Sports
Thimbirigaskatuwa stun Negombo in battle of Maris Stellas
Negombo Zonal Schools Athletics Championship
Maris Stella College, Thimbirigaskatuwa stunned track and field stronghold Maris Stella College, Negombo in what turned out to be a battle between the two brother schools for the boys’ title at the Negombo Zonal Schools Athletics Championship conducted last week.
The athletes from Thimbirigaskatuwa aggregated 224 points to clinch the boys’ title of the zone for the first time in history as they turned tables on Maris Stella, Negombo who had to settle for the runner up position with 195 points.
For the school from Thimbirigaskatuwa the most outstanding performances were registered by athletes in higher age categories.
In the Under 16 age category, Dinuka Thinesh stood out winning the first place in the 200m (23.1 secs) and the 400m (52 secs). In the 300m hurdles he was placed third with a time of 43.6 secs. Shermin Sasmika won the 800m (2.08.06 secs) and was placed third in the 400m (53.3sec). Lyons Adeesha won two podium places (100m – 2nd 11.3 secs and 200m 3rd – 23.8secs). Hansana Fonseka (Shot Put 1st – 13.93m), Yugath Harshad (High Jump 1st – 1.80m) and Ashen Denuwan (Javeline throw 1st- 51.55m) won maximum points for the school in their respective pet events. Namindu Gimhan (Long Jump 2nd – 6.36m), Ramiru Disen (Long Jump 3rd – 6.06m), Shevan Methusha (High Jump 3rd -1.60m), Thenuk Nethvin (100m hurdle 2nd – 14.2 secs) and Nawum Nichole (Javelin throw 2nd- 50.50m) were the others to excell in that age category.
The Under 18 age category saw Ramiru Nisalitha (1500m 1st – 4:28 secs, 3000m 1st -10: 08 secs) and Deesara Herath (Long Jump 1st- 6.91m, Triple Jump 1st – 14.05m) winning two titles each and brothers Pawan Nethya Sampath (2.05m) and Thushera Nethsara Sampath (1.85m) winning the first and second places respectively in the high jump.
Thiwra Thathsara clocked 14.8 seconds to clinch the 110m hurdles title (400m 3rd- 58.4 secs), while Ashmika Shinal (100m 2nd -10.98 secs, 200m 3rd – 22 secs and 400m 3rd -52.4 secs), Ranidu Induwara (400m hurdles- 60 secs), Senesh Nisal (110m hurdle 3rd- 15.2 secs) and Induwara Sathmin (Triple Jump 2nd- 13.58m, Pole Vault 1st- 3.80m) won podium places.
In the Under 20 age category Thehara Ravishka Fernando won the triple jump (14.20m) and long jump (7.09m) while placing second in the high jump(1.78m). Onel Sejan too won two events (1500m 1st – 4: 34 secs, 5,000m 1st – 17:22 secs). Yohan Madurawala (javelin throw – 1st – 46.34m, pole vault 3rd- 2.50m), Romesh Antonio (javelin throw 2nd – 46.19m), Thenuka Nimnad (shot put 1st – 10.65m, javelin throw 3rd – 44.51m), Dushan Priyanjana (discus throw 2nd – 30.34m), Dilan Thejan (110 hurdle 2nd – 15.7secs, long jump 3rd place – 6.49m, triple jump – 2nd 14.12m), Shan Adithya (pole vault 3rd place – 2.50m), Isuru Shiwanka (shot put 2nd – 9.90m), Nipun Ishanka Fernando (800m 1st – 2:07 secs, 1500m 2nd- 4:36 secs), Yasiru Vidushan (400m hurdle 2nd – 61.2 secs, 800m 2nd 2:09 secs) and Lyon Nimantha (400m hurdle 3rd – 61.7 secs) were the others who won podium places.
