Sports
Erwee and Bavuma hold Australia off to ensure a draw
South Africa defied Australia’s bold push for an improbable victory, and series sweep, as the third Test ended in a draw at the SCG.After following on, South Africa were 106 for 2 in their second innings when play ended five overs before the close. The surface played slowly and did not deteriorate as expected with South Africa mustering belated fight to end a disappointing series on a better note.
Australia would have booked a spot in the World Test Championship final in June with victory, but one drawn match in the upcoming four-Test series in India will prove enough.Given their batting frailties, South Africa will be relieved to have escaped with a draw – their first such result since 2017.
South Africa were nervous after skipper Dean Elgar fell before tea when he gloved a short Pat Cummins delivery to be caught behind. An under-pressure Elgar’s wretched series ended with just 56 runs at an average of 9.33 marked by struggles against short leg-side deliveries.
After tea, spinner Nathan Lyon was left frustrated after a review on an lbw decision on Heinrich Klaasen went against him. The not-out decision was upheld even though replays showed the ball hitting middle stump.
His mood soured further three balls later when Klaasen, playing his first Test match since 2019, stood his ground after edging a delivery to Steven Smith, who claimed a low catch at slip.But replays cast doubt over whether the ball touched the grass when it went into Smith’s fingers and it was enough for third umpire Richard Kettleborough to give not out.
Klaasen’s luck ran out when he was clean bowled by a cracking reverse swinging delivery from Josh Hazlewood to provide a glimmer of hope for Australia with 20 overs remaining.
South Africa were 82 for 2 with 15 overs left but Australia’s push continued with Cummins giving himself one last burst without reward.Cummins had also tried part-time spinners Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, who claimed the only wicket in the morning session, but to no avail.
Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, who was wicketless in 14 overs in the first innings, was surprisingly backed to share the new ball alongside Hazlewood.In his first Test match since 2017, Agar again struggled with his accuracy in what has been a tough return in an audition ahead of Australia’s tour of India. He finished wicketless from 22 overs in the match.
South Africa started the day precariously placed at 149 for 6 after Cummins and Hazlewood bowled superbly late on day four in fading light.
But Harmer and Marco Jansen batted cautiously to thwart Australia’s attack. Jansen played a rearguard until being dislodged caught behind by Head with a delivery outside off stump that stayed low.But an 85-run partnership between Harmer and Keshav Maharaj pushed South Africa close to the follow-on target and likely safety from a series whitewash.
Maharaj reached his half-century on the first ball after lunch before falling to Hazlewood with South Africa 24 runs short of avoiding following on.Having been preferred over Scott Boland, Hazlewood repaid the faith of the selectors on his return with four wickets after suffering a side strain against West Indies in the opening Test of the home season.
Maharaj’s dismissal triggered an all too-familiar rush of wickets for South Africa to set up an intriguing finish although it proved an anti-climax.
Australia ran out of time in a truncated match, where four straight sessions across days three and four were washed out. Forty-nine overs were also lost to rain and bad light on the opening two days to continue a run of rain-affected matches at the traditional SCG New Year’s Test.But Australia thoroughly dominated South Africa throughout a one-sided series to complete an unbeaten home Test season after earlier thrashings over West Indies in Perth and Adelaide.
Australia’s massive first innings was built on an unbeaten 195 from opener Usman Khawaja and 104 from Smith, who passed Don Bradman with his 30th Test century.
Having won three straight Test series in Australia, South Africa were a shadow with their batting unable to muster much of a challenge.Apart from fiery quick Anrich Nortje, their attack also underwhelmed with spearhead Kagiso Rabada taking just three wickets at 87.66 in the last two matches after an eight-wicket haul on the bowler-friendly Gabba surface. South Africa’s disastrous series also ended their chances of qualifying for the WTC final.
(cricinfo)
Hurdler Kaveesha Dilshan of Kularathna MV, Godakawela and sprinter Risansa Hirupama of Lyceum International, Wattala were named best athletes for their outstanding performances at the All Island Schools Games Athletics Championships, which concluded at Diyagama on Tuesday.
Dilshan earned the title with a 14.02-second run in the Under 20 boys’ 110m hurdles. Kishal Oshada, the best athlete in the Under 18 category, also comes from his school. Both hurdlers are trained by Thiron Gamage, and both outclassed their opponents in the sprint hurdles.
Hirupama excelled in the Under 20 girls’ 200m. Her time of 24.23 seconds earned the highest score in the girls’ events (1,026 points).
St. Joseph Vaz’s College, Wennappuwa, and Lyceum International, Wattala, claimed the overall boys’ and girls’ championships respectively.
