Sports

Onus on Sri Lankan batsmen to lend a helping hand to bowling unit

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/1

It would not be a surprise if, at times during this tour of England, Sri Lanka’s bowlers had cast suspicious glances across the dressing room at their batsmen. After all, in three of the four white-ball matches so far, Sri Lanka’s bowlers have had periods of play when they have been on top of England’s much-heralded batting line-up. All of those matches ended in defeat, of course, but had Sri Lanka’s batsmen been able to contribute more, a different result may have been possible. It has been a one-sided tour so far but at least half of Sri Lanka’s team has been operating well.

In the second T20I in Cardiff, for instance, England were reduced to 36 for 4 but were only chasing a paltry 111 which meant they had time to sit in and recover, take the sting out of Sri Lanka’s bowlers and ease their way to the target. Even another 30 runs would have tested them far more. In the opening ODI in Durham, it was a similar story.

After Jonny Bairstow’s initial blitz, Sri Lanka took four wickets for 26 runs and were back in the game. England, however, were never in any real danger because they were only chasing 185. Again, another 50 runs might have made things interesting. In the final T20I, Sri Lanka bowled first and claimed five for 19 at the back end of the innings to keep England’s total within reach. Then they were bundled out for just 91.

Dushmantha Chameera has been the standout bowler for Sri Lanka. He took six wickets in the T20I series, including four in the final game at the Ageas Bowl with a superb collection of slower balls that bamboozled England’s middle order. In between times, he has bowled with real pace. He picked up three more wickets in Durham, having Eoin Morgan caught behind from one that zipped through quicker than the England captain was expecting and then Sam Billings caught at backward point shortly after. Chameera also got rid of Moeen Ali, for 28, but should have had him first ball. Unfortunately, Kusal Perera behind the stumps dropped a crucial edge.

Tall left-armer Binura Fernando has been quietly impressive too, proving difficult for England’s batsmen to get on top of. He conceded just over six runs an over in the T20I series and picked up Bairstow in game one of the ODIs with a ball that cramped him from round the wicket. It was a vital wicket at a vital stage. Fernando remains inexperienced – he has played just six international matches – but appears to have a cool head. Wanindu Hasaranga has not taken that many wickets with his skiddy leg-spin but he has consistently troubled England’s batsmen while seamer Chamika Karunaratne, in just his second ODI, bustled in well during the first 50-over game and has a fantastic domestic record.

Even considering the players England are missing for this series, their batting line-up remains strong and Sri Lanka’s bowlers have done a good job against them. It is a young and inexperienced group. Chameera is 29 but the rest of Sri Lanka’s attack in the opening ODI were 25 or younger. Hasaranga has 22 ODI caps to his name but Fernando and Karunaratne are making their way in international cricket while so too is Praveen Jayawickrama, a promising left-arm spinner who took 11 wickets on his Test debut against Bangladesh earlier this year. He only bowled one over in Durham, his ODI debut, but should get more opportunities to show what he can do in the rest of the series.

Mickey Arthur has spent much of this tour shaking his head at the performances of his batsmen, on and off the field, but he will be pleased with the displays of Sri Lanka’s bowlers. They have done a good job in difficult circumstances and proved they can mix it with England’s batting line-up. They have held up their end of the bargain. Now it is the turn of Sri Lanka’s batsmen to step up in the remaining two matches of the ODI series. If they don’t, there may be more accusing glances heading their way from their bowling counterparts.

The Oval surface is one of the best for batting in the country which should at least give Sri Lanka’s beleaguered batsmen some cause for optimism today. They could not ask for a better pitch to find their form again. The forecast for the game is good, with sun and temperatures in the mid-20s expected although whoever wins the toss will probably want to field first. Of the last eight completed day-night games at The Oval, seven have been won by the side batting second.

Sri Lanka’s options are limited given three players have been sent home for a breach of the COVID-19 protocols in place for this series. For that reason, they may stick with the batting order that played the opening match of the series with the old adage ringing in their ears of ‘you got us into this mess, you can get us out of it’. If a change to the batting is considered, Oshada Fernando is the most experienced option.

Sri Lanka:

(Probable XI) Kusal Perera (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Praveen Jayawickrama

England:

(Probable XI) Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (Captain), Sam Billings, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Tom Curran, Adil Rashid.

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Sports

Nissanka absence opens door for Sri Lanka’s young guns

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Former Royal College captain Sineth Jayawardene has replaced the injured Pathum Nissanka

Sri Lanka will begin their three match T20I series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Friday with an opportunity for several youngsters to stake their claims, although the absence of Pathum Nissanka leaves a sizeable hole at the top of the order.

Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s highest-ranked batter in the ICC T20I rankings, has been one of the side’s most consistent performers in recent years and his absence deprives the tourists of a proven match-winner against a Pakistan attack that will still carry plenty of firepower despite resting several senior players.

The three T20Is will be played in Rawalpindi on October 9, 11 and 13 before attention switches to the seven match ODI tri-series involving hosts Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England.

