Sports
Pradeeptha, Inuka dazzle
Under 19 Division I Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Centuries by Thamindu Pradeeptha and Diniru Abeywickramasinghe and a seven wicket haul by Inuka Karannagoda helped their respective schools do well against their opponents in the Under 19 Division I cricket encounters on Tuesday.
An unbeaten century by Thamindu Pradeeptha helped Richmond change the day one script at Mount Lavinia as they posted 249 runs against S. Thomas’ in their encounter. The teams bating first at Mount Lavinia had collapsed to low scores this season but the dogged 258 ball knock by Pradeeptha and a valuable half century by Malsha Tharupathi prevented Richmond from being bowled out for a low score. Pradeeptha’s knock contained 13 fours and a six (in 258 balls).
Abeywickramasinghe’s 116 runs helped St. Servatius’ score a first innings win over Moratu Vidyalaya at Uyanwatta. The visitors however managed to compensate for their dismal first innings performance as Deneth Sithumina top scored with 88 runs for them to post 207 for five wickets at stumps in the second innings.
At Katunayake, left-arm spinner Inuka Karannagoda took seven wickets (24.3-1-49-7) to lead Mahanama to a thrilling first innings win over St. Joseph’s.
Match Results
Inuka takes seven wickets for Mahanama to take first innings
points at Katunayake
Scores:
Mahanama
215 all out in 91.1 overs (Sachira Weliwatta 55, Viranga Yeshan 44, Rashmika Perera 43; Yenula Dewthusa 6/57, Muditha Dissanayaka 2/28) and 136 for 2 in 27 overs (Anjala Bandara 53n.o., Duvindu Ranathunga 38n.o., Sachira Weliwatta 28)
St. Joseph’s
12 for no loss overnight 175 all out in 73.3 overs (Muditha Dissanayake 59, Hirun Kapurubandara 41n.o., Sadeesh Jayawardana 20, Abishek Jayaweera 20; Inuka Karannagoda 7/49, Koojana Perera 2/24)
St. Servatius’ dominate
at Uyanwatta
Scores:
Moratu MV
111 all out in 45.1 overs (Isuru Nidarshana 20, Sukitha Devthilina 32; Viran Chamuditha 3/10, Chiran Neththaru 5/23) and 207 for 5 in 84 overs (Hashen Isuru 32, Thushan Ferdinando 25, Deneth Sithumina 88)
St. Servatius’
180 for 3 overnight 294 for 7 decl. in 76 overs (Denuwan Pramod 63, Chiran Neththaru 60n.o., Diniru Abeywickramasinghe 116; Kaviska Oshan 2/39, Thushan Ferdinando 2/30)
Thurstan on first innings
at Campbell Place
Scores:
Nalanda
218 all out in 61.2 overs (Yasiru Samarakoon 28, Senesh Wijesinghe 65, Sajitha Vithanage 48, Thisara Dewdunu 26; Thenuka Dewapriya 3/34, Vihas Thewmika 3/32) and 189 for 4 in 54 overs (Rusiru Vilochana 41, Sadew Samarasinghe 45, Kushmitha Silva 45, Eranga Jayakody 54)
Thurstan
146 for 2 overnight 272 all out in 83.3 overs (Ramika Sonal 22, Shanikya Deshapriya 75, Thenuka Dewapriya 71, Navindu Fernando 29, Vihas Thewmika 30; Azeem Mohomad 27; Sajitha Vithanage 5/93, Minod Caldera 4/56)
DSS post 227, St. Sebastian’s 24 for no loss at DSS ground
Scores:
DSS
227 all out in 73.1 overs (Senura Silva 58, Malitha Perera 32, Sahan Yapa 29, Chenul Pinsara 33; Sandeesh Fernando 4/59, Manuja Chanthuka 2/39, Ryan Dissanayaka 2/17)
St. Sebastian’s
24 for no loss in 3 overs (Ryan Dissanayaka 22n.o.)
Thamindu anchors Richmond
at Mount Lavinia
Scores:
Richmond
249 all out in 84.1 overs (Thamindu Pradeeptha 114 n.o., Malsha Tharupathi 59; Nathan Caldera 2/47, Kavindu Dias 6/76)
S. Thomas’
15 for 1 in 5 overs
St. Joseph Vaz’s 220, De Mazenod 94/4 at Kandana
Scores:
St. Joseph Vaz’s
220 all out in 66.3 overs (Rishith Menusha 41, Dasun Perera 64, Tharindu Eshan 50; Kavindu Kaushalya 3/38, Sithum Fernando 2/65, Thareen Sanketh 2/64)
De Mazenod
94 for 4 in 31 overs (Hasith Silva 47, Maleesha Mihishan 25n.o.)
