Sports
Rain could force Asia Cup matches out of Colombo
Wet weather could further impact the Asia Cup schedule with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) considering moving games in the Super Four round away from Colombo. Officials from Sri Lanka Cricket and the PCB have confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that they are looking at alternative venues in Sri Lanka where relatively drier weather is forecast.
Although this is not the monsoon season in Sri Lanka, Colombo has had heavy rain in the last few days, leading to flooding in parts of the northern reaches of the city, not far from where the Khettarama Stadium is located.
This, plus the washout of the Pakistan – India match in Pallekele on Saturday, has prompted fresh conversations between the ACC and the broadcasters Disney Star*.
September is often not an especially rainy month in Colombo as the northeast monsoon generally starts in October. Since 2015, the Khettarama ground, which is scheduled to host five Super Four games and the final between the 6th and 17th, has staged five men’s T20Is and four men’s ODIs in the month of September. All of those matches were completed and only two were rain-reduced.
It is not clear to what extent tournament organisers have consulted with Sri Lanka’s meteorologists. Officials ESPNcricinfo talked to could not give specifics as to what kind of weather was expected in Colombo over the coming weeks. It is instead the washing out of the marquee India-Pakistan match that has raised alarm.
If matches are moved out of Colombo, an alternative venue is also an issue. Dambulla had been suggested as an option, but it is understood India have not been satisfied with hotel and accommodation facilities there, while SLC officials claim there is work ongoing on the stadium floodlights – a long-standing issue the board has apparently not appropriately fixed. Dambulla lies in Sri Lanka’s “dry zone” and as such receives substantially less rainfall than both Kandy and Colombo at this time of year.
Hambantota, which is also on the border of the dry and wet zones, could be another option. But that stadium is essentially located on the edges of a jungle and there are no close-by accommodation options. It would be a logistical hassle for SLC if matches are moved there.
Broadcasters are also understood to be reluctant to split the remaining games across two venues, because it would either involve transporting equipment back and forth by road, or maintaining broadcasting infrastructure at two separate locations in Sri Lanka.
If some or all matches are moved away from Colombo, it will further impact a tournament already beset by scheduling challenges. Pakistan are the tournament’s official hosts, but India’s refusal to play there has meant several teams shuttling back and forth between the two countries.
Two Sri Lanka Under-19 men’s cricketers have been arrested over allegations of filming people bathing in the hotel the players were staying at, in Narahenpita, Colombo. Both players have since been released on a personal bail of LKR 500,000 (approx $1,564).
The cricketers had been arrested earlier this week after women staying at the hotel had complained that they were being filmed using mobile phones, while in their bathrooms. Sri Lanka police told ESPNcricinfo that Narahenpita police are currently investigating if any of these videos have been shared online.
Having been produced at the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court for their initial hearing, the players are next due back in court on May 25.
SLC has not announced any disciplinary measures of its own. However, the board has been in flux over the past 48 hours, with the ousting of the previous office bearers, and the appointment of the Transformation Committee.
[Cricinfo]
Jason Holder was so omnipresent that his involvement in five dismissals enabled the Gujarat Titans (GT) to bowl Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) out for 155 in Ahmedabad. Such a middling chase was right up the alley of Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudarshan, but once GT lost both their openers in the powerplay, their soft underbelly was exposed once again. They needed cameos from Holder (12 off 10 balls) and their Impact Player RahulTewatia (27* off 17 balls) to get over the line, handing defending champions RCB their third defeat in IPL 2026.
Virat Kohli flew out of the blocks for RCB, hitting Kagiso Rabada for four successive fours in the second over after they were asked to bat first by GT. Even Rabada’s traditional hard length was pumped over mid-off. In the next over, Kohli charged at Mohammed Siraj and deposited him over mid-on for four more. However, when Kohli tried to charge at Rabada in the fourth over, the South Africa quick hit the deck harder and drew a top edge to midwicket. Rabada had the last laugh and gave the departing Kohli (28 off 13 balls) a death stare.
Siraj had earlier dismissed Jacob Bethell, who got another game in place of the injured Phil Salt, for a run-a-ball 5. Rabada and Siraj bowled right through the powerplay and kept RCB to 59 for 2.
Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Padidar forged a 44-run partnership for the third wicket before Holder caught the RCB captain at deep square leg in the eighth over. Doubts, however, emerged around the legality of the catch when slow-mo replays suggested that Holder may have grassed it more than once, including while sliding. The TV umpire, Abhijit Bhattacharya, perhaps deemed that Holder was in control of his movements and ultimately ruled Patidar out.