While Sri Lanka will miss Nissanka, his absence opens the door for highly rated Sineth Jayawardene, who has been earmarked as one for the future. The former Sri Lanka Under-19 captain now has an opportunity to show that he can make the considerable jump from domestic and age group cricket to the international stage. Sineth skippered Royal College, Colombo with distinction.

There will also be considerable interest in leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, another player Sri Lanka have invested in with an eye on the future. With Wanindu Hasaranga out of the equation, Viyaskanth has an opportunity to make a strong case for a regular berth rather than remain on the fringes.

Sri Lanka will be encouraged by the fact that Pakistan too have opted to look beyond some of their established names for the T20I leg of the tour.

Sahibzada Farhan will captain Pakistan after leading them at the recently concluded Asian Games in Japan, taking over from Salman Ali Agha, who has been left out of the T20I squad. Salman remains part of Pakistan’s ODI plans.

Pakistan have also rested Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the T20Is, although both return for the ODI tri-series, where Shaheen will continue as captain.

The hosts have named uncapped all-rounders Razaullah and Mohammad Imran Randhawa in their 15-member T20I squad, while Maaz Sadaqat and Hasan Nawaz have been rewarded for impressive performances at the Asian Games.

Hasan finished the tournament as Pakistan’s leading run scorer with 123 runs, including a blistering 96 off 51 balls against India in the final, although Pakistan had to settle for silver.

Fast bowler Naseem Shah returns to Pakistan’s T20I squad having last played the format against Sri Lanka in February, while Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed provide experience.

For Sri Lanka, while Nissanka’s runs will be sorely missed his absence means someone else has the chance to put his hand up. Sri Lanka will hope one or two of their young guns grab that opportunity with both hands.

The ODI tri-series will follow the T20Is, with the first three matches being played in Rawalpindi before the tournament moves to Lahore for the remaining league games and the final.

Pakistan have retained a more experienced core for the 50-over competition, with Babar, Salman, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf among those included.

Former Pakistan Under-19 captain Saad Baig has earned his maiden ODI call-up after scoring more than 1,000 runs in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, while left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Moqim is another notable inclusion.

Pakistan have also strengthened their backroom staff, bringing back former Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait as bowling consultant. Tait previously served as Pakistan’s bowling coach in 2022-23 and replaces Ashley Noffke, who left after the Asian Games to take over as Netherlands head coach.

Sports

Girls secure all four semi-final spots for hosts

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

ATF Under-16 Colombo Week 1 Tennis

Sri Lanka’s junior players delivered a series of impressive performances on Wednesday, with the girls claiming all four semi-final places at the ATF Under-16 Colombo 2026 Week 1 tournament, held at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts.

‎

Damsath Peiris

Methuli Naotunne led the charge with a notable quarter-final win over India’s Yashmitha Santhosh, recovering from a set loss to prevail 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. Kiara Jayamanne also came from behind to beat India’s Ahnavi Shaw 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

Risindi
Hewawasam

‎In an all-Sri Lankan quarter-final, Risindi Hewawasam overcame Desandi Peiris 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, while Disini Samaraweera defeated Sayli Basnayake 3-6, 6-2, 6-0.

‎The Sri Lankan boys also impressed. Damsath Peiris beat Buvindu Jayawardhana 8-2, 7-6, and Yonal Dankumbura battled to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Jayan Sebastian.

‎The visiting players, however, proved tough to beat. The Philippines’ Anthony Castigador defeated Sri Lanka’s Dehan Wickramasinghe 6-2, 6-4, and India’s Gurshaan Chahal fought back to overcome Udeera Gunasinghe 2-6, 7-5, 7-5.

(RF)

Sports

Travel Trends Leisure crowned champions at Mosvold Sixes

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Travel Trends Leisure were crowned champions at the annual Mosvold Sixes worked off at Malay Cricket Club on Sunday.

Mosvold Sixes 2026 concluded on Sunday at the Colombo Malay Cricket Club with Travel Trends Leisure crowned champions after a closely fought final against last year’s winners, Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka, who finished as runners-up. Transco Travels were second runners-up.

Twenty three destination management companies took part in the six-a-side softball cricket tournament, organised by Mosvold Sri Lanka.

The Mosvold Martinus Challenge Trophy 2026 was presented to the champions by Nilanka Martinus, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Mosvold Boutique Hotels. Chief Guest Farveez Maharoof, the former Sri Lanka all-rounder, presented the runners-up award to Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka.

This year’s twenty three competing DMCs were Tangerine Tours, Sri Lanka Tailormade, Olanka Travels, Antiquity Sri Lanka, Travel Trends Leisure, House of Travels & Tourism, NKAR Travels & Tours, Jetwing Travels, Walkers Tours, Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka, Delux Holidays, Ceylon Roots, Spiceland Holidays, Infinity Vacations, Tropiculture, Serene Travels, Authenticities, Red Apple Travel & Holidays Lanka, DTH Travel Lanka, Hayleys Travels, We stay Ceylon, Transco Travels and Ceylon Tours.