Sports
After opening classic, Sri Lanka and India look to break tie and get the lead
Where do ODIs sit on world cricket’s priority list? The answer sits right there in India’s schedule: they only have one more ODI series lined up between their current tour of Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy in February-March 2025.
It’s a weird time for bilateral ODIs, then, and weirder still for a series involving Sri Lanka, who haven’t even qualified for the Champions Trophy. How appropriate, then, that Friday produced an absolute classic of the format, a twisty, slow-burning tie that showed – just as last year’s World Cup did, time after time – that the ODI remains a brilliant canvas for cricket’s skills. It would be a pity if the sport’s future landscape retained no meaningful space for the format.
For now, two more matches of an unexpectedly zany tour remain. After three successive collapses in the T20Is – 9 for 30, 7 for 31 and 7 for 22 – Sri Lanka will take some confidence from how they fought back from 101 for 5 in the first ODI on Friday, and will hope they can push India even further in the next two matches.
The third T20I in Pallekele and the first ODI in Colombo both showed that spin-friendly conditions significantly narrow the quality gap between these teams. If Khettarama continues to provide ample grip and turn, then, who can say which way this series will tilt?
Since the start of 2023, when he returned from a year-long injury absence, Avishka Fernando hasn’t quite reached the heights he had promised in the early part of his ODI career. He has averaged under 20 over these last 19 months, and while that stretch has included scores of 88 and 91 against Afghanistan, it has also highlighted a tendency for early dismissal, with nine of his 13 innings bringing him single-digit scores. Avishka finished LPL 2024 as its third-highest run-getter, however, with 374 runs at an average of 37.40 and a strike rate of 162.60, suggesting that a return to his international best may also be imminent.
Washington Sudar began the first ODI promisingly, ripping his first ball past Charith Asalanka’s outside edge. He endured mixed returns thereafter, however; he picked up the wicket of the half-centurion Pathum Nissanka, but was easily the most expensive of India’s three main spinners, going for 46 in his nine overs and conceding 31 off 34 balls to left-hand batters, his favourable match-up. Then he was out for 5 after being promoted to No. 4. None of this would be held against him in the normal course of things, because all cricketers go through such days, but Washington knows he’s third in line behind Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel in India’s hierarchy of spin-bowling allrounders leading up to the Champions Trophy, with Riyan Parag also waiting for a chance to show what he can do in ODIs.
Wanindu Hasaranga will miss the remainder of the ODI series with a hamstring injury. Jeffrey Vandersay has come into the squad as his replacement. Sri Lanka have the option of lengthening their batting by bringing in Chamika Karunaratne for Mohamed Shiraz, though it seems unlikely they would leave out a young fast bowler after just one game.
Sri Lanka (probable): Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (capt), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga/Jeffrey Vandersay, Akila Dananjaya, Mohamed Shiraz, Asitha Fernando
India, meanwhile, could look to give Mohammed Siraj, who has featured in all three T20Is as well as the first ODI, a break, and give one of Khaleel Ahmed and Harshit Rana a go in the pace attack.
India (probable): Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh
[Cricinfo]
Under 19 Limited Overs Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
St. Joseph’s registered crushing nine wickets victory over Gurukula in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ limited overs tournament semi-final at BRC ground on Monday.
The Joes needed just 13 overs to seal a comfortable nine wickets victory after they rattled Gurukula for scanty 61 runs. Paceman Manasa Madubashana (3/21) and spinner Yenula Dewthusa (4/13) shared seven wickets between them to restrict Gurukula to 61 runs. Denura Dimansith and number ten batsman Iduwara Oshada were the only batsmen to reach double figures as Gurukula toiled for 41 overs to reach their eventual total.
In their essay the Joes lost their first wicket for five runs. But the second wicket pair of Kithmin dr Silva and Abishek Jayaweera kept their wickets intact to win with many overs to spare.
Scores
Gurukula
61 all out in 40.4 overs (Denura Dimansith 12; Manasa Madubashana 3/21, Yenula Dewthusa 4/13)
St. Joseph’s
63 for 1 in 13 overs (Kithmin de Silva 22n.o., Abishek Jayaweera 27n.o.)
RCB’s loss to UP Warriorz on Saturday night may have smothered the passage into the playoffs for both MI and GG, but there’s still an extra edge to this contest as the top spot is still not booked.
Giants have to win to entertain thoughts of finishing at No. 1. Mumbai have a game in hand and can get there even if they lose on today, but it would then mean a three-way tie should they beat RCB. They would want to avoid this logjam, having been in a similar position last year and then going down to RCB in the Eliminator.
GG are on a bull run, having won more games (three) over the past week than they did all of last season. But there’s one thing they haven’t done yet: beat MI, who have a 5-0 record against them in the tournament’s short history. If that wasn’t pressure enough, they now face the challenge of playing Harmanpreet Kaur’s MI in Mumbai, at the Brabourne Stadium, where they are yet to lose a single game.
