Sports
Avishka and Dasun star as Sri Lanka beat Oman
Top order batsman Avishka Fernando and captain Dasun Shanaka starred with the bat smashing half-centuries as Sri Lanka posted a competitive 162 for four against Oman at Al Amerat in the first T-20 International before Lahiru Kumara with his raw pace troubled the hosts as Sri Lanka completed a 19 run win yesterday.
Oman managed only 143 runs in their 20 overs as Lahiru Kumara finished with four for 30. All eight Omani wickets to fall went to pace. Nuwan Pradeep and Chamika Karunaratne finished with two wickets apiece.
Despite the win, there were a few grey areas for the Sri Lankans. Most fans did not understand the tactics the team was following. With the World Cup just one week away, you would have expected the former champions to try out the players in their squad but instead they provided opportunities for players whom they are carrying as reserves.
Then their batting line-up posed many questions. Sri Lanka have been sloppy during the Power Play not possessing enough fire power to clear the boundary. The only guy who seems to be capable of clearing the boundary is Avishka Fernando and he was occupying number four slot instead of throwing caution to wind putting bowlers on the back foot as an opener.
Sri Lanka were in fact reduced to 21 for three with Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis falling for ducks and Pathum Nissanka managing a single digit score. Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Avishka steadied the ship briefly but Bhanuka fell on 15 with the total on 51 in the 11th over of the innings.
Sri Lanka were in a spot of bother then but an unbroken 111 run stand between Avishka and Shanaka bailed them out.
Avishka posted 83 off 59 balls with three fours and five sixes playing some elegant strokes while Shanaka’s 51 came off 24 balls with two fours and five sixes.
Sri Lanka’s quicks reduced Oman to 23 for four and they never recovered and finished on 143 for eight in their 20 overs.
Wicketkeeper batsman Naseem Kushi lower down the order provided some entertainment smashing 40 off 22 balls with two fours and four sixes.
The second T-20 International will take place on Saturday. It will be played under lights.
Sri Lanka Athletics has invited India, the Philippines and the Maldives for next month’s Relay Championships conducted by Sri Lanka Schools Athletics Association in a bid to provide the men’s 4×400 metres relay quartet with a chance to reach qualifying standards for the World Relays.
Currently Sri Lanka men’s 4×400 metres relay team is within the required ranking position to compete at the prestigious World Relays taking place in Guangzhou, China. The 3:04.48 seconds finish to win the gold medal of the men’s 4×400 metres at the Asian Relays in May last year has placed Sri Lanka in the 31st position in the ‘Road to Guangzhou’ rankings.
But with many competitions coming up within the next couple of months Sri Lanka Athletics wants to leave no stone unturned in their quest to keep the ranking position within the qualifying range.
The teams in the first 32 positions according to the times produced within the qualifying period (January 1, 2024 to April 13, 2025) become eligible for the World Relays taking place on May 10 and 11 in Guangzhou.
Sri Lanka’s chances of improving the current standings (31st) at this week’s World Indoor Championship in China are minimal as Olympian Aruna Dharshana, who is the fastest of the current crop of athletes will not be available for the event.
Dharshana is currently training and competing in Australia. He is looking forward to reach qualifying standards or reach the required ranking position for World Championships in the 400 metres.
The World Athletics has set a tough standard of 44.85 seconds for the men’s 400 metres. While only 17 are selected through direct qualifying standards, 31 athletes are selected through rankings for the 400 metres. Dharshana is yet yo enter rankings to be eligible for the World Championships.
Sri Lanka Athletics will field Dharshana, Kalinga Kumarage, S.B.R. Madushan and Sadew Rajakaruna for the relay event in April.
by Reemus Fernando
Defence Services Beach Volleyball Championship 2025 was held from March 12 to 14 at the SLAF beach volleyball courts, Katunayake. During the finals SLAF Men’s team defeated SL Army (2-0) while the SL Navy Women’s team defeated SLAF Women’s team (2-0). Incidentally is the seventh Defence Services Beach Volleyball title won by the SLAF Men’s Team.
Base Commander SLAF Base Katunayake AVM Dhammika Dias graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Chairman of SLAF Volleyball, Group Captain Milinda Mendis, Senior Officers from SL Army and Navy were also present for the finals.
The Central Province Badminton Association (CPBA) is now accepting entries for one of Sri Lanka’s most anticipated badminton competitions, the Summer Season All-Island Open Championships 2025, which will be staged at the Municipal Council Indoor Stadium in Nuwara Eliya from April 21 to 27.
The highly followed seven-day annual badminton tournament, held during the Nuwara Eliya April Holiday Season, is known to attract Sri Lanka’s top ranked shuttlers. The National Ranking Level 1 competition, sanctioned by Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), is one of the key sporting attractions of Nuwara Eliya during April every year, known to generate increasing public interest.
The championship will feature a wide range of events from Under-11 to Under-19 in the Junior category and Over-30 to Over-70 in the Senior category, with an addition of three Combined Age segment of 100+. The main attraction of the competition will be the Open events comprising Men’s and Women’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles, with an addition of a Plate Championship for the losers in Men’s and Women’s Singles.
The opening ceremony will take place on April 21st at 9:00am, followed by the preliminary rounds, leading up to the climax on April 26 with the quarter-finals and semi-finals. The excitement will continue on April 27 with the highly anticipated semi-finals and final matches, followed by the Closing Ceremony to mark the culmination of this championship.
The main draw seeding will be determined based on SLB Ranking as of April 13, followed by the draw on April 16 at 11:00am at No.2, Cambridge Terrace, Colombo 7. Entries will close on April 10 at noon. Entries can be submitted online or by contacting Sadeesha Adithya on 0761759017 and further details of the tournament are available in the prospectus published in the SLB website.
A total prize money of Rs.750,000 for all events based on the number of entries will be on offer, in addition to trophies, medals and certificates guaranteed for winners, runners-up and semi-finalists of each event of the tournament. Junior winners will receive appropriate gifts instead of prize money, according to a decision taken by the tournament organisers. The tournament is sponsored by Mobil, Li Ning, McFoil, 3M and GAC.
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