Sports
Nushal hammers 174, Anjala makes Mahanama debut
Under 19 Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Nushal Dharmarathna hammered 174 runs in 108 balls inclusive of 14 fours and 11 sixes – the highest individual score of the tournament so far- to set the stage for Ananda to romp to 125 runs win over Dharmasoka as the team joined Maris Stella, St. Peter’s, Dharmapala, Thurstan, Mahanama, St. Anne’s and Maliyadeva to commence the Under 19 Division I tournament on a winning note yesterday.
Dharmarathna, who also had success in their recent traditional matches joined Nethma Karunarathne to put on 169 runs for the second wicket and provided a strong base for the team to post 377 runs. Karunarathne remained unbeaten on 100 (in 114 balls, 9x4s)
Anjala makes Mahanama debut
Anjala Badara, who represented Sri Lanka at the ICC Under 19 World Cup made his Mahanama College debut a memorable one yesterday as he scored an unbeaten half century to beat Trinity at Asgiriya. The former St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota player faced 93 balls and anchored the middle order for Mahanama to register a five wicket win with many overs to spare.
Wanuja Kumara guides
St. Peter’s
Wanuja Kumara, another Sri Lanka Under 19 cap to shine yesterday, scored an unbeaten half century to lead St. Peter’s to five wickets win over Mahinda. Kumara and Shannon Rodrigo took two wickets each to contain Mahinda to 173 runs. They bowled economical spells and their 20 overs cost them just 49 runs.
Dharmapala turn tables on Dharmaraja
Dharmapala recorded one of their best performances away in recent times when they beat Dharmaraja despite an impressive bowling performance by Sadeepa Rathnayaka at Lake View. Hiru Pawan scored an unbeaten 38 for the visitors to pull off the two wicket win.
Match Results
Tier ‘B’ Tournament
Ananda beat Dharmasoka
at Ambalangoda
Scores:
Ananda
377 for 4 in 50 overs (Nushal Dharmarathna 174, Nethma Karunarathne 100n.o., Hansaja Jayasinghe 20, Mineth Premarathne 20, Shakthi Udara 21n.o.; Hasitha Rajapaksha 2/54)
Dharmasoka
252 all out in 38.5 overs ; Pulindu Kiriella 3/48, Shakthi Udara 3/43, Hansaja Jayasinghe 2/31)
Maris Stella amass 305 runs
at Wattala
Scores:
Maris Stella
305 for 5 in 50 overs (Shane Adithya 37, Kaveen Fernando 47, Hansaja Hiruna 69, Sachiru Hansala 28, Kawitha Dinalya 65n.o., Eveen Kalhara 36n.o.; Kavindu Gamage 2/44)
St. Anthony’s
155 all out in 44 overs (Therika Akash 42, Vihaga Rashmitha 26; Shane Adithya 3/14, Mahindu Malith 3/25, Ramith Bandara 2/11)
Wanuja shines for St. Peter’s at Bambalapitiya
Scores:
Mahinda
173 all out in 49.5 overs (Dinura Kalupahana 44, Dhanuja Induwara 33, Hiruna Mandila 21, Tharusha Dilshan 29; Shannon Rodrigo 2/25, Wanuja Kumara 2/24)
St. Peter’s
175 for 5 in 46.5 overs (Rusanda Gamage 27, Shenal Boteju 29, Lahiru Dawatage 23, Wanuja Kumara 54n.o.; Kaveen Rukshan 2/23)
Dharmapala turn tables on Dharmaraja at Lake View
Scores:
Dharmaraja
174 for 8 in 50 overs (Sachintha Dissanayaka 65, Isuru Pannala 50; Kavindu Primal 3/45, Yasith Wickramasinghe 2/26, Thisara Sishara 2/20)
Dharmapala
175 for 8 in 44.3 overs (Uditha Sadaruwan 23, Yasith Wickramasinghe 34, Praveen Kumarapperuma 39, Hiru Pawan 38n.o.; Sadeepa Rathnayaka 6/37)
Thurstan beat St. Sylvester’s at Thurstan College Ground
Scores:
Thurstan
234 all out in 48 overs (Tharindu Harshana 60, Bawantha Jayasinghe 97, Upul Hettiarachchi 21; Kavishka Imesh 3/19)
St. Sylvester’s
135 all out in 39.2 overs (Malith Lakshan 21, Maleesha Silva 42; Nipun Premarathne 2/31, Vihas Thewmika 4/17, Azeem Mohamed 2/16)
Tier ‘A’ Tournament
Anjala shines for Mahanama
at Asgiriya
Scores:
Trinity
179 all out in 48 overs (Kusal Wijethunga 30, Viduka Dhammage 21, Pawan Pathiraja 40, Rahal Amarasinghe 25, Supun Waduge 30n.o.; Dasith Gunathilake 2/34, Anuka Wijewardana 2/09, Inuka Karannagoda 2/18)
Mahanama
182 for 5 in 40.2 overs (Kavindu Amameth 51, Anjala Bandara 71n.o.; Manula Kularathne 3/22, Theeraka Ranathunga 2/36)
St. Anne’s outshine DSS
at DSS Ground
Scores:
DS Senanayake
153 all out in 36.5 overs (Senura Silva 30, Gaviru Senhas 44; Risitha Perera 2/22, Shevon Nimantha 2/42, Kalindu Wijesinghe 5/38)
St. Anne’s
