Sports
Shepherd, Joseph seal West Indies’ third consecutive T20I series win over South Africa
West Indies won a third successive T20I series against South Africa by defending 179 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, where they dismantled a chase that was well set up. South Africa were 129 for 3 in the 14th over but lost 7 for 20 in 36 balls and were bowled out for 149 in 19.4 overs to fall short by 30 runs.
Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie made the crucial breakthroughs when they removed Tristan Stubbs and Donovan Ferreira, respectively, but then it was over to RomairoShepherdand Shamar Joseph to finish it off. Shepherd ended with 3 for 15 from his four overs and Joseph with a career-best 3 for 31. Between them, they took South Africa’s chances of levelling the series from on track to derailed.
West Indies would have known that the total they posted was gettable after they pulled off the highest successful chase at the venue – 175 – two days ago and South Africa were off to a quick start. They raced to 100 inside ten overs but West Indies conceded only one boundary between tenth and 14th overs to force South Africa into making mistakes that ultimately cost them the game.
South Africa’s middle order will be a cause for concern as only one batter after No. 3 got past 20 in a match where individual run-scoring accolades were scarce. There were no half-centuries across the two teams but West Indies were clearly the better big-hitting side. They hit 13 sixes compared to South Africa’s six, which was one marker of where the game was won.
After a match-winning 51 in the opening game, Shai Hope announced his intent in this match when he slog-swept Bjorn Fortuin over midwicket to score his first boundary of the innings. Hope’s pull off Kwena Maphaka in the next over, which went between the wicketkeeper and short fine, opened up a scoring area in the V behind the stumps. Alick Athanaze also exploited that area when he played Lizzaad Williams late through third. West Indies finished the powerplay on 43 for 1, before Hope’s best came out. He smashed Aiden Markram for back-to-back sixes over midwicket, with the turn and wind. Two more sixes came when he pulled Maphaka over cow corner and flicked Patrick Kruger over a wide fine leg to underline his preference for leg-side play. Hope scored 39 of his 41 runs on the leg side, and had a third fifty in four innings in his sights, before he reached for a wide Kruger delivery and was caught at deep point.
Hope was Kruger’s first T20I wicket and it was not long before he had his second. After a change of ends, but with the same plan, Kruger struck with the first ball in the 12th over. He maintained a wide line outside off and Roston Chase was enticed into attempting a big shot. He only got enough to find Maphaka on the edge of the point boundary, who took a good low catch to leave West Indies 94 for 3. Kruger is not South Africa’s first-choice allrounder, even in this squad, but has done enough to keep Wiaan Mulder on the bench and perhaps even edge out Ferreira. But West Indies scored 50 runs in their last five overs, with Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford adding 47 off 28 balls for the fifth wicket to give them the edge.
The last ball of Hosein’s opening over was not particularly short, but Reeza Hendricks pulled it for four over midwicket for the first boundary of South Africa’s reply. And it was as though a switch had flipped. Hendricks went on to hit a wide ball from Matthew Forde over point, a full delivery through the covers and then seemed to do nothing more than attempt a back-foot defensive block but timed it well enough to get past mid-off for four more. His coup de grâce came against Chase, whom he hit for 22 runs in five balls, including back-to-back sixes either side of the wicket, to give South Africa fifty inside four overs, and 71 in the powerplay albeit that he fell on the penultimate ball. Hendricks under-edged Shepherd onto his stumps and was out for 44 but showed signs that he was back to his best. In 12 innings before this one, Hendricks had only gone past 40 once and though he would have been disappointed not to get a half-century, he set up the chase well.
Hosein’s first two overs – at the start of the innings – cost 17 runs and he was brought back in the 14th. South Africa were 125 for 3 after 13 with Tristan Stubbs and Rassie van der Dussen both in and scoring quickly. Hosein made a crucial breakthrough, foxing Stubbs. Stubbs tried to loft a slow, flighted ball over long-off but did not get enough on it and was caught by substitute fielder Fabian Allen. Pace-off also did Ferreira in, as Motie had him stumped in the next over, but it was Hosein’s final delivery that put South Africa’s hopes to bed. Van der Dussen tried to hit him over midwicket but only made contact with the inside half of the bat and was caught by Joseph. South Africa were 138 for 6 after 16 overs and needed 42 runs off 24 balls. Joseph and Shepherd took it out of South Africa’s reach and cleaned up the tail before Matthew Forde finished off the match
Brief scores:
West Indies 179 for 6 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 41, Alick Athanaze 28. Rovman Powell 35, Sherfane Rutherford 29; Lizzard Williams 3-36, Patrick Kruger 2-29) beat South Africa 149 in 19.4 overs (Ryan Rikelton 20, Reeza Hendricks 44, Tristan Stubbs 28; Akeal Hosein 2-25, Romairo Shepherd 3-15, Shamar Joseph 3-31) by 30 runs
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.
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)
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.
Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and Southern provinces and in Anuradhapura district
PSTA worse than PTA: FSP
Shiranthi R remanded until 13 Oct.
Former NSB Chairman Kariyawasam granted bail
Katchatheevu row: India SC urges fishermen to avoid Sri Lankan waters
Remembering Juvenal, Coke, Acton and Machiavelli
‘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
-
Editorial6 days agoColombo Port drug bust: The plot thickens
-
Features4 days agoThe first woman in the foreign service or Ceylon Overseas Service it was then called
-
Editorial5 days agoFuelling discontent and protest
-
News3 days agoGeneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations
-
Latest News5 days agoTharindu Rathnayake, bowlers secure Asian Games Bronze for Sri Lanka
-
Foreign News5 days agoTen injured after car crashes into rugby supporters in Australia
-
Features3 days agoSri Lanka Cricket Bill: Governance reform is not yet a cricket strategy
-
News4 days agoNearly 20 Iranian tankers stranded off Lanka amid US sanctions