Sports
Fate of Nalanda in the hands of Richmond and Prince of Wales
Under-19 Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Mahanama concluded their league stage matches unbeaten and will be joined by group runners up St. Sebastian’s and third placed St. Joseph’s in the knockout stage while the fate of Nalanda College, Colombo in the Under-19 Division I Tier ‘A’ tournament will be decided by the results of the Richmond-Prince of Wales match.
Richmond, the champions in Group ‘Z’ will meet Prince of Wales in their last league match today. If the Cambrians win today’s match they will advance to the knockout stage as the third placed team in their group. Nalanda with 11 points against their name are currently placed third in that group behind Richmond and St. Anthony’s, Katugastota.
Mahanama, St. Joseph’s and St. Sebastian’s won their last group matches yesterday with the Sebs’ Chrishane Perera claiming bowling honours with a six wicket haul.
Royal, Trinity, Mahanama, St. Sebastian’s, St. Joseph’s, Richmond and St. Anthony’s Katugastota are confirmed of their knockout stage places.
A six wicket haul by Sahan Sankalpa helped Dharmasoka pull off a stunning four runs victory over Lumbini and stay alive in the Tier ‘B’ tournament as the win helped them secure the third place in Group ‘Z’, behind St. Anthony’s Wattala and Devapathiraja.
From Tier ‘B’, St. Peter’s, Mahinda, Isipatana, St. Joseph Vaz, Ananda, St. Anthony’s Wattala, Devapathiraja and Dharmasoka are the teams advancing to the knockout stage.
Results
Tier A
St. Joseph’s beat St. Benedict’s at Kotahena
St. Joseph’s 275 for 8 in 50 overs (Sheran Fonseka 56, Shevon Daniel 53, Dunith Wellalage 58, Dinal Anuradha 28; Malinda Perera 5/29)
St. Benedict’s 132 all out in 41 overs (Sharujan Shanmuganathan 38n.o., Malinda Perera 31; Deshan Senaviratne 2/23, Lahiru Amarasekara 2/20, Yenula Dewthusa 2/27)
St. Sebastian’s beat St. Anne’s at Moratuwa
St. Sebastian’s 210 for 9 in 50 overs (Bihanga Mendis 26, Savindu Rodrigo 56, Sukitha Prasanna 27, Kushan Herath 21; Thrimalsha Silva 2/11, Pasindu Thennakoon 3/46, Kalindu Wijesinghe 2/36)
St. Anne’s 100 all out in 32.3 overs (Bimsara Kalhara 25, Pasindu Thenkoon 27; Chrishane Perera 6/27, Bihanga Mendis 2/07)
Mahanama beat St. Thomas’ Matara at Bloomfield
St. Thomas’ 188 all out in 49.3 overs (Harindu Jayasekara 48, Nipun Samarasinghe 36, Woshitha Amarasinghe 33; Sampath Nissanka 3/37, Sadishan Chamodya 2/36, Devindu Kekirideniya 3/31)
Mahanama 192 for 6 in 39 overs (Pulshan Rohana 57, Sadishan Chamodya 58, Pavan Rathnayake 38; Navija de Seram 2/22, Harindu Jayasekara 2/50)
Tier ‘B’
Moratu Vidyalaya beat Dharmaraja at Lake View
Moratu MV 170 all out in 39.2 overs (Thushan Nimantha 20, Niraj Kavishka 60; Shan Siriwardana 3/24, Thisaru Wanninayaka 2/46)
Dharmaraja 162 all out in 32.5 overs (Pulidu Perera 36, Dinuka Pathiraja 40, Shan Siriwardena 28; Vishwa Didulana 3/27, Santhuka Amod 3/22)
Maris Stella beat Zahira at Maradana
Maris Stella 220 for 8 in 50 overs (Chemindu Weerawansa 60, Hansaja Hiruna 96, Sachiru Hansala 30n.o.; Adhil Ismarly 3/14, Ishan Ruhaim 2/28)