Dimath, Gayana restrict Gurukula to 214 runs at Kurunegala
Scores:
Gurukula
214 all out in 52.3 overs (Thathsara Eshan 80, Denura Dimansith 31, Janith Mihiranga 23, Tharusha Dilsara 41; Gayana Weerasinghe 3/52, Dimath Abeysinghe 4/64)
Maliyadeva
144 for 5 in 45 overs (Jayamin Muthukumarana 33, Pasindu Menaka 24, Chandupa Abeysinghe 25n.o., Gayana Weerasinghe 34; Mohomad Mursad 3/34)
St. Anne’s amass 300 for nine
wickets at Kurunegala
Scores:
St. Anne’s
300 for 9 decl. in 93 overs (Kevin Shewantha 31, Mahima Kotuwila 34, Manaan Muzammil 58, Yomesh Subasinghe 45, Kalindu Wijesinghe 36; Bhanuka Insamal 2/47, Navija de Seram 2/68, Senura Perera 3/55)
St. Thomas’
no runs for 1 wicket in 0.5 overs
Mahinda take upper hand against
St. Aloysius’ at Galle
Scores:
St. Aloysius’
114 all out in 36.2 overs (Induwara Udena 20, Kalana Pathum 26n.o.; Shehan Hasaranga 4/35, Dinura Kalupahana 3/23, Dhanuja Induwara 3/17)
Mahinda
162 for 3 in 51 overs (Dinura Kalupahana 41, Savidya Ranmina 38n.o., Tharusha Dilshan 48n.o.; Vidura Lakshan 2/27)
St. Peter’s 252, Dharmaraja 94/5
at Bambalapitiya
Scores:
St. Peter’s
252 all out in 60.2 overs (Vishen Halambage 70, Rusanda Gamage 52, Nimuthu Gunawardena 50, Lakindu Samarajeewa 21, Sean Roberts 16n.o.; Thisaru Wanninayake 3/77, Kalana Herath 2/14, Dulara Bandulasena 2/37, Nisala Abeyratne 2/44)
Dharmaraja
94 for 5 in 39 overs (Pulindu Perera 27, Isuru Pannala 34n.o.; Shennon Rodrigo 4/07)
Lionel Messi marked his record sixth World Cup appearance with his first hat-trick at a FIFA tournament as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 to open the defence of their global crown, he also became the joint highest scorer at World Cups with the feat.
The former 38-year-old forward thought he had opened the scoring in the eighth minute in Kansas City on Tuesday when he slotted home from close range, but the offside flag was raised.
The dream start to his record-setting appearance, which will be matched by Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal against DR Congo on Wednesday, was not to be denied for long though.
A trademark, mazy run was capped by a drive on the edge of the box from that famed left foot. The power too much for Algeria keeper Luca Zidane, son of World Cup winner with France, Zinidine.
Messi doubled his tally on the hour mark with a simple tap in from a rebound off the keeper following a drive from Alexis Mac Allister.
The moment that even a player as decorated as Messi came in the 76th minute when he drilled low past the keeper from just outside the box.
The strike took Messi level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals.
His substitution came just three minutes later to a standard ovation, even old maestro seemed disappointed to be removed – and most likely rested for Argentina’s tilt at becoming only the third side to defend a World Cup title.
Algeria – the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winners – offered little, but were themselves denied an early goal when Fares Chaibi’s ninth minute strike was ruled out for offside.
Messi saw to it that there was no opening game upset to be had tat this edition, having lost their opening game at Qatar 2022 to Saudi Arabia.
Messi, who spent the majority of his club career in Spain with Barcelona before moving to French giants Paris-Saint Germain, plys his trade in US football’s Major League Soccer with Inter Miami.
Jordan and Austria open their account in the group later on Tuesday in San Francisco.
[Aljazeera]
Iran twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in an exciting World Cup clash at Los Angeles Stadium as protests against Tehran’s government and a peace deal signed to end the US-Iran war formed a charged backdrop to the match.
High security presence and protests outside the venue were among the off-field concerns surrounding the match on Monday.
And when New Zealand took an early lead through Elijah Just’s volleyed shot from inside the box, after being set up by Chris Wood, some fans critical of the Iranian government celebrated with New Zealand supporters.
Many of these anti-regime spectators also carried Iran’s pre-Islamic Revolution Lion and Sun flag, against FIFA’s rules. Several also booed Iran’s national anthem before kickoff.
But most of the crowd of more than 70,000 appeared firmly behind Team Melli, chanting “Ir-ran! Ir-ran!” and erupting when Ramin Rezaeian equalised shortly after the half-hour mark.