156 for 4 in 38.2 overs (Risitha Perera 48, Buddhima Sahan 27, Pivithu Fernando 40, Adithya Nirwan 21n.o.; Rahul Chandrasekara 2/41)
Maliyadeva beat De Mazenod
at Kurunegala
Scores:
De Mazenod
118 all out in 33.1 overs (Salindu Pathirana 30; Jayamin Muthukumarana 2/15, Sakindu Wijerathne 3/27, Charuka Herath 3/30)
Maliyadeva
120 for 7 in 32.5 overs (Amesh Thennakoon 20, Matheesha Weerasinghe 29, Charuka Herath 22n.o.; Chanuka Silva 2/22, Senash Fernando 2/21)
Hong Myung-bo has resigned as head coach of South Korea’s men’s national football team after they failed to advance to the World Cup knockout stage.
The team had hoped they could still qualify for the next round of the tournament as one of the best third-placed teams, but that hope was quashed on Saturday.
The early exit has prompted widespread criticism at home, with President Lee Jae Myung calling for an investigation into reasons behind the team’s disappointing performance.
Hong apologised to fans on Sunday and said the responsibility “rests entirely with me as head coach”.
Ranked 32nd in FIFA’s men’s rankings and led by star player Son Heung-min, South Korea recorded two losses and one win at the World Cup, finishing behind Mexico and South Africa, who are ranked 15th and 60th respectively.
Criticism had mounted quickly after the team’s last match with South Africa on Thursday, which South Korea lost 1-0.
The defeat left them third in Group A. It still gave them hope to qualify for the next round under a new rule introduced with this tournament’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams, which allows the eight best third-placed teams in the group stage to progress to the knockout round. But on Saturday, they were knocked out because of the other teams’ final scores.
Fans blame Hong, who has been coaching the team for the past two years. On Monday, the national team’s official fan club Red Devils issued a statement calling on Hong to “kneel before the entire nation and leave the football world forever”.
Announcing his resignation at a news conference in Mexico on Sunday, Hong said that “we didn’t deliver the results that our fans expected”.
“Even though I am leaving the national team, I am not abandoning Korean football altogether,” Hong said. “I will cheer for the national team from the bottom of my heart and hope that the team will be trusted and loved by the people once again.”
The announcement came after President Lee said that he felt “not just confusion but utter bewilderment at the unexpected outcome”.
In a post on X, Lee said that the early exit of the team “appears to be a failure of organisation and personnel”.
“When favouritism and cronyism take precedence over competence in selecting a commander, the result is as predictable as fire burning paper,” he said.
Hong’s appointment to the head coach post was controversial from the start. The former defender was a hero of South Korea’s 2002 World Cup success, having captained the team to a historic semi-final finish. But when he led the team as a coach in 2014, they failed to advance beyond the group stage – or win a single match.
When Hong was appointed to the same job again in 2024, it was met with harsh uproar. Many football fans criticised the appointment as football association’s old guards giving the top job to their friend, as the KFA passed on a few foreign-born candidates who had undergone a rigorous vetting process.
On Sunday, Hong said that “accepting the job was not an easy choice”. “I cannot say every decision has been the right one, but I can tell you that I have made every decision with Korean football in mind,” he added.
South Korea police say that they are watching for security threats at Incheon Airport and other locations after a death threat was made online against Hong on his return to Korea over the weekend, local media reported.
[BBC]
Devdutt Padikkal’s half-century and left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera’s five-wicket haul were the highlights on day four as the first unofficial Test between India A and Sri Lanka A petered to a draw.
India A declared for the second time in the game after setting Sri Lanka A a target north of 300, but were only able to take two wickets in the 15 overs they managed to get in.
