Sports
Durban: A field of dreams for Sri Lankans
Rex Clementine in Durban
Some grounds hold a special place in the hearts of teams, sparking unforgettable performances and creating lasting memories. For Sri Lanka, Durban in South Africa is one such venue—etched into cricketing folklore with iconic moments.
The 1995 Rugby World Cup where hosts South Africa famously beat the All Blacks in a nail-biting final to brought a divided nation together. The Cricket World Cup they hosted was expected to have a similar effect. However, the script did not go to plan in 2003.
In their final group match at Kingsmead, South Africa faced Sri Lanka in a do-or-die encounter. What followed was a calamity of epic proportions. A misread of the Duckworth-Lewis sheet led Mark Boucher to block the final ball, believing his team had won the rain affected game. But in cricket’s cruel twist of fate, the tie only ensured South Africa’s exit. Sri Lanka, instead, sailed through.
The aftermath was a storm. Shaun Pollock, one of cricket’s most amiable characters, was unceremoniously sacked as captain. The loss was especially poignant for Pollock, a Durban native. Cricket royalty runs deep in this coastal city; Pollock’s father, Peter, and uncle, Graeme, had graced these pitches, as did legends like Barry Richards and Mike Procter—players whose careers were tragically curtailed by apartheid. In the modern era, Durban has produced stars like Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, and Hashim Amla, who carried South Africa’s flag with distinction.
For Sri Lanka, Durban has been a happy hunting ground, particularly in Test cricket. Remarkably, they have never lost a Test here. The 2000 clash ended in a hard-fought draw, and in 2011, they registered a historic Boxing Day Test win.
That 2011 victory came against all odds. After suffering an innings defeat in the first Test, Sri Lanka arrived in Durban battered and bruised. But a spectacular team effort turned the tide. Thilan Samaraweera, controversially dropped earlier, made his critics eat their words with a sublime first-innings century. Kumar Sangakkara, ever the class act, sealed the deal with a second-innings ton. Chanaka Welegedara’s five-wicket haul in the first innings and Rangana Herath’s nine wickets across the match ensured a commanding win. Herath deservedly walked away with the Man of the Match award.
Fast forward to 2019, and once again, Sri Lanka arrived in Durban under a cloud of uncertainty. Fresh off a 2-0 series drubbing in Australia, they had lost captain Dinesh Chandimal to the selectors’ axe, and their batters were still nursing bruises—both literal and figurative—from relentless short-pitched bowling Down Under.
Coach Chandika Hathurusingha, however, refused to throw in the towel. He made critical adjustments to help the team tackle the short ball barrage, and his gamble paid off in spades. What unfolded at Kingsmead defied belief.
Set a daunting target of 304, Sri Lanka’s hopes seemed dead in the water. Enter Kusal Perera, who played the innings of a lifetime. His unbeaten 153 was a masterclass in guts and guile, blending defiance with audacity. The final wicket partnership with Vishwa Fernando, worth an unbelievable 78 runs, was the stuff of dreams. With nothing to lose, Kusal threw caution to the wind, pulling and hooking with abandon as South Africa ran out of ideas.
Sri Lanka snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, securing a famous one-wicket win. The match is now enshrined as Sri Lanka’s greatest Test triumph, with Kusal’s knock widely hailed as the finest innings ever played by a Sri Lankan.
For Sri Lankans, Durban is more than just a cricketing venue; it’s a theater of dreams where the underdog roars, and history is written in bold strokes.
Sri Lanka will begin their three match T20I series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Friday with an opportunity for several youngsters to stake their claims, although the absence of Pathum Nissanka leaves a sizeable hole at the top of the order.
Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s highest-ranked batter in the ICC T20I rankings, has been one of the side’s most consistent performers in recent years and his absence deprives the tourists of a proven match-winner against a Pakistan attack that will still carry plenty of firepower despite resting several senior players.
The three T20Is will be played in Rawalpindi on October 9, 11 and 13 before attention switches to the seven match ODI tri-series involving hosts Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England.
While Sri Lanka will miss Nissanka, his absence opens the door for highly rated Sineth Jayawardene, who has been earmarked as one for the future. The former Sri Lanka Under-19 captain now has an opportunity to show that he can make the considerable jump from domestic and age group cricket to the international stage. Sineth skippered Royal College, Colombo with distinction.
