Sports
Sri Lanka on brink of innings win over Bangladesh
Bangladesh were left staring down the barrel of an innings defeat in the second Test against Sri Lanka after limping to 115 for six at stumps on day three at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds on Friday.Trailing by a daunting 211 on the first innings, the visitors still need 97 runs just to make Sri Lanka bat again and with only four wickets in hand, the writing is on the wall.
The hosts, having posted a commanding 458 thanks to Pathum Nissanka’s majestic 158 and Kusal Mendis’ fighting 84, put the squeeze on Bangladesh, whose batting once again fell apart under scoreboard pressure and the probing spells of spin.
Captain Dhananjaya de Silva, leading from the front, dealt twin blows in the evening session. He had Mominul Haque caught at first slip before trapping his opposite number Najmul Hossain Shanto leg before – a massive breakthrough given the latter’s twin centuries in the drawn Galle Test. A desperate review from Shanto proved in vain, leaving Bangladesh in dire straits.
Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, under pressure to keep his spot after a lean patch, responded in style. He struck with the new ball, removing Shadman Islam caught behind, and later breached the defence of Mushfiqur Rahim with a delivery that went straight on. Jayasuriya could’ve had a third, but wicketkeeper Lahiru Udara spilled a regulation stumping chance to reprieve Shanto early in his innings.
Udara, standing in for the injured Kusal Mendis, had a mixed outing behind the stumps after Mendis hurt his shoulder while batting.
Earlier, Sri Lanka had looked wobbly after losing three wickets in quick succession to the second new ball, but Kusal Mendis played the anchor role to perfection, shielding the tail and putting away the bad balls. His crucial 84 ensured Sri Lanka crossed the 450 mark, capped by a towering six over wide long-on off Nayeem Hasan that pushed the lead past 200.
Just when a well-deserved hundred seemed within reach, Mendis was run out in a bid to shield number ten Vishwa Fernando from the strike. He dived full stretch but failed to make his ground – injuring his right shoulder in the process.
Taijul Islam, toiled hard and was rewarded with a five-wicket haul – his 17th in Test cricket – but his efforts appear to be in vain as the match slips from Bangladesh’s grasp.
Having won the toss and opted to bat, Bangladesh’s 247 in the first innings never looked enough on a placid surface. With Sri Lanka firmly in the driver’s seat, and the visitors tottering in their second dig, a 1-0 series win for the hosts now looks all but a formality.
by Rex Clementine ✍️
Shaheen Shah Afridi is set to make his maiden appearance in the Lanka Premier League, which begins this week. The PCB confirmed to Cricinfo that the fast bowler has been granted an NOC to participate in the tournament. He will play for Kandy Royals.
Afridi – earlier this month – was omitted from Pakistan’s squads for the Tests against West Indies and England after an indifferent run in the format. The 26-year-old has of late been perceived as more inclined towards white-ball cricket, with Aaqib Javed, Pakistan selector and high-performance director, saying earlier this month that “a player has to pick which format he wants to play”. The Tests against the West Indies clash with the LPL.
Afridi was recently named in the ongoing white-ball camp at the National Cricket Academy, despite the red-ball camp being conducted simultaneously and was left out of the second Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet.
Afridi was named Pakistan’s ODI captain last year and led Pakistan to a 2-1 series win over Australia at home last month. He was joint-leading wicket-taker with seven scalps at 12.14 runs apiece alongside left-arm orthodox Arafat Minhas, who debuted in the first of the three ODIs, and Nathan Ellis.
This will be Afridi’s second appearance in an overseas T20 league in the last year. He participated in the most recent BBL, turning out for Brisbane Heat. He had a forgettable run, however, taking only two wickets at an average of 76.50 in four matches. However, he remains in demand on the T20 circuit; Afridi has 362 wickets at 20.99 and an economy rate of 7.97. No Pakistan bowler has more than his 136 wickets in T20Is, which have come at an average of 21.35 and an economy of 7.83.
The LPL will run from July 17 until August 8. Kandy Royals play their first match against Dambulla Sixers on July 18.
[Cricinfo]
Colombo Championships
Thishya Banagala of Visakha Vidyalaya and Kashya Seneviratne of Colombo International School emerged as the girls’ and boys’ Under-12 champions respectively at the Vision Care Colombo Championship 2026, played on the clay courts of the Sri Lanka Tennis Association.
Banagala produced a series of commanding performances on her way to the girls’ title. She sealed the championship with a convincing 6-2, 6-1 victory over Thiyansa de Silva in the final.
The boys’ final provided a far sterner challenge as Kashya Seneviratne overcame Abhine Induwara in an entertaining three-set battle. After taking the opening set 6-2, Seneviratne dropped the second set 4-6 before holding his nerve to win the deciding match tie-break 10-4 and secure the championship.
HONOUR – MCA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2026
Sampath Bank and Ceylinco General Insurance registered convincing wins in the Mercantile Cricket Associations Champions League matches played over the weekend.
‘The 2026 edition of the MCA Champions League [formally known as the MCA ‘C’ League] is being powered by ‘HONOUR’ mobile phones.
Last week’s matches were played at the Mercantile Association Grounds
On Saturday,
Sampath Bank defeat LOLC Holdings by 64 runs
Sampath Bank
173/10 in 48 overs [Sajith Kotuwegoda 66; Thilanga Udeshana 2-40, Vinud Madushan 3-26, Sayuru Udukumbura 2-27]
LOLC Holdings
109/10 in 26 overs [Danushka Udara 26*; Dulaj Ashen 2-14, Dileepa Jayalath 2-37, Sithija Silva 2-12, Chamath Dilsara 3-29]
On Sunday,
Ceylinco General Insurance overcome Commercial Bank by 2 wickets
Commercial Bank
167/10 in 47.2 overs [Gimhana Ashirwada 60; Sandaru Dias 4-21, Yohan Edirisinghe 2-24]
Ceylinco General Insurance
170/8 in 44.2 overs [Sandaru Dias 60*; Gayana Preethimal 2-36, Pasindu Denipitiya 3-24]
A few showers may occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts
Negombo Prison riot: No convicts among 21 inmates killed
2026: 128 elephants killed in first four-and-a-half months
Sigiriya Jungles marks 10 years with community medical camp
Protests continue in Valikamam North demanding military-held land
Dirty Money
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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