Sports

Suncorp Hoodoo!

Published

5 years ago

2020/11/9

by Rajitha Ratwatte

The Bledisloe dead rubber but a game with points for the tri-nations rugby tournament played at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. The Wallabies had lost only once at this venue and is there something in a venue that has an outcome on the result?

All blacks had rung in some changes and so had the Wallabies. A humid day in Brisbane and a rather hurried transit to the ground for the Blacks and Nick Berry refereeing a game expected to be an easy win for the NZ team. The Wallaby no1 James Slipper led the team out in his 100th appearance for Australia.

Within two minutes of the kick-off, a nice little chip kick from Reece Hodge playing at no10, combined with a favourable bounce of that ever so fickle rugby ball saw the Wallabies score the first try mid-left. A relatively easy kick was missed by the Aussie no10 and the Wallabies were off to a 5 – 0 lead.

Eight minutes into the game, a desperate attack by the All Blacks with equally resolute defence from the Yellow Jerseys culminated in Ricco Ioane getting over the line from his left-wing. The kick from the extreme left of the posts saw Jordan Barret, who had the kicking duties for the game hit the upright. The kick missed score 5 – 5.

Scott Barret the third of the Barret boys showed great skills in loose play and won the ball and his big brother Beauden made a great touch kick in the 13th minute. However poor positional play by the All Blacks no1 Karl Tu’inukuafe gave away a defensive penalty deep in Wallaby territory.

Around the 20th minute Seevu Reece who was playing on the right-wing and from whom great things were expected, seemed to be trying too hard and got pinged twice in succession for playing the ball when on the ground and gave away penalties, the second of which was mid-left and around 30 meters from the posts. Easily kickable for Hodge and over it went. Wallabies lead 5 – 8.

Then the card game began! Yet another microscopic analysis by the TV ref of a tackle reached a conclusion that the All Black no3 Ofa Tuungafasi while tackling had struck his Wallaby opponent on the point of his jaw with his shoulder. This was simply due to the different heights of the players and obviously had no malicious intent at all. There was plenty of malicious play going on from the Aussies as is their style but the Referees’ got it completely wrong and what should have been a simple penalty or even a yellow card at worst was declared a red card offence! In the 23rd minute of the game, the All Blacks were reduced to 14 players for the rest of the game. A vital lifter in the line out had been summarily dispatched from the game.

A scrum came up in the 28th minute and there was a problem as the no3 had been red-carded! Akira Ioane the elder brother of Ricco ( we had two sets of brother representing NZ in this game – 3 Barrets’ and 2 Ioannes’) who had a strong game had to be benched to get another prop on the field and midfielder Lennert- Brown had to bind at no6 in the scrum. Sam Cane who had been targeted for some foul play by the Aussies, unseen by all the referees, of course, intercepted an Aussie pass from the scrum with great skill that led to a kickable penalty in the 32nd minute. It was around 36 meters out but in front and Jodie Barret was not going to miss that. 8 – 8 scores level.

An almost identical situation that had led to the first red card of the game happened but was totally ignored by the on-field ref. However, the pedantic eye of the TV camera spotted it and the cards that seemed to be burning a hole in the referee’s pocket came out again. Red it was against Australia this time, establishing consistency according to the pundits! Both sides down to 14 players for the rest of the game.

The Customary and obligatory Aboriginal welcome speech at the start of the game saw an Aboriginal elder describe the game as a game of rugby league by mistake. Maybe the Ref was under the impression that there were too many players on the field!

The All Blacks attacked relentlessly and Aussie defence held up. But four penalties in a row inside the 22-meter line saw the card pack being shuffled again and out came a Yellow against the Aussie no11. Seven in a row on another occasion only resulted in penalties. Surely the option of a penalty try is available for so many professional fouls from inside the 22-meter line? The half-time score remained tied at 8 – 8. There were certain commentators describing the game as entertaining but only if you thought it was a brawl of some sort, not a game of Rugby Union!

