Sports
St. Sebastian’s, Isipatana, St. Peter’s record victories
by Reemus Fernando
St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa cemented their top position in Tier ‘A’ group ‘Y’ points table as they pulled off eight wickets victory over Maris Stella College in their tournament match at Negombo on Monday.
While Isipatana consolidated their top position in group ‘X’ of the Tier ‘B’ tournament with nine wickets victory over Wesley, St. Peter’s registered innings and 13 runs win over St. Aloysius’ College Galle in a traditional match.
Match Details
Tier ‘A’
Sebs beat Maris Stella by eight wickets at Negombo
Scores
St. Sebastian’s 212 all out in 56.5 overs (Kaveesha Perera 55, Adesh Almeida 40, Koshendra Fernando 37n.o.; Oshada Gunasinghe 4/67, Hasindu Perera 2/40, Kevin Kadigamuwa 3/43) and 114 for 2 in 29.5 overs (Kaveesha Perera 66n.o.)
Maris Stella
107 all out in 30.4 overs (Oshada Gunasinghe 41n.o., Ramith Bandara 28; Malintha Silva 4/21, Adesh Almeida 3/35, Koshendra Fernando 3/32) and 25 for no loss overnight 218 all out in 38 overs (Levin Fernando 35, Safni Deen 47, Yohan Aloka 25, Mineth Fernando 29; Malintha Silva 7/65, Koshendra Fernando 2/82)
Mahanama on first innings at BRC
Scores
Mahanama 168 all out in 47.4 overs (Chamika Heenatigala 32, Sithum Vihanga 38; Pasindu Maheesha 3/19, Dinal Sewmina 2/33, Praveen Maneesha 4/55) and 32 for no loss overnight 244 for 8 decl. in 53 overs (Sithum Vihanga 72n.o., Sineth Veerarathne 45, Anuka Wijewardana 37n.o., Eshan Withanage 24; Praveen Maneesha 7/92)
Lumbini
144 all out in 40 overs (Bimsara Weerasinghe 36, Gimhana Wijayapura 33, Ashan Shanika 20; Anuka Wijewardana 4/25, Sithum Vihanga 4/36) and 126 for 7 in 50 overs (Ashan Shanika 44, Praveen Maneesha 24; Sithum Vihanga 4/40)
DSS on first innings against Nalanda at DSS ground
Scores
DSS 316 for 9 decl. in 91.3 overs (Shanal Binuksha 76, Sohan Yapa 24, Chanul Athale 46, Dilash Kumaranayake 101n.o. ; Hasith Rathnayake 2/80, Sadew Samarasinghe 4/61) and 106 for 5 in 29 overs
Nalanda
9 for no loss overnight 276 all out in 77 overs (Nadul Jayalath 91, Osanda Pamuditha 59, Manasa de Silva 43n.o.; Shanal Binuksa 3/62, Chanul Athale 3/19)
Thomians win first innings points against Bens at Mount Lavinia
Scores
St. Benedict’s 179 all out in 63.5 overs (Eshan Edirisuriya 29, Janindu Nandasena 73, Aaron de Silva 3/25 Darien Diago 2/28) and 118 all out in 502 overs (Sharujan Shanmuganathan 92; Kavindu Dias 2/10, Darien Diago 4/28)
S. Thomas’ 109 for 2 overnight 232 for 9 in 82.1 overs (Dineth Goonewardene 94, Avinash Fernando 46, Mithila Charles 28; Nirwan Jayathilaka 2/46, Samindu Peiris 4/34)
Tier ‘B’
Isipatana beat Wesley by nine wickets at Campbell Park
Scores
Wesley 91 all out in 32.4 overs (Anuga Pahansara 22, Rukshan Tharanga 25; Chanul Dinoth 5/29, Menula Sadev 3/25) and 13 for 3 overnight 182 all out in 52.5 overs (Lithum Senuja 55; Dimuthu Tharaka 5/31, Menula Sadew 3/68)
Isipatana 233 all out in 54.3 overs (Navindu Hettiarachchige 35, Ruchith Rodrigo 48, Dilpa Ruwanaka 24, Ranmith Senarath 44, Chanul Dinoth 47; Dinuja Samararathne 6/63 Adhyaan Zain 3/68) and 41 for 1 in 7.4 overs (Navindu Hettiarachchige 24n.o.)
St. Anne’s record first innings win at Ambepussa
Scores
Moratu MV 300 for 6 decl. in 79 overs (Isuru Nidharshana 118, Visal Sri Sathsara 38rtd., Sanjana Senevirathne 104; Shehan Kumara 3/92) and 33 for 2 in 12 overs
St. Anne’s 34 for 1 overnight 311 for 8 in 106.3 overs (Wageesha Ranasinghe 52, Kushan Subasinghe 69, Chamith Sasenjana 43, Buddhima Nandasiri 41, Oshada Kodikara 51n.o.; Nishitha Fernando 2/52, Sathsara Mihiranga 3/67)
Traditional Matches
St. Peter’s beat St. Aloysius’ by innings and 13 runs at Bambalapitiya
Scores
St. Aloysius’ 140 all out in 42.5 overs (Charya Paranavithana 36; Dilana Damsara 5/35) and 139 all out in 45.2 overs (Kavindu Kesara 57; Joshua Sebastian 3/12, Dilana Damsara 3/37)
St. Peter’s 213 for 5 overnight 292 all out in 72 overs (Dilana Damsara 92, Asadisa de Silva 66, Thareen Sanketh 49n.o.)
