Sports

Sri Lanka rue dropped catch

Published

4 years ago

2022/10/31

Rex Clementine in Brisbane

Sri Lanka had everything going for them on their march towards the semi-finals of the ICC T-20 World Cup in Australia. With their games against New Zealand and England slotted at Sydney Cricket Ground, a venue they had done exceptionally well over the years, many fans hoped that the team will reach the last four stage.

Although the side had been shaken up by a series of injuries, when the Kiwis were reduced to 15 for three, Sri Lanka were eyeing a big win that would not only give them two points but boost their Net Run Rate too. When Glenn Phillips skied one and Pathum Nissanka at long-off, the fielder got his hand to the ball and you sensed a New Zealand collapse. However, the ball popped out of Nissanka’s hands and then all hell broke loose.

Phillips, who is from South Africa had moved to New Zealand as a kid. He mixed up both power hitting and innovation to enable New Zealand to 167 and then Trent Boult ran through the top order to finish with career best figures of four for 13.Philips dominated the day having smashed the second hundred of the World Cup. His 104 came off 64 balls with ten fours and four sixes.

The 65 run defeat pushed Dasun Shanaka’s team to the bottom of Group 1 in the Super 12 round, even below Afghanistan and Ireland. Sri Lanka’s Net Run Rate of -0.89 means that their semi-final hopes are almost over although they are technically not out of the competition.The Sri Lankans arrived in Brisbane yesterday afternoon ahead of their penultimate Super 12 game on Tuesday and will have a training session today.

“I thought we started really well against New Zealand but our fielding let us down. That was the game changer. I have never seen Pathum drop a catch. He is one of our best fielders but unfortunately he missed that chance and then the game drifted away from us,” Shanaka told journalists.

“I think we could have kept them to a score like 130 or 140 if we had taken that cath. Yet again, we didn’t bat well up front. So we know that on these wickets it’s tough. The first two overs are going to be the toughest two overs and we were three down after two overs and that’s not going to help us chasing a target of 160,” Dasun elaborated.

A lot of emphasis has been put in place to raise the national cricket team’s fielding standards this year and although the team looked to have turned a huge corner during the Asia Cup, in Sydney it was back to square one.Although Pathum’s drop catch was highlighted, overall the team’s fielding was well below par with misfields costing them dearly and taking the pressure off from the batsmen making life difficult for the bowlers.

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Sports

India closing in on big win in Colombo

Published

6 hours ago

2026/08/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sonal Dinusha’s impressive run in the series continued as he posted back to back hundreds, but India are in total control of the game

by Rex Clementine

India are closing in on a big win at SSC after Sri Lanka slumped to 229 for six at stumps on day four of the second Test having been forced to follow on yesterday.

Sri Lanka lead by just 16 runs with four wickets in hand and with three sessions remaining, the tourists will be looking to wrap up victory and complete a 2-0 series sweep. India won the first Test in Galle by 165 runs.

Sonal Dinusha, who batted superbly for a hundred in the first innings, was unbeaten on seven when rain brought play to a premature end. With Sri Lanka now into the tail, Dinusha has his work cut out. He has been the hosts’ standout performer in the series, having also made 100 and 84 in Galle.

Sri Lanka resumed the day on 265 for eight, still needing 39 runs to avoid the follow on, but were bowled out for 290 and asked to bat again.

Although they lost both openers early, Kamindu Mendis and Pasindu Sooriyabandara gave Sri Lanka hope with a 115 run stand for the third wicket.

Sooriyabandara, who had made 80 in the first innings, once again played spin superbly, using clever footwork, while Mendis took on the fast bowlers.

But India had plenty of runs on the board and persisted with the short ball against Mendis, stationing three fielders on the boundary. Eventually, the plan paid off. Mendis took on Mohammed Siraj and perished for 55, with captain Shubman Gill running in from square leg to complete a fine catch.

That was the breakthrough India desperately wanted and the spinners quickly turned the screws. Three wickets fell for just nine runs as Sri Lanka surrendered the initiative and India regained control.

Sooriyabandara missed out on a well deserved hundred when he charged Manav Suthar. The left-arm spinner cleverly fired the ball wide, leaving the batter stranded as Rishabh Pant whipped off the bails in a flash. Sooriyabandara’s 92 came off 173 balls and contained ten fours and a six.

Having spent considerable time in the field, India’s bowlers were beginning to tire, evident from the number of loose deliveries they sent down. But Sri Lanka’s batters lacked the patience to drive home the advantage, with several throwing away their wickets just when the hosts appeared to be clawing their way back into the contest.

Sports

Sri Lanka Air Force win Overall Championship at 14th Defence Services Badminton Championship

Published

6 hours ago

2026/08/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Sri Lanka Airforce Men's and Women's Badminton Teams with officials

Sri Lanka Air Force emerged Overall Champions in both the Men’s and Women’s categories at the 14th Defence Services Badminton Championship concluded successfully on 21 August 2026 at the Sri Lanka Army Indoor Sports Complex, Panagoda.

The SLAF Men’s Team secured the Open Men’s Doubles and Men’s Team Championships, while the Women’s Team excelled by winning the Open Women’s Singles, Open Women’s Doubles and Women’s Team Championships.

In the Open Men’s Doubles, Leading Aircraftman Lochana De Silva and Aircraftman Achintha Imeshaqe secured the championship, while Aircraftwoman Praveena Wijesundara and Aircraftwoman Anurangi Masakorala claimed the Open Women’s Doubles title with Aircraftwoman Praveena Wijesundara winning the Open Women’s Singles Championship.

Major General Mohan Premaratne, President of the Sri Lanka Army Badminton Federation, was the Chief Guest at the awards ceremony while SLAF’s Director Sports Air Commodore Prabath Dissanayake, former Chairman Badminton Sri Lanka Air Force Air Commodore Poojana Gunathilake, Secretary Air Force Sports Council Group Captain Eranda Geeganage and Secretary Badminton Sri Lanka Air Force Wing Commander Thushara Wijeratne. were also present.

Sports

Malki and Shashini bowl Sri Lanka Air Force to a 169 run win

Published

6 hours ago

2026/08/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

Malki Madara / Shahini Fernando

Malki Madara and Shashini Fernando shared nine wickets between them to help Sri Lanka Air Force Women beat Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women by 169 runs and propel their team to the semi finals of the Major Club Womens Limited Over cricket tournament conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket.

In the game played at their home ground in Katunayake on Monday [24], Sri Lanka Air Force posted 276 runs for the loss of eight wickets with Ashani Kaushalya topping the score card with 57 runs off 81 balls with ten hits to the ropes.Sasini Alwis and Wethumya Wijesuriya captured three wickets each.

Chasing 277 to win Shashini Fernando captured five wickets while Malki Madara captured four wickets to restrict the Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women to 107. Skipper Sanduni Nisansala scored 38 off 61 balls with four boundaries and a six.

Sri Lankan Air Force Women will meet Panadura Sports Club Women for the semi-final at the LRDC ground on Friday (28)

Scores:

Sri Lanka Air Force Women 276/8 in 50 overs [Ashani Kawshalya 57, Malsha Shehani 32, Savindi Cooray 34*; Sasini Alwis 2-48, Wethumya Wijesuriya 2-67]

Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women 107/10 in 43.5 overs [Sanduni Nisansala 38; Malki Madara 4-14, Shashini Fernando 5-09]