Sports

Celebrating 40 years of Sri Lanka’s first Test win

Published

11 months ago

2025/09/11

Rumesh Rathnayake took nine wickets in the game including a tumbling return catch off Kapil Dev to give Sri Lanka their maiden Test win.

On September 11, 1985,Sri Lanka carved their name into cricket’s history books by winning their maiden Test match. Today marks the 40th anniversary of that red-letter day when Duleep Mendis captained the islanders to a famous victory over a star-studded Indian side that never quite knew what hit them.

It was a landmark triumph for a fledgling nation who tasted their first win barely three years after making their Test debut. The hosts had read the pitch and the opposition perfectly, preparing conditions tailor-made for pace, rightly suspecting India’s soft underbelly.

Rumesh Ratnayake was the hero with nine wickets, ably backed by Ashantha de Mel and Saliya Ahangama, who grabbed five apiece. The standout statistic was that 19 of India’s 20 wickets fell to quicks. The lone exception? Arjuna Ranatunga rolling his arm over to dismiss none other than the great Sunil Gavaskar, stumped for only the second time in his storied career.

“That’s one of the most enjoyable moments of my cricket,” Ranatunga told Telecom Asia Sport. “I grew up idolising Gavaskar, but in that series I managed to ruffle his feathers. He wasn’t upset with me; in fact, after the series he told our Board President Gamini Dissanayake, ‘Look after this boy, he’s going to take your cricket places.’”

Amal Silva was adjudged Man of the Match after a stellar double act: nine dismissals behind the stumps and a sparkling century in the first innings. “I have a hundred at Lord’s, but nothing beats that maiden Test win over India. There will never be another first and we outplayed them in every department. To clinch a victory within three years of entering the big league was surreal,” Silva recalled.

As the final wickets tumbled, Kapil Dev briefly held out with some stubborn resistance. “Then I plucked that return catch and pandemonium followed,” Ratnayake reminisced. “I ended up with nine wickets, but Ashantha and Saliya were immense. They backed me up so well. We were all over the moon.”

Kapil Dev, however, had sour grapes, blaming the umpires for his side’s downfall. Yet the truth was Sri Lanka had nearly upset India in the previous Test at SSC and cracks were already showing in the tourists’ ranks. Gavaskar had even abandoned his customary opening slot to bat in the middle order.

That generation of Sri Lankan cricketers went on to scale lofty heights. Skipper Mendis later coached his country and now guides Oman. Ranatunga switched to politics and became a Cabinet Minister. Ranjan Madugalle rose to be the ICC’s Chief Match Referee, while Sidath Wettimuny served as SLC President. Amal Silva and Ashantha de Mel became selectors, Ratnayake is now Head Coach of the women’s team, Saliya Ahangama migrated to Australia and Aravinda de Silva turned his passion for cars into a successful business.

[ Telecom Asia Sport ]

https://www.telecomasia.net

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Sports

Royal to meet St. Joseph’s, St. Peter’s eliminate Cambrians

Published

3 hours ago

2026/07/25

Thilina Walpola

Under 17 Division I Cricket

by Reemus Fernando

A combined bowling effort helped St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya beat Prince of Wales College Moratuwa by 55 runs and reach the pre-quarter finals of the Under 17 Division I cricket tournament on Friday.

‎Of all the knockout stage matches played on Friday, the encounter between the Petes and the Cambrians was the match that lasted the longest distance as the home team found batting resistance from number nine batsman.

‎The Cambrians foughtback after slipping to 59 for seven, on the back of a fighting 64 from Kaveesha Kithmina to bow down gracefully.

‎Batting first, St. Peter’s posted 230 for nine thanks to 76 off 113 balls by Sashidu Silva and a brisk 61 from 49 deliveries by Menura Dissanayake.Sandeepa Dananjaya was the pick of the Prince of Wales bowlers with an impressive five-wicket haul for 33 runs.

‎Most of the other knockout matches were one sided contests.

‎Royal College Colombo bundled out Wariyapola Sri Sumangala College, Kandy for a mere 44 runs to record a crushing 269 runs win and secure a pre-quarter final berth against St. Joseph’s College Darley Road.

‎Gagan Gamage (7-1-16-5) and Mahiru Kodituwakku (7-2-18-4) used the home advantage to good effect as they shared nine wickets between them to rattle the opposition within 18 overs. Batting first the Reid Avenue team amassed 313 runs for five wickets with Savain Gamage (53), Dushen Udawela (50) and Manuth Dasanayake (76) scoring half centuries.

‎Maris Stella College, Negombo, Galahitiyawa Central and St. Aloysius’ College, Galle were the other teams to enter the pre-quarter final stage on Friday.

‎St. Aloysius’ College, Galle booked a pre-quarter final berth against St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa with a crushing seven-wicket victory over Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte.

