Sports

When rain and number drowned South Africa’s World Cup dreams

Published

5 months ago

2024/12/3

South Africa’s captain Shaun Pollock is distraught after South Africa were knocked out of the 2003 World Cup in Durban, Pollock was sacked as captain after the hosts' first round exit.

Rex Clementine
in Durban

It was the unlikeliest of scripts: the host nation, South Africa, bowing out of the 2003 Cricket World Cup in their backyard, undone by a bizarre twist of fate – and a misread Duckworth-Lewis sheet. To borrow a line from Shakespeare, the fault lay not in the stars but in themselves.

South Africa’s hopes were sky-high as they hosted cricket’s crown jewel, much like the unifying fervor of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, where Nelson Mandela’s charm and Francois Pienaar’s leadership wove a fractured nation into a tapestry of pride. But on a rainy night in Durban, those dreams were washed away—quite literally—by Sri Lanka, in what remains one of the most talked-about matches in cricketing folklore.

Sri Lanka didn’t even win the game, but they didn’t need to. The Proteas, staring at a rain-curtailed chase, fell victim to faulty math – or more precisely, an incorrect interpretation of the Duckworth-Lewis method. With just one run needed to clinch the game, Mark Boucher blocked a ball, thinking the job was done. It wasn’t.

Jehan Mubarak, now Sri Lanka’s Data Analyst, was then a young 12th man with a critical role: carrying the Duckworth-Lewis sheet to the middle. A son of scientist Dr. Aziz Mubarak, Jehan was born in Washington DC and educated at Royal College. He was well-equipped for the task. Reflecting on the drama, he shared:

“I had to deliver the Duckworth-Lewis sheet to the team. Nicky Boje, South Africa’s 12th man, was doing the same for his side. The sheet clearly states that the scores listed are for a tie, not a win. You always need one more run to win. We read it correctly; they didn’t—and it cost them dearly.”

Mubarak’s delivery may not have been on the scorecard, but it was game-changing. As the rain began to pour, South Africa believed they were safe. They weren’t. The match ended in a tie, knocking the Proteas out and allowing Sri Lanka to advance.

During the game, Mubarak also made a brief appearance as a substitute fielder for Marvan Atapattu. But things didn’t go entirely smoothly:

Jehan Mubarak played an important role in knocking South Africa out of the 2003 World Cup. He didn’t play the game, but as 12th man, he carried the Duckworth Lewis sheet and had to convey the important message.

“Sanath (Jayasuriya) was yelling for me to take a catch, so I sprinted toward the ball. It was a tough chance, and I couldn’t hold on. The ball went for four, and I got an earful from the captain. In a game like that, every chance counts. Thankfully, it didn’t affect the result.”

At 22, Mubarak was the youngest player in the squad, playing just one match in the tournament—a forgettable outing against India where he fell for a second-ball duck to Javagal Srinath, the current Match Referee. But for Mubarak, the World Cup was a crash course in high-stakes cricket:

“It was a fantastic learning experience. Against South Africa, Marvan made a stunning hundred, and Aravinda de Silva chipped in with a brilliant 70. We were struggling at 90 for three, but their 150-run partnership turned things around. Watching those legends adjust to different conditions and handle pressure was invaluable for a young player.”

Mubarak recalls the advice he received from stalwarts like Sanath, Marvan, Hashan Tillakaratne, and Aravinda.

“They’d always say, ‘Play positive cricket. Don’t be afraid. Whatever the opposition does – sledging or pressure tactics – hold your ground and never take a backward step.’ Those words stayed with me.”

After hanging up his boots, Mubarak transitioned into coaching, even leading Sri Lanka’s Under-19 team to a series win in England. Later, Sanath Jayasuriya brought him into the senior team setup, recognizing his analytical mind. Today, Mubarak serves as the team’s Data Analyst, a role that suits his methodical nature:

“My job is to analyze data and share it with the coaches and players. We study not just our team but the opposition as well. At SLC’s Brain Center, we look at everything—batting patterns, bowling trends, field placements—and pass on actionable insights.”

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IPL 2025: Kohli and Hazlewood break Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s home duck as Rajahstan Royals botch another chase

Published

1 hour ago

2025/04/25

Priyan

Virat Kohli scored his first home fifty of IPL 2025 [Cricinfo]

At some point, you’d think the toss gods would show Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) a little mercy at home. But once again, the coin turned its back on Rajat Patidar. This time, though, the bad luck ended right there as they posted 205 for 5, their highest total at home this season. For all that, another heartbreak loomed, but RCB turned it around sensationally to clinch their first home win – and perhaps their most dramatic win at any venue – of IPL 2025.

