Sports
A thrilling contest expected as Mahinda meet Thurstan
by Reemus Fernando
Two formidable teams Mahinda and Thurstan are set to produce a thrilling contest when they meet in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘B’ cricket tournament final commencing at Sooriyawewa today.
After having recorded a remarkable Big Match victory over the weekend, Thurstan skippered by Thanuga Palihawadana will be looking to conclude the tournament with the coveted title. They had a minor set back on Tuesday when they were beaten by St. Anthony’s Wattala in a limited overs tournament match. Spinner Sethru Fernando who was rested for that match is expected to return for the decisive three-day final.
Mahinda are a team continuing to peak. The team captained by Kaveen Rukshan reached the final displaying a thoroughly dominant performance against St. Thomas’ Matara in the semi-final. The innings and 69 runs victory is their biggest win this season.
They also posted their highest innings total, 373 runs in that match with opening batsman Dulsith Darshana scoring a sensible knock of 96 runs and Senuka Damgamuwa hammering 200 runs in 153 balls.
Keeping Dangamuwa under control will be vital for Thurstan as he has the ability to turn the complexion of a game.
Mahinda will open batting with Dulsith Dharshana and Thevindu Rashmika. Wicketkeeper batsman Randul Mabarana, Sehas Ashinsa, Dineth Pehesara, Manitha Rajapaksha and Dangamuwa will form the top order batting lineup.
The new ball duties are shared by left-arm paceman Sadew Nethmina and Sahanjith Samadith. Left-arm spinners Senuka Dangamuwa and Arosha Udayanga and skipper Rukshan form a strong spin attack.
Thurstan too possess a strong spin department with Sri Lanka Under 19 skipper Vihas Thewmika, captain Palihawadana and Sethru Fernando sharing most of the duties.
Rachintha de Silva who excelled in the Big Match, Yovun Silpa and Lasindu Punsara form the pace attack.
Like Mahinda, Thurstan’s batting line up too produced their best performance of the season (383/8) in the semi-final with Sri Lanka Under 19 batsman Thanuja Rajapakse and Rachintha scoring centuries against their arch rivals.
Dinal Induwara and Rajapakse will open batting for Thurstan. Sethru Fernando, Janitha Rukshan, Thewmika, Rachintha and Pathum Dananjaya will form the top top order batting lineup.
This is not the first time these two teams are meeting this season. When they met during the league stage Thurstan posted 274 to earn first innings points. Mahinda could muster only 205 runs. That was a early third term encounter. Both teams have grown by leaps and bounds. Hence a mouthwatering encounter is on the cards.
(Cricbuzz)
The remainder of the tenth edition of the PSL has been moved to the UAE amid escalating border tensions between Pakistan and India. The PCB has said that the dates and venues of the remaining eight games in the PSL 2025 season would be officially confirmed in due course.
On Thursday, Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi were due to play a game at the Rawalpindi Stadium, which was rescheduled following an emergency meeting. At the meeting, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with overseas players in the league, who overwhelmingly expressed a desire to relocate the league to the UAE.
ESPNcricinfo understands that foreign players are already on their way out of Pakistan to the UAE, where the rest of the league will be played. It is likely to be several days before the next game is played as the PCB works out which venues to play the games at.
The original schedule would have seen four of the remaining games in Rawalpindi, one in Multan, and the final three in Lahore. An earlier update from the PCB had said the league would be rescheduled, but did not confirm at the time it would be taken out of Pakistan, with Karachi considered a likely option.
The PSL, now in its tenth season, is familiar with the UAE, having started there back in 2016. It was played there in full – barring the PSL 2017 final – for the first two seasons. Part of season six, in 2021, also had to be played in the UAE because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Any delays to the PSL are likely to impact Pakistan’s international calendar, too. Bangladesh are due to arrive in Pakistan three days after the PSL final, originally slated for May 18, with the first of five T20Is to begin on May 25 in Faisalabad. The PCB told ESPNcricinfo that no decision had yet been taken on the fate of that series.
(Cricinfo)
Bangladesh Under 19s won the six-match Youth ODI series 3-2 after the final Youth ODI against Sri Lanka Under 19s ended without a result due to rain at the Colts ground on Thursday.
Sri Lanka came to the final match with the hope of leveling the series but rain prevented a full match.
Deciding to bat first, the visitors were 188 for three wickets in the 40th over when rain prevented further play.
Skipper Azizul Hakim led Bangladesh with 94 runs inclusive of seven fours and two sixes. For the hosts, Tharusha Navodya, Kugathas Mathulan and Himal Ravihansa took a wicket each.
Sri Lanka Under 19s won the opening encounter by a big margin but three consecutive defeats thereafter saw the visitors take command. Sri Lanka Under 19s bounced back in the penultimate match to keep alive the series but rain spoilt their plans in the final encounter.
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