Sports

Bens, Wesley clash for Cartman Cup on Friday and Saturday

Published

4 years ago

2022/03/23

Avanka Fernando, Principal of Wesley (third from left) and Rev. Bro. Pubudu Rajapakshe, Director of St. Benedict’s, receiving the Platinum sponsorship cheque from Gopal Ravikumar, Media Executive of Taian Lanka Steel Company (Pvt) Ltd. at the press briefing held at Wesley College.

St. Benedict’s College will meet Wesley College in their annual Cartman Cup Under 19 cricket encounter on Friday and Saturday at Campbell Park.

Last week the two schools announced that the teams will also meet in a limited overs encounter for the Luke Shield. Both matches will be organised and hosted by the Bens-Wesley Joint Committee under the patronage of the two schools. The trophies are named after two famous Principals of St. Benedict’s College and Wesley College. Cartman Cup has been named in memory of former Principal of Wesley College Rev. James Cartman and Luke Shield is in memory of former Director of St. Benedict’s College Rev. Bro. Luke Gregory FSC.

Bens are led by fourth year coloursman and wicketkeeper batsman Pasan Suwahas. He scored 150 runs against S. Thomas’ in their 50 over tournament encounter, which the Bens won at Kotahena. Benedictines also in the same tournament had the better of St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa and prior to that beat St. Anne’s College Kurunegala in their traditional two day encounter.

Other seniors in the side are batting all rounder fourth year coloursman Ashen de Zoysa, third year coloursman Yohan Soyza, bowling all rounder Sachin Senannayake and fast bowler Aneesha Madumalka. Left arm spinner Chamath Chaturiya and young batting prodigy Sharujan Shanmuganathan are the players to watch out for.

The two captains, Pasan Suwahas (left – St. Benedict’s) and Sahil Dias (Wesley) with the two trophies in the background.

Wesley are captained by fifth year coloursman and all rounder Sahil Dias. Sahil already has a century under his name against S. Thomas’ College. Anudith Wickramasinghe (V. Capt.), Semila Liyanage, Tilshan Senanayake and Rakith Fernando are the fourth year coloursmen of the side. Wesley College enjoyed early success this year when they beat S. Thomas’ College after 50 years. You can expect Wesleyites to come hard in this year’s annual encounters.

The teams first met on a cricket pitch more than a century ago in 1896 and the encounter celebrates this 126 year legacy. The two-day encounter for the Cartman Cup will be played at Campbell Park, while the one-day encounter for the Luke Shield will be played on April 2, at P. Saravanamuttu Stadium.

The Joint Committee has made arrangements for crowds to be present at both the two-day Cartman Cup encounter and the one-day Luke Shield encounter.

In addition to this, both matches will be telecast live on TV 1.

Further, both encounters will be live streamed through Quadrangle’s YouTube channel, a popular schools focused digital platform. As this encounter celebrates the sporting histories of the two schools and their shared bonds of brotherhood, the Joint Committee, together with the two schools, have made arrangements to attract students both past and present to witness this encounter live, online, or through the live telecast so that they can be a part of this celebration from anywhere in the world.

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Sports

Rasara, Puvitharan rewrite meet records as National Athletics Championship begins

Published

3 hours ago

2026/09/5

Thilina Walpola

Rasara Wijesuriya

The 104th National Athletics Championship got off to an impressive start at the Diyagama Stadium, with Rasara Wijesuriya and Arunthavarasa Puvitharan producing record-breaking performances on an action-packed opening day.

‎Rasara dominated the women’s 10,000m to win the gold medal in 33:32.77 seconds, setting a new meet record in the process. G. W. O. N. Fonseka finished second in 38:25.55, while H. I. S. Fernando took the bronze in 39:00.69.

‎Puvitharan provided another record-breaking highlight in the men’s pole vault, clearing 5.10m to establish a new meet record. H. S. Eranga Janith followed with 5.00m for silver, while M. H. I. Sandaruwan secured bronze with 4.90m.

‎The men’s 10,000m produced a closely contested battle, with M. Kobinathan claiming the national title in 30:58.50. M. S. A. Fernando was second in 31:10.08, while D. P. S. S. Senanayaka completed the podium in 31:22.72.

‎As expected Madushani Herath secured the women’s triple jump title with a best effort of 13.60m, finishing ahead of I. S. W. Arachchi, who recorded 13.13m. G. I. S. Lankathilaka took third with 13.00m.

‎In the men’s shot put, Suseenthirakumar Mithunraj produced a winning throw of 16.41m to take gold. W. J. R. Alwis was second with 14.91m, while R. S. Jayawardana secured bronze with 14.47m.

‎Ovini Chandrasekara completed the women’s shot put podium-topping performance, winning gold with a throw of 12.82m. V. D. V. Gimhani took silver with 12.29m and A. D. W. Mendis won bronze with 11.84m.

‎With two new meet records already providing the opening-day highlights in thr morning, the championship has begun on a high note, setting the stage for further strong performances as Sri Lanka’s leading athletes battle for national honours.

Sports

Kusal Mendis, Binura Fernando ruled out of T20I series in England

Published

3 hours ago

2026/09/5

Thilina Walpola

Charith Asalanka is currently playing for St Lucia Kings in the CPL (Cricinfo)

Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando have been ruled out of Sri Lanka’s upcoming T20I series against England with the SLC saying that the two were “still undergoing rehabilitation” after injuries picked up at the 2026 Lanka Premier League.

The update came just over a day after the two were named in the 16-member squad, with Kusal retained as captain of both the T20I and the ODI sides.Charith Asalanka, who had returned to the vice-captain’s position for the series, will now lead the side in the T20Is. Though Kusal hasn’t been ruled out of the ODIs just yet, were he to miss out, Asalanka, as the designated vice-captain, might step in there too.

Kusal has been out of action since July 19 with a right hamstring injury, while Binura hasn’t played since August 5, SLC putting his absence down to a back injury.

Pavan Rathnayake, the 24-year-old top-order batter, has replaced Kusal in the T20I touring party, while Dilshan Madushanka, the fast bowler who was in the squad for the Tests against India recently but didn’t get to play, has come in for Binura.

Asalanka returned to the leadership group three months after being deposed as ODI captain and six months after being sidelined from the T20I unit. He last played a T20I in February this year, but is currently part of St Lucia Kings’ line-up at CPL 2026. His returns have been mediocre, though: 93 runs at a strike rate of 124 from six innings.

The T20Is will be played on September 15 (Southampton), September 17 (Cardiff) and September 19 (Manchester), while the ODIs will take place on September 22 (Chester-le-Street), September 24 (Leeds) and September 27 (The Oval).

Sri Lanka T20I squad for the tour of England

Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara (wk), Lahiru Udara (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (capt), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka

(Cricinfo)

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Kusal Mendis, Binura Fernando ruled out of T20I series in England

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/4

Priyan

Kusal Mendis hasn't played competitively since July 19 (Cricinfo)

Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando have been ruled out of Sri Lanka’s upcoming T20I series against England, with the SLC saying that the two were “still undergoing rehabilitation” after injuries picked up at the 2026 Lanka Premier League.

Kusal has been out of action since July 19 with a right hamstring injury, while Binura hasn’t played since August 5, SLC putting his absence down to a back injury.

Sri Lanka T20I squad for the tour of England

(Cricinfo)