The losing side were Rajasthan Royals (RR), who came into this contest having let back-to-back games slip out of their control in the final over. Their tension seemed to have defused when Dhruv Jurel , having scratched his way to 18 off 23, found his hitting range, and when he and Shubnam Dubey ransacked 22 off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the 18th over, the equation came down to 18 off 12.

Then came Josh Hazelwood. He was ice-cold in the moment, producing a masterful 19th over of unhittably steep bounce – conceding just one run and taking two wickets, of Jurel and Jofra Archer in successive balls.

It was left to Yash Dayal, the same man who had held his nerve in a now-legendary last over to deliver their previous home win, against Chennai Super Kings last season. And he delivered as RR lost by 11 runs after having the chase in their grasp for so long.

The M Chinnaswamy Stadium erupted. RCB had finally found their voice at home and, with it, a long-overdue win that put them in the top three. For RR, this was a fifth straight loss that left them on the brink.

With 17 needed off ten, Hazlewood conjured a moment of magic – a pinpoint wide yorker that Dhruv Jurel shaped to scythe but appeared to miss. With little conviction, Patidar opted for a caught-behind review. Technology confirmed what only Jurel might have known – a faint under edge that carried low to Jitesh Sharma. A seemingly innocuous dot turned into a game-changing strike.

Jurel, who had weathered a slow start and was just beginning to ignite, walked back, and with him went RR’s best hope. But Hazlewood wasn’t done. He cranked up a hard-length ball next that cramped Archer for room. It was as if Archer had been served a dish of his own, cold. The ball ballooned to cover, where Patidar pouched it gleefully.

If Hazlewood’s final over, the 19th, was theatre, his penultimate over was no less telling. Having seen balls angled across the left-handers disappear, he went around the wicket to Shimron Hetmyer and pounded the surface with venom. Hetmyer tried to nudge him away but only managed a feather of an inside edge through to Jitesh. Only six runs came off that over, the 17th, and RCB’s grip got firm.

Long before the chaos of the death overs, RR were cruising. Yzshaswi Jaiswal had lit the Chinnaswamy up with a power-packed 49 off 19, and Nitish Rana was stroking it with finesse. At 110 for 2 in nine overs, the chase seemed to be on autopilot.

It’s here that Krunal Pandya was summoned and he delivered a breakthrough first ball when Riyan Parag, looking to muscle a slog sweep, only managed a top edge that settled into Jitesh’s gloves.

At the other end, Suryash Sharma was equally impressive. Mixing up quick, skiddy legbreaks with the odd wrong’un, he kept the pressure on. RR managed just one boundary from the tenth to the 13th overs. Under rising pressure, Rana went for a release shot in the 14th, only for Bhuvneshwar to pluck a catch on the second attempt at short fine leg. Krunal now had figures of 3-0-19-2. The strangle was on.

Half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal laid a strong foundation after Phil Salt’s scratchy 26 off 23, while a late dash from Tim David and Jitesh lifted RCB to 205 for 5. Kohli overcame a streaky start to get to a composed fifty in 32 balls. His early duel with a fiery Archer was, in particular, thrilling. Meanwhile, Padikkal made the most of two dropped chances to notch up a second straight half-century.

Just as the platform was set for a lift-off, RR struck back, removing Kohli, Padikkal, and Patidar in quick succession. But David and Jitesh picked up 42 runs in just 19 balls to cap the innings with a flourish. In a match that swung wildly from one side to the other, those closing overs turned out to be the difference between a defendable total and yet another heartbreak.

Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 205 for 5 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 26, Virat Kohli 70, Devudutt Padikkal 50, Tim David 23, Jitesh Sharma 20*; Jofra Archer 1-33, Sandeep Sharma 2-45, Wanidu Hasaranga 1-30) beat Rajasthan Royals 194 for 9 in 20 overs (Yashaswi Jaiswal 49, Vaibhav Suriyavanshi 16, Nitish Rana 28, Riyan Parag 22, Dhruv Jurel 47, Shimron Hetmyer 11, Shubham Dubey 12; Josh Hazlewood 4-33, Bhuveneshwar Kumar 1-50, Yash Dayal 1-33, Krunal Pandya 2-31) by 11 runs

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Dialog renews commitment to school rugby in 2025

Published

6 hours ago

2025/04/25

Thilina Walpola

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s leading connectivity provider and long-standing patron of school sports, has reaffirmed its commitment to youth development by once again partnering with the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) to power the 2025 Under-19 School Rugby Season.