The referee started the second half by missing a blatant forward pass that had to be pointed out to him by his touch judge. Aussies now had 13 players against the All Blacks 14. Four minutes into this half the Aussies were awarded a kickable penalty, exactly what they wanted with two players short and Reece Hodge made no mistake 8-11 Aussies in front. The 51st minute saw a forwards try off a line out for the All blacks with no2 Codie Taylor managing to ground the ball extreme right. A great conversion by Jodie Barret saw the All Blacks back in the lead 15 -11. In the 54th minutes, the Aussies were looking very threatening, getting the better of the Scrums and of course, engaging in what is now called gamesmanship – taking every opportunity to rough up their opponents and put extreme pressure on the referee. A blatant hand in the scrum was not seen by the referees and the All Blacks thought they got out of jail but it was not to be. A scrum penalty was to follow soon enough, it was around 40 meters out but straight in front and was duly knocked over by Reece Hodge who specializes in this sort of kick. 15 – 14 All Blacks just in front.

Ardie Savea made a few strong runs but the All Blacks forwards were feeling the humidity and showed it by not getting to rucks and mauls in time. Maybe the bench should have been used a little earlier due to the weather? The Linesman or the assistant referee as he is known these days spotted Scott Barret doing what was deemed playing the ball of the ground. What it looked like was a feeble wave of his hand at the Aussie no 9 who then dropped the ball while making a pass.

When the whistle went we all thought it was for a knock-on but lo and behold it was another time to shuffle the cards and a yellow to the youngest of the Barret brothers. So we had two red cards and two yellow cards during this brawl that has been described elsewhere as an “entertaining game of Rugby football”, which it wasn’t!

In the 74th minute, the Wallabies scored mid-left through their substitute prop wearing the no18 jersey. A veritable tank of a man who was totally unstoppable from five meters out. The goal was completed and the score read 15 – 24 All Blacks behind. AB’s were not giving up and in the 78th minute Tupou Vaa’I scored for them under the posts and the resulting kick saw the score move to 22 – 24. Brilliant and desperate defence from Korobiete on the wing for Australia resulted in the All Blacks being unable to score further and the match ended with a 2 point win for the Wallabies who had been trashed just a week ago in Sydney by 37 points.

All in all, it was a tight game but lacked any brilliant passages of play and the antics of the referee left one wondering if we were watching a game of cards or a game of rugby. However, the Aussies played to their strengths, they don’t have the three quarters to match the Kiwis and can not play the open running rugby that we saw in the past two games. However, the Aussies know how to spoil and how to stretch the rules and play the referee. They did this to perfection and got the better of a much superior side. This win will do a lot for Aussie rugby and probably teach the All Blacks never to get complacent against the Aussie battlers.

It is true that the Aussies won the game and it will probably result in some added interest from spectators who were getting tired of watching the Wallabies lose time after time. It may also allow the Wallabies to try and contrive a situation when they can secure the tri-nations trophy, or whatever this latest money-making scheme for the TV networks is called! Whoever won and whoever stands to benefit, it wasn’t the great game of Rugby union!

supersubsports@gmail.com

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Sports

Wankhede braced for India–England semi-final blockbuster

Published

4 hours ago

2026/03/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

Wankhede that hosted the 2011 World Cup final between Sri Lanka and India will host this evening’s T20 World Cup semi-final between India and England.

The second T20 World Cup semi-final gets underway at the iconic Wankhede Stadium today (Thursday) with England and India locking horns for a place in the final. Both sides are two-time champions and boast well-balanced outfits, setting the stage for a contest where there is little to separate.

India in particular have had to roll up their sleeves and graft their way through the Super Eight stage. Having stumbled in their opener against South Africa, they were forced into two must win encounters inside a week and came through with flying colours. Those victories have hardened their resolve and ensured the defending champions arrive at the business end battle ready.

England, meanwhile, began the tournament on shaky ground. They were given a scare by Nepal and later tasted defeat against West Indies, leaving them with little room for error. But like seasoned campaigners, the Englishmen have steadied the ship and found their rhythm when it matters most.

One of England’s biggest strengths has been their ability to play spin with confidence in recent months. Their bowling attack too has evolved. No longer overly reliant on pace and swing, England have shown the nous to mix things up, calling on a variety of spin options when conditions demand it.

