Sports

Dinusha shines on debut as Sri Lanka peg back Bangladesh

Published

8 months ago

2025/06/26

Sonal Dinusha had an impressive debut picking up two wickets on day one of the second Test against Bangladesh at SSC yesterday.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers stepped up to the plate on Wednesday, putting in a far more disciplined shift than in Galle, as they reduced Bangladesh to 220 for eight at stumps on day one of the second Test, despite being sent into the field on another benign surface at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo.

On a track that offered little for the bowlers, it was debutant Sonal Dinusha who stole the spotlight, delivering a spell of sustained pressure that belied his rookie status. The 24-year-old left-arm spinner, thrust into the big league following Angelo Mathews’ retirement, bowled nine uninterrupted overs with metronomic control, returning figures of two for 22 in a dream debut.

Dinusha struck gold by breaking a flourishing fifth-wicket partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das. With three maidens to kick off his international career, the former under-19 prodigy had Litton caught behind off a teasing delivery that kissed the edge en route to Kusal Mendis’ gloves.

He wasn’t done. Building dot-ball pressure like a seasoned pro, Dinusha then accounted for the prized scalp of Mushfiqur, who had notched a century in the first Test. Attempting to break the shackles, the veteran played an ill-advised slog sweep but only succeeded in picking out deep square leg.

If Dinusha was the craftsman with guile, Vishwa Fernando was the workhorse with grit. The left-arm seamer, back in national colours after a successful County stint with Warwickshire, operated with pinpoint accuracy. He removed Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto — the man who had tormented Sri Lanka in Galle with twin tons — with a snorter that caught the edge and went through to the keeper.

Vishwa returned later in the innings and induced another breakthrough, this time sending Mehidy Hasan Miraz packing with a sharp delivery that found the edge and was neatly pouched at by the wide slip fielder.

Bangladesh’s decision to bat first backfired as their batters failed to cash in on a placid pitch. The top order flattered to deceive, and apart from Shadman Islam’s patient 46, there was little of substance in the scorebook. For a side that prides itself on batting depth, it was a case of throwing away wickets like confetti.

Sri Lanka’s fielding, however, left much to be desired, with a couple of lapses that could’ve proven costly. But their bowlers more than made up for the shortcomings, ensuring the visitors never ran away with the game.

Asitha Fernando played a supporting role while Dinusha and Vishwa ran the show. Bangladesh, meanwhile, rang in two changes — Mehidy Hasan returned after recovering from fever, replacing Jaker Ali, while Ebadot Hossain came in for the injured Hasan Mahmud.

With rain curtailing the day’s play, the game remains delicately poised, but Sri Lanka will sleep the happier side, having drawn first blood on a surface where bat usually dominates ball.

by Rex Clementine

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Muzarabani returns as Zimbabwe opt to bowl against Oman

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/9

Priyan

Sikandar Raza and Jatinder Singh at the toss (Cricinfo)

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza decided to field first against Oman in the men’s T20 World Cup match at the SSC in Colombo. Both teams were pleased to arrive in Sri Lanka early to get themselves attuned to the conditions.

Zimbabwe have Blessing Muzarabani back in the squad after he missed the tri-series in Pakistan in November.

Oman, meanwhile, include 44-year-old Aaamir Kaleem the oldest player in the tournament – after he came into the side in place of Hasnain Shah, who was injured after the squad was named.

Zimbabwe return to the tournament after missing out on the previous edition in West Indies and the United States of America. They had made it to the Super 12s of the 2022 T20 World Cup but failed to progress through the qualifiers for the 2024 tournament. They completed qualification alongside Namibia; Brian Bennett was the tournament’s top run-scorer, while Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava were among the leading wicket-takers.

Zimbabwe are bolstered by the return of Graeme Cremer, whose November 2025 comeback marked the longest gap between T20I appearances.

Oman are one of three qualifiers from the Asia-Pacific region, alongside Nepal and the UAE. They have previously appeared in the 2016, 2021, and 2024 editions of the T20 World Cup.

Oman: Jatinder Singh (capt), Aamir Kaleem, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale, Jiten Ramanandi, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Sufyan Mehmood, Nadeem Khan, Shah Faisal, Shakeel Ahmad

Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza (capt), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani

Latest News

Munsey and Leask spoil Italy’s T20 World Cup debut2

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/9

Priyan

George Munsey top scored for Scotland (Cricinfo)

Scotland may have suffered a blip the last time they faced Italy in a T20I but ensured they picked up the first points of their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign after a dominant performance at Eden Gardens. George Munsey’s 54-ball 84, supported by cameos from Brandon McMullen and Michael Leask, followed by Leask’s four-wicket haul helped Scotland spoil Italy’s debut in the tournament. The 73-run win gave Scotland two points after their defeat to West Indies in Kolkata two days ago.

Brief scores:

Scotland 207 for 4 in 20 overs (George Munsey 84, Michael Jones 37, Brandon McMullen 41, Richie Berrington 15, Michael Leask 22*; Ali Hasan 1-21, Grant Stewart 1-44, Thomas Draca 1-37, JJ Smuts 1-38) beat Italy 134 in 16.4 overs (Anthony Mosca 13, JJ Smutts 22, Harry Manenti 52; Michael Leask 4-17, Brad Currie 1-12, Brad Wheal 1-29, Mark Watt 2-24, Oliver Davidson 1-33 ) by 73 runs

(Cricinfo)

Latest News

Italy captain Wayne Madsen injures shoulder in T20 World Cup opener

Published

5 hours ago

2026/02/9

Priyan

Wayne Madsen hurt his shoulder while fielding at Eden Gardens (Cricinfo)

In an inauspicious start to Italy’s maiden T20 World Cup campaign, their captain Wayne Madsen dislocated his shoulder in the fourth over of Scotland’s innings at #den Gardens. He was later ruled out of any further participation in the match.

Madsen was fielding at midwicket when he tried to stop a pull from George Munsey. He unsuccessfully dived to his left and rolled over on the practice pitches and immediately asked for medical attention. He soon left the ground using a towel as a sling for his left arm.

Madsen, by far Italy’s most experienced cricketer at age 42, is playing his maiden T20 World Cup and was taken for X-rays right away at the venue. A typical shoulder dislocation can take anywhere between seven to 21 days for full recovery while more serious cases can take three to four months.

In Madsen’s absence, Italy were captained by Harry Manenti for the remainder of Scotland’s innings. Scotland went on to score 207 for 4 after they were sent in to bat.

While serious injury replacements are being trialled by cricket boards in India and Australia in domestic cricket, there are no injury replacements in the playing XI allowed in international cricket. At the moment, replacements are allowed only if players suffer concussion.

Madsen was appointed Italy captain for the 2026 T20 World Cup after Joe Burns was not selected for the tournament. This World Cup is his second across sports; he also represented South Africa in the men’s hockey in the 2006 World Cup.

After the game against Scotland in Kolkata on February 9, Italy play Nepal in Mumbai on February 12, and then travel back to Kolkata to play England on February 16 and West Indies on February 19.

( Cricinfo)