Sports

Dialog Big Match Season launched to power champions of tomorrow

Published

2 years ago

2024/03/3

Front row: School Captains and representatives from respective schools. Second row: Master In Charge, Vice Principals, Principals, Sub -warden and wardens from respective schools, along with Dialog officials.

Dedicated to nurturing talent and empowering champions, Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, announced the launch of the 2024 Dialog Big Match Season initiative. At the heart of this endeavour is school cricket, a key element in grooming future cricket stars, as it’s on school grounds where aspirations take flight, setting the stage for remarkable achievements nationally and internationally.

In March, Sri Lanka will be swept by excitement as past and current students of schools across Sri Lanka come together to celebrate cricket, the passion of the nation. This season, Dialog Axiata PLC will proudly sponsor seven prestigious big matches, covering 14 schools, each a tribute to talent, determination, and the rich tradition of school cricket.

“The Big Match Season is integral to Sri Lanka’s sporting legacy, and we’re delighted to continue supporting this significant cricket celebration, which nurtures future champions destined to represent our nation,” remarked Lasantha Thevarapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC. “I extend my best wishes to all teams and players for an exhilarating season of cricket.”

Dialog Axiata PLC takes great pride in sponsoring the 145th Battle of the Blues, the second-longest-running big match globally, for the 19th year, from March 7th -9th at SSC Colombo.

The Company will also support the 90th Battle of the Saints, showcasing the continuing rivalry between St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, and St. Peter’s College, Colombo. This clash between the two premier catholic schools will be played on March 22nd and 23rd at the SSC grounds.

Extending their support to the northern region, Dialog Axiata PLC will sponsor two prominent big matches: the 117th Battle of the North between Jaffna Central College and St. John’s College, Jaffna, and the Battle of the Golds, featuring St. Patrick’s College and Jaffna College. The Battle of the North will be held on March 7th , 8th , and 9th at the Jaffna Central school ground, while the 107th Northern Battle of the Golds will be on March 1st and 2nd at St. Patrick’s College ground.

The tranquil hills of Kandy will be alive with big match fever on March 15th -16th as Trinity College takes on hometown rivals St. Anthony’s College in the 105th Upcountry Battle of the Blues Powered by Dialog. Dialog Axiata PLC also supports two Battles of the Golds in the Western province: the clash between St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa, and Prince of Wales’ College, Moratuwa, and the encounter between Sri Sumangala College, Panadura, and Moratu Maha Vidyalaya. The 74th Battle of the Golds in Moratuwa will take place on March 8th and 9th at the P Sara Grounds, while the 72nd Battle of the Golds in Panadura will be on March 29th and 30th at Moratuwa De Soysa Grounds.

These celebrated matches will serve as stepping stones for future sports stars. As they embark on this thrilling journey, Dialog Axiata extends its best wishes to all participating teams, anticipating an electrifying competition and a journey marked by success.

Spectators can catch all the action in high definition on ThePapare TV – Channel Number 126 on Dialog Television or watch the livestream via ThePapare.com and the Dialog ViU app.

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Related Topics:Dialog Big Match Season Moratuwa De Soysa Grounds participating

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U19 World Cup: Japan defeat Tanzania by nine wickets

Published

11 hours ago

2026/01/25

Priyan

Nihar Parmar hit an unbeaten fifty in Japan's chase [Cricinfo]

Nihar Parmar produced an excellent all-round display as Japan comfortably defeated Tanzania by nine wickets at Windhoek in the first playoffs for the 13th to 16th-places.

After Tanzania elected to bat, opener Karim Kiseto departed for a duck, but Acrey Pascal and Ayaan Shariff steadied the innings with a productive 79-run stand. Pascal top-scored with a patient 55 before falling to Kazuma Kato Stafford, but it was Parmar who turned the game on its head.

The Japanese all-rounder struck twice in consecutive deliveries to remove Shariff for 40 and Agustino Mwamele for a golden duck, sparking a dramatic collapse. From a relatively comfortable 118/2, Tanzania capitulated to 131 all out inside the next seven overs. Parmar finished with excellent figures of 4 for 30, while Nikhil Pol chipped in with 3 for 23 as the duo tore through the lower order.

