Sports
Zimbabwe welcome more teams in World Cups
by Rex Clementine
Having missed out on the 2019 and 2023 ICC Cricket World Cups, Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine welcomed the move to accommodate more teams for the next two editions of the tournament. The International Cricket Council has confirmed that the 2027 and 2031 World Cups will include 14 teams.
The last two World Cups were restricted to ten teams attracting a lot of criticism. Two times champions West Indies failed to qualify for the sport’s showpiece event held in India last October while Zimbabwe, who took part in every World Cup from 1983 to 2015, also were knocked out.
“It is hugely important that more teams compete in global events such as World Cups rather than being restricted to fewer teams. It’s better for cricket,” Ervine told journalists in Colombo ahead of a three-match series against Sri Lanka.
“Teams like us don’t get to play top teams like India, Australia and England often and events like the World Cup is the only occasion we get to compete against the best. It was a huge disappointment to miss out in the last two tournaments, but we are very happy that it has now been expanded,” Ervine added.
The three-match series against Sri Lanka gets underway in Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium and it’s part of the World Cup Super League, a stepping stone for the 2027 tournament to be held in Africa.
“It is a fresh start for us. We are looking to play competitive cricket and make sure that when we come on tours like these we challenge the opposition.”
Kusal Mendis who skippered the Sri Lankan team during the World Cup in the absence of the injured Dasun Shanaka has been given the role on a full-time basis. He said that one area that Sri Lanka have focused heavily on is their fielding.
“Fielding is one area that we have worked really hard during the last two weeks. It was a big letdown for us during the World Cup. We spilled 16 catches and I don’t think you can do that in any competition leave alone a World Cup,” Mendis told journalists.
“It was bitterly disappointing. We could have fared better in the World Cup had we been more disciplined on the field. I can promise you that there’s been lot of hard work and you can see the results in this upcoming series,” Mendis went onto say. All three ODIs will be played in Colombo. The three match ODI series will be followed by a three match T-20 series, also to be staged in Colombo.
India capped off a dominant tri-series campaign in Colombo with a resounding win over Sri Lanka, posting their highest-ever women’s ODI total on Sri Lankan soil—344 for five —before bowling the hosts out for 245.
Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a superb 11th ODI hundred—her first against Sri Lanka—anchoring partnerships of 70 with Pratika Rawal and 120 with Harleen Deol.
Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues chipped in with brisk 40s, while India smashed 90 runs in the last 10 overs.
Despite a spirited effort, Sri Lanka’s daunting chase faltered. Chamari Atapattu’s 50 and a few half-century stands weren’t enough to close the gap. Seamer Amanjot Kaur struck early, removing two of the top three, while offspinner Sneh Rana starred with four for 38, finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.
India’s batting wasn’t without drama—Rawal survived an early chance, and Mandhana was twice let off before unleashing her full range of strokes. She was especially brutal on Atapattu, sweeping her repeatedly through square leg and cover en route to a 92-ball century.
Amanjot’s return in the middle overs derailed the chase further, bowling Gunaratne and setting up Rana’s match-turning spell. Atapattu, despite reaching her 19th ODI fifty, was undone by Rana, who later removed three more to slam the door shut.
Late resistance from Sanjeewani and Kumari delayed the inevitable, but a run-out and two quick Rana strikes wrapped up the win.
India’s comprehensive display sent a strong message ahead of the Women’s World Cup, reaffirming their title credentials.
Brief scores:
India
342 for seven (Mandhana 116, Rodrigues 44, Kumari 2-59) beat Sri Lanka 245 (Atapattu 51, Rana 4-38, Amanjot 3-54) by 97 runs.
Apna Perera and Dinara de Silvaemerged as the men’s and women’s singles champions respectively at the 110th Colombo Championships continued at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts.
In the men’s singles final, Apna beat Ashen Silva 7-6, 6-1. Dinara registered convincing 6-1, 6-2 win over Venuli Jayasinghe in the women’s final.
In the boys’ Under 18 semi-finals, Ashlin de Silva beat Nethmika Wickramasinghe 6-2, 6-1 while Mayooran Kubheran beat Aahil Kaleel 6-7, 7-6, 6-4.
National champion Chamod Yodasinghe secured a creditable second place rank for an impressive performace of 10.27 seconds as he out did a strong field in the 100 metres at the Dubai Grand Prix on Friday.
Yodasinghe who was entered only for the 4x100m relay received a golden opportunity in Dubai when his request to run the 100 metres there was granted by the organisers. The athlete trained by sprint coach Sanjeewa Weerakkody equalled his personal best (10.27 seconds) in winning his race.
Incidentally, his winning time was second only to the winner of the first race where top ranked athletes including Yupun Abeykoon competed.
Oman’s Ali Al Balooshi was the fastest as he clocked 10.19 seconds while Abeykoon finished fifth with a time of 10.39 seconds.
Abeykoon who was making his first 100 metres appearance of the year was ranked sixth overall.
In the 4×100 metres relay Sri Lanka’s quartet finished third in a time of 39.41 seconds.
Yodasinghe will next compete at the Asian Athletics Championships later this month.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s 4×400 metres mixed relay team finished last in their heat at the World Relays in China yesterday.
by Reemus Fernando
-
Business7 days agoAitken Spence Travels continues its leadership as the only Travelife-Certified DMC in Sri Lanka
-
Latest News5 days agoNPP win Maharagama Urban Council
-
Business7 days agoLinearSix and InsureMO® expand partnership
-
Features2 days agoSAITM Graduates Overcome Adversity, Excel Despite Challenges
-
Business5 days agoJohn Keells Properties and MullenLowe unveil “Minutes Away”
-
Sports2 days agoASBC Asian U22 and Youth Boxing Championships from Monday
-
News2 days agoDestined to be pope:Brother says Leo XIV always wanted to be a priest
-
Foreign News3 days agoMexico sues Google over ‘Gulf of America’ name change