Rex Clementine
in Dambulla

Sri Lanka’s cricket team has been riding high on a wave of success these past three months, but the forward march came to a grinding halt in the opening T20 International against the West Indies, as the team was blown away by a hurricane in the form of openers Brandon King and Ewin Lewis.

Sri Lanka posted a respectable 179 after being put in to bat, but West Indies turned the chase into a stroll in the park. Their openers amassed a staggering 107-run partnership in just nine overs, making the Power Play look like an express lane that Sri Lanka’s bowlers couldn’t close. Those six costly overs bled 74 runs, and though the bowlers fought tooth and nail to regain control after the openers were dismissed, the damage had already been done.

“We gave away too many runs in the Power Play,” Asalanka admitted to journalists post-game. “Going forward, we need to tighten up those overs. Our best bowlers come after the sixth over, but when you leak runs that freely up front, even they can’t always turn the tide.”

Sri Lanka had outplayed India on Colombo’s spin-friendly tracks in the July ODI series, forcing India’s free-flowing batsmen to stumble on pitches that turned. A similar spin-heavy approach was expected to keep the big-hitting West Indians in check. However, for the first T20, the pitch turned out to be a batting paradise – the kind West Indies relish. For them, it was as inviting as handing a politician a microphone.

“We’d hoped for pitches with a bit more bite,” Asalanka remarked, “but the rain’s been relentless. The covers were on most of the time to shield the pitch, adding moisture. It seemed to zip around a bit when we batted. Hopefully, we’ll get pitches with more spin as the series progresses.”

On a personal note, Asalanka had a stellar day with the bat, smashing 59 off 35 balls, and was well-supported by his schoolmate Kamindu Mendis, who added 51 off 40 balls, both combining for an 82-run fourth-wicket stand.

Kamindu’s been enjoying a purple patch since rejoining the team, scoring five Test centuries this year and even matching Sir Don Bradman’s record for the third-fastest player to reach 1,000 Test runs. Sunday marked his second T20 half-century.

“I’ve played alongside him since school,” Asalanka shared with a smile. “I’ve known his talent since he was just 13. It always felt like he should have broken into the senior side sooner, but now that he’s here, he’s leaving a mark. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of him in the games ahead.”

All Island Schools Games Athletics Championship

by Reemus Fernando

South Asian Junior Championship medallist Tharushi Abisheka is among top notch athletes to watch when the All-Island Schools Games Athletics Championship commences at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Friday.

The Wickramabahu Central, Gampola athlete will be aiming for triple titles in the Under 18 category where she has the potential to break meet records in all three individual events.

A medal prospect at next year’s Asian Youth Athletics Championship, Abisheka commenced the year with a 2:09.16 seconds performance in the 800 metres. That feat in March was Asia’s best performance in her age category till July. Competing in the Under 20 age category at the South Asian Junior Athletics Championship in India she bagged the 800 metres gold with an effort of 2:10.17 seconds.

Following such impressive performances, she was the favourite for titles at the Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletics Championship. She lived up to her reputation winning the 800 metres, 3000m and the 1500 metres. She took under her belt the meet records in the 800 metres and the 1500 metres early this month.

At the Schools Games, the athlete trained by Nuwan Buddhika is expected to produce a repeat performance. The Games record in the 1500 metres will be under threat as she carries a seasonal best of 4:35.84 seconds from the last meet. The other two meet records are written against the names of alumni of her school. She is expected to better those records as well.