Chasing a modest target, Japan made light work of the run chase. Parmar and Taylor Waugh constructed a clinical 122-run opening partnership, putting the result beyond doubt. Waugh fell short of a half-century, run out for 47, before Parmar reached his fifty and remained unbeaten on 53. Pol joined him to finish the job, guiding Japan home with more than 24 overs to spare.

Brief scores:
Tanzania 131 in 38.3 overs (Acrey Pascal 55; Nihar Parmar 4-30, Nikhil Pol 3-23) lost to Japan 136/1 in 28.2 overs (Nihar Parmar 53*, Taylor Waugh 47) by nine wickets

[Cricbuzz]

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U19 World Cup: Ambrish’s four-fer powers India to third straight win

Published

11 hours ago

2026/01/25

Priyan

India secured their third win in the group stage [Cricbuzz]

India bundled out New Zealand for a mere 135 in their final Group B fixture of the Under-19 World Cup before waltzing home to a comfortable seven-wicket win at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The comprehensive victory was set up by RS Ambrish’s four-wicket haul (4 for 19) and well-supported by Henil Patel’s three scalps (3 for 23) and ensured India finished the group stage with a perfect record of three wins from three matches.

After winning the toss, skipper Ayush Mhatre had no hesitation in bowling first on an overcast morning in Bulawayo. The decision was vindicated immediately as the Indian bowlers ran through the New Zealand top order. New Zealand slumped to 22 for 5 inside 10 overs.

The game was twice interrupted by rain, reducing it to a 37-over contest, but India’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure throughout. New Zealand’s lower-order mounted a brief recovery thanks in large part to an unbeaten 37 from Callum Samson but their total of 135 was never going to test a strong Indian batting line-up.

In response, India chased down the DLS-altered target of 130 with seven wickets in hand, with Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre leading the charge with a 76-run partnership off just 39 balls. Mhatre hit half-a-dozen sixes in his 27-ball 53 while Suryavanshi added 40 off 23. The win was completed in just 81 balls, showcasing India’s dominance with the bat.

While the win consolidated India’s position heading into the Super Six after a nervy game against Bangladesh, for New Zealand, who had their previous two matches washed out, this was a disappointing return to action against a quality Indian bowling attack.

Brief Scores:
New Zealand 135 in 36.2 overs (RS Ambrish 4-29, Henil Patel 3-23) lost to India 130/3 in 13.3 overs (Vaibhav Suryavanshi 40, Ayush Mhatre 53) by 7 wickets [DLS Method]

[Cricbuzz]

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Josh Hoey breaks world 800m short track record with 1:42.50 in Boston

Published

12 hours ago

2026/01/25

Priyan

Josh Hoey had said he was excited to take a shot at the world 800m short track record in Boston and he was right on target as he clocked 1:42.50* to improve the 28-year-old mark at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix – the first World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting of the season – on Saturday (24).

Seven weeks on from setting a world 600m short track best, also in Boston, the US world indoor champion made more history as he took 0.17 off the world record of 1:42.67 set by Wilson Kipketer at the World Indoor Championships in Paris in 1997.

Hoey went into the race as the second-fastest indoor 800m runner of all time thanks to the North American record of 1:43.24 he ran at the US Indoor Championships in New York last year. But paced by his brother Jaxson, he leapt to the top of that all-time list, winning the race by more than two seconds.

Jaxson led his brother through the first 200m in 24.81 before 400m was reached in 50.21. Jaxson then stepped aside and Josh passed 600m in 1:16.19, holding on to cross the finish line in 1:42.50.

“We did a lot of pacing work,” said Josh, reflecting on his preparations for the race. “Just kind of kept steadily improving, taking it week by week, block by block, and we were able to make
this work.”

A world best had been set earlier in the programme, USA’s 2024 world indoor 1500m bronze medallist Hobbs Kessler clocking 4:48.79 to break the 2000m short track world best of 4:49.99 set by Kenenisa Bekele almost 19 years ago.

World short track 3000m record-holder Grant Fisher also dipped under the old world best, finishing second in 4:49.48.

[World Athletics]