Sports

NP Cricket Academy clinch title in thrilling final

Published

2 years ago

2023/08/2

Skipper of the NP CA Chenuka Dodangoda receiving the Champions Trophy from the Chief Guest Jayantha Seneviratne. Also in the picture (from left) are Lochana Wijesekara (Asst. Coach NPCA), Manoj Jayasanka (President , GCC), Dr. Chula Senaratne (Secretary , GCC), Chamara Guruge (Chairman, Organising Committee), Brendon Kuruppu (Former National Player) and Narada Pathiraja (Head Coach, NPCA).

GCC Junior Cricket Championship

NP Cricket Academy became the champions with a thrilling four wickets victory at the finals of the recently concluded GCC Junior Cricket Championship organized by the Global Cricket Club. This Under 13 cricket tournament was conducted with a participation of 31 teams and over 80 matches were played over two months. The tournament started in April.

The final between NP Cricket Academy and CCC Maroons was played at Thurstan College grounds. CCC Maroons batting first scored 120 for seven wickets in their allotted 30 overs. Navindu Kumara was the highest scorer for CCC Maroons scoring 49 runs, followed by Thiyon de Silva with 26 runs. Chenuka Dodangoda captured two wickets for NP CA.

Champions NP Cricket Academy had an easy task of scoring 121 runs in 30 overs to win. But the fighting spirit of the CCC Maroons took the match to the wire. NP CA reached the target in the penultimate over (5th ball of the 29th over). Player of the Match Savein Wijewardhane top scored for NP CA with 52 runs, followed by Supeshala Chandrasiri (21 runs). Sadeep Salgado grabbed three wickets for CCC Maroons.

Manager of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ cricket team and former national player Jayantha Seneviratne graced the occasion as the chief guest

The third-place match between Colombo Premier CF and Oval Cricket Academy was played at the same venue. Colombo Premier CF batting first scored 153 for four wickets in their allotted 30 overs. Methuka Gunaratne excelled in batting scoring a well-deserved century. He scored 107 in 109 balls for Colombo Premier CF. Ukitha Dabare captured two wickets for 34 runs for Oval Cricket Academy.

In their essay, the Oval Cricket Academy were bowled out for 99 runs in 25 overs. Sadev Pathiranage top-scored for Oval Cricket Academy with 30 runs. With an outstanding bowling performance, Janith Rukman captured three wickets for nine runs for Colombo Premier CF.

R.A. Kularatne, former Director of Education for Sports, Western Province was the Chief Guest at the consolation finals

Best Player of the final –

Savein Wijewardhane (NP Cricket Academy)

Best Batsman of the final –

Savein Wijewardhane (NP Cricket Academy)

Best Bowler of the Final –

Sadeep Salgado (CCC Maroons)

Player of the Tournament –

Thisaga Perera (GCC Red)

Best Batsman of the Tournament –

Chethina Kavinda (SSC Cricket Academy)

Best Bowler of the Tournament –

Janith Rukman (Colombo Premier CF)

Best Fielder of the Tournament –

Hammid Afdan (Colombo Premier CF)

Best Wicketkeeper of the Final –

Supeshala Chandrasiri (NP Cricket Academy

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Related Topics:GCC Junior Cricket Championship NP Cricket Academy

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SCG curator ‘really happy’ with pitch for final Ashes Test

Published

13 hours ago

2026/01/2

Priyan

The pitch at the SCG has been the centre of much attention [Cricinfo]

Todd Murphy is firming to play his first home Test, after the SCG’s head curator declared the pitch’s green covering would be near-irrelevant come day one.

With administrators still on edge after last week’s two day debacle in Melbourne, an extremely green SCG surface raised eyebrows in Sydney on Thursday.

But chief curator Adam Lewis insisted on Friday that should not be a concern, and he was hopeful Sydney would extend into a fifth day.

“You want to see green tinge three days out,” Lewis said. “If you’re not seeing any live grass three days out, then that’s when it’s a worry, … I’m really comfortable with where we’re sitting.

“We had a little bit of sun this morning. They’re saying a bit more sun tomorrow. That will take the greenness out of the pitch. We’re really happy with the pitches at the moment. We’re looking good.”

Lewis admitted he felt for MCG counterpart Matt Page last week, but said he felt no external pressure to ensure the fifth Test in Sydney went the distance.

It’s estimated that Cricket Australia (CA) has lost in the vicinity of AUD15 million in profits this summer, with the opening Test in Perth also finishing inside two days.

Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joked at a function with teams on Thursday night that they had to ensure the game went to day three, in order to support the McGrath Foundation fundraiser.

