Sports
Tharupathi shines again as Richmond secure final berth
Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Richmond advanced to their second consecutive Under 19 Limited overs tournament final as Malsha Tharupathi, Sharon Abhishek and Tharinda Nirmal joined to douse a match-turning threat posed by wicketkeeper batsman Viduneth Wilson in the Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket semi-final at the Thurstan College Ground in Colombo on Thursday.
The runners up of the last season restricted St. Benedict’s to 222 runs to pull off a 12 runs victory. Sri Lanka Under 19 cap Tharupathi came up with yet another impressive all-round performance for the winners as he scored a decisive half century before taking three wickets to restrict the Bens to their eventual total.
Chasing 235 runs to win, batting opener Wilson got St. Benedict’s almost close to victory as he held their innings together with a valuable knock of 93 runs. When Wilson departed in the 46th over the Bens were 38 runs behind the target with five wickets in hand but Tharinda Nirmal turned things around for the team from Galle in an eventful 48th over where three wickets fell. Tharupathi then mopped up the tail in the penultimate over. He will be attempting to take a wicket in the first ball he bowls in the final to complete a hat trick.
A key bowler in the Sri Lanka Under 19 team, Tharupathi has developed as an attacking middle order batsman during this season, often contributing with decisive knocks for Richmond. He played a crucial role for Richmond adding 75 runs for the fourth wicket in 11 overs with Janeth Kaushal who scored 65 runs.
Tharupathi cracked less than a run a ball half century inclusive of three fours and two sixes. Both Tharupathi and Kaushal became victims of Vihara Aththanayake who was the pick of the bowlers for St. Benedict’s. Aththanayake took four wickets. Richmond came to the semi-final as favourites and have lived up to their reputation continuing their unbeaten run. In the Tier ‘A’ final, Richmond will meet the winners of the match between arch rivals Trinity and St. Anthony’s Katugastota. That semi-final will be played at the same venue on Monday.
Brief Scores:
Richmond 234 all out in 50 overs (Tharinda Nirmal 31, Kavindu Nirmana 30, Janeth Kaushal 65, Malsha Tharupathi 50; Vihara Aththanayake 4/55, Shenel Samarathunga 2/66)
St. Benedict’s 222 all out in 48.3 overs (Viduneth Wilson 93, Sheron Kannangara 21, Dilan Thabrew 25, Aarshan Joseph 22; Malsha Tharupathi 3/46, Sharon Abhishek 2/49, Tharinda Nirmal 2/47)
(Cricbuzz)
The remainder of the tenth edition of the PSL has been moved to the UAE amid escalating border tensions between Pakistan and India. The PCB has said that the dates and venues of the remaining eight games in the PSL 2025 season would be officially confirmed in due course.
On Thursday, Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi were due to play a game at the Rawalpindi Stadium, which was rescheduled following an emergency meeting. At the meeting, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with overseas players in the league, who overwhelmingly expressed a desire to relocate the league to the UAE.
ESPNcricinfo understands that foreign players are already on their way out of Pakistan to the UAE, where the rest of the league will be played. It is likely to be several days before the next game is played as the PCB works out which venues to play the games at.
The original schedule would have seen four of the remaining games in Rawalpindi, one in Multan, and the final three in Lahore. An earlier update from the PCB had said the league would be rescheduled, but did not confirm at the time it would be taken out of Pakistan, with Karachi considered a likely option.
The PSL, now in its tenth season, is familiar with the UAE, having started there back in 2016. It was played there in full – barring the PSL 2017 final – for the first two seasons. Part of season six, in 2021, also had to be played in the UAE because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Any delays to the PSL are likely to impact Pakistan’s international calendar, too. Bangladesh are due to arrive in Pakistan three days after the PSL final, originally slated for May 18, with the first of five T20Is to begin on May 25 in Faisalabad. The PCB told ESPNcricinfo that no decision had yet been taken on the fate of that series.
(Cricinfo)
Bangladesh Under 19s won the six-match Youth ODI series 3-2 after the final Youth ODI against Sri Lanka Under 19s ended without a result due to rain at the Colts ground on Thursday.
Sri Lanka came to the final match with the hope of leveling the series but rain prevented a full match.
Deciding to bat first, the visitors were 188 for three wickets in the 40th over when rain prevented further play.
Skipper Azizul Hakim led Bangladesh with 94 runs inclusive of seven fours and two sixes. For the hosts, Tharusha Navodya, Kugathas Mathulan and Himal Ravihansa took a wicket each.
Sri Lanka Under 19s won the opening encounter by a big margin but three consecutive defeats thereafter saw the visitors take command. Sri Lanka Under 19s bounced back in the penultimate match to keep alive the series but rain spoilt their plans in the final encounter.
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