Sports

Cummins hat-trick headlines Australia’s easy win

Published

2 years ago

2024/06/22

Pat Cummins became only the second Australian to take a hat-trick in the men’s T20 World Cup.

A hat-trick from Pat Cummins and a breezy, unbeaten fifty from David Warner helped Australia make a winning start to Super 8 as they made light work of Bangladesh in a rain-hit encounter at North Sound. Bangladesh huffed and puffed their way to 140/8 before Australia raced towards it with ease. The game didn’t witness a proper conclusion as a result of rain but Australia had enough in the tank by then to get the two points by DLS method.

The intent in the powerplay made the difference. Bangladesh struggled, at least for the first half of their powerplay, scoring only 8 runs before eventually dragging that score to 39. However, Australia effortlessly managed to set up the chase with their belligerent hitting, taking full toll of the fielding restrictions to knock off 59 runs without losing a wicket.

It took Mitchell Starc just three deliveries to strike as Tanzim Hasan inside-edged one onto his stumps. Josh Hazlewood followed it up with a maiden over as Bangladesh made just 8 in the opening three overs. Desperate to get out of this rut, Najmul Shanto stepped down the track against Hazlewood to hammer him for a six before Litton Das hit a couple of boundaries off Starc. Bangladesh managed 31 off the last three powerplay overs but there was still a lot of work to be done.

While Shanto attempted to show some intent again immediately after the end of the powerplay with boundaries off Adam Zampa and Marcus Stoinis, Australia regained control. Litton missed a sweep against Zampa and got bowled whereas Glenn Maxwell struck in his very first over, getting rid of Rishad Hossain. The spinners tied down Bangladesh in the middle phase, not allowing the batters to break free. The pressure resulted in the key wicket of Shanto as well.

Bangladesh definitely needed at least 60 runs from their final five overs in order to pose a challenge for Australia. They had a well-set Towhid Hridoy and the veteran Shakib Al Hasan to take charge at the death. Even though Shakib was dismissed by Stoinis, Hridoy gave his side some hope after smashing Stoinis for successive sixes. But an anti-climax was in store as Cummins came in, varied his pace to good effect and ended up picking two wickets off consecutive deliveries to peg Bangladesh back further. Taskin Ahmed managed to eke out some precious runs in the penultimate over but the onus was on Hridoy to give his side a big finish. Cummins, who was on a hat-trick having picked those two wickets off the final two deliveries of his previous over, bowled a slower one as Hridoy couldn’t time a scoop properly and ended up finding the fielder. It was only the second instance of an Australian bowler picking up a hat-trick in a T20 World Cup. The previous one was by Brett Lee in the inaugural edition against the same opposition. Hridoy’s wicket was a massive blow for the men in green as they ended up with a below par total.

Australia were always going to come hard no matter what the target was. Travis Head and David Warner hit a boundary each in the opening two overs before the latter slog swept Mahedi Hasan for a six. Taskin was taken apart for 15 in his first over and even a good over from Mustafizur Rahman was ruined with Head finishing it off with a four and a six. Warner rounded off the powerplay with a six as Australia took full control.

Two balls after the powerplay, the players were forced off the field due to rain. Australia were well ahead of the chase at that point but thankfully the rain didn’t last long. Bangladesh were given a ray of hope post resumption as Rishad struck in back-to-back overs to pick the big wickets of Head and Mitchell Marsh. However, those hopes were quashed immediately by Warner and Maxwell. The duo collected a boundary each off Mustafizur before taking on Rishad for a four and a six. Warner then whipped one past midwicket for another six to bring up his fifty and with that, the rain arrived again – this time finishing the game early for good.

Bangladesh have little time to recover as they take on India next at the same venue on Saturday. Australia will move to St. Vincent to face Afghanistan.

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Sports

Chief selector’s remarks disappointing says Mickey Arthur

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

Former Sri Lanka head coach Mickey Arthur has voiced disappointment over remarks made by Chairman of Selectors Pramodya Wickramasinghe, who last week claimed that Arthur was reluctant to include a young Pathum Nissanka during Sri Lanka’s tour of the Caribbean in 2021.

In his first media briefing, Wickramasinghe said it was he who pushed for Nissanka’s inclusion despite Arthur’s reservations. The former coach has flatly denied the allegation, calling it wide of the mark.

“I am very disappointed with Pramodya’s comments,” Arthur told Telecom Asia Sport. “The right people know exactly how I felt about Pathum. There was never any doubt that he was our future. I don’t want any credit for Pathum’s success. That belongs entirely to his hard work. I simply gave him an opportunity because the talent was impossible to ignore.”

Arthur said Nissanka’s domestic form had left little room for debate. “He was scoring runs for fun and the sheer weight of them made it impossible not to take a look. Once he joined the squad on tour, his attitude and work ethic were truly remarkable. From that moment, there was no doubt this bloke was going places,” Arthur added.

Even before Nissanka’s elevation to the senior side, Arthur had publicly spoken of his admiration for young prospects such as Nissanka and Charith Asalanka, stressing the importance of giving emerging players a long rope. His view was simple: once talent is identified and the attitude checks out, selectors and team management must back those players through thick and thin.