England Women 81 for 3 in 13.5 overs (Sophia Dunkley 22, Mala Bouchier 19*, Heather Knight 18; Bree Illing 1-20, Nensi Patel 1-07, Melle Kerr 1-18) beat New Zealand Women 80 in 19.1 overs (Isabella Gaze 17, Maddy Green 14, Jess Kerr 20; Linsey Smith 2-15, Issy Wong 1-20, Sophia Ecclestone 1-11, Charlie Dean 3-13, Dani Gibson 3-14) by seven wickets
Royal Challengers Bengaluru [RCB] might look at Gujarat Titans [GT] across the ring in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026, and wonder if they helped create this monster. When GT went to Bengaluru on April 24, they were still a conservative side straddling the middle of the table, and happy with a 57-ball hundred from their opener. But they have been a changed unit since RCB cruised to that chase of 206 against them that day.
Since that match, the halfway point for GT, their run rate has increased by nearly a run per over. That is 20 runs per innings. By the time they faced RCB next, they were giving more importance to balls remaining than to wickets in hand while chasing. When batting first, GT were looking to score above par; there has been a pair of 229s in the two matches they have batted first in since that Bengaluru debacle.
The thing with GT is that they have a team with such strong basics that they don’t need to make only subtle changes to their approach. Their control rate has gone from 80% to 75%. A little more risk, a lot more rewards. Their bowling has only become more streamlined over this period with Jason Holder adding constant threat to an already good attack. The result is a 6-1 win-loss record in the second half of their tournament.
RCB, though, have been solid throughout, carrying forward the change in approach that took them to the title last year. They won five in the first half and four in the second. They have consistently looked to finish matches early or set above-par scores when batting first. A second consecutive top-two finish is just rewards for being the most consistently good side over this period.
They will want to make it straight from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad, where they won their first title last year. Not only to make the final but to also hope to avoid meeting GT in a final at their home, something that should be the right of defending champions. Not least because GT are on a four-match winning streak at home, which includes two wins despite losing the toss.
RCB have used the fewest number of players this IPL, a sign of a settled unit. It would certainly have been fewer if not for the injury to Phil Salt, who is now back in India and racing against time to be ready in time for the playoffs. If he doesn’t make it, though, it brings in the temptation to drop Suyash Sharma for Jacob Duffy considering Suyash has not had a great IPL, and night games in Dharamsala can negate spinners. In fact, Dharamsala hosted the only completed match this season where no spin was used.
Venkatesh Iyer has made a case for himself in the limited opportunities he has got, but Salt should be a no-brainer as opener if he is fit.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (probable): Virat Kohli, Phil Salt/Venkatesh Iyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (capt), Jitesh Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy/Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam
GT have played the second-fewest number of players. They seem to have their first XI figured with Nishant Sindhu being persisted with as the extra batter. Their only doubt remains around the Impact Player: extra fast bowler in Prasidh Krishna or extra spinner in R Sai Kishore or Manay Suthar.
Gujarat Titans (probable): Shubman Gill (capt), B Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Nishant Sindhu, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna/R Sai Kishore/Manav Suthar
[Cricinfo]
Aken Thilakawardhana produced an impressive all-round display as St. Sylvester’s registered a huge 101-run victory over Sri Rahula, Katugastota in their Under 17 Division I first round cricket encounter at Katugastota on Monday.
Chasing a target of 219 runs for victory, the home team never looked in contention as wickets fell at regular intervals before they were bowled out for 117 runs in the 34th over.
St. Sylvester’s bowlers struck early to put Sri Rahula under pressure, with Sasiru Dineth and Sakuna de Silva reducing the hosts to 18 for three wickets. Aken then joined the attack to further dismantle the batting line-up, claiming three wickets to cap an outstanding all-round performance.
Aken, who had earlier contributed a valuable 48 runs with the bat, finished with impressive figures of 3 for 24.
Sri Rahula’s innings was led by Savinu Mendis, who top scored with 28 runs, but lacked support from the other batsmen as St. Sylvester’s maintained control throughout the chase. Sasiru Dineth returned figures of 3 for 33, while Sakuna de Silva too two for 23.
Earlier, put to bat first, St. Sylvester’s posted a competitive 218 all out in 49.2 overs after receiving a brisk start from opener Adithya Ranamukage. He raced to a half-century in just 35 deliveries, smashing nine boundaries and two sixes in an aggressive knock.
Nithil Herath contributed 25 runs, Keshan Perera made 27, while Aken added 48 to strengthen the innings. Vihanga Perera also chipped in with 23 runs.
For Sri Rahula, Chamindu Sathsara was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 55, while Shehan Weddagala, Praboth de Silva and Savinu Mendis claimed two wickets apiece.
Scores:
St. Sylvester’s
218 all out in 49.2 overs (Adithya Ranamukage 50, Nithil Herath 25, Keshan Perera 27, Aken Thilakawardhana 48, Vihanga Perera 23; Shehan Weddagala 2/31, Chamindu Sathsara 3/55, Praboth de Silva 2/24, Savinu Mendis 2/31)
Sri Rahula Katugastota
117 all out in 33.2 overs (Savinu Mendis 28; Sasiru Dineth 3/33, Sakuna de Silva 2/23, Aken Thilakawardhana 3/24). (RF)
Cabinet approves sale of Paddy stocks held by the Paddy Marketing Board
Amendment to the Promotion of Export Agriculture Act, No. 46 of 1992 to be gazatted
Ms. M.K.D.N. Madampe, appointed as Director General of the Department of Management Services
Cabinet approves collaboration agreement between Sri Lanka and Brazil for the implementation of the “Sugarcane Project in Sri Lanka”
Cabinet approval for Implementation of a Project for the Joint Exchange of Genetic Resources between Sri Lanka and Vietnam and the Development of High-Yielding and Salinity-resilient Rice Varieties.
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura extended till1600 hrs on Wednesday [27]
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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