Sports
Josephians win All Island Under 20 Division A Basketball Title
St. Joseph’s College, Colombo emerged Champions at the all-island under 20 division A Basketball Tournament 2022 organized by Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Association and sponsored by Gaja Sports. The final was held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, which was witnessed by a large gathering of fans. The Tournament was held after a lapse of 3 years due to the Pandemic.The Josephians came into the tournament as favourites and they lived up to expectations from the word go as they cruised through the group stages defeating Gateway College Kandy 60-38, Mahinda College Galle 75-38, Angel International School Jaffna 75-32, and LPF Academy Dehiwala 90-38 points respectively.The Josephians displayed some superior level of basketball in both offence and defense right throughout the group stage stamping their authority moving to the knockout stage.
The quarter-final against Ananda College Colombo was the most anticipated game of the tournament which lived up to its expectations, The Josephians went coast to coast passed Ananda College to register a 62-57 point win. The semi-finals and finals were blowout wins for the Josephians as they dominated both DS Senanayake College Colombo 87-36 and Royal College Colombo 68-52 points respectively.Skipper Shehan Fernando and Keith Costa were the key players in the Josephians offence while Shannon De Zilvas’s defensive game in rebounding and protecting the paint was vital for the Josephians success right throughout the tournament. Overall the Josephians team game moving the ball in offence and strong man-to-man defense was on point. Deservingly Shehan Fernando was adjudged the Most Valuable Player while Keith Costa was awarded the Best Offensive Player.
Shehan Fernando is a promising Basketball player and was selected to the national basketball pool recently, His aggressive style of basketball was seen right throughout his school career as he was able to carry his team to bag the under 15 and 17 titles some years back, he ends his school career with a 100% record, which is a rare feat in Schools Basketball.The Josephian support crew comprising of Head Coach Randima Sooriyaarachchi a former national captain and Coach Shane Daniel, did a remarkable job and they have been the pillars of success for Joes Basketball for many years. St Joseph’s won its last under 19 title in 2012 under the leadership of Current national player Praneeth Udumalagala who is now part of the current Josephian supporting staff as the skills development coach.Over 50 Schools took part in the tournament in 5 divisions for boys’ and girls’ which concluded on the 19th of May. The knockout rounds were played at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium for the first time and games were live-streamed, which is a commendable effort by the Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Association and Gaja Sports who had come forward to support basketball.
Viran Chamuditha’s 94-ball 110 helped Sri Lanka Under 19 chase 262 and keep their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026 alive. Sri Lanka will now have to hope Afghanistan lose to Ireland; otherwise, Afghanistan will go through. South Africa on the other hand, have lost all four of their games and are placed fifth in the six-team group.
The day began well for South Africa Under-19, who won the toss, chose to bat and added 96 for the first wicket. Once Vigneshwaran Akash got Adnaan Lagadien, Jorich Van Schalkwyk – the other opener – had to do the bulk of the scoring, with regular wickets falling at the other end.
Akash finished with a four-for and Kavija Gamage got two. There was a missed chance off Van Schalkwyk in the 21st over off Gamage, when he was on 50.
Van Schalkwyk made Sri Lanka pay with a 130-ball 116, featuring 13 fours and two sixes. After he fell, Paul James (37* off 36) and Michael Kruiskamp (21* off 15) gave South Africa a good finish, with an unbeaten 40-run stand off 31 balls.
Sri Lanka’s chase started shakily as Dimantha Mahavithana fell cheaply to Kruiskamp. Chamuditha then began a match-defining 143-run stand off 130 balls with Senuja Wekunagoda. Chamuditha contributed 85 of those run, and brought up his century during his stand with captain Vimath Dinsara, who chipped in with 32 off 38 balls.
Chamuditha finished with 13 boundaries and a six. After he fell, there were two handy partnerships of 31 and an unbeaten 28 between Chamika Heenatigala and Dulnith Sigera, which took Sri Lanka home with four overs to spare.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Under 19s 265 for 5 in 46 overs (Viran Chamuditha 110, Senuja Wekunagoda 48, Vimath Dinsara 32; M8chael Kruiskamp 2-59, Come Botha 2-37) beat South Africa Under 19s 261 for 7 in 50 overs (Jorich Van Schalkwyk 116, Adnaan Lagadien 46, Paul James 37* ; Vigneshwaran Akash 4-64, Kavija Gamage 2-61) by five wickets
Akash Vigneswaran celebrates a wicket with his team-mates, South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Under-19 World Cup, Bulawayo, January 29, 2026 (Cricinfo)
(Cricinfo)
Pavan Rathnayake has re-entered Sri Lanka’s T20I squad following his 121 off 115 balls in the third ODI against England. Omitted from the squad to play England in three T20Is, however, are fast bowler Nuwan Thushara and batting allrounder Kamindu Mendis. Legspinner Dushan Hemantha has also been left out.
Left-arm-spinning allrounder Dunith Wellalage retains his place in the T20I squad, though he hasn’t played a T20I since September. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga are the two other frontline spinners. Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka – who both bowl fingerspin – are in the squad too.
On the seam-bowling front, Eshan Malinga and Pramod Madushan are in the squad, in addition to Dushmantha Chameera and Matheesha Pathirana. Thushara had been a consistent presence in Sri Lanka’s T20I squads over the past two years, but his omission comes after several modest performances since September.
Aside from Rathnayake’s inclusion, the batting is largely as expected, with Kusal Perera coming back in the only format he now plays.
Sri Lanka are yet to announce their squad for the T20 World Cup, which will start on February 7. Teams have time till January 31 to make changes to squads, following which they will have to get the approvals from the ICC to make changes.
Sri Lanka squad for England T20Is:
Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga
Australia Under 19s 314/7 in 50 overs (Oliver Peake 109, Nitesh Samuel 56; Jakeem Pollard 2-37, R’Jai Gittens 2-45) beat West Indies Under 19s 292/9 in 50 overs (Zachary Carter 64, Joshua Dorne 62; Charles Lachmund 4-66, Aryan Sharma 2-47) by 22 runs
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