There is, however, one blot on their scorecard. In the last five games, their opener Jos Buttler has struggled for runs, repeatedly departing for single digit scores. But his glovework behind the stumps has been impeccable and with several of England’s batters firing on all cylinders, they can afford to carry one misfiring gun in the line-up.

Still nursing the wounds of a painful Ashes defeat, reaching the World Cup final would go a long way in restoring pride in the England camp and perhaps even saving a few careers that are currently on the line.

India, meanwhile, carry the weight of expectation that only cricket in this country can generate. As defending champions, they have the backing of a cricket mad nation and Wankhede will be a cauldron of noise when the two sides take the field.

For Sri Lankan fans, the venue also stirs bittersweet memories. It was here at Wankhede that Sri Lanka’s dreams were shattered in the 2011 World Cup final, when India lifted the trophy.

One concern for India ahead of the big clash will be their catching. They have been sloppy in the field, grassing several chances and recording a worrying catching percentage. Their overall strength has masked those lapses so far, but dropped catches at this stage of the tournament can come back to haunt even the strongest of sides.

Earlier, South Africa and New Zealand were set to square off in the first semi-final in Calcutta on Wednesday. The winners will head to Ahmedabad where they will await the victors of the Bombay clash for Sunday’s grand finale.

Rex Clementine in Bombay

Sports

Perera, Sugandika, Ranaweera take Sri Lanka to T20I series win over West Indies

Published

4 hours ago

2026/03/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

[File photo] Hasini Perera recorded her second T20I half-century

Opener Hasini Perera’s second T20I fifty, on the back of two wickets apiece by left-arm spinners Sugandika Kumari and Inoka Ranaweera, capped off another strong effort by Sri Lanka as they beat West Indies by nine wickets to seal the three-match T20I series 2-0.

Captain Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and elected to field in Grenada, and much like in the second T20I, the spinners strangled the West Indies batters. Sugandika was introduced into the attack in the third over and she struck with her third ball, nipping out Hayley Matthews, caught and bowled for 8.

Ranaweera then struck with her second ball, prising out Shawnisha Hector, before Sugandika picked up a third wicket in the powerplay in the form of Eboni Brathwaite. Deandra Dottin struck three fours in her first ten balls as West Indies ended the powerplay on a high but slowed down spectacularly after that, only managing 28 off 39 balls as West Indies added just 34 runs in the ten overs after the end of the powerplay.

Ranaweera finished her frugal four-over spell by trapping Dottin lbw, and four balls later, Kavisha Dilhari cleaned up the other set batter, Stafanie Taylor, for 24.

At 83 for 5 after 18 overs, West Indies were in danger of falling short of 100 but Chinelle Henry gave the innings much-needed impetus, smashing an unbeaten 32 off 15 and helping them take 36 runs off the last two overs. Despite the late onslaught, West Indies finished on a below-par 119 for 5.

In reply, Athapaththu raced away again, crashing four fours in the first three overs with Sri Lanka going at nearly ten an over. Sri Lanka added 48 runs in the powerplay without losing a wicket and while Athapaththu fell soon after for a 22-ball 32 to Afy Fletcher, she had set a solid platform.

With the required rate less than six an over, Perera and Imesha Dulani focused more on rotating the strike, putting together an unbroken 72-run stand for the second wicket off 64 balls. Perera took 58 balls to reach her fifty before Dulani finished the match and the series by striking a four off Matthews. Sri Lanka won the game with 14 balls to spare, making it a double success for them, having earlier won the ODIs 2-1.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka Women

121 for 1 in 17.4 overs (Hasini Perera 52*, Imesha Dulani 34*, Chamari Athapaththu 3; Afy Fletcher 1-14) beat West Indies women 119 for 5 in 20 overs (Stafnie Taylor 24, Deandra Dottin 28, Chinelle Henry 32*; Inoka Ranaweera 2-16, Sugandika Kumari 2-32, Kavisha Dilhari 1-13) by nine wickets

[Cricinfo]

Sports

CIC Holdings. MAS Active Kreeda, VS Information Systems, Emar Pharma, WSO2, Singer Sri Lanka, Alaris Lanka and Regnis Appliances register wins over the weekend

Published

4 hours ago

2026/03/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

15TH MCA G DIVISION T20 LEAGUE TOURNAMENT

CIC Holdings, MAS Active Kreeda and VS Information Systems registered wins In their first round games of the MCA G Division 20 over League Cricket Tournament last Saturday while Emar Pharma, WSO2, Singer Sri Lanka, Alaris Lanka and Regnis Appliances won their games on Sunday.

