Sports
Sri Lanka’s fate now in Irish and Afghan hands
Rex Clementine in Brisbane
Sri Lanka’s impressive six wicket win over Afghanistan and England’s 20 run defeat of New Zealand at the Gabba yesterday has given Dasun Shanaka slender hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the ICC T-20 World Cup. Sri Lanka will be now hoping that either New Zealand will lose to Ireland or Afghanistan will upset Australia. Sri Lanka are supposed to train on Friday in Sydney, but their minds will be in Adelaide where both those deciding games will be played. Then of course, on Saturday, they have got to beat England at SCG to go through. If New Zealand and Australia win on Friday, then Sri Lanka can pack their bags even before their last Super 12 game.
None of this would have mattered had that Glenn Philips catch had been taken by Pathum Nissanka, some may say. Hey, but hang on, did Sri Lanka play like a team that deserved a semi-final slot? The plain answer is no. They were sloppy on the field and their planning was awful. There should be questions asked from people who are giving clean bills of health for injured players. Binura Fernando barely lasted a game while Dushmantha Chameera was a flop despite being wrapped up in a cotton wool since March this year with the hope that he will be firing on all cylinders at the World Cup. He is expected to be fit for the IPL.
Dhananjaya de Silva was the star of the day in his team’s victory with nine balls to spare. The vice-captain posted an unbeaten 66 that came off 42 balls with six fours and two sixes. This is his career best score and his first half-century since January 2020.He brought up the victory with an elegant cover drive off Fazalhaq Farooqi for four.
Dhananjaya often gives you the impression that he is not a T-20 cricketer. Although it’s a game meant for the dashers, he has made his presence felt with his smooth drives and elegant flicks and when he has not got width to free his arms, he just drops the ball and scampers for singles.
The Afghans were kept to below 150 as Wanindu Hasaranga claimed three wickets and just conceded 13 runs in his four overs. With 13 scalps to his name, he is the highest wicket taker in the competition.
The last time Lahiru Kumara was at the Gabba, he limped off the field with yet another hamstring injury and yesterday he bowled with fire to claim two wickets. Kasun Rajitha is proving to be a reliable customer as well as he bowled economically and as they are looking set to turn things around, their costly mistakes are hurting them.
By A Special Sports Correspondent
Kandy Sports Club crowned themselves as ‘Cup Championship’ winners in the inter-club league rugby tournament when they overcame their final hurdle by beating Havelocks Sports Club by 50 points to 24 at Nittawela last evening.
Kandy SC was anyway assured of the title this season before this final game of the season even began, given that they were unbeaten thus far in the league tournament. Kandy SC collected their points through seven tries, six conversions and a penalty while Havelocks Sports Club responded with a three converted tries and a penalty.
Kandy SC set the pace for the game from the kick off itself and recorded first half tries through Dinal Ekanayake, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Kenula Hettiarachchi and Dahan Wickremaarachchi and all four conversions were slotted in by Tharinda Ratwatte. Havelocks SC got most of their points in the first half through Sandesh Jayawickreme who scored a try and booted through a conversion. The penalty for the Park Club was kicked right by Samuel Maduwantha.
Kandy SC faced some resistance from Havies after the turn around, but the side from Nittawela found the try line by breaking through a barrage of tackles from the men wearing the pink and chocolate jerseys.
Dahan Wickremaarachchi started the ball rolling for Kandy with a try after the turn around which took the side’s score to 38 with the conversion. Havies played in patches thereafter and scored through Jayathu Rajaratne and Janidu Fernando. Jayawickreme was spot on with the conversions.
Kandy’s Ethen Schneider Loos smashed his way through for the side’s sixth try which was converted by Ratwatte. Kandy had the game in the bag despite Havies playing attacking rugby whenever they had possession. But the score line deference that Kandy maintained throughout the game made it hard for Havies to make a real comeback into the game.
The Nittwala side erupted in jubilation when Ekanayake punted ahead and sent crowd favourite Nigel Ratwatte for the seventh and final try. There was speculation throughout the game that this would be Nigel’s final game for the Kandy SC side. Surprisingly Tharinda missed the conversion.
At the awards presentation ceremony after the game, Kandy Sports Club’s Tharinda Ratwatte was named as the highest points scorer for the 2024/25 league rugby season. He has accumulated 139 points this season.
Havelocks Sports produced the highest try scorer for the season. That award went to Jayathu Rajaratne of Havies. He has had 16 touchdowns this season. Havelocks Sports Club had to be satisfied with the runners-up trophy at the awards presentation. Players from both sides including the coaching staff were presented with medals by the organisers of the tournament.
Meanwhile CR&FC did well in their last outing in the Cup Championship segment of the league tournament when they beat Air Force by 31 points to 16 at Longden Place.
In the two Plate Segment matches, Sri Lanka Navy beat Sri Lions by 41 points to 38 at Race Course.In the other match of the Plate segment, Police SC beat Army SC by 24 points to 17. The match was played at Police Park.
Mutthusami Sivarajan and Rasara Wijesuriya won the men’s and women’s Cross Country Championships of the National Sports Festival conducted in Nuwara Eliya.
Sivarajan representing Central Province returned a time of 34 minutes and 21 seconds to finish ahead of Samantha Pushpakumara and Damith Hemantha Kumara.
In the women’s category, Wijesuriya from Eastern Province clocked 38 minutes and 41 seconds finish ahead of Madhushani Herath and Chamini Herath.
Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ Limited Overs Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Trinity advanced to the final of the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ Limited Overs Cricket tournament with six wickets victory over arch rivals St. Anthony’s in the semi-final played at BRC ground on Saturday.
Open batsman Dimantha Mahavithana held Trinity’s batting together with a valuable knock of 74 runs inclusive of six fours. He was out after leveling scores. Chaniru Senarathne added a fourth wicket stand of 82 runs with Mahavithana and remained unbeaten on 44.
Deciding to bowl first, Trinity did well to take three quick wickets.
Malith Rathnayake who opened bowling with Sethmika Senavirathne took three wickets as he completed his full quota of ten overs for 23 runs. Senavirathne did not take a wicket but he bowled an economical spell giving away just 20 runs in his eight overs.
Sweath Anurajeewa took three wickets for 25 runs (8 overs) while Chaniru Senarathne, Vathila Udara and Jayavi Liyanagama grabbed a wicket each.
Trinity will now meet St. Joseph’s in the final which will be played after the O/L exams.
St. Joseph’s eliminated Gurukula to book their final berth.
Trinity are in the semi-final stage of the two-day tournament as well.
Scores:
St. Anthony’s 158 all out in 50 overs (Sadew Amarakoon 31, Kaushika Kumarasinghe 35, Kevan Fernando 34n.o.; Malith Rathnayake 3/23, Sweath Anurajeewa 3/25)
Trinity 159 for 4 in 45.3 overs (Dimantha Mahavithana 74, Aadham Hilmy 22, Chaniru Senarathne 44n.o.; Ryan Gregory 2/30)
Showers in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Kandy district after 2.00 p.m.
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