Sports

Gura: The unsung hero

Published

4 hours ago

2026/03/22

The plan was for the left-headers to take on Shane Warne in the 1996 World Cup final. With Sanath Jayasuriya dismissed early, Asanka Gurusinha was supposed to do the job and he did it to perfection

The autobiography of Mr. Ranjit Fernando, launched last month, offers a fascinating peek behind the curtain into how a clutch of Sri Lanka’s finest cricketers were groomed in their formative years. Mr. Fernando was in charge when the Sri Lanka Under-19 side toured Australia in 1984 under the captaincy of Aravinda de Silva, a team that read like a who’s who of future stars, featuring Roshan Mahanama, Asanka Gurusinha and Jerome Jayaratne among others. The Aussies had Mark Taylor, the Waugh brothers and Craig McDermott.

As Mr. Fernando kept a watchful eye on his young charges, there was mischief brewing beneath the surface. At the book launch at the Galle Face Hotel, Aravinda let the cat out of the bag. Gurusinha, it turns out, had masterminded a daring escape plan, players sneaking out through the hotel window, climbing onto the roof and sliding down a pole to freedom to enjoy the night life in Brisbane..

Mr. Fernando, ever the hawk-eyed disciplinarian, caught wind of the escapade. Yet in a twist that raised a few eyebrows, it was Gurusinha who was handed the captaincy for the next Under-19 tour to England. Some insist Fernando had missed the mischief; others, who know him better, reckon he was playing a long game, setting a thief to catch thieves, backing a natural leader who could keep the dressing room in check.

Fast forward to 1996 and Gurusinha found himself cast in a very different role on cricket’s biggest stage. During Sri Lanka’s victorious World Cup campaign, he was often seen as the quiet man at the crease, a grafter in a team of dashers. To the untrained eye, his batting seemed workmanlike, even pedestrian. Fans, spoilt for choice with the pyrotechnics of Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana and Aravinda de Silva, wanted fireworks, not forward defence. In a line-up full of strokemakers, many wondered what Gurusinha brought to the table.

Gura was no mug with the bat. He could clear the ropes and put bowlers to the sword when the situation demanded. But in that 1996 campaign, every cog in the wheel had a purpose. His job was to drop anchor, bat time and allow the strokemakers to play with freedom around him. It was a role that demanded discipline, selflessness and a thick skin, especially when the crowd was baying for boundaries.

While others were flaying attacks and ending the careers of bowlers like Manoj Prabhakar and Richard Illingworth, Gura was content to rotate the strike, even if it meant playing second fiddle. The fans, unaware of the team’s blueprint, were not always appreciative. Their impatience did not go unnoticed.

At one point, a frustrated Gurusinha had had enough. He approached captain Arjuna Ranatunga and Manager Duleep Mendis, keen to throw off the shackles and play his natural game. But the think tank stood firm, urging him to see the bigger picture, to play for the team, not the gallery. Gurusinha bought in, rolled up his sleeves and stuck to the script. The rest, as they say, is history.

As Sri Lanka marked the 30th anniversary of that famous triumph this week, Gurusinha reflected on the campaign in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, offering fresh insight into the tactical nous that underpinned their success.

Sri Lanka’s batting line-up featured four left-handers in the top seven, no accident, but a calculated move. The plan was clear: take on Shane Warne, Australia’s trump card and knock him off his rhythm.

The Australians had a well-worn blueprint, build pressure through dot balls, squeeze the scoring and force batters into mistakes. Sri Lanka were determined not to fall into that trap. At that stage of his career, Warne was still developing his armoury and did not possess a reliable wrong’un to trouble left-handers.

When Jayasuriya fell early in the final, the baton passed to Gurusinha. True to plan, he stepped up, using his feet, unsettling Warne and disrupting Australia’s chokehold. It was a knock that didn’t grab headlines but played a crucial hand in tilting the contest Sri Lanka’s way.

For many, the World Cup win was life-changing; lucrative contracts for players, solid match fees and financial security followed. But Gurusinha’s story took a different turn. He walked away from the game the very same year, at just 29, missing out on the financial rewards that came in the aftermath.

Cricket, however, remembers more than just numbers and pay cheques. It remembers moments, roles played under pressure and men who put the team before self.In that sense, Asanka Gurusinha remains what every great side needs but few celebrate, the glue that held it all together. An unsung hero, in every sense of the word.

by Rex Clementine

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Sports

British School out to retain Sohail Memorial Trophy

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/22

Thilina Walpola

British School Cricket Squad

The British School in Colombo will look to retain the Hasan Sohail Memorial Trophy when they take on traditional rivals Colombo International School (CIS) in their annual limited overs cricket encounter on Sunday at the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation Grounds in Nawala.

The British School in Colombo are the current holders of the Hasan Sohail Memorial Trophy after they edged out CIS by one run in a thrilling match played last year at the same venue.

On that occasion the British School in Colombo piled up 183 for three in 25 overs after they were invited to bat first and then restricted their opponents to 182 for four in 25 overs.

This rivalry between the British School in Colombo and CIS began in 2023 with a Twenty20 match, where CIS claimed victory at the same venue. However, the 2024 encounter was washed out due to bad weather.

Colombo International School Cricket Squad

Lesith Semika will lead the CIS team while Thisath Ganegoda will captain the British School in Colombo.

Sports

Mabarana, Pehesara steady Mahinda after Rajapakshe five-for

Published

1 day ago

2026/03/21

Thilina Walpola

Manitha Rajapakshe

Mahinda College fought back strongly to reach 90 for two wickets at stumps in reply to Richmond College’s 315 on day two of the Lovers’ Quarrel Big Match at the Galle International Stadium on Friday.