In the Group C game played at the D S Senanayake College grounds on Saturday morning Achala Jayalath smashed 75 runs off 37 balls [8 fours and 5 sixes] while Asela Priyadarshana captured 4 wickets to help CIC Holdings to crush LSEG by 113 runs. In the afternoon game played at the same venue VS Information Systems overcame Inqube Global by 30 runs in their group F encounter.

In a group B game played at the Dharmapala College ground in Pannipitiya MAS Active Kreeda, powered by an unbeaten half ton by Jineetha Malith [62 not out] and an all-round performance by Sivkumar Patheepan [3/21 and 26 not out] defeat Synergen Health by six wickets.

In the games played on Sunday,

A 53 ball 93 [11 fours and 4 sixes] and 2-27 by Deshan Fernando helped Emar Pharma crush LOLC Insurance by 88 runs in the group B match played at Darley Road..

In the group A game played at the same venue in the afternoon, Unbeaten tons by WSO2’s Devin Jayasinghe [103 not out in 54 balls with 8 fours and 7 sixes] and Jetwing Travels’ Wageesha Balagama [100 not out in 62 balls with 7 fours and 7 sixes] were the highlights which WSO2 won by 31 runs.

An unbeaten 30 ball 60 [9 fours and 2 sixes] and 3-13 by Ahamed Rifad and a three wicket haul by Srimal Peiris helped Singer Sri Lanka B defeat Ceyline Holdings by ten wickets in the group B game at the MCA in the morning. In the Group E game played at the MCA in the afternoon Alaris Lanka overcame Acuity Analytics by 63 runs.

In an evening game played at De Mazenod College grounds Regnis Appliances, playing in group B of the tournament beat Synergen Health by five wickets with 5 balls to spare.

On Saturday:

At DS Senanayake College ground :

Achala, Asela propel CIC Holdings to a 113 run win

Brief scores:

CIC Holdings

212/6 in 20 overs [N Danushan 35, Eranga Madushan 24, Achala Jayalath 75, T Innoshan 62; Chathura Maurice 2-50, Hishara Mudalige 1-17, Kalpa Gamage 1-31]

LSEG

99/10 in 16.2 overs [Rishane Liyanage 27, Kalpa Gamage 17, Nuwan Amarasinghe 18, Gangul Ediriwickremasooriya 21; Suranga Jayasuriya 1-25, Eranga Madushan 1-07, N Danushan 2-11, R M Aravinda 1-15, Asela Priyadarshana 4-14]

VS Information Systems win by 30 runs

Brief scores:

VS Information Systems

136/8 in 20 overs [Kisal Ranathunga 27, Chamath Chamupathi 36, Shamilka Wickrematilake 45, Nimnada Kirindage 11; Sanindu Deshan 1-28, Ravindu Subashana 3-22, Kanishka Eshan 2-22, Isuru Lakshan 1-28]

Inqube Globa

l 106/9 in 20 overs [Yasintha Lakshan 14, Suresh Madushanka 27, Kanishka Eshan 14, Kasun Lakshitha 11; Chamath Chamupathi 2-16, Kasun Bandara 1-17, Shan Aniketh 2-23, Nimnada Kirindage 1-24]

At Dharmapala College Grounds Pannipitiya

MAS Active Kreeda defeated Synergen Health by six wickets with 14 balls remaining

Brief scores:

Synergen Health

135/9 in 20 overs [Ridma Ranathunga 41, Chamath Liyanage 13, Pubudu Roopasinghe 35, Chanul Gawaramanna 17; Sivakumar Partheepan 3-21, Anju Amaradasa 4-22, Chamath Sumithraarachchi 2-21]