There will also be considerable interest in leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, another player Sri Lanka have invested in with an eye on the future. With Wanindu Hasaranga out of the equation, Viyaskanth has an opportunity to make a strong case for a regular berth rather than remain on the fringes.
Sri Lanka will be encouraged by the fact that Pakistan too have opted to look beyond some of their established names for the T20I leg of the tour.
Sahibzada Farhan will captain Pakistan after leading them at the recently concluded Asian Games in Japan, taking over from Salman Ali Agha, who has been left out of the T20I squad. Salman remains part of Pakistan’s ODI plans.
Pakistan have also rested Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the T20Is, although both return for the ODI tri-series, where Shaheen will continue as captain.
The hosts have named uncapped all-rounders Razaullah and Mohammad Imran Randhawa in their 15-member T20I squad, while Maaz Sadaqat and Hasan Nawaz have been rewarded for impressive performances at the Asian Games.
Hasan finished the tournament as Pakistan’s leading run scorer with 123 runs, including a blistering 96 off 51 balls against India in the final, although Pakistan had to settle for silver.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah returns to Pakistan’s T20I squad having last played the format against Sri Lanka in February, while Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed provide experience.
For Sri Lanka, while Nissanka’s runs will be sorely missed his absence means someone else has the chance to put his hand up. Sri Lanka will hope one or two of their young guns grab that opportunity with both hands.
The ODI tri-series will follow the T20Is, with the first three matches being played in Rawalpindi before the tournament moves to Lahore for the remaining league games and the final.
Pakistan have retained a more experienced core for the 50-over competition, with Babar, Salman, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf among those included.
Former Pakistan Under-19 captain Saad Baig has earned his maiden ODI call-up after scoring more than 1,000 runs in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, while left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Moqim is another notable inclusion.
Pakistan have also strengthened their backroom staff, bringing back former Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait as bowling consultant. Tait previously served as Pakistan’s bowling coach in 2022-23 and replaces Ashley Noffke, who left after the Asian Games to take over as Netherlands head coach.
ATF Under-16 Colombo Week 1 Tennis
Sri Lanka’s junior players delivered a series of impressive performances on Wednesday, with the girls claiming all four semi-final places at the ATF Under-16 Colombo 2026 Week 1 tournament, held at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts.
Damsath Peiris
Methuli Naotunne led the charge with a notable quarter-final win over India’s Yashmitha Santhosh, recovering from a set loss to prevail 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. Kiara Jayamanne also came from behind to beat India’s Ahnavi Shaw 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Risindi
Hewawasam
In an all-Sri Lankan quarter-final, Risindi Hewawasam overcame Desandi Peiris 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, while Disini Samaraweera defeated Sayli Basnayake 3-6, 6-2, 6-0.
The Sri Lankan boys also impressed. Damsath Peiris beat Buvindu Jayawardhana 8-2, 7-6, and Yonal Dankumbura battled to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Jayan Sebastian.
The visiting players, however, proved tough to beat. The Philippines’ Anthony Castigador defeated Sri Lanka’s Dehan Wickramasinghe 6-2, 6-4, and India’s Gurshaan Chahal fought back to overcome Udeera Gunasinghe 2-6, 7-5, 7-5.
(RF)
Mosvold Sixes 2026 concluded on Sunday at the Colombo Malay Cricket Club with Travel Trends Leisure crowned champions after a closely fought final against last year’s winners, Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka, who finished as runners-up. Transco Travels were second runners-up.
Twenty three destination management companies took part in the six-a-side softball cricket tournament, organised by Mosvold Sri Lanka.
The Mosvold Martinus Challenge Trophy 2026 was presented to the champions by Nilanka Martinus, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Mosvold Boutique Hotels. Chief Guest Farveez Maharoof, the former Sri Lanka all-rounder, presented the runners-up award to Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka.
This year’s twenty three competing DMCs were Tangerine Tours, Sri Lanka Tailormade, Olanka Travels, Antiquity Sri Lanka, Travel Trends Leisure, House of Travels & Tourism, NKAR Travels & Tours, Jetwing Travels, Walkers Tours, Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka, Delux Holidays, Ceylon Roots, Spiceland Holidays, Infinity Vacations, Tropiculture, Serene Travels, Authenticities, Red Apple Travel & Holidays Lanka, DTH Travel Lanka, Hayleys Travels, We stay Ceylon, Transco Travels and Ceylon Tours.
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