha Trisna. Captain Chamari Athapaththu and Imesha Dulani then stitched a 44-run stand at a steady pace before the latter fell for a 25-ball 27.
Athapaththu shared another short stand with Samarawickrama before the captain fell for a 37-ball 42. At that stage, Sri Lanka were 93 for 3 in the 14th over and in need of a flourish to finish strongly. Samarawickrama produced just that as she struck four fours and a pair of sixes. Nilakshika Silva gave her company in a 61-run stand with a solid 22 off her own to fire the total above the par range.
In response, Bangladesh never quite managed to keep pace with the asking rate despite a rather brisk 46-run opening partnership between Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous. Once both batters fell after failing to convert their respective starts, the run rate dipped and Sri Lanka’s spinners were able to squeeze the chase in the middle overs. Kavisha Dilhari finished with 2 for 15 from her four overs and that meant Bangladesh fell well short despite a battling unbeaten 44 off 47 balls from Sharmin Akhter.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Women 154/4 in 20 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 49*, Imesha Dulani 27; Nilakshika Silva 22*, Chamari Athapaththu 42; Fariha Trisna 1-23, Sultana Khatun 1-21, Nahida Akter 1-34, Ritu Moni 1-40) beat Bangladesh Women 133/5 in 20 overs (Dilara Akter 23, Juairiya Ferdous 29; Sharmin Akther 44, Shorna Akter 12; Kavisha Dilhari 2-15, Sugandika Kumari 0-14) by 21 runs.
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