The 40th All-Island Schools Sports Festival will get under way on September 11, bringing the country’s biggest sporting event, in terms of mass participation, into its decisive national phase.

‎Although the national-level competition is scheduled to run until October 20, the festival’s journey began months ago at divisional level, where thousands of schoolchildren representing their respective schools competed for honours and qualification through successive rounds at Divisional, Zonal and Provincial level.

‎The massive participation and the extensive qualifying process, involving athletes and teams from across the country, make the All-Island Schools Sports Festival the largest sporting event in Sri Lanka. Those who have progressed through the earlier stages will now compete for national honours across a wide range of individual and team sports.

‎The Ministry of Education has released the official calendar for the national phase of the festival, which will be conducted across all nine provinces in four stages.

‎The opening stage will run from September 11 to 15, followed by the second stage from September 18 to 21. The third stage is scheduled for September 27 to 30, while the fourth stage will be held from October 2 to 9.

‎The festival will culminate with the boys’ and girls’ track and field championships from October 16 to 20 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Diyagama, Homagama, where the closing ceremony is also expected to be held.

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‎Stage One: September 11–15

‎Judo (September 11–13, Nawalapitiya); Beach Volleyball (September 11–13, Negombo); Wrestling (September 11–14, Bandarawela); Rugby Football (September 11–13, Pallekele); Gymnastics (September 13–14, Colombo); and Swimming (September 13–15, Colombo).

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‎Stage Two : September 18–21

‎Basketball (September 18–21, Colombo); Weightlifting (September 18–21, Polonnaruwa); Chess (September 18–20, Kurunegala); Softball Cricket (September 19–21, Anuradhapura); Karate (September 19–21, Kotuwila, Matara); Aerobic Gymnastics (September 19–21, Colombo); Hockey (September 19–21, Colombo); Table Tennis (September 19–21, Kegalle); and Handball (September 19–21, Weeraketiya).

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‎Stage Three: September 27–30

‎Half Marathon

(September 27, Battaramulla); Physical Fitness Exercises (September 27–28, Digana); Carrom (September 27–29, Trincomalee); Elle (September 27–29, Embilipitiya); Netball (September 27–29, Bandarawela); and Taekwondo (September 27–30, Bandarawela).

‎Stage Four: October 2–9

‎Wushu

(October 2–5, Digana); Volleyball (October 2–5, Ruwanwella); Badminton (October 2–4, Colombo); Leather-Ball Cricket (October 2–4, Colombo); Football (October 2–5, Jaffna); Cycling (October 3–4, Anuradhapura); Boxing (October 5 -9 Colombo); Kabaddi (October 6–9, Nindavur); and Throwball (October 5–8, Pannala).

‎Athletics: October 16–20

‎The boys’ and girls’ track and field championships will be held from October 16 to 20 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Diyagama, Homagama, bringing the 40th All-Island Schools Sports Festival to a close. (RF)

Misbah ul Haq has offered his resignation from the Pak7stan men’s national selection committee the day after the PCB made wholesalw changes to the Teat squad and team management  midway through the ongoing tour of England.  Misbah has also decided to step down from his role as a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

After going 2-0 down in the three-match series by losing at Lord’s by 194 runs, the PCB removed seven players from the Test squad and also released Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul as head coach and bowling coach ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston from September 9.

A superb bowling performance led by Marufa Akter and the spin attack helped Bangladesh overcome Indonesia in their Asia Cup opener in Dubai.

Indonesia, on their Asia Cup debut, put up a spirited performance especially with the ball to restrict Bangladesh to 129 for 8. Sobhana Mostary , playing her 100th international match, top-scored with 40, while Shorna Akter injected late momentum with 31 off 18 balls. Indonesia in return were bowled out for 58, with left-arm spinner Nahida Akter finishing with figures of 3 for 15.

Indonesia make early inroads

Indonesia’s Ni Made Putri Suwandewi found swing almost immediately but Bangladesh’s openers handled the movement well to make a positive start, scoring four boundaries in the first two overs. But that did not last long as Suwandewi struck in her second over, having Juairiya Ferdous mistime an inswinging delivery towards cover point, where Ni Ariani came forward and held a sharp low catch to give Indonesia their first wicket in Asia Cup.

Mostary and Dilara Akter then found run-scoring increasingly difficult. Bangladesh managed only one boundary between the third over and the end of the powerplay, reaching 30 for 1.

Indonesia’s spinners maintained the pressure thereafter, conceding only a few boundaries and repeatedly forcing Bangladesh’s batters to manufacture their shots. The partnership between Mostary andDilara struggled to gather momentum and was eventually broken when Ariani had Dilara caught for 27 off 31 balls. Bangladesh reached 58 for 2 at the halfway stage.

Shorna shines, Indonesia sparkle

Bangladesh’s first six came only in the 13th over thanks to Mostary. But her attempt to accelerate was checked soon after as 16-year old legspinner Sofia Velic, on her international debut, dismissed captain Nigar Sultana. Mostary was then left with the responsibility of guiding Bangladesh towards a competitive total, but Indonesia continued to restrict the scoring. Ni Luh Dewi struck twice in the 17th over to remove Mostary for 40 and Ritu Moni, leaving Bangladesh in further trouble.

Shorna briefly changed the momentum, hitting a six and a four, but Indonesia’s bowling ensured Bangladesh could not fully capitalise. Indonesia too dropped as many as three catches but the reprieves did not make much of an impact.

Ariani produced a dramatic finish to the innings, picking up two wickets as Bangladesh slipped from 105 for 3 to 129 for 8. They lost five wickets for 21 runs in just 17 balls, with Shorna, who had looked Bangladesh’s most fluent batter late in the innings, stranded at the non-striker’s end for much of the final over.

Bangladesh bowlers rule

Marufa began with a probing over, getting the ball to swing both ways and keeping Indonesia’s openers cautious. She broke through in her second over, having Rahmawati Pangestuti edge a full delivery to mid-on. she struck again in her next over, trapping Maria Corazon lbw with a full ball that swung sharply into her pads and beat her attempted flick. Indonesia had lost both openers early but they had made a slightly better start than Bangladesh managed during their own powerplay.

But the game shifted after the powerplay as Bangladesh’s spinners tightened the screws. Senior legspinner Fahima Khatun ended Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini’s difficult stay at the crease in the ninth over, trapping the Indonesia captain in front for just 2 off 15 balls. Sanjida Akter Meghla followed up with another wicket in the next over, trapping Dewi lbw after she missed a length ball that came into her pads.

Nahida struck in the 12th over but it was in the 14th over that Indonesia’s innings completely fell apart. Nahida first dismissed Suwandewi for 3 after a mistimed pull. Sofia Velic was then run out for 1 following a quick throw from deep fine leg, before Nahida finished the over by bowling Ariani for 2. Indonesia had slipped to eight down, and two more run-outs completed their innings as Bangladesh sealed a convincing 71-run victory.

Scores:
Bangladesh Women 129 for 8 in 20 overs (Dilara Akter 27, Sobhana Mostary 40, Nigar Sultana 10, Shorna Akter 31*; Ni Made Putri Suwandevi 1-13,  Ni Ariani 3-28, Ni Luh Dewi 2-21) beat Indonesia Women  58 in 17.3 overs  (Maria Corazon 12; Marufa Akter 2-06, Sanjida Akter Meghia 1-11, Nahida nahida 3-15, Fahima Khatun 1-09) by 71 runs

[Cricinfo]