Zahira 217 for 9 in 50 overs (Raaed Rizwan 61, Chamod Lakshan 64, Adhil Ismarly 27; Hansaja Hiruna 2/41, Kawitha Dinalya 2/45, Ashen Fernando 2/11)
St. Joseph Vaz beat Dharmapala at Pannipitiya
St. Joseph Vaz 258 for 9 in 50 overs (Pasindu Dasanayake 36, Tharusha Fernando 70, Achintha Deshan 35, Kaushan Wijerathna 42; Kavinda Nishan 2/37, Sachintha Chamika 3/30)
Dharmapala 159 all out in 42 overs (Praveen Kumarapperuma 22, Oral Perera 29, Pasindu Theekshana 34, Thisara Sishara 20; Achintha Deshan 2/17, Dinith Fernando 4/17, Dhanuka Nirmal 2/21, Menusha Perera 2/32)
Devapathiraja beat St. Servatius’ at Uyanwatta
St. Servatius’ 118 all out in 41.1 overs (Hasitha Amarasinghe 52, Diniru Abeywickramasinghe 24; Sasanka Nirmal 5/27)
Devapathiraja 122 for 2 in 15.1 overs (Pawan Sandesh 51, Jeewaka Shasheen 37n.o., Tharusha Sankalpa 2/32)
Dharmasoka beat Lumbini at BRC
Dharmasoka 119 all out in 31 overs (Sanula Gunarathne 28, Naveen Rasanga 20; Yasiru Yugath 2/20, Sasanka Nethmina 4/29, Thasika Nirmal 2/09)
Lumbini 115 all out in 27.3 overs (Thasika Nirmal 21, Nethranjana Fernando 21; Chanaka Jananga 2/30, Sahan Sankalpa 6/15)
Latest News
South Africa seal 10-wicket win to complete whitewash
South Africa won the second Test comfortably by 10 wickets in the final session on Day 4 in Cape Town and thereby, clinched the series 2-0 against Pakistan. The hosts comfortably chased down the paltry target of 58 in just over seven overs. This was after Pakistan surmounted 478 in their second innings, a remarkable effort with the bat after being enforced to follow-on. The victory has ensured that South Africa were unbeaten in Tests in the 2024/25 season with nine wins and a draw.
Sports
Dilash hammers quickfire century as rejuvenated DSS put up big score
DSS spark to life after Aravinda’s pep talk
by Reemus Fernando
D.S. Senanayaka College Colombo have been struggling during the third term matches of the Under 19 Division I cricket tournament. They were the lowest placed team in their group according to the year end points table. But yesterday they were a totally different batting unit as the scored 316 for nine wickets declared against Nalanda in their fifth tournament match at DSS ground.
It is now their highest score of the season. While Shanal Binuksha (76), Sohan Yapa (24), and Chanul Athale (46) made useful contributions in the top order, number nine batsman Dilash Kumaranayake hammered an unbeaten 101 runs in 88 balls inclusive of 11 fours and six sixes for the home team to post 316 for nine wickets declared.
Has the relegation scares made the struggling batting unit realized their true potential?
“Aravinda de Silva delivered a pep talk yesterday. He made the boys realize that they were there to enjoy the game of cricket. I think that has transformed the team,” coach Keerthi Gunarathna told The Island.
” There’s a long way to go hope they will keep on fighting,” he said.
The batting legend Aravinda de Silva, an old boy of D.S. Senanayaka has met the cricketers on Gunarathna’s request.
