Rex Clementine
at Pallekele

When Sanath Jayasuriya took the reins as Sri Lanka’s Head Coach earlier this year, he didn’t just shuffle the deck – he set about reshaping the entire playing ethos. Fitness, discipline, fielding, running between the wickets, and commitment were the cornerstones of his strategy. Yet, one masterstroke stood out: mandating tail-enders to sharpen their batting skills during practice sessions.

Jayasuriya had identified a glaring gap during the tour of England—the bowlers’ contributions with the bat were meager at best, leaving the team precariously balanced. Thus, net sessions for the bowlers became more than a box-ticking exercise; they had to learn the art of scoring runs not just playing defence.

That foresight bore fruit in spectacular fashion on Sunday at Pallekele. Maheesh Theekshana stepped up to the plate – or rather, the crease – and played a pivotal role alongside Kusal Mendis in scripting a thrilling three-wicket victory against New Zealand. The win wasn’t just another notch on the belt; it ended a 12-year drought in bilateral series wins against the Kiwis.

At 163 for seven, with 47 runs still needed on a pitch that was spinning like a roulette wheel, Sri Lanka’s chances looked bleaker than a batsman caught in two minds. But Theekshana stood firm, facing 44 deliveries to notch a crucial 27 runs, peppered with two fours and a six. His knock, full of grit and sense, helped steer Sri Lanka to a famous win with an over to spare.

“Even our bowlers get to bat at practice, so we know they can contribute when it matters,” Theekshana told reporters, reflecting on the game. “Players like Wellalage, Vandersay, and others are capable of stepping up. The team has confidence that if one player stumbles, the next will rise to the occasion.”

Theekshana shed light on his partnership with Kusal Mendis, which turned the tide of the game. “The plan was simple—bat deep and take the game into the final over. With the dew coming in, it became easier to bat as the match progressed. The spinners struggled to grip the wet ball, forcing them to turn to the quicks. Our strategy to take the game deep worked like a charm,” he explained.

Kusal Mendis, nursing a groin niggle, was visibly struggling but soldiered on to post an unbeaten 74 – a match-winning knock that, coupled with Theekshana’s resilience, sealed the deal.

“When Kusal was on strike, they kept giving him the single, trying to get me on strike. Their plan was to bowl dot balls at me and force a mistake,” Theekshana said with a wry smile. “But they underestimated us. We bided our time, waiting for the loose balls, and when they came, we punished them. They brought the field up for me, and I made the most of the gaps outside the stumps.”

This victory is yet another feather in Sri Lanka’s cap in a year where the team has turned their fortunes around, clinching several bilateral series across all three formats.

“Our bench strength has grown immensely,” Theekshana observed. “Look at Nishan Madushka – he can’t find a spot in the XI despite scoring a 50 and a 40. We have a solid lineup of spinners ready to step in. There’s healthy competition within the squad, and that’s pushing everyone to perform at their best.”

by Reemus Fernando

Lyceum International Wattala athlete Dilni Rajapaksha bagged yet another junior athletics record when she cleared 6.04 metres to win the Under 15 girls’ long jump on day one of the Sir John Tarbat Junior Athletics Championship at Matara on Monday.

Dilni has bagged almost all youth records this year from the Junior National Under 16 record to the Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletics Championship record by clearing the six metres barrier.

She became the first Sri Lankan athlete of her age to clear the six metres mark early this year.

Bahrain Badminton Series

Sri Lanka won a silver medal and a bronze medal at the Bahrain International Series 2024 in Manama, Bahrain, with shuttlers Ranithma Liyanage, Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva shinning in their respective events.

Ranithma’s victory in the women’s singles semi-finals, earned Sri Lanka’s sole silver medal, while Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva secured their bronze medal in the Women’s Doubles, both after stellar performances up until the final stages of the six-day international competition, organised by Badminton Asia.

Ranithma faced stiff competition from Indian Prakriti Bharath, who sealed the Women’s Singles gold medal in straight sets. Ranithma faced off her opponent with greatest courage after a successful run, but her unblemished record came to an end when the Indian won the sets 21/13 and 21/17 to claim the Women’s Singles title at the prestigious Bahrain International Series 2024.

Ranithma beat Mikaela Joy de Guzman of the Philippines 2-1 to reach the final after an absorbing semi-final clash that went to the wire. After overcoming Mikaela in the first set easily by 21/11, Ranithma disastrously conceded the second set 8/21 to pave the away for a decisive third set. Ranthma then made sure to keep her hopes of reaching the final alive by keeping her opponent at bay before securing the third set 21/18 after a close tussle.

On Friday evening, Ranithma secured her semi-final slot in the Women’s Singles, by eliminating compatriot Rashmi Mudalige in the all-Sri Lanka quarter-final clash.

Isuri and Sithumi were made to fight in the Women’s Doubles semi-final by Indian pair Annanya Pravin and Prerana Sher, who beat the Sri Lankan pair to reach the final with a straight set win. Annanya and Prerana played with a well-executed plan to make the young pair of Isuri and Sithumi fight for their points before sealing both sets 21/14 and 21/12.

Isuri and Sithumi, who had a fine tournament up until the semi-final stage, overcame stiff competition from the Bahrain duo Lizbeth Elsa Binu and Neha Susan Biju in the Women’s Doubles quarter-final, before securing a win by straight sets.

Meanwhile, Ali Hayati of Iran put a complete stop to the progress of Sri Lankan Men’s Singles player Aashinsa Herath, after recording a 2-1 win in an absorbing quarter-final clash on Friday. Hayati made early progress by securing the first set 21/14, but Herath bounced back to equalise with a punching 21/17 win in the second set. After an early setback, Hayati bounced back to secure the third and final set by 21/13 and secure a semi-final slot.

Earlier Men’s Singles players Thilina Rajakaruna and Reshan Dimbukkuwalage bowed out of the competition following losses in their Round of 16 games in the Men’s Singles. Men’s Doubles pair Dinura Rashmika Priyankara and Siyath Senaratne too had to end their unbeaten run after falling short by a whisker following a tough Round of 16 game against Bahrain pair Adnan Ebrahim and Muhammad Firmansyah, who were pinched by 23/21 and 24/22.