Sports
Sri Lanka regret batting approach
Rex Clementine
in New York
Sri Lanka’s strategies in their opening encounter of the T-20 World Cup in New York weren’t up to scratch but the team has promised to fight back to earn qualification to the second round. The toss became the talking point among many while the batting approach raised eyebrows among even former players.
Captain Wanindu Hasaranga conceded that the team had a total of 160 in mind whereas something in the range of 120 could have helped contain South Africa.
New York was a two paced wicket. The outfield was outrageous with the ball not travelling at all. After the first four overs, you could sense that this is not the ideal T-20 wicket as seen in IPL and all, but Sri Lanka kept trying to be aggressive and lost wickets at regular intervals.
Hasaranga has had tremendous successes promoting himself up the order as a floater. He did the same on Monday but was dismissed for a second ball duck giving Keshav Maharaj the charge. Sadeera Samarawickrama followed next ball putting the left-arm spinner on a hat-trick. He may have cooked his goose with Sri Lanka’s next fixture in Dallas against Bangladesh becoming a must win game. Dhananjaya de Silva, who is among the reserves, could get drafted into the side.
It’s a pity that the team’s think tank did not assess conditions. It was all too evident that this was going to be a low scoring game but the batters kept trying to clear the boundary and South Africa kept picking up wickets. Once again Sri Lanka were guilty of not utilizing the quote of 20 overs.
South Africa did struggle during the run chase. But a total of 77, Sri Lanka’s lowest ever in T-20 Internationals, wasn’t even going to test Uganda, a team making their debut in the competition.
Heinrich Klaasen, who made 19 during the run chase said that South Africa were surprised that Sri Lanka put them in. On a track where there had been little international cricket, South Africa were planning to bowl first to see what the track had on offer.
Anrich Nortje was a treat to watch. Probably the quickest bowler in the world, he finished with career best figures of four for seven and wreaked havoc by dismissing Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis Charith Asalanka and Angelo Mathews.
It was a pity that even deep into the innings, Sri Lankan batters kept playing their shots and failed to assess the wicket.
Under 19 Cricket
Left-arm spinners Vishwa Peiris and Demion de Silva took five wickets each as St. Joseph’s cruised to an innings and 51 runs victory over St. Benedict’s in the Traditional Mack – Croner trophy cricket encounter at Darley Road on Tuesday.
St. Benedict’s came to the match having done well in the Tier B tournament matches but the spin might of the Joes was too hot for them to handle as they collapsed for 62 runs in the second innings.
The result somewhat exposed the gap between the Tier A and Tier B teams of the Under 19 Division I category as the team from Kotahena were bowled out within 25 overs. They were following on after being dismissed for 197 runs in the first innings, where Nushan Perera grabbed five wickets bowling the bulk of the overs for the Joes. He was adjudged the Best Bowler.
While Vishwa was the Man of the Match, Rishma Amarasinghe (Best Fielder) and Senuja Wakunugoda (Best Batsman) won the other individual awards.
The Joes made 313 in their innings with Senuja top scoring with 106 runs.
In the Division I Tier ‘A’ matches Gurukula (against St. Sebastian’s) and St. Anthony’s Katugastota (against Royal) registered first innings victories.
Maliyadeva took first innings points against De Mazenod in a tier B match.
(RF)
Organisers of the ICC T20 World Cup are sweating over after Pakistan refused to play nuclear-armed neighbours India in Colombo, a decision that has left administrators scratching their heads and staring at a potential financial googly.
The India–Pakistan contest, the jewel in the tournament’s crown, is the game that oils cricket’s economic engine. If the marquee clash is bowled out, the loss of revenue will have every stakeholder feeling the pinch from boardroom to boundary rope. Islamabad’s call to withdraw, taken at government level, has sparked fears the verdict will not be overturned.
Anticipation for the grudge match had reached fever pitch. Tickets vanished on day one of sales, while Colombo’s hotels were snapped up quickly. Five-star rooms that normally fetch 150 US dollars were hiked to 600 USD, some even soaring to 800 USD as the city braced for a carnival.
With the capital full to the rafters, tour operators shuttled visitors to nearby Negombo, an hour’s drive from the stadium, while others opted for apartments as accommodation ran dry. Flights, too, were booked well in advance, but uncertainty over the epic duel has now cast a long shadow.
“We haven’t had many cancellations yet, but we fear the worst. Everyone will take a hit if the game doesn’t take place,” aviation industry official Thusitha Perera told Telecom Asia Sport.
Gihan Wickramasinghe, representing Colombo’s hoteliers, echoed the concern. “Our hope is the match goes ahead. If not, we’ll have to refund bookings and the tour operators will be hit even harder.”
Tour operator Lisa Fernando said the anxiety was mounting. “Two groups from Dubai alone, 75 people, were coming. Corporate clients had planned trips down south as well. There’s a lot of money at stake and so much unnecessary stress.”
Indian fan Varun Kumar from Bangalore has already paid for flights and hotels but intends to travel regardless. “Sri Lanka has been on my bucket list. Whether the match happens or not, we’ll come to experience the country,” he said.
Sri Lanka Cricket remains optimistic the contest will be rescued before the final over is called. But if the showpiece is scratched, it would be a hammer blow to an economy only just finding its feet after years of setbacks, leaving the tournament badly caught behind.
SSC Open Tennis Championship 2026
Zacharia Akbar and Thishya Banagala were crowned champions in the Under 12 boys’ and girls’ singles respectively of the SSC Open Tennis Championships in Colombo.
In the boys final, Zacharia Akbar beat Kashya Seneviratne 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. The S.Thomas’ College player reached the finals with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Satheesh Appathuri in the semi-finals.
The Under 12 girls’ final saw Thishya Banagala beat Thiyansa de Silva 7-5, 6-2.
The Visakha Vidyalaya player reached the final after a 6-4, 6-4 win over Manuli Seneviratne in the semis.
Zacharia Akbar (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)
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