West Indies won the toss and put Sri Lanka into bat, but that was the extent of the action from thesecod ODI  at Sabina Park, as persistent rain put an end to proceedings before they had even begun.

The washout means West Indies’ hopes of winning the series are wiped out, but they can still draw level in the final game on Monday. Perhaps more importantly, a win there will give the hosts a much needed rankings boost, with qualification for next year’s World Cup hinging on their final position come March next year.

The toss itself had been delayed by 30 minutes following rain earlier in the day, and it was the possibility of rain intervening later on that had influenced Shai Hope’s decision to field first.

Both teams had also made changes, with Amir Jangoo due to get a game for the injured Matthew Forde, while Eshan Malinga had been drafted in for Asitha Fernando. Shai Hope, playing his 150th ODI for West Indies, received a special jersey before rain came along.

(Cricinfo)

Sri Lanka women’s cricket team flew off to London this week to take part in the ICC T-20 World Cup that will get underway on the 12th June in Birmingham with Chamari Atapattu’s side playing England in the curtain-raiser.The national team will enter the 12 nation global showpiece event with renewed confidence and ambition under the newly appointed Head Coach Jamie Siddons.

Prior to the opening match, the team will play two warm-up fixtures against Pakistan and Netherlands. Placed in a challenging Group 2, apart from England, they have defending champions New Zealand, West Indies, Ireland and Scotland. The team arrives in England buoyed by recent successes, having secured impressive series victories over both West Indies and Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka’s participation in the tournament marks another significant chapter in the continued growth of women’s cricket in the country. Dialog, who holds the exclusive broadcast rights of ICC events in Sri Lanka, remains committed to supporting the development of the game and powering Sri Lankan athletes to compete on the global stage.

Cricket Fans can catch all the action live on Dialog Television (Channel Numbers 68,120 & 63), or stream via the Dialog Play mobile App and ThePapare.com.

Sri Lanka javelin national record holder, Rumesh Tharanga, produced a performance for the ages at the Rome Diamond League on Thursday, elevating himself from a promising international contender to one of the world’s elite field athletes.

‎Competing against Olympic champions, world champions and several members of the exclusive 90-metre club, Tharanga unleashed a staggering throw of 92.62 metres to win the men’s javelin competition at the prestigious Golden Gala in Rome. The mammoth effort not only secured his maiden Diamond League victory but also established a new Sri Lankan national record, a meeting record and one of the finest performances in world athletics this year.

‎The significance of the achievement extends far beyond a single victory. By surpassing the 90-metre barrier, Tharanga entered one of athletics’ most exclusive clubs. His 92.62m effort elevated him among the greatest javelin throwers in history and underlined his emergence as a genuine medal contender on the global stage. According to World Athletics stats, the throw placed him among the all-time top performers in the event while restoring his position as the world leader for the 2026 season.

‎The Rome triumph came only days after Tharanga had become the first Sri Lankan athlete to finish among the top three of a Diamond League field event when he claimed second place at the Rabat Diamond League in Morocco with a throw of 85.97 metres. His rapid progression from secon place in Rabat to champion in Rome illustrates the remarkable consistency he has displayed throughout the season.

‎For Sri Lankan athletics, the achievement ranks among the greatest ever produced by a national athlete on the international circuit. The Diamond League represents the highest level of one-day athletics competition in the world, second only to the Olympic Games and World Championships. Winning a Diamond League event requires defeating the very best athletes in the sport, making Tharanga’s feat one of the most significant accomplishments in the country’s athletics history.

‎His performance also continues a remarkable journey that has seen him repeatedly raise Sri Lanka’s national record. The previous generation of Sri Lankan javelin throwing was led by former national record holder Sumeda Ranasinghe, who pushed the national mark into the mid-80 metre range and became the country’s first thrower to consistently challenge Asia’s best. Ranasinghe’s record-breaking performances laid the foundation for the current golden era of Sri Lankan javelin throwing.

‎Before Tharanga’s emergence, only one Sri Lankan athlete had competed at Diamond League events. Sprinter Yupun Abeykoon open the door for future Sri Lankan athletes to believe they could compete among the world’s elite.

‎However, while previous Sri Lankan athletes had reached finals, broken national records and earned international recognition, none had won a Diamond League event. That barrier has now been shattered by Tharanga.

‎At just 23 years of age, the Kalutara-born athlete has transformed from a promising youngster into one of the most feared javelin throwers in the world. Earlier this year he climbed into the world’s top rankings and established himself as the season leader with a series of outstanding throws. The Rome victory now confirms that Sri Lanka possesses an athlete capable of challenging for medals at the highest level of the sport.

‎More importantly, Tharanga’s achievement represents a watershed moment for Sri Lankan athletics. Just as legends such as Susanthika Jayasinghe and Duncan White inspired generations through their Olympic achievements, Tharanga’s Rome triumph has demonstrated that a Sri Lankan athlete can not only compete with the world’s best but can defeat them on one of athletics’ grandest stages.

‎The javelin launched into the Roman night travelled 92.62 metres. Its impact on Sri Lankan athletics may travel much further. (RF)