Sports
Another anxious wait for Nilani ahead of World Championships
by Reemus Fernando
With another outstanding solo run at the hastily arranged athletic event held at Diyagama over the weekend, Nilani Ratnayake has once again exhibited her prowess in the demanding endurance event of 3,000 metres steeplechase. But will the near record-breaking feat be enough for her to maintain her current position in the ‘Road to Oregon’ World Championship rankings before the qualifying period for the major athletics event expires this week?
With the qualifying period for the World Championships closing on Sunday Nilani will have an anxious wait to know whether she could win the rare honour of representing Sri Lanka in the women’s steeplechase in Oregon.
She is currently in the 38th position in the ‘Road to Oregon’ rankings.
The official results of the weekend’s competition show a notable time of 9:46.39 seconds against Nilani’s name in her pet event. Like in so many races this season, she remained unchallenged during the entire race. The only other athlete to compete against the national record holder finished more than three minutes after Ratnayake.
The Sri Lanka Army athlete has produced three outstanding performances this year. The first was the 9:47.47 seconds feat at the First Selection trial held in February. At the Centenary National Championships in April, Nilani broke her own national record with a feat of 9:40.24 seconds, a performance better than the bronze winning feat at the 2018 Asian Games. Her feat of 9:46.39 seconds at the weekend’s event was better than that of the silver medallist’s feat at the Asian Championships in Doha in 2019.
Two years ago, Nilani was one of the medal hopefuls at the Asian Athletics Championships in Doha but her hopes shattered when she stumbled at the final barrier to settle for the fourth place. So much has happened during the last two years. She was the favourite to earn a place in the team to Tokyo Olympics last year but lack of quality competitions prevented her from improving her ranking and earning the rare honour.
Her coach Sajith Jayalal wanted to help Nilani accomplish that rare honour this year by earning the World Championship spot and made meticulous preparations. The only disappoint again was the lack of quality competitions where she would get some challenge to improve her personal best.
While almost all other top athletes including long jumper Sarangi Silva and Gayanthika Abeyratne received at least one competition opportunity abroad, Nilani was not lucky to get a top-grade competition to improve her rankings.
Despite the setback Nilani was still in the 38th position in the in the ‘Road to Oregon’ rankings yesterday.
The top 45 athletes in the ‘Road to Oregon’ rankings are selected for the women’s steeplechase.
While Sarangi Silva was ranked 32nd in the list for the women’s long jump (top 32 are selected), Gayanthika was in the 45th position (top 48 in the list are selected) in the list for the women’s 800 metres. It will be an anxious wait for all three female athletes.
Oman made a couple of changes in the last two fixtures without success. Shakeel Ahmed went in and out of the side in the three games, but picked three wickets against Ireland and should keep his place. Jatinder might look at giving top-order batter Karan Sonavale another go.
[Cricbuzz]
Zimbabwe marched into the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup with the swagger of a side that refuses to read the script, completing the group phase unbeaten after a polished six-wicket win over co-hosts Sri Lanka at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.
Ranked 11th in the world, the African side have been the tournament’s disruptors-in-chief. Having already sent former champions Australia packing last week, they now added 2014 winners Sri Lanka to their growing list of scalps, underlining that this is no flash in the pan but a team riding a serious wave of momentum.
Chasing 179 on a surface that demanded both muscle and method, Zimbabwe found themselves at crossroads when 65 were needed off the last 36 balls. Enter Sikandar Raza, sleeves rolled up and eyes locked in.
The all-rounder flipped the contest on its head in one decisive over from Dushan Hemantha, plundering 20 runs with two towering sixes and a rasping boundary. In the blink of an eye, the asking rate dipped and Sri Lanka’s shoulders sagged.
Raza and Brian Bennett stitched together a match-defining 69 off 40 deliveries for the third wicket, mixing clean ball-striking with smart running between the wickets. Zimbabwe crossed the line with three balls to spare.
While Raza provided the late fireworks with 45 off 26 balls, peppered with two fours and four sixes, opener Bennett was the glue that held the innings together. His composed 63 off 48 deliveries, studded with eight fours, ensured Zimbabwe never lost sight of the target.
Even when Raza departed with 13 still required from two overs, Sri Lanka sensed a sniff. But Tony Munyonga calmly clubbed Maheesh Theekshana’s first delivery of the final over into the stands, draining the tension from the contest. Fittingly, Bennett sealed the deal with the winning boundary. Raza was named Man of the Match.
It was Zimbabