Sports
Wanindu returns for New Zealand ODIs
Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is back in the ODI squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, where the teams play three ODIs and three T20Is. The ace spinner missed Sri Lanka’s last ODI assignment – the home series against the same opposition in November – due to a hamstring injury. Dunith Wellalage, who lost his T20I spot for the tour, held onto his place in the 50-over squad.
Sri Lanka made four changes to the side that played last month, with the quartet of Dushan Hemantha, Kusal Perera, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Dishan Madushanka not getting picked. Perera, in fact, had made a comeback to the ODI squad for the first time since the 2023 World Cup in the previous series against New Zealand but did not get a game. Hemantha meanwhile, was Hasaranga’s replacement in the last ODI series squad.
Besides Hasaranga, Sri Lanka have also brought in batter Nuwanidu Fernando, who made his debut against India in 2023 and has featured in five ODIs. Fast bowler Lahiru Kumara makes a return after last playing the format in March in Bangladesh this year. Sri Lanka have also added the uncapped medium-pacer Eshan Malinga for the 50-over games.
The tour will kick-off with T20Is on December 28. The three ODIs will be played on January 5, 8 and 11.
Sri Lanka ODI squad: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz, Lahiru Kumara, Eshan Malinga.
Malinga, who had made his domestic debut in 2022, has picked up 20 wickets in 12 List A games at an average of 25.15. He had first come on the radar in 2019 after winning a nationwide fast-bowling contest, where he clocked a winning speed of 141kph.
Malinga continues to rise in 2024, adding more consistency and control to his fairly searing pace. It earned him an LPL contract with Jaffna Kings, and while he played just a solitary game in the season, he was also signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for IPL 2025. Malinga has also been a regular feature in the Sri Lanka A side across formats.
Malinga’s inclusion coincides with the waning star of Madushanka, who has struggled since returning from injury earlier in the year. He had finished the 2023 ODI World Cup as the third highest wicket taker, but has managed just 14 wickets in 11 ODIs in 2024.
The batting unit is relatively settled, with captain Charith Asalanka leading a strong contingent that also includes Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis. While Nissanka has nailed down one opening spot, the other will go to one of Avishka Fernando or Nishan Madushka.
Meanwhile, Samarawickrama’s exclusion comes on the back of a lean stretch of form across formats, while his replacement Nuwanidu offers a more aggressive option. Janith Liyanage, who is also a handy seam-bowling option, is currently the first-choice option for that lower middle-order berth, while Chamindu Wickramasinghe also offers another all-round seam-bowling option.
Asitha Fernando heads the pace unit, which also includes Kumara, Malinga and Mohamed Shiraz. Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Jeffrey Vandersay make up the spin-bowling department.
Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand begins with the three-match T20I series from December 28. The tour then moves on to the ODIs, with the first one to be held on January 5 in Wellington. That will be followed by matches in Hamilton and Auckland on January 8 and 11, respectively.
Sri Lanka squad for NZ ODIs
Charith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz, Lahiru Kumara, Eshan Malinga
(Cricinfo)
Under 19 Cricket
By Reemus Fernando
Spinners Vathila Udara and Malith Rathnayake picked up five wickets each in the second innings as Trinity beat Maliyadewa by an innings and 13 runs in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket encounter at Asgiriya on Monday.
Forced to follow on after being dismissed for 73 runs, the visitors batted for 43 overs but could not make the home team bat for a second time.
Left-arm spinner Rathnayake bagged eight wickets as the skipper led from the front for Trinity to record their first outright victory of the season.
Trinity have remained unbeaten this season after four tournament matches.
Results
Trinity register first outright victory
Scores
Trinity
215 all out in 67.1 overs (Dimantha Mahavithana 45, Pulisha Thilakarathne 53, Aadham Hilmy 30, Sethmika Senevirathne 24; Dimath Rivisahan 3/69, Thaveesha Balasooriya 4/60)
Maliyadeva
53 for 6 overnight 73 all out in 27.3 overs (Pehesara Bandara 30, Sandeepa Chamod 20; Thisal Yapa 5/38, Malith Rathnayake 3/17) and 129 all out in 43.1 overs (Rajitha Samarasinghe 20, Pehesara Bandara 39, Chandupa Induwara 30; Dimath Rivisahan 20; Malith Rathnayake 5/38, Vathila Udara 5/39)
Lumbini
132 for nine against St. Anthony’s at Katugastota
Scores
Lumbini
132 for 9 in 64.2 overs (Adeesha Maxwell 29; Charuka Ekanayake 3/40, Ryan Gregory 3/12, Kevan Ramika 3/32)
Late order contributions help Isipatana reach 270 at Anuradhapura
Scores
Isipatana
270 all out in 84.4 overs (Ranmith Senarath 21, Lesandu Kalpage 58, Chanul Dinoth 47, Menula Sadev 46, Dasith Senal 47; Nimesha Silva 5/79, Amith Kumara 2/69, Yoshitha Isuranga 2/29)
St. Sylvester’s
30 for 2 in 12 overs
Army boxers produced a dominant performance winning nine gold medals in the men’s competition to emerge champions at the BASL Clifford Cup Boxing Championship at Sahas Uyana, Kandy on Sunday.
They also won two silver and two bronze medals winning a total of 13 medals.
This major year-end tournament was succesfully organised by the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) along with the Youth Championship amidst much pomp and pageantry for the first time in an outdoor venue in Kandy.
The presence of a leading IBA (International Boxing Association) official John Waith to conduct a 1-star Referee and Judge course for local officials added significance to the event.
Olympian and Deputy Sports Minister Sugath Thillakaratne was the chief guest at the finals.
SLT Mobitel was the official broadcaster of the tournament with PEO Sports providing live telecast on all five days in their digital channels.
Southpaw Suranga Fernando of Army who defeated Navy’s AMTS Adikari in the welter weight (67kg) was adjudged the Best Boxer (men).
SHSR Fernando who scored an upset win over Sri Lanka Boxer KKIT Perera of Air Force in the light fly weight (50kg) final, was adjudged as the Best Boxer (women).
Sachini Fernando (left) was adjudged the best boxer in the women’s category.
KASK Abeygunawardena scored an upset win over veteran Navy Boxer AMGI Bandara to clinch the fly weight (51kg) title.
PPS Siriwardhana won the heavily contested light welter weight (63.5kg) title.
PMLL Chandrabandara scored a stunning technical knock out win over international gold medallist Chinthana Udayakumara of Air Force winning the thrilling light middle weight (71kg) title.
The other winners for Army were Rukmal Prasanna (57kg), RMPKK Rasnayake (60kg), YSP Sudamma (86kg), PARS Roopasinghe (92kg) and UA Avishka (92+kg).
Air Force Kafir emerged women’s champions winning a total of eight medals comprising four gold, three silver and one bronze medal.
Army women’s team won a total of eight medals comprising two gold, four silver and two bronze medals to become runners up.
Eshan Malinga earns maiden call-up for New Zealand ODIs; Lahiru Kumara recalled
Christmas Carolat Presidential Secretariat until December 25
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