Hurdler Ayomal Akalanka provided a glimmer of hope for Sri Lanka on a largely disappointing day for track and field at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, securing his place in the men’s 400 metres hurdles final on Sunday.

‎Akalanka produced an impressive 49.78 seconds to book his berth in the final, keeping Sri Lanka’s hopes of a medal in the event alive.

‎The day, however, was marked by disappointing performances in the field events.

‎Gayan Sampath failed to register a single legal jump in the men’s long jump, bringing his campaign to an early end.

‎Madushani Herath also endured a difficult outing in the women’s long jump, finishing 12th with a below-par 5.91 metres.

‎In the men’s 800 metres heats, Harsha Karunaratne produced a sub-1:50 performance, clocking 1:49.90 seconds. He finished fourth in his heat, but the time was not sufficient to earn a place in the final.

‎With Akalanka advancing to the 400m hurdles final, Sri Lanka will look to the young hurdler to provide a stronger finish in the final.

‎The women’s javelin final was in progress when this edition went to press.

Colombo International School’s Samaira Fernando and S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia player Revaan Amarasinghe emerged singles champions in the girls’ and boys’ categories respectively at the ATF Under-14 Colombo Week 1 tournament, which concluded at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts on Sunday.

‎Samaira produced an outstanding performance in the girls’ final, defeating India’s Saumya Choudhary 4-1, 4-1 to secure the title.

‎The Colombo International School player had earlier booked her place in the final with a semi-final victory over Sethuli Mathugama. She had also displayed her strength in the quarter-finals, defeating India’s Anandita Sarker 4-2, 4-0.

‎In the boys’ singles final, Amarasinghe defeated Hong Kong’s Ho Fung Choi 4-1, 4-0 to complete an impressive run to the title.

Samaira Fernando

‎The S. Thomas’ College player had been equally dominant in the earlier rounds. He defeated Hong Kong’s Oliver Lau 4-0, 4-2 in the semi-finals after recording a convincing 4-0, 4-0 victory over another Hong Kong player, Owen Cheung, in the quarter-finals.

by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka were left with a mountain to climb after England set them a daunting target of 356 in the third and deciding ODI at The Oval on Sunday.

A sell out crowd packed the famous London venue for the series decider after Sri Lanka’s stunning comeback at Headingley had squared the three match contest and breathed fresh life into the tourists’ campaign.

On a dry surface, England opted to bat first, perhaps mindful that spin could become increasingly influential as the game wore on. They made full use of first strike, piling up 355, their second-highest ODI total against Sri Lanka.

Opener Tom Banton led the charge with his maiden ODI hundred after England suffered an early setback when Ben Duckett departed without scoring in the second over.

Sri Lanka, so sharp in the field at Headingley, were unusually sloppy. Joe Root was spilled in the slips while wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis put down Harry Brook early in his innings.

Part timer Janith Liyanage ensured Root did not make Sri Lanka pay dearly for the reprieve, trapping him leg-before for 17. Brook, however, cashed in on his second life and went on to post a brisk half-century.

Banton and Brook then seized control with a 140 run stand for the third wicket, targeting the shorter boundaries and forcing Sri Lanka onto the back foot.

There was a spell when Brook found Dunith Wellalage difficult to get away, but once Mendis took the left-arm spinner out of the attack, the England captain broke free and helped himself to some useful runs.

Brook eventually made 77 off 66 deliveries, striking nine fours and two sixes, while Banton produced the centrepiece of England’s innings with 126 off 105 balls, studded with 16 fours and five sixes.

Jordan Cox, drafted into the side in place of the injured Jos Buttler, ensured England hardly missed their talismanic wicketkeeper batter. He hammered 76 off 57 balls, his maiden ODI half-century, to keep the foot firmly on the accelerator.

Cox and Jamie Overton added 68 from just 30 deliveries for the sixth wicket as England launched their final assault.

Leg-spinner Sachindu Colombage continued to enhance his reputation, finishing with two for 71. A late replacement for the injured Wanindu Hasaranga, Colombage has proved a useful find, bowling with control and troubling England’s batsmen throughout the series.

Sri Lanka, however, will rue their lapses in the field. A cleaner effort, particularly during the closing stages, could well have kept England below 320. Instead, they were left needing 356 to win the match and with it the series.

Brief Scores:

England

355 in 50 overs (Tom Banton 126, Harry Brook 77, Jordan Cox 76; Sachindu Colombage 2-71).