MAS Active Kreeda

138/4 in 17.4 overs [Jineetha Malith 62*, Adeesha Miyusara 21, Sivakumar Partheepan 26*; Chanul Gawrawamanna 2-19, Mahesh Wijesinghe 1-16, Noor Aslam 1-19]

On Sunday:

At Darley Road

Emar Pharma beat LOLC Insuarance by 88 runs

Brief scores:

Emar Pharma

216/4 in 20 overs [Deshan Fernando 93, Amitha Dabare 48, Dushyantha Darshana 10, Devinda Ayesh 39*; Dinesh Chathurang 1-32, M Z Osman 2-27]

LOLC Insuarance

128/10 in 19 overs [Tharindu Mohan 15, Dinesh Chathuranga 16, M Z Osman 21, Deneth Nissanka 33; DeshanFernando 2-27, Amitha Dabare 4-33, Kurusamy Than Lakshan 1-08, Pathumanabahan Sujeedaran 1-11, Chandana Dodangoda 1-13]

WSO2 overcome Jetwing Travels in High scoring game

Brief scores:

WSO2

205/5 in 20 overs [Shivanga Ranasuriya 21, Kaveesha Rajapaksa 35, Devin Jayasinghe 103*, Dev Wijewardena 24*; Sanjeew Prasanna 1-37, Shehan Dinuka 1-23, Wageesha Balagama 1-30, Tharindu Almeida 2-41]

Jetwing Travels

174/8 in 20 overs [Thanuka Peiris 19, Wageesha Balagama 100*, Shehan Dinuka 11; Dev Wijewardena 1-20, Shan Anjana 2-10, Osanda Herath 1-34, Shivanga Ranasuriya 1-07, Rakitha Rupasinghe 1-41, Dimuthu Madushan 2-23]

At MCA grounds,

Singer Sri Lanka crush Ceyline Holdings by 10 wickets

Brief scores:

Ceyline Holdings

99/10 in 18.4 overs [Tharindu Munasinghe 14, VKS Kithmina 16, Chameera Manamperi 12; Prashan Weerawarna 2-22, Roshan Derling 1-14, Ahamed Rifad 3-13, Sajitha Sanjeewa 1-07, Srimal Peiris 3-16]

Singer Sri Lanka B –

100/0 in 8.4 overs [Sheyal Vithanage 36*, Ahamed Rifad 60*]

Alaris Lanka overcome Acuity Analytics by 63 runs

Brief scores:

Alaris Lanka 210/6 in 20 overs [Sameera Perera 91, Sruhan Anuruddika 44, Lakshitha Peiris 35, Sameera Rukshan 15, Chiran Vishmitha 17*; Gajendran Shanmugarasa 1-35, Pranavan Premarajah 3-34, Sudaraka Keshara 1-29]

Acuity Analytics

147/7 in 20 overs[Nadeera Ranathunga 11, Nakrushan Chithrasenan 15, Gajendran Shanmugarasa 61*, Lashika Alakumbura 20, Sudaraka Keshara 13; Asuntha Indika 3-16, Lakshitha Peiris 1-22, Priyanka Pradeep 2-26, Mahesh Devapriya 1-33]

At De Mazenod College grounds

Regnis Appliances by five wickets

Brief scores:

Synergen Health

138/9 in 20 overs [Ridma Ranathunga 12, Hansaka Chandrasiri 20, Chamath Liyanage 13, Chanul Gawrammana 26, S Thuwargashan 17, Shanilka Uggalpitiya 16; Tharanga Dammika 3-23, Nimesh Madushanka 1-20, Asela Sanjeewa 2-27, Gaveen Yatawara 1-26, Banuka Gunawardena 1-07]

Regnis Appliances

139/5 in 19.1 overs [Gaveen Yatawara 16, Yasiru Sandaruwan 18, Imalka Fernando 34*, Pubudu Mendis 46; Dinesh Dewanarayana 1-17, Chanul Gawarammana 1-20, Isuru Weerasinghe 1-19]

[PDES]