Thisen Thinulaka, Minuga Nissankara, Namesh Dilshad and Rinaldo Nimsara in the Under 12 age category and Lishen Pehesara (long jump 3rd – 5.51m) and Rashon Kalubowila (80m Hurdle 2nd- 12.3secs) in the Under 14 category were the others to have made their presence felt.Incidentally, the coaching staff of title winning Maris Stella Thimbirigaskatuwa are inclusive of former athletes of Maris Stella Negombo.
Canada captain Dilpreet Bajwa won the toss and asked South Africa to bat in their World Cup opener in Ahmedabad.
South Africa have opted for a pace-heavy attack. Keshav Maharaj slots in as their only spinner, alongside the speedy quartet of Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi. Tristan Stubbs also begins the tournament at the No. 6 spot – a position Jason Smith had occupied in their last T20I, while Stubbs had slid down to No. 7. Smith is in the World Cup squad but did not find a spot in South Africa’s starting eleven.
South Africa’s pace is expected to get the most out of a characteristically flat Ahmedabad black-soil pitch. But first, their batters will have a hit in a game they begin as overwhelming favourites against Canada, who are their second World Cup.
Canada’s new captain, Bajwa, will lead the side at a global tournament for the first time. He also slots in at the top of the order, alongside Yuvraj Samra, and their batting power will be key to their hopes of causing a massive upset.
Canada have lost both their warm-up games – to Italy and Nepal – but should their batters come off on a friendly pitch, South Africa will look to have the added insurance of a few more runs in the bank before dew takes over when Canada begin their chase at night.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (capt), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi
Canada: Dilpreet Bajwa (capt), Yuvraj Samra, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva, Harsh Thaker, Saad Bin Zafar, Jaskaran Singh, Dilon Heyliger, Kaleem Sana, Ansh Patel
(Cricinfo)
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza decided to field first against Oman in the men’s T20 World Cup match at the SSC in Colombo. Both teams were pleased to arrive in Sri Lanka early to get themselves attuned to the conditions.
Zimbabwe have Blessing Muzarabani back in the squad after he missed the tri-series in Pakistan in November.
Oman, meanwhile, include 44-year-old Aaamir Kaleem the oldest player in the tournament – after he came into the side in place of Hasnain Shah, who was injured after the squad was named.
Zimbabwe return to the tournament after missing out on the previous edition in West Indies and the United States of America. They had made it to the Super 12s of the 2022 T20 World Cup but failed to progress through the qualifiers for the 2024 tournament. They completed qualification alongside Namibia; Brian Bennett was the tournament’s top run-scorer, while Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava were among the leading wicket-takers.
Zimbabwe are bolstered by the return of Graeme Cremer, whose November 2025 comeback marked the longest gap between T20I appearances.
Oman are one of three qualifiers from the Asia-Pacific region, alongside Nepal and the UAE. They have previously appeared in the 2016, 2021, and 2024 editions of the T20 World Cup.
Oman: Jatinder Singh (capt), Aamir Kaleem, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale, Jiten Ramanandi, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Sufyan Mehmood, Nadeem Khan, Shah Faisal, Shakeel Ahmad
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza (capt), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani
Scotland may have suffered a blip the last time they faced Italy in a T20I but ensured they picked up the first points of their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign after a dominant performance at Eden Gardens. George Munsey’s 54-ball 84, supported by cameos from Brandon McMullen and Michael Leask, followed by Leask’s four-wicket haul helped Scotland spoil Italy’s debut in the tournament. The 73-run win gave Scotland two points after their defeat to West Indies in Kolkata two days ago.
Brief scores:
Scotland 207 for 4 in 20 overs (George Munsey 84, Michael Jones 37, Brandon McMullen 41, Richie Berrington 15, Michael Leask 22*; Ali Hasan 1-21, Grant Stewart 1-44, Thomas Draca 1-37, JJ Smuts 1-38) beat Italy 134 in 16.4 overs (Anthony Mosca 13, JJ Smutts 22, Harry Manenti 52; Michael Leask 4-17, Brad Currie 1-12, Brad Wheal 1-29, Mark Watt 2-24, Oliver Davidson 1-33 ) by 73 runs
(Cricinfo)
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