One of the hardest grounds in the world to bowl on between 2014 and 2023, last year’s SCG Test was over in just two-and-a-half days.

Lewis said that his ground staff would go with 6mm of grass this year compared to 7mm last season, while also reducing its density. That in itself generally acts to flatten out the wicket and produce less movement, while also inviting the chance of spin late in the match.

“We just thought … we could thin our density out a little bit,” Lewis said. “That’s what we’ve done this year. We’ve practised that in the Shield matches and we’ve received very good marks.”

CA CEO Todd Greenberg said he too was confident the SCG Test would last the distance.

“I’ve had more phone calls and conversations about wickets and millimetres of grass than I thought I’d ever have,” Greenberg said. “But I’m hopeful and confident we will have a long and productive Test match here.”

All of which should spell good news for Murphy. Australia’s coaching staff had a prolonged conversation around the pitch on Friday morning, after leaving Murphy out and going with four quicks at the MCG.

Murphy then spent most of Friday’s training session bowling to Australia’s top order, while Alex Carey also had an extended run keeping to him.

With seven Tests to his name overseas, Murphy would be expected to come in for Jhye Richardson if he does play in Sydney.

England have promised to take the attack to Murphy, who played two Tests during the 2023 Ashes were he conceded 4.72 an over.

“Whoever plays, I think that’s the mantra of our team, is to try and put pressure on people,” opener Zak Crawley, said. “Todd’s a very good bowler, but I can envisage us trying to put some pressure on him, like we would all their bowlers.

That’s going to come with some risks, and if it’s turning it’s definitely going to be a threat. But I think we’ll try and put pressure on all their bowlers.”

The other question for Australia will be whether Cameron Green remains in the side, after Beau Webster was spotted fielding in the gully during slips training on Friday. Green has averaged 18.66 with the bat in this series. The SCG was the scene of Webster’s debut a year ago against India.

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Pramod hits 42 runs in an over

Published

23 hours ago

2026/01/2

Thilina Walpola

Pramod Madushan hit 42 runs in an over.

Young Pramod Madushan has become the talk in cricket circles after he scored 42 runs in an over for Mercantile Services Cricket Academy against Sigi Cricket Academy at Ambalangoda recently.

In an over that contained nine deliveries, including two no-balls and a wide, Madushan cut loose hitting three fours and five sixes. In all, the over bowled by Bihandu Sandiv went for 45 runs.

The young cricketer from D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo shares the same name as Sri Lanka fast bowler Pramod Madushan. However, the 19-year-old is a wicketkeeper batter.

His knock of 103 came in just 38 deliveries and contained eight fours and ten sixes.

Latest News

Usman Khawaja to retire after fifth Ashes Test

Published

1 day ago

2026/01/2

Priyan

Usman Khawaja has played 22 Ashes Tests [BBC]

Australia batter Usman Khawaja will retire from international cricket following the fifth Ashes Test against England in Sydney this week.

The 39-year-old will play his 88th and final Test on the ground where he made his debut against the same opponents in January 2011.

Khawaja was born in Pakistan and became the first Muslim to play for Australia when he took the place of Ricky Ponting at the end of England’s 3-1 series win 15 years ago.

The left-hander has made 6,206 Test runs at an average of 43.39, with 16 hundreds.

He has played in six Ashes series – winning two, losing two and drawing two.

He was also part of the Australia team that won the World Test Championship in 2023.

The final Test at the SCG starts on Sunday (23:30 GMT, Saturday).

Alongside Steve Smith, Khawaja is one of two remaining members of the Australia team beaten by England in their most recent series win in this country in 2010-11.

He needs 30 runs in his final Test to go above Mike Hussey and into 14th on Australia’s all-time run-scorers list, behind the great Donald Bradman in 13th.

Khawaja played the last of his 40 one-day internationals in 2019, having scored 1,554 runs at 42. He played in nine T20 internationals, scoring 241 runs at 26.77.

Now playing domestically for Queensland, Khawaja will end his career on the ground that was his home when he first played professional cricket for New South Wales in 2008.

Often in and out of the Australia team during his Test career, he found a home at the top of the order during the previous home Ashes in 2021-22.

However, his place has come under scrutiny during this series after he suffered back spasms in the first Test that prevented him from opening.

Travis Head took Khawaja’s place in the second innings and made a swashbuckling century to lead Australia to an eight-wicket win.

Khawaja subsequently missed the second Test with the back problem and was due to be left out of the third, only to receive a late call-up when Steve Smith fell ill.

He made 82 and 40 in Adelaide to retain his place for the fourth Test. Australia lead the series 3-1.

After the Ashes Australia will not play another Test until August, by which time Khawaja will be almost 40.

[BBC]