Some of RCB’s players and staff disagreed with the TV umpire’s decision, gesturing that Holder had grassed it. Kohli was seemingly remonstrating with reserve umpire Parashar Joshi after which RCB coach Andy Flower was also spotted having an intense chat with Joshi. Having waited near the boundary, Patidar dragged himself off the field.
Holder was involved in four other dismissals. He had Jitesh Sharma nicking off in the ninth before taking the catches of both Tim David (9) and Krunal Pandya (4) at midwicket. Holder claimed his second wicket when he had his West Indian compatriot Romario Shepherd holing out.
Despite wickets falling around him, Padikkal kept up RCB’s high intent and manufactured scoring opportunities by making swinging room. He top-scored for RCB with 40 off 24 balls before Rashid Khan had him chopping on with a slider.
At 126 for 7, RCB pressed the emergency switch and brought in Venkatesh Iyer as their Impact Player at a cost of a specialist bowler in Rasikh Dar. Venkatesh struggled for fluency and also copped a blow on his unprotected elbow. His 29-run stand for the ninth wicket with Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped drag RCB to 155 before they were dismissed with four balls unused in their innings.
Gill kickstarted GT’s chase by whacking Josh Hazlewood for three fours and two sixes in a 24-run over. Hazlewood had not conceded more runs in an IPL over ever. Gill pressed on to score 43 off 18 balls – the most he has scored in an IPL powerplay – before he slapped Bhuvneshwar to cover, where Kohli grabbed the fast-travelling ball with both hands.
Buttler then took over from Gill and attacked both Hazlewood’s pace and Suyash Sharma’s wristspin. Buttler cracked 39 off 19 balls before he exposed his leg stump, only for Bhuvneshwar to knock it out in the eighth over. Bhuvneshwar also removed Sai Sudharsan during his four consecutive overs. While Hazlewood leaked 56 runs in his four overs for no wickets, Bhuvneshwar ended up giving away only half as many while picking up those three wickets.
Shepherd had to step in as their fourth bowler after they had sacrificed a specialist bowler in Rasikh Dar for Venkatesh’s batting. He responded by taking out both Shahrukh Khan and Washington in one over, the 11th of the chase. Holder then diffused the tension that Shepherd had built up by hooking his first ball for six. When Holder fell in the 14th over, GT needed 15 off 37 balls. Tewatia and Rashid got the job done with 25 balls to spare.
Brief scores:
Gujarat Titans 158 for 6 in 15.5 overs (Shubman Gill 43, Jos Buttler 39, Washington Sundar 12, Rahul Tewtia 27*, Jason Holder 12; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3-28, Suyash Sharma 1-44, Romario Shepherd 2-30) beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru 155 in 19.2 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 40, Virat Kohli 28, Rajat Patidar 19, Romario Shepherd 17, Venkatesh Ayer 12, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar 15*; Mohammed Siraj 1-38, Kagiso Rabada 1-44, Arshad Khan 3-22, Rashid 2-19, Jason Holder 2-29) by four wickets
[Cricinfo]
A superb display of spin bowling led by Sri Lanka Under-19 spinner Vigneswaran Akash powered St. Joseph’s College to a first innings victory over Royal College in the Under-19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket final concluded at the P. Sara Oval on Thursday.
Defending a formidable first innings total of 443, the Josephians relied on their spinners to dismantle a strong Royal batting line-up, eventually bowling them out for 378 to secure the title on first innings.
The spin trio of Akash, Vishwa Peiris and Nushan Perera shared all ten wickets between them, maintaining tight control throughout Royal’s reply. Leading the charge was Akash, the Jaffna-spinner, who delivered a match-winning performance with five wickets for 136 runs in a marathon spell of 44.2 overs.
Akash’s key breakthrough came when he removed his Sri Lanka Under-19 captain Vimath Dinsara, who top-scored with a valiant 95. Dinsara, along with Ramiru Perera (90), kept Royal in contention with a strong fourth-wicket stand after early setbacks.
Royal showed resilience through several useful contributions. Rehan Peiris made 43, while Dushen Udawela added 45. However, the Josephian spinners struck at crucial intervals to halt any momentum, with Peiris claiming three wickets and Perera chipping in with two.
Earlier, St. Joseph’s built the foundation for victory with an imposing 443 in their first innings. Senuja Wakunegoda led the batting effort with a magnificent 123, supported by Rishma Amarasinghe (73), Chethina Kavinda (78), Dilpa Maduranga (56) and Nushan Perera (54). For Royal, Mahiru Kodithuwakku and Himaru Deshan claimed three wickets apiece.
Despite a spirited batting effort, Royal ultimately fell short against a disciplined and relentless spin attack, as St. Joseph’s celebrated a well-deserved championship triumph.
(RF)
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