Sports
Brain fade at RPS!
by Rex Clementine
Sri Lanka are licking their wounds after Tuesday’s heartbreak at RPS as Zimbabwe came from behind to square the three-match series. Today’s final T-20 International at the same venue decides the series. It’s been a closely contested series so far and Zimbabwe are no longer pushovers, you may think. Really!
However, the fact of the matter is that this Zimbabwe side were recently beaten by Uganda, and they failed to qualify for this year’s T-20 World Cup. Tuesday’s four wicket win is Zimbabwe’s first ever victory over Sri Lanka in T-20 cricket.
In mid 90s, Australia were our biggest rivals in cricket. Then a decade later, India were our fiercest opponents. Nowadays it seems people are quite content when our team beat Bangladesh. Is the day going to dawn when we will be happy beating Zimbabwe? Woe be the day that happens. A proud cricketing nation has fallen from the high pedestal.
Wanindu Hasaranga has been hailed for the attacking brand of cricket that he plays but his arrogance leads to dumbness and probably cost Sri Lanka Tuesday’s encounter.
Hasaranga had two part-time bowlers who had to fill four overs between them. Ideally, the captain should have held back Dushmantha Chameera or Dilshan Madushanka for the final over, but he is so obsessed with Angelo Mathews that he trusted him to bowl the final over on a belter with 20 runs needed.
In modern day cricket, 20 runs in the last over is achievable.
Dasun Shanaka perhaps would have been a better choice for he has done it before and proved his mettle. But since Hasaranga was instrumental in bringing Mathews back in to the side he is keen to prove that his choice is the right one. On the other hand, he may have an axe to grind with Dasun Shanka and it could be that he is trying to avoid his predecessor like a plague.
Smart captains get the best out of all resources. It’s no secret that Kumar Sangakkara didn’t see eye to eye with T.M. Dilshan, but the smart cookie he is, he knew how to get the best out of Dilshan. Wanindu should follow suit too although those boots of Sanga are pretty large to fill.
Bringing Mathews back into T-20 cricket was a good move. But don’t treat him like superman. Inside the power play, Sri Lanka had collapsed losing four wickets for 27 runs. It would have been something like 100 all out, a familiar scenario for Sri Lankan cricket in recent years. But Mathews bailed them out with a record fifth wicket stand batting alongside Charith Asalanka.
Mathews is there to ensure there aren’t collapses like before and the team had decent totals. He is ideal at number six given his ability to clear the ropes in the death overs. Yes, there are a few issues in his game. He declined about ten runs on Tuesday and was not able to keep pace with young Asalanka. Maybe he needs to work on running between the wickets before the World Cup.
Mathews has already won you a game in the series and has got you a decent total in the second game. That is what he’s there to do and not bowl the last over.
Of course, he provides you with a bowling option and that option should have been done away with the new ball.
Clearly, Hasaranga got a few things wrong on Tuesday night. He will be better off listening to a few people. Rely more on his deputy and get the thoughts of the wicketkeeper who’s probably got the best view.
Sri Lanka also has some 14-support staff inside the dressing room. They’ll be better off taking a more proactive approach rather than let things move on.
Under 19 Cricket
Left-arm spinners Vishwa Peiris and Demion de Silva took five wickets each as St. Joseph’s cruised to an innings and 51 runs victory over St. Benedict’s in the Traditional Mack – Croner trophy cricket encounter at Darley Road on Tuesday.
St. Benedict’s came to the match having done well in the Tier B tournament matches but the spin might of the Joes was too hot for them to handle as they collapsed for 62 runs in the second innings.
The result somewhat exposed the gap between the Tier A and Tier B teams of the Under 19 Division I category as the team from Kotahena were bowled out within 25 overs. They were following on after being dismissed for 197 runs in the first innings, where Nushan Perera grabbed five wickets bowling the bulk of the overs for the Joes. He was adjudged the Best Bowler.
While Vishwa was the Man of the Match, Rishma Amarasinghe (Best Fielder) and Senuja Wakunugoda (Best Batsman) won the other individual awards.
The Joes made 313 in their innings with Senuja top scoring with 106 runs.
In the Division I Tier ‘A’ matches Gurukula (against St. Sebastian’s) and St. Anthony’s Katugastota (against Royal) registered first innings victories.
Maliyadeva took first innings points against De Mazenod in a tier B match.
(RF)
Organisers of the ICC T20 World Cup are sweating over after Pakistan refused to play nuclear-armed neighbours India in Colombo, a decision that has left administrators scratching their heads and staring at a potential financial googly.
The India–Pakistan contest, the jewel in the tournament’s crown, is the game that oils cricket’s economic engine. If the marquee clash is bowled out, the loss of revenue will have every stakeholder feeling the pinch from boardroom to boundary rope. Islamabad’s call to withdraw, taken at government level, has sparked fears the verdict will not be overturned.
Anticipation for the grudge match had reached fever pitch. Tickets vanished on day one of sales, while Colombo’s hotels were snapped up quickly. Five-star rooms that normally fetch 150 US dollars were hiked to 600 USD, some even soaring to 800 USD as the city braced for a carnival.
With the capital full to the rafters, tour operators shuttled visitors to nearby Negombo, an hour’s drive from the stadium, while others opted for apartments as accommodation ran dry. Flights, too, were booked well in advance, but uncertainty over the epic duel has now cast a long shadow.
“We haven’t had many cancellations yet, but we fear the worst. Everyone will take a hit if the game doesn’t take place,” aviation industry official Thusitha Perera told Telecom Asia Sport.
Gihan Wickramasinghe, representing Colombo’s hoteliers, echoed the concern. “Our hope is the match goes ahead. If not, we’ll have to refund bookings and the tour operators will be hit even harder.”
Tour operator Lisa Fernando said the anxiety was mounting. “Two groups from Dubai alone, 75 people, were coming. Corporate clients had planned trips down south as well. There’s a lot of money at stake and so much unnecessary stress.”
Indian fan Varun Kumar from Bangalore has already paid for flights and hotels but intends to travel regardless. “Sri Lanka has been on my bucket list. Whether the match happens or not, we’ll come to experience the country,” he said.
Sri Lanka Cricket remains optimistic the contest will be rescued before the final over is called. But if the showpiece is scratched, it would be a hammer blow to an economy only just finding its feet after years of setbacks, leaving the tournament badly caught behind.
SSC Open Tennis Championship 2026
Zacharia Akbar and Thishya Banagala were crowned champions in the Under 12 boys’ and girls’ singles respectively of the SSC Open Tennis Championships in Colombo.
In the boys final, Zacharia Akbar beat Kashya Seneviratne 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. The S.Thomas’ College player reached the finals with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Satheesh Appathuri in the semi-finals.
The Under 12 girls’ final saw Thishya Banagala beat Thiyansa de Silva 7-5, 6-2.
The Visakha Vidyalaya player reached the final after a 6-4, 6-4 win over Manuli Seneviratne in the semis.
Zacharia Akbar (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)
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