Sports
Reshon Solomons shines as S. Thomas’ outclass Holy Cross by eight wickets
A fine all-round performance by Reshon Solomons guided S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia to a convincing eight-wicket victory over Holy Cross College, Kalutara in their Under-17 Division I cricket encounter played on Monday.
After electing to bat, Holy Cross were restricted to 97 all out in 31.3 overs by a disciplined Thomian bowling attack. Opener Nishil Ralintha top-scored with 24 runs while Matheesha Nethsara contributed 17. Nimthera Chathusha Silva made 11 and Tashan Minsara added 10, but none of the batsmen were able to convert their starts into substantial scores.
The Thomian bowlers shared the wickets around, with Vihas Peiris producing the best figures of 3 for 11 from 7.3 overs, including a maiden, at an outstanding economy rate of 1.51. Seelan Aathithiya and Thihas Kakulandara claimed two wickets apiece, while Reshon Solomons and Kushen Perera chipped in with one wicket each.
Holy Cross suffered regular setbacks after a promising opening stand, losing wickets at crucial intervals and failing to recover from the middle-order collapse.
Chasing a modest target of 98, S. Thomas’ lost two early wickets and were reduced to 23 for 2 inside six overs. However, Thihas Kakulandara and Reshon Solomons combined in an unbroken third-wicket partnership worth 75 runs to steer their team home comfortably.
Solomons led the charge with an unbeaten 46 off 45 deliveries, striking three fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 102.22. Kakulandara provided solid support with a composed unbeaten 33 from 49 balls as the pair guided S. Thomas’ to 98 for 2 in just 19.4 overs.
For Holy Cross, Sathoosh Dulmika and Matheesha Nethsara accounted for the two wickets to fall, but the target proved too small to defend.
Solomons’ valuable contribution with both bat and ball, coupled with Vihas Peiris’ impressive spell, laid the foundation for a comprehensive Thomian victory.
Scores:
Holy Cross
97 all out in 31.3 overs (Nishil Ralintha 24, Matheesha Nethsara 17; Vihas Peiris 3/11, Seelan Aathithiya 2/23, Thihas Kakulandara 2/10).
S. Thomas‘ 98 for 2 in 19.4 overs (Reshon Solomons 46n.o., Thihas Kakulandara 33n.o.)
Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute from a rebound yielded by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory.
Merino was the late hero for the second straight match for Spain, who advanced to face tournament favourite France in the semifinals on Tuesday in Dallas.
Merino came on in the 86th minute and scored from his second touch of the match, charging into the box and pouncing after Lammens spilled a Pau Cubarsi shot from outside the area.
The Arsenal forward also scored as a substitute early in injury time to secure Spain’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the last-16.
Lammens, the Manchester United keeper, was forced into the match in the 71st minute after longtime Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois left with an apparent thigh injury.
Belgium desperately pressed for an equaliser in the final minutes, but Aymeric Laporte volleyed their best chance out of the box.
Fabian Ruiz scored the opening goal in the 30th minute for Spain after Courtois had parried a shot from Dani Olmo from Pedro Porro’s cut-back from the right of the area, but Belgium forward Charles De Ketelaere scored the first goal allowed by Spain in the entire World Cup in the 41st minute.
His header from Timothy Castagne’s cross from the right ended a record streak of 649 minutes without conceding at the World Cup.
The annual rugby encounter between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College, played for the William Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy, is set to take place today (July 11, 2026), at 4:00 PM at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy.
The official unveiling of the trophy took place this week at the Dharmaraja College premises with the participation of the Principals of the two schools, teachers-in-charge of sports, coaches, the Rugby teams, and several distinguished guests, including Dharmaraja College Old Boys’ Association President Mahesh Wijetunga, Kingswood College Old Boys’ Association President Muditha Abeykoon,
Text and Pic by SK Samaranayake
The annual rugby encounter between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College, played for the William Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy, is set to take place tomorrow (July 11, 2026), at 4:00 PM at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy.
The official unveiling of the trophy took place this week at the Dharmaraja College premises with the participation of the Principals of the two schools, teachers-in-charge of sports, coaches, the Rugby teams, and several distinguished guests, including Dharmaraja College Old Boys’ Association President Mahesh Wijetunga, Kingswood College Old Boys’ Association President Muditha Abeykoon,
by S K SAMARANAYAKE
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