In a break from tradition, this year’s tournament will begin with the prestigious President’s Trophy Knock-Out Tournament, which kicks off on 25th April, featuring sixteen top rugby-playing schools. The League Tournament will follow, drawing over 2,500 players from 90 schools, making it one of the largest school sporting events in the country.

The 2025 season promises a festival of school rugby, spread across premier venues in Colombo. The Knock-Out Tournament will spotlight the best young talent Sri Lanka has to offer, culminating in a grand finale on 18th May at Sugathadasa Stadium.

Opening day fixtures on 25th April will see Wesley College take on St. Joseph’s College at Royal Grounds, while Dharmaraja College meets D.S. Senanayake College at CR&FC Grounds. Both matches begin at 4:15 PM.

A blockbuster Saturday awaits on 26th April, with four matches lined up. At CR&FC Grounds, S. Thomas’ College face Science College at 3:30 PM, followed by Trinity College vs. St. Anthony’s College at 6:30 PM. Simultaneously, two more games kick off at 4:15 PM — Zahira College vs. Vidyartha College at Havelock Grounds and Sri Sumangala versus defending champions Isipathana College at Royal Grounds.

The opening weekend concludes on 27th April, with St. Peter’s College versus Thurstan College at Royal Grounds and Royal College versus Kingswood College at CR&FC Grounds, both kicking off at 4:15 PM.

The quarter-finals will be held on 3rd and 4th May, followed by semi-finals on 9th and 11th May, with the season climaxing in the final at Sugathadasa Stadium.

As the principal sponsor, Dialog Axiata has ensured comprehensive coverage of the tournament. All matches will be broadcast live on Dialog Television via ThePapare TV (Channels 62 & 63) and ThePapare TV HD (Channels 126 & 127). Fans can also tune in via Dialog ViU and ThePapare.com, enabling students, alumni, parents, and supporters to follow the action from anywhere.

At the official sponsorship handover Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC, presented the sponsorship cheque to Kamal Ariyasinghe, President of the SLSRFA and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education. Also in attendance were Harsha Samaranayake (Vice President – Brand & Media, Dialog Axiata) and SLSRFA officials Chanaka Dhananjaya (Treasurer), Manuja Nimmana (Secretary) and Nirodha Wijerama (Tournament Secretary).

Sports

Harsha requests for Sports Ministry and Sri Lanka Athletics mediation to take part in Indian Grand Prix

Published

6 hours ago

2025/04/25

Thilina Walpola

Harsha Karunaratne is seeking sports ministry and Sri Lanka Athletics mediation to take part in the upcoming Indian Grand Prix 2.

Reigning national champion in the men’s 800 metres, Harsha Karunaratne has requested Sri Lanka Athletics and the Ministry of Sports to provide him with the opportunity to compete in the upcoming Indian Grand Prix 2 utilizing his own funds in a bid to produce a top performance.

Sri Lanka Athletics did not pick Karunaratne for the South Asian Athletics Championship which has now been postponed after being placed second at the selection trial. He had competed within a week after recovering from an illness. His non selection sparked controversy prompting his coach Susantha Fernando to vehemently criticize the track and field governing body.

G.K. Chathuranga who won the event at the selection trial held early last month and second placed Karunaratne were separated only by milliseconds. While Chathuranga returned a time of 1:49.89 seconds, Karunaratne clocked 1:49.98 seconds.

In his letter addressed to the Sports Minister, the Director of Sports and Sri Lanka Athletics Karunaratne requests the authorities to mediate on his behalf to take part in the Indian Grand Prix 2 taking place in Thrivendram, India on May 17.Karunaratne has stated that he has no opportunity in Sri Lanka now to prove that he has the ability to produce a better timing. “

“I am confident that I have the ability to run below 1:48.00. But there is no opportunity for me to produce such a feat here in SriLanka,” states Karunaratne in his letter. “I am greatfull to you if you could provide me with the opportunity. I am ready to bear the full cost.”

Athletes need the approval of the governing body of the sport of their country to take part in such events

. The country’s top athletes receive Sri Lanka Athletics mediation to take part in overseas competitions. . Taking part in such competetive events has stood in good stead for a number of athletes to improve their rankings.

The former Ratnayake Central Walala athlete is the elder brother of Asian Games gold medallist Tharushi Karunaratne. Like his sister, Harsha too excelled at international competitions when he was a youth athlete.He won a silver medal in the 800 metres at the Asian Youth Championships in Bangkok in 2017 before emerging as a top national athlete.

by Reemus Fernando