Sports
Methvan wins U14 singles title
SSC Open Ranking Tennis
Number two ranked Methvan Wijemanne overcame a set defeat to beat Tharuk Marasinghe in a all-Royal final to win the Under-14 boys singles title of the SSC Open Ranking Tennis tournament in Colombo on Sunday.
Wijemanne scored 2-6, 6-2, 10-4 in the final to beat the third seed. While Wieemanne beat number five seed Sandas Usgodaraachchi in the semis, Marasinghe eliminated top ranked player Lisal Goonetilleke in a Royal-Thomian clash.
In the men’s doubles final Yasitha de Silva and Sankha Atukorale beat Thangaraja Dineshkanthan and Gayanga Weerasekara 6-3, 6-4.
Meanwhile, the semi finalists were found in the Under-18 boys’ and girls’ singles yesterday.
Anithra Dharmarathne, Ruvi Lewkebandara, Wishmi Serasinghe and Nelani Jayasuriya secured semi final places as they won their quarterfinals.
Hasal Ahangama, Matheesha Nettasinghe, Ransath Peiris and Anujaya Abeywickrama advanced to the semis in the boys category.
Results
Under-18 girls’ quarter-finals
Anithra Dharmarathne beat Senulya Wijayawardhane 6-4, 7-6 (5)
Ruvi Lewkebandara beat Nishka Vivekanandan 6-1, 6-0
Vishmi Serasinghe beat Oneli Perera 7-6(5), 6-1
Nelani Jayasuriya beat Sethmi Sumanaweera 7-6(4), 6-3
Under-18 boys’ quarter- finals
Hasal Ahangama beat Wenuka Kithnula 6-3, 1-0 retired
Matheesha Netthasinghe beat Nisal Hemakumara 6-4, 2-6, 10-8
Ransath Peiris beat Heshika Perera 6-4, 7-5
Anujaya Abeywickrama beat Vichinthaya Nilaweera 7-6(4), 7-5 (RF)
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Chamuditha’s 110, Akash four-for keep Sri Lanka’s hopes alive in Super Six
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)
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Rathnayake in Sri Lanka squad for England T20Is; Thushara, Kamindu left out
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
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