Arthur arrived in Sri Lanka with a formidable résumé, having coached South Africa, Australia and Pakistan. He placed a premium on fitness and fielding and under his watch a team in transition began to show signs of turning the corner. At the end of his tenure, Arthur opted not to renew his contract and instead took up a stint in English county cricket with Derbyshire.

As for Nissanka, he has scarcely put a foot wrong since breaking into the side. There was a Test hundred on debut in the West Indies, followed last year by a match-winning unbeaten century against England at The Oval on a lively seaming pitch. In between, he made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan to score a double hundred in ODIs. Last week, he was snapped up by Delhi Capitals at the IPL auction.

Nissanka is currently ranked third in T20 internationals and is knocking on the door of the top ten in both Tests and ODIs.

Sports

Viren and Ranithma defend open titles

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

73rd National Badminton Championship

Defending champions Viren Nettasinghe and Ranithma Liyanage made a fitting end to their campaigns of the 2025 season, by defending the Men’s and Women’s Open Singles titles as Varangana Jayawardana and Rashmi Mudalige clinched the Women’s Open Doubles title at the 73rd National Badminton Championship, concluded at the S. Thomas’ College Indoor Sports Complex, Mount Lavinia on Wednesday (24).

‎Viren clinically overcame each of his opponents from the Round of 32, all in straight sets, to reach the final. The country’s top Men’s Singles shuttler continued his form against Rasindu Hendahewa in the final, winning in straight sets to defend the title. Viren defeated Rasindu 21-10 and 21-14 to win his second national title in style.

‎Ranithma aptly defended her Women’s Open Singles title by recording a comfortable straight sets win against Rashmi Mudalige in an absorbing final that lasted nearly 45 minutes. Though the title decider stretched way longer than anticipated, Ranithma managed to seal the victory by recording set wins of 21-12 and 21-18 to claim the national title for the second year running.

‎Fourth seed pair Sanuda Ariyasinghe and Thisath Rupathunga created an upset by toppling top seeds Oshamika Karunarathne and Thulith Palliyaguru in a lengthy final that went down to the wire in the Men’s Open Doubles. Sanuda and Thisath won the first set 21-15, but the top pair bounced back to level the game one-all with a 21-18 win. But the gritty pair of Sanuda and Thisath maintained their composure to overcome the favourites 21-15 in the decider and claim the Men’s Open Doubles title.

‎Varangana Jayawardana and Rashmi Mudalige completed a successful campaign to defend the Women’s Open Doubles title from last year, this time overcoming the aspiring pair of Dilni Ambalangodage and Ranumi Manage in straight sets. Varangana and Rashmi remained unbeaten throughout, as they ended the unblemished run of Dilni and Ranumi with set wins of 21-13 and 21-18.

‎The Mixed Open Doubles title was claimed by Thulith Palliyaguru and Panchali Adhikari, who battled for 45 minutes to overcome Aashinsa Herath and Rashmi Mudalige 2-1 in the final. After conceding the first set by 12-21, Thulith and Panchali regrouped to claim the next two sets 21-18 and 21-15.

Sports

Royal record crushing innings win against Nalanda

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sehandu Sooriyaarachchi

Paceman Sehandu Sooriyaarachchi and spinner Himaru Deshan rattled Nalanda for the second time as Royal registered an innings and 65 runs victory in the Under 19 Division I tier A match ended with a session remaining at Campbell Place on Wednesday.

‎Sooriyaarachchi completed a match bag of nine wickets and Deshan picked up three wickets each in the two innings as Nalanda were dismissed for 94 and 101 runs.

‎It was the first victory of the season for Royal.

‎Royal in innings win at Campbell Place

‎Scores

‎Royal 260 all out in 70.3 overs (Hirun Liyanarachchi 38, Rehan Peiris 49, Yasindu Dissanayake 73, Thevindu Wewalwala 23, Manuth Dissanayake 37, Himaru Deshan 21; Malsha Fernando 5/73, Dunitha Anusara 2/42, Sahash Godage 2/54)

‎Nalanda 74 for 9 overnight 94 all out in 25 overs (Ranmith Dinuwara 30; Sehandu Sooriyaarachchi 5/47, Himaru Deshan 3/05) and 101 all out in 46 overs (Osanda Pamuditha 34n.o.; Sehandu Sooriyaarachchi 4/10, Himaru Deshan 3/30, Ramiru Perera 2/26)

‎Mahanama on first innings win at Mattegoda

‎Scores

‎Mahanama 314 in 79.4 overs (Eshan Withanage 71, Yashen Gunathilake 63, Kaushika Thilakarathne 48, Sithum Vihanga 39, Venura Kaveethra 31, Sineth Veerarathne 22, Gimantha Dissanayake 20; Manitha Rajapaksha 4/85, Arosha Udayanga 3/76, Sehas Ashinsa 2/46)

‎Mahinda 33 for 1 overnight 163 all out in 53.1 overs

(Randula Mabarana 40, Dulsith Darshana 26, Manitha Rajapaksha 20; Thenuja Rashmin 2/56, Venura Kaveethra 3/31, Sithum Vihanga 5/37) and 132 for 5 in 53 overs (Thevindu Rashmika 54, Randula Mabarana 35n.o. ; Kaushika Thilakarathne 3/09)

by Reemus Fernando