Kaveesha Dilshan and sprinter Risansa Hirupama with
their best athlete awards. (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi
St. Joseph Vaz’s amassed 118 points to finish ahead of Maris Stella College, Thimbirigaskatuwa (95). Rahula College, Matara, took third place with 82 points. Former track and field powerhouses St. Benedict’s, Kotahena (54), and Maris Stella, Negombo (54), missed out on the top three.
Lyceum dominated the girls’ category with 215 points. Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya (70), and Ave Maria Convent, Negombo (62), finished second and third respectively.
For the first time in more than two decades, Ratnayake Central were not among the leading teams in the girls’ category. Most of their athletes struggled after an outbreak of flu, but late performances over the last two days helped them secure fourth place. (RF)
Mahanma College, Colombo and Nalanda College Colombo registeted convincing victories in the quarter finals while dark horses Wesley ended Richmond’s unbeaten run with a win according to the DLS method to seal the semi-final spots of the Under 19 Division I Tier A tournament on Tuesday.
Mahanama rattled St. Joseph’s for meagre 84 runs before cruising to a seven-wicket win at Mattegoda. Kaushika Thilakarathne and Sanuka Ganepola shared seven wickets between them to trouble the Joes.
Thilakarathne spearheaded the bowling attack, claiming four wickets for 13 runs in nine overs, while Sanuka Ganepola supported him with an impressive spell of three for nine in nine overs. Sanul Weerarathne captured two wickets for 12 runs.
Mahanama reached 85 for three wickets as Sineth Veerarathne top scored with 52 runs (53 balls).
Nalanda College defeated St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota by 77 runs at Campbell Place.
Nalanda posted a competitive 234 for six in their allotted 50 overs, with Ranmith Senarath top-scoring with 52 off 79 balls. Nemindu Akmeemana contributed 47, while Lithum Wijekumara made 32. Mihin Zoysa added 29 before Santhul Wijeyarathne provided a late boost with an unbeaten 30 off just 13 deliveries.
In their essay St. Anthony’s were dismissed for 157 in 44 overs. Sadew Amarakoon fought hard with 47 off 94 balls, while Kaushika Kumarasinghe scored 38 off 41 deliveries. However, Nalanda’s bowlers maintained control, with Rusandu Silva taking four wickets for 22 runs. Osanda Pamuditha supported him with two wickets for 22 runs to seal a convincing victory for the hosts.
After posting 141 for six in 30 overs, Wesley did well to restrict Richmond to 109 for eight in 23 overs to stay ahead according to DLS method at Weeraketiya.
Adhyaan Zain and Senura Lakshan bowled controlled spells taking three wickets each to seal the semi-final place. Wesley are set to meet Nalanda in the semis. (RF)
by Reemus Fernando
Heshara Jayasinghe, Shashen Rajapaksha and Dilini Rajapaksha were among the athletes who excelled creating meet records during the morning session of the final day of the All Island Schools Games Athletics Championship at Diyagama on Tuesday.
Shashen Ravihansa Rajapaksha of Ratnayake Central Walala set the tone on the track, clocking an impressive 8:58.50 to win the Under 18 boys’ 3000 metres. The time established a new meet record and made the school’s presence felt to a great extent. Many Ratnayake Central athletes had fallen ill recently denying them their usual top positions in the overall points table.
Dilini Rajapaksha in action in the Under 18 girls’ triple jump (L) / K.K. Baalasooriya of Sumana Balika Vidyalaya Ratnapura in action in the Under 20 girls’ discuss throw (R)
In field events, Heshara Jayasinghe of St. Joseph Vaz’s College Wennappuwa produced a landmark performance in the Under 20 boys’ shot put. His effort of 17.30 metres made him the first athlete in the event’s history to clear the 17 metre mark, and it also broke the meet record previously held by Jayavi Ranhinda Alwis.
Abhimani Kodituwakku of Dharmapala College Pannipitiya delivered a remarkable run in the Under 20 girls’ 400 metres hurdles. Her time of 1:01.57 erased the nine-year-old record held by Yamani Dulanjali of Ambagamuwa Central.
K.K. Baalasooriya of Sumana Balika Vidyalaya Ratnapura joined the record-breakers with a throw of 41.82 metres in the Under 20 girls’ discus throw.
Lyceum International Wattala’s Dilini Rajapaksha then created a new meet record in the Under 18 girls’ triple jump, clearing 12.73 metres.
Shashen Ravihansa Rajapaksha of Ratnayake Central Walala
won the Under 18 boys’ 3000 metres with a new record mark. (L) / Gimhani Pulle of St. Andrew’s MV won the Under 18 girls’ 3,000 metres. (R)
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