They have been the most explosive side in the middle-overs, courtesy Ash Gardner and new (old) signing Deandra Dottin. But MI have the best economy (6.6 runs an over) and average (17.9) in this phase. This battle will form the crux of the contest.
The return to form of Harleen Deol, instrumental in GG’s stunning chase of 178 the other night against Delhi Capitals, bodes well. Kashvee Gautam’s all-round prowess and Beth Mooney’s unshackling at the top make them look more dangerous.
MI look equally strong but have changed their batting combinations because of Yastika Bhatia’s prolonged lean run. In their previous game, Amelia Kerr was promoted to open with Hayley Mathews. It remains to be seen if this will be their plan at the back end too. If it is, it could mean a bigger batting responsibility for S Sajana and Amanjot Kaur in the middle order.
Dayalan Hemalatha’s poor run at the top of the order may force a change for GG. Simran Shaikh, who plays for Mumbai in domestic cricket, could get a look-in to inject some lower-order firepower. Mumbai have no reason to tinker with their XI.
Gujarat Giants (probable): Beth Mooney (wk), Phoebe Lichfield, Harleen Deol, Ash Gardner (capt), Deandra Dottin, Simran Shaikh, Kashvee Gautam, Bharti Fulmali, Tanuja Kanwar, Meghna Singh, Priya Mishra
Mumbai Indians (probable): Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Amanjot Kaur, Yastika Bhatia (wk), G Kamalini, S Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Parunika Sisodia
by Rex Clementine
Bloomfield finally broke their 15-year title drought, clinching the First-Class championship with a first-innings win over NCC in the final at R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday. The two teams, having dominated their respective groups, squared off in the four-day final, with NCC walking in as the fancied side, boasting a half-dozen Sri Lankan internationals. But cricket, as they say, is a great leveler. A marathon double-century from Ron Chandraguptha turned the tide, propelling Bloomfield past the 500-run mark in the first innings and effectively sealing the deal.
Chandraguptha, a former Trinity College star, has been piling on the runs in domestic circuit, and with Test opener Dimuth Karunaratne stepping aside, he might just be in the selectors’ thoughts. His innings was the backbone of Bloomfield’s dominance, as he first stitched together a 119-run opening stand with fellow Trinitian Hasitha Boyagoda (52) and then built an unassailable 200-run partnership with Asitha Wanninayake (96). The former St. Anthony’s Katugastota opener was cruelly run out, just four short of what would have been a well-deserved century.
But there was no stopping Chandraguptha. In searing Colombo heat, he batted for two full days, anchoring Bloomfield to a commanding 508.
NCC, in reply, could only muster 312, with leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay weaving his magic to claim four wickets. With a near 200-run lead heading into the final day, Bloomfield had only one job – bat sensibly, avoid a collapse, and secure the title on a first-innings win.
Bloomfield were the underdogs but a maiden double hundred by Ron Chandraguptha sealed the deal for them.
At 41 for three, there was a slight wobble, but Wanninayake, playing with a steely resolve, soaked up the pressure and posted a back-to-the-wall hundred. His knock ensured NCC had no opening to push for an outright result. If the selectors were watching, he certainly sent a timely reminder that he belongs in the big league.
This victory is a massive shot in the arm for Bloomfield, a club that has faced its fair share of off-field turbulence. They lost a key revenue stream when the Urban Development Authority (UDA) took over ownership of the telecom towers at their premises. To make matters worse, their clubhouse was nearly repurposed for a hotel project aimed at supporting the adjacent rugby facility. Against this backdrop of struggle, lifting the First-Class title is a triumph worth savouring.
For NCC, Lahiru Udara stood tall, continuing his prolific domestic season with a sparkling 145, but his efforts weren’t enough to take his side over the line. He finished as the leading run-scorer of the season with 787 runs in 14 innings at an average of 56, while Chandraguptha wasn’t far behind, accumulating 729 runs at 48.
In the league phase, Bloomfield won four of their eight matches, a feat matched only by Moors. Bloomfield topped Group ‘A’, while NCC edged out Moors in Group ‘B’ to book their place in the final.
The biggest shock of the season, however, came from SSC, a powerhouse of Sri Lankan cricket, being relegated. Along with them, Ragama Cricket Club, Negombo Cricket Club, and Kandy Customs have lost their First-Class status for the next two seasons.
Sri Lanka Cricket has swung the axe on the bloated domestic structure, cutting the number of First-Class teams to 14 next season, with a further reduction to 12 the following year. The move aims to inject more quality and competitiveness into domestic cricket, ensuring the cream rises to the top.
For now, though, it’s Bloomfield who are raising their glasses at Reid Avenue, celebrating a long-awaited triumph – a victory forged in grit, resilience, and a touch of brilliance from Ron Chandraguptha.
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