‎In a similar pattern to their arch rivals’ start, Mahinda suffered an early setback, losing two quick wickets in the opening phase of their innings. However, the third-wicket pair of Randula Mabarana and Dineth Pehesara restored stability with a composed stand, ensuring the team closed the day without further damage.

‎Earlier in the day, spinner Manitha Rajapakshe delivered a standout performance, claiming a five-wicket haul to bring an end to Richmond’s marathon first innings, which extended from day one into the post-lunch session on the second day.

‎Richmond had recovered impressively from early trouble after slipping to 11 for two on the opening morning. A patient and resilient 173-run partnership for the third wicket between Ravinu Randinu and Ameesha Rasanjana laid the foundation for their competitive total. The duo batted through the bulk of day one and looked set for bigger scores before both were dismissed in the 80s by Sadew Nethmina and Kaveesha Githmal.

‎Further contributions from Nethusha Nimsara, Nethuja Basitha and Punal Hansajith helped Richmond consolidate, particularly as they faced a sustained and threatening spell from Rajapakshe, who bowled tirelessly to keep Mahinda in the contest.‎With Mahinda still trailing but having wickets in hand, the match remains finely poised heading into the third day.

Latest News

Devine’s all-round masterclass hands New Zealand 2-1 series lead

Published

2 days ago

2026/03/20

Priyan

Sophie Devine took matters into her own hands in the middle overs (Cricinfo)

Sophie Devine made Eden Park her own little playground as she brought up her 22nd T20I half-century and carried New Zealand to a 2-1 series lead over South Africa with two games to go. She had also picked up a couple of wickets earlier in the day and backed up her words when she said South Africa’s 149 for 7 was a little bit under par.

New Zealand have never chased more than 150 at home. The small boundaries in Auckland were a friend in that regard, particularly with Annerie Dercksen and Ayanda Hlubi occasionally straying down leg. South Africa tightened up though and the wickets of Amelia Kerr and Brooke Halliday in the 10th over left the chase in a tense situation. New Zealand needed 82 off 60 with six wickets in hand. Devine was 13 off 10.

A pull shot off Chloe Tryon to start the 11th over signalled the shift in momentum. The square boundaries are bigger than the straight ones at Eden Park and yet Devine kept finding them. She collected 46 runs at a strike rate of 219 on the leg side. At the time the fifth-wicket partnership had hit 50, Maddy Green had made only 12 off 15. It was all Devine from the other end and it was all Devine till the end. Her superpowers now include winning the game without touching the ball. Dercksen missed the cut strip as she tried to hide it away from the batter’s reach.

Those five no-balls bringing an end to proceedings highlighted how wayward South Africa’s attack was compared to New Zealand’s. Jess Kerr’s early swing dominated the powerplay. Devine and Suzie Bates taking pace off kept control through the middle and barring another Kayla Reyneke onslaught, it was one-way traffic.

South Africa had to wait 23 balls for the first boundary off the bat on Friday. Dercksen made it worth the wait with a neat little flick off her legs that travelled all the way for six over deep midwicket. Dercksen arrived with the score on 9 for 2 in the third over and put the pressure back on New Zealand. While she was at the crease, she was responsible for more then half the boundaries (4 out of 7) her team scored. Thanks to that, Laura Wolvaardt could drop anchor and go at her preferred pace, though 37 off 39 wasn’t a good look for the captain, who later admitted they were well short of a competitive total.

A pitch with 10mm of grass offered enough for the seamers and even someone with their eye in was found out when Devine went into the pitch. The little legcutter – a response to being hit for six the previous ball – found Dercksen in two minds, whether to attack or defend, and took down her off stump. South Africa lost 59 for 5 between the eighth and the 18th overs, going 38 balls without a boundary.

Bates continued to find more success with the ball. She took a wicket in her first over and took responsibility in the death as well. New Zealand held their line and length really well, refusing access to the straight boundary and routinely cramping the batters up, guiding them to hit the areas – midwicket and square leg – that they had covered in the field.

Then Mair missed her length and was clubbed down the ground for six. It highlighted how a bowler had to be perfect against a batter of such power. Reyneke is immense when she can free her arms and go down the ground. She grew up playing in boys’ teams. She came into this series with a 75 off 63 for Western Province, who were 93 for 6 and still ended up winning the Pro50 game thanks to their 20-year-old phenom. She captained South Africa in the Under-19 World Cup when they went to the final last year. She’s marked for big things.

Reyneke’s presence forced Jess Kerr to go wide in the final over – too wide. The umpire penalising her made the bowler shift her line and that little bit was enough for Reyneke to smash two sixes and a four, all down the ground, and hoist South Africa to 149 for 7. She wasn’t given a lot to get under but as soon as she was given one, she smashed it out of the park. The margin for error was breathtakingly small.

Brief scores:

New Zealand Women 152 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Isabella Gaze 17, Amelia Kerr 30, Sophie Devine 59*, Maddie Green 34*; Annerie Dercksen 1-17, Ayanda Hilubi 1-31, Nonkululeko Mlaba 1-30 ) beat South Africa Women 149 for 7 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 37, Annerie Dercksen 27, Kayla Reyneke 34*; Jess Kerr 1-30, Rosemary Mair 1-32, Sophie Devine 2-21, Suzie Bates 2-10) by six wickets

(Cricinfo)