India began the day on 48 for no loss and a lead of 170, although B Sai Sudharsan had retired hurt on the third day. Padikkal and Aayush Pandey added 42 runs on the fourth morning before Sudeera removed the latter for 38 for his first wicket. Two balls later, Ravindu Fernando trapped Ruturaj Gaikwad for 1 off 2.
Padikkal went on to make 67 in a knock laced with five boundaries before Sudeera struck in consecutive overs to remove him and Jurel. Shaik Rasheed and Harsh Dubey then added 47 runs for the fifth wicket before Dubey was caught behind off Chamika Gunasekara. Sudeera then snared Rasheed, Saransh Jain and Auqib Nabi in the next over, when India A decided to declare 311 runs ahead. Sudharsan did not return to bat for India A.
Sri Lanka A’s openers had brisk and solid start, but it slightly came apart when Nabi cleaned up Pawantha Weerasinghe for 20 off 19 in the fifth over and Dubey trapped Niroshan Dickwella lbw.
Nuwanidu Fernando and Ashen Bandara then saw the day out, with India A unable to inflict any further damage.
Scores:
India A 452 for 6 dec in 111.4 overs (Sai Sudharsan 132, Dhruv Jurel 141*, Shaik Rasheed 63; Chamika Gunasekara 3-84, Dilum Sudeera 2-143) and 189 for 8 dec in 57 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 67; Dilum Sudeera 5-49) vs Sri Lanka A 330 in 101.4 overs (Nuwanidu Fernando 84, Ashen Bandara 70, Sahan Arachchige 72; Auqib Nabi 4-58) and 70 for 2 (Pawantha Weerasinghe 20; Auqib Nabi 1-18, Harsh Dubey 1-25). Match ended in a draw
Dilum Sudeera captured five wickets [Cricinfo]
[Cricinfo]
Canada beat South Africa 1-0 thanks to a stoppage-time strike by Stephen Eustaquio from distance to reach the FIFA World Cup last 16 for the first time in their history.
Eustaquio received the ball on the edge of the South Africa penalty area and hammered it past diving goalkeeper Ronwen Williams in a thrilling conclusion to the first knockout-round match of the tournament on Sunday.
South Africa, who had seemed content to play for extra time and a possible penalty shootout, made a few furious but unsuccessful attempts to level before the final whistle as the sun broke through the clouds at Los Angeles Stadium.
Canada will next face either the Netherlands or Morocco on July 4 in Houston for a place in the quarterfinals.
“It’s about the two years we’ve been together,” Canada coach Jesse Marsch told the team in a huddle after the final whistle.
“Think about how we talked about sticking to the plan – you guys showing your character. You guys are Canadian heroes here.”
Chances were scarce in a cagey first half, with little to separate the sides, who were both playing in the knockout rounds for the first time.
Canada’s best opening came just before half-time when a corner sparked a scramble in the South Africa box. Moise Bombito sent a header goal-wards, which was cleared off the line by Aubrey Modiba, before Tajon Buchanan’s close-range effort struck Williams in the chest.
Moments later, Richie Laryea went down in the area, prompting Canadian appeals for a penalty, but the decision not to award a spot kick stood after a VAR review, prompting loud boos from Canada’s red-clad army of supporters dominating the stands.
Marsch continued to protest as the teams left the field at half-time, with Bombito appearing to urge him away from the referee.
Frustration for Canada only grew early in the second half, as South Africa appeared in no rush to press the issue.
Canada had another chance just before the second-half hydration break, when Tani Oluwaseyi’s shot hit the keeper, and Jonathan David was unable to head the ricochet home, thanks to an excellent defensive effort by Mbekezeli Mbokazi to clear the ball.
Eustaquio dedicated the win to “all Canadians” when he spoke to reporters after the match.
“I think it was an amazing goal. When I shot, I thought everyone shot with me. Everyone added a little power to it when it went into the back of the net.
” It started when we came out of group stage. Belief is a big part of it. We will now get either Netherlands or Morocco. Anything can happen. If we keep working like we are doing, we might even win it.”
[Aljazeera]
South Korea football coach quits as president calls for probe into World Cup loss
Europe’s heatwave linked to 1,300 deaths, WHO says, as Germany hits record 41.7C
Padikkal fifty, Sudeera five-for before India A, Sri Lanka A settle for draw
“May this sacred Poson Festival illuminate every heart with compassion, loving-kindness and wisdom”- President
Canada score late to beat South Africa and reach last 16 at World Cup 2026
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