Match Details
Tier ‘A’
Mahanama fight back on 20 wickets day at BRC
Scores
Mahanama
168 all out in 47.4 overs (Chamika Heenatigala 32, Sithum Vihanga 38; Pasindu Maheesha 3/19, Dinal Sewmina 2/33, Praveen Maneesha 4/55) and 32 for no loss in 4 overs
Lumbini
144 all out in 40 overs (Bimsara Weerasinghe 36, Gimhana Wijayapura 33, Ashan Shanika 20; Anuka Wijewardana 4/25, Sithum Vihanga 4/36)
DSS score big against Nalanda at DSS ground
Scores
DSS
316 for 9 decl. in 91.3 overs (Shanal Binuksha 76, Sohan Yapa 24, Chanul Athale 46, Dilash Kumaranayake 101n.o. ; Hasith Rathnayake 2/80, Sadew Samarasinghe 4/61)
Nalanda
9 for no loss in 6 overs
Sebs make Maris Stella follow on at Negombo
Scores
St. Sebastian’s
212 all out in 56.5 overs (Kaveesha Perera 55, Adesh Almeida 40, Koshendra Fernando 37n.o.; Oshada Gunasinghe 4/67, Hasindu Perera 2/40, Kevin Kadigamuwa 3/43)
Maris Stella
107 all out in 30.4 overs (Oshada Gunasinghe 41n.o., Ramith Bandara 28; Malintha Silva 4/21, Adesh Almeida 3/35, Koshendra Fernando 3/32) and 25 for no loss in 6 overs
Thomians 109 for 2 after Bens’ 179 at Mount Lavinia
Scores
St. Benedict’s
179 all out in 63.5 overs (Eshan Edirisuriya 29, Janindu Nandasena 73, Aaron de Silva 3/25 Darien Diago 2/28)
S. Thomas’
109 for 2 in 36 overs (Dineth Goonewardene 55n.o., Avinash Fernando 35n.o.)
Tier ‘B’
Isipatana in complete control at Campbell Park
Scores
Wesley
91 all out in 32.4 overs (Anuga Pahansara 22, Rukshan Tharanga 25; Chanul Dinoth 5/29, Menula Sadev 3/25) and 13 for 3 in 10 overs (Dimuthu Tharaka 2/02)
Isipatana
233 all out in 54.3 overs (Navindu Hettiarachchige 35, Ruchith Rodrigo 48, Dilpa Ruwanaka 24, Ranmith Senarath 44, Chanul Dinoth 47; Dinuja Samararathne 6/63 Adhyaan Zain 3/68)
Isuru, Sanjana score centuries for Moratu Vidyalaya at Ambepussa
Scores
Moratu MV
300 for 6 decl. in 79 overs (Isuru Nidharshana 118, Visal Sri Sathsara 38rtd., Sanjana Senevirathne 104; Shehan Kumara )
St. Anne’s
34 for 1 in 19 overs (Wageesha Ranasinghe 24n.o.)
Traditional Matches
St. Peter’s dominate at Bambalapitiya
Scores
St. Aloysius’
140 all out in 42.5 overs (Charya Paranavithana 36; Dilana Damsara 5/35)
St. Peter’s
213 for 5 in 55 overs (Dilana Damsara 92, Asadisa de Silva 50n.o.)
Sports
M.J.M. Lafir trophy championship commences today
3rd SAARC Snooker Championship
SAARC Snooker Championship conducted by Billiards and Snookers Association of Sri Lanka will commence at the Moors Sports Club billiards table in Colombo today.
The four-day championship organized by the South Asian Cue Sports Association will see 14 cueists from six nations competing for the prestigious M.J.M. Lafir Memorial Trophy.
It is the third edition of the tournament. The inaugural championship was hosted by Bangladesh in the year 2019. It was won by Asjad Iqbal of Pakistan when he defeated compatriot Mohammad Bilaal while the second edition was held in 2022. In 2022, Ishpreet Singh Chadha of India won defeating compatriot Brijesh Damani.
Malship Group along with Pyramid Wilmar, Olanda Villas, National Olympic Committee, Automobile Association and Crown Billiard International have come together to sponsor the event.
The tournament will witness the participation of 14 cueists with four from Sri Lanka and two each from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal.
The hosts are represented by Susantha Boteju who has won 19 national snooker championship titles, Irshath Thaha the reigning national billiard, six red ball snooker and the national snooker champion, Murugesu Prathap and Mohamed Musharaf.
Pakistan fields three time world snooker champion Mohammad Asif who is also the reigning world snooker champion and Naseem Akhta. India will have Saurav Kothari and Paras Gupta, while Bangladesh are represented by Ahmed Nizam Uddin and Asif Imran. Afghanistan will field Salih Mohammad and Mohammad Rahim and Nepal’s pair are Ayush Gautam and Ankit Man Shrestha.
The opening ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Moors Sports Club billiards parlour at 9.00 a.m.
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