‎Ananda Sastralaya struggled throughout their innings and were bundled out for 65 runs. Chenuka Dodangoda with a run a ball 27 was the only batsman to make a notable contribution.

‎St. Aloysius’ bowlers shared honours bowling tight spells. Hasitha Dasun produced the standout performance taking four wickets for two runs, while Manindu Pabasara supported well picking up two for seven. Yenul Nethsuka, Chethana Kularathna and Sanuda Imaya picked up a wicket each.

‎In reply, St. Aloysius made light work of the modest target, reaching 67 for 3 in just 9.4 overs. Gimhan Hansaka struck an aggressive 33 off 25 balls with seven fours to lay the foundation for victory.

‎Kavinga Dabare claimed all three wickets for Ananda Sastralaya, finishing with 3 for 9, but his effort could not prevent St. Aloysius’ from sealing the pre-quarter final berth.

‎In the other matches, Maris Stella College, Negombo beat Royal Central Polonnaruwa by five wickets and Galahitiyawa Central beat Taxila Central by six wickets.

Sports

Galle Gallants back to winning ways

Published

3 hours ago

2026/07/25

Thilina Walpola

Sahan Arachchige starred for Galle Gallants

Galle Gallants got back to the winning track after their first loss against Dambulla Sixers on 22 July to make it three wins out of four games as they outclassed Jaffna Kings by 60 runs on Thursday at the Rangiri International Stadium in Dambulla.

After all the five teams have played four games each, Galle Gallants sit atop with six points, while Kaps, Sixers and Kings have four points each. Royals have two points only.

After being asked to bat first, Gallants lost Sam Harper and Charith Asalanka early with 16 runs on the board in three overs. At this point, Chris Lynn and Chamika Karunaratne put on 48 runs with the former dominating the stand as he ended up with a 22-ball 46 before departing.

Gallants slipped to 110-6 in 14.2 overs before their top-scorer Sahan Arachchige and Mohammad Nawaz arrested the collapse with a game-changing 68-run stand off 30 balls. Arachchige hit four fours and three sixes in his 36-ball 63, while Nawaz hit two sixes and as many fours in his 27 off 16 balls.

Vijayakanth Viyaskanth hit a six off the two balls he faced as Gallants posted a strong 193-8 in 20 overs. Dilshan Madushanka and Lizaad Williams picked up two wickets each. Shakib Al Hasan, Dunith Wellalage and Mohammad Shiraz had one wicket each to their name.

In reply, Jaffna Kings’ chase never got going as they were rocked by three wickets each from Tharindu Ratnayake and Eshan Malinga. They slipped to 33-4 with Akif Javed and Dasun Shanaka also sharing a wicket each.

Only Wellalage managed to put up some fight with the bat and it was because of his 39-ball 56 that Jaffna Kings managed to salvage some pride and closed in on the loss margin. Wellalage hit four fours and as many sixes in the lost battle that he waged as Kings went from 99-8 in 12.3 overs to 133 all out with Williams unable to walk out to bat due to injury.

David Wiese was the only other batter to cross the 20-run mark as he scored 22 with the help of three fours. Ratnayake finished with three for 19 in four, Malinga with three for 13 in three, while Viyaskanth also picked up a wicket.

Brief Scores

Galle Gallants won by 60 runs

Galle Gallants: 193/8 in 20 overs

]Sahan Arachchige 63 (36), Chris Lynn 46 (22), Mohammad Nawaz 27 (16); Dilshan Madushanka 2/35 (4), Lizaad Williams 2/37 (4)

Jaffna Kings: 133/9 in 17.5 overs

[Dunith Wellalage 56 (39), David Wiese 22 (20); Eshan Malinga 3/13 (3), Tharindu Ratnayake 3/19 (4)]

Sports

Arachchige, Rathnayake and Malinga pump Jaffna

Published

21 hours ago

2026/07/24

Priyan

A 36 ball 63 by Sahan Arachchige and three wickets each by Eshan Malinga [3-13] and Tharindu Rathnayake [3-19] helped Galle Gallants defeat Jaffna Kings by 60 runs in the 10th match of the Lanka Premier League 2026. Galle Gallants lead the points table with three wins from four outings.

Scores:
Galle Gallants 193/8 in 20 overs [Chris Lynn 46, Sahan Arachchige 63, Dasun Shanaka 12, Dinura Kalupahana 10, Mohammad Nawaz 27; Mohamed Shiraz 1-23, Dunith Wellalage 1-13, Shakib Al Hasan 1-27, Dilshan Madushanaka 2-35, Lizaad Williams 2-37]

Jaffna Kings 133 in 17.5 overs [Kamil Mishara 15, Ibrahim Zadran 11, David Weise 22, Dunith Wellalage 56; Dasun Shanaka 1-21, Tharindu Rathnayake 3-19, Akif Javed 1-22, Eshan Malinga 3-13, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 1-32]