Rezaeian, one of several Iran players who had not played club football since February after the domestic league was suspended amid US and Israeli air strikes, reacted quickest to a blocked shot and poked the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.
Wood and Just combined again early in the second half, the New Zealand captain sliding a precise pass into the 26-year-old forward’s path before Just hammered home to restore the All Whites’ lead.
Iran responded 10 minutes later with a superb goal from Mohammad Mohebbi, who headed Rezaeian’s perfect cross in off the far post to make it 2-2.
The stalemate means all the teams in Group G have one point after Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt earlier on Monday.
New Zealand, making their third appearance at the tournament, remain without a win at a World Cup after seven matches. Iran are looking to reach the knockout round for the first time.
The match laid bare divisions among Iranian American fans, many of whom said they felt torn between pride at seeing Iran on the sport’s biggest stage, anger over Tehran’s crackdown on protesters and concern over Washington’s bombing campaign.
Before kickoff, about 300 to 500 protesters gathered outside the stadium, waving anti-government signs and flags.
Some Iranian Americans had said attending the match would imply support for Iran’s government, while others said they wanted to set politics aside and support the players.
Iran will next return to Los Angeles to face Belgium on Sunday when New Zealand take on Egypt in Vancouver.
[Aljazeera]
United States sprinter Noah Lyles has set the world’s best-ever time over the rarely-run 150 metres race, clocking 14.67 seconds at the Golden Spike meet in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava.
The 28-year-old Lyles on Tuesday beat the previous best of 14.72 set by Kishane Thompson of Jamaica in Florida in April.
At Ostrava, Lyles beat Sinesipho Dambile of South Africa with 14.78, while Australian teenager Gout Gout finished third in 14.96.
“Was there ever any doubt? Was there ever any doubt? We came for a show,” an elated Lyles told Czech TV.
Earlier this month, Lyles took a comfortable win at the Wanda Diamond League meet in Rome with a 9.88 in the 100m, his fastest since clinching gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The high-energy, anime-loving showman has had strong indoor and outdoor performances throughout the year so far, and was named on this year’s Time100 list of the most influential people.
Dutch star Femke Broeders-Bol had to bow to in-form Swiss Audrey Werro in her outdoor debut in the 800m.
The 26-year-old Broeders-Bol has switched from 400m hurdles, in which she had won two world gold medals, and clocked an impressive 1 minute 57.13 seconds for second place.
“It was so cool, I love racing in Ostrava. It was tough, but I enjoyed it,” she said.
Broeders-Bol has also claimed multiple medals as the anchor leg in 4x400m relay teams, notably a gold in the mixed event in the Paris Olympics.
She ran her first 800m since 2017 in February, clocking a national record of 1 minute 59.07 seconds before withdrawing from the rest of the indoor season to nurse a foot injury.
The 22-year-old Werro won in 1 minute 54.45 seconds, half a second behind her personal best from March, after shedding Broeders-Bol with 200 metres to run.
“It was a really crazy run, but the time is very good, so I’m really happy,” Werro said.
Having set the eighth best time ever, she stayed over a second behind the oldest world record in athletics of 1:53.28 set in 1983 by Jarmila Kratochvilova of then-Czechoslovakia, who watched the race from the stands.
South Africa’s 20-year-old Bayanda Walaza won the men’s 100m as he equalled his personal best of 9.94 seconds, beating Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon with 9.99 seconds.
US favourites Ronnie Baker and Jordan Anthony were demoted to the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, with times well over 10 seconds.
[Aljazeera]
Messi hat-trick fires holders Argentina to win over Algeria at World Cup
‘Dancing girl’s’ bare torso restored in Indian textbook after backlash
Tehran selling deal with US as victory – but for Iranians it was necessity
Plans to open underutilised state land for new investment opportunities
National Export Development Plan (2026–2030) presented to the President
Iran draw 2-2 with New Zealand in politically charged World Cup match
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News5 days agoCIABOC summons Yoshitha over his participation in British Navy training programme
-
Sports2 days agoTharanga set for high-profile javelin clash in Ostrava
-
News5 days agoJustice Minister responds to social media claims he represented Easter Sunday ringleader
-
News4 days agoCommonwealth lawyers urge Lanka to uphold rule of law
-
Features3 days agoPolitics of protected species
-
News2 days agoTheft of USD 2.5 mn from Treasury: CoPF accused of complicity in NPP cover-up
-
News1 day agoBeijing Capital Airlines to resume flights to Colombo signalling boost to tourism
-
News2 days agoRelease of 2025 O/L results likely to be delayed