Sports
CR have forced Kandy ‘lions’ to enter a cold rugby winter
By A Special Sports Correspondent
The Kandy SC vs CR&FC game schedule for February 18 (Sunday) in Colombo will be the decider in the Inter-Club league rugby tournament and the Red Shirts are slated to pull this one off. This is the ninth week of rugby and after last week’s games CR&FC head the points table followed by Kandy SC, Havelock Sports Club and CH&FC in second, third and fourth places respectively.
Last week CR&FC edged out Havelock Sports Club 12-9 in a cracker of a game and one more win, especially against the dangerous looking Kandy outfit, in this tournament would ensure that the Longden Place club are the winners this season. But the standings in the points table of the tournament would change dramatically if Kandy pulls off something special and end CR’s unbeaten run.
A Kandy SC win is highly unlikely because the game is played at Longden Place in Colombo this week. Kandy SC have a ferocious ‘Lion’ as the emblem in their club’s flag. But CR have made the Nittawela players worry this season akin to a pack of lions forced to hunt throughout a frost-biting ‘winter’.
On paper CR&FC has a talented side with the bench being equally strong. Two of the finds this season for the Red Shirts are number eight Lasindu Karunathilake and place kicker and fly half Thenuka Nanayakkara. Karunathilake has been in fine form and punched holes in the opposition defences with his fierce play in the loose. Nanayakkara has been right on target with his spot kicks and kept the scoreboard ticking during tight games.
The others to watch in this game are second row forward Adeesha Weerathunga, hooker Venura Kodagoda, lock forward and skipper Suhiru Anthony, scrum half Kavindu de Costa, dashing centre Manilka Ruberu, Gemunu Chethiya and the young wing three quarter Kushan Tharindu. CR has made massive strides this season under coach Dushanth Lewke, who is now looked upon as a coach who can make a difference where ever he goes and sets up camp.
Kandy SC will travel to Colombo with worries outweighing hopes this time around. They have already got into a distracting mode by writing to the organizers of domestic rugby tournaments making demands about a preferred venue (Nittawela) for the next tournament on the cards – the Clifford Cup- when they still have to complete this present rugby event they feature in. Kandy want all the matches they feature in to be played at Nittawela.
Even last season they made same request which was turned down by SLR. Kandy, as a result, pulled out of the Clifford Cup knockout tournament and had to be satisfied winning the league tournament. This mentality can be a distraction for a team which his season sees its dominance in the sport being checked unlike in previous years.
The good thing which happened for Kandy was that they came back strongly in last week’s game against CH&FC before pulling off a convincing 32-24. It’s heartbreaking for Kandy fans to see the Nittawela side lose or struggle at matches this season, but what spectators from the central hills must fathom is that other teams have also focused on learning the art of wining and mastering how the game must be approached in a professional manner.
If one steps into a Colombo club these days there would be no difference in the way these Western Province clubs are training and eating when compared to how Kandy SC are setting about this task. Kandy can no longer stake a claim for heading the teams when it comes to deciding which side is being bigger, faster and stronger on the field.
This side is oozing with talent with players in the likes of the Ratwatte brothers, skipper Lavanga Perera, Kavindu Perera, Danushka Ranjan and Dinal Ekanayake running as backs and players in the likes of Jason Dissanayake, Dishan Fareed, Fawmy Wajeed and Dahan Wickremaarachchi doing the honours in forwards play. Centre Tharinda Ratwatte has been a tower of strength to the side and is in his devastating best this season. He has dazzled both as a place kicker and is also one of the leading try scorers this season. Utility player Srinath Sooriyabandara can play as fullback and shift to manning the base of the scrum if Kandy is wilting under pressure. Kandy’s players are put through their paces this season by head coach Fazil Marija and he is assisted by Viraj Prashantha. Kandy SC are the reigning league champions while CR&FC finished as runners-up in the tournament last season.
In the other match of the Cup Championship CH&FC host Havelocks SC on Saturday (February 17) in a game scheduled to take place at Royal College Sports Complex. (This venue was confirmed by SLR)
In the Plate segment of the tournament Navy SC scrum down with Army at Welisara on Friday while Air Force host Police (who are heading the Plate Championship points table and already declared the winners) at Ratmalana on Saturday (February 17). Air force won the Plate Championship last season.
The teams:
CR&FC rugby pool from:S. Nanayakkara, A. Gunasinghe, S. Perera, T. Nanayakkara, Y. Kavindu, Lasindu Karunathilake, C. Muthunayake, A. Weerathunga, S. Adikaram, S. Anthony (Captain), E. Harshana, I Ariyapala, Naveen Marasinghe, K. De Costa, M. Ruberu, Gemunu Chethiya, R. Ekanayake, K. Tharindu, T. Mariyadas, R. Senanayake, W. De Mel, Rinesh Silva, Randy Silva, Raveen De Silva, V. Kodagoda
Kandy SC rugby pool from– M. Wijesundara, K. Bandara, M. Weerasinghe, Wawala Panditha, C. Soysa, C. Kudalige, Jason Dissanayake, Dahan Wickremeaarachchi, Heshan Jansen, L. Ranaweera, Dinal Ekanayake, Tharinda Ratwatte, Lavanga Perera (Captain), D. Dange, Srinath Sooriyabandara, A. Mohomed, D. Fareed, M. Chandradas, F. Wajid, S. Abeywickrama, S. Tennakoon, O. Perera, Danushka Ranjan.
The Sri Lanka Cricket selection panel has handed the white-ball captaincy to Kusal Mendis for the upcoming all-format tour of the West Indies next month. Dhananjay de Silva will continue to lead the side in the two Tests.
Kusal Mendis takes over the ODI captaincy from Charith Asalanka, who was named in the 16-man squad, while Kamindu Mendis was named vice-captain. In T20Is, Kusal Mendis takes over the leadership from Dasun Shanaka, who led the side until the recent T20 World Cup, where Sri Lanka failed to make the knockouts. While Shanaka retained his place in the 16-man T20I squad, Asalanka did not.
Wanidu Hasaranga is set to return to action – named in the ODI and T20I squads – after his injury during the T20 World Cup has kept him off the field since early February. He tore his left hamstring at the time and missed the ongoing IPL after that for Lucknow Super Giants.
The tour starts with three ODIs from June 3 to 8 followed by the three T20Is on June 11, 13 and 14. The two Tests will be played at the Viv Richards Stadium in North Sound from June 25 to 29 and July 3 to 7.
Sri Lanka Test squad:
Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kamindu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Kusal Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Isitha Wijesundara, Kasun Rajitha
Sri Lanka ODI squad:
Kusal Mendis (capt), Kamindu Mendis (vice-capt), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Milan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan
Sri Lanka T20I squad:
Kusal Mendis (capt), Kamindu Mendis (vice-capt), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Pavan Rathnayake, Lasith Croospulle, Dasun Shanaka, Milan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara
(Cricinfo)
Chasing the fourth playoffs spot, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) entered their match against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Eden Gardens hoping Mumbai Indians beat Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium. In that case, KKR would have needed to chase down their target in about 12 overs to pip Punjab Kings on net run rate and finish in the top four. But with Mumbai losing, both PBKS and KKR were knocked out, reducing this match to a dead rubber as early as the fourth over of the first innings.
In the end, KKR lost this game as well. After DC rode on KL Rahul’s 30-ball 60 to post 203 for 5, KKR were 126 for 3 after 13 overs. Kuldeep Yadav then dismissed Ajinkya Rahane and Rinku Singh off successive deliveries to derail them. Eventually, KKR were all out for 163 in 18.4 overs.
After opting to bowl, KKR started with left-arm spinner Anukul Roy to left-hand batter Abishek Porel. After two dots, Porel picked up two successive fours to make it a ten-run over. Left-arm seamer Saurabh Dubey, though, was effective. Sharing the new ball, he found movement off the seam and also used the slower ball to good effect. He conceded only five runs from his two overs in the powerplay and had Porel caught behind. Porel was dropped by Tejasvi Dahiya off Kartik Tyagi off 18 but could add only four more to his tally.
In the last over of the powerplay, Sahil Parakh also got a reprieve. He was on 7 when he reversed-swept Sunil Narine towards cover-point where Rinku grassed the chance. Narine eventually had him caught at extra cover for 24 off 17.
Rahul showed his class once again, especially against Narine. In the eighth over, he stepped out twice in a row and hit him for a six and a four. In the spinner’s next over, he launched him over long-on from the crease for another six. In all, Rahul hit Narine for 21 off nine balls. He reached his fifty off 25 balls before dragging Roy to long-on.
After Rahul’s wicket, Axar Patel and David Miller kept DC going. They added 41 off just 25 balls before Axar holed out to long-on trying a third six off Varun Chakravarthy’s final over. He made 39 off 25 balls. Dubey conceded only eight in the 18th over but Miller spoiled his figures somewhat in the 20th by hitting him for two sixes. The seamer had the last laugh, though, as he had Miller caught at mid-off off a full toss. Dubey was denied a third wicket by Dahiya, who dropped Ashutosh Sharma off the final delivery of the innings. Ashutosh, once again, played a handy knock of 18 not out off 11.
Finn Allen opened his account with a first-ball four off Mitchell Starc. In the bowler’s next over, he hit him for a six and a four off successive balls. From the other end, Rahane smashed back-to-back sixes off Auqib Nabi to take KKR to 43 after four overs. Lungi Ngidi provided some relief when he had Allen chopping on in a four-run fifth over. With Axar conceding only eight in the sixth, KKR ended the powerplay on 55 for 1.
Just when it looked like KKR were falling behind the asking rate, Rahane and Manish Pandey combined to hit Axar for three sixes in a 21-run eighth over. But Ngidi struck once again – he dismissed Pandey for 25, courtesy an excellent diving catch by Starc at long-on. In the next over, Kuldeep had Cameron Green caught at long-off, leaving KKR 96 for 3 in the tenth over.
Rahane brought up his fifty, his second of the season, off 31 balls but Kuldeep had him and Rinku caught in the deep off successive deliveries to dent KKR’s chase. He missed the hat-trick only because Porel put down Dahiya behind the stumps. Dahiya couldn’t capitalise on the reprieve and fell to Axar soon after.
When substitute fielder Sameer Rizvi’s direct hit from long-off found Rovman Powell short at the non-striker’s end, the end was swift. There was no Narine with the bat, as Allen had replaced him as Impact Player during the first innings itself, and the lower order didn’t have the skills to deal with Starc and Ngidi. All told, KKR lost their last seven wickets for 37 runs.
Brief scores:
Delhi Capitals 203 for 5 in 20 overs (Abhishek Porel 22, KL Rahul 60, Sahil Parakh 24, Axar Patel 39,David Miller 28, Ashutosh Sharma 18*; Anukul Roy 1-23, Saurabh Dubey 2-28, Sunil Narine 1-38, Varun Chakravarthy 1-35) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 163 in 18.4 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 63,Finn Allen 20, Manish Pandey 25, Rovman Powell 29; Mitchell Starc 2-26, Lungi Ngidi 3-27, Axar Patl 1-38, Kuldeep Yadav 3-29) by 40 runs
[Cricinfo]
Kolkata Knight Riders have signed Karnataka’s Luvnith Sisodia as a replacement for the injured Matheesha Pathirana ahead of their final round-robin clash of IPL 2026 against Delhi Capitals. Pathirana has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a hamstring injury sustained during KKR’s win over Gujarat Titans last weekend.
Pathirana was one of KKR’s marquee signings at the player auction with the Knight Riders forking out INR 18 crore to avail his services. His arrival at the competition was delayed by a left calf injury sustained during Sri Lanka’s Super Eight finish at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, before he was cleared to join the team mid-April.
Having warmed the benches, Pathirana finally got into the XII against GT but bowled only 1.2 overs before going off the field with evident discomfort in his left hamstring.
Sisodia, a left-handed wicket-keeper batter who has played 15 T20s for Karnataka, is yet to play an IPL game. He has been part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and KKR in the past, having been signed by the latter at the 2025 mega auction. His addition bolsters the team’s wicket-keeping stocks after Angkrish Raghuvanshi was ruled out with a concussion and a finger fracture.
KKR will stay in the hunt for the playoffs if Rajasthan Royals lose to Mumbai Indians. They must however beat Delhi Capitals by a huge margin in order to then pip Punjab Kings to the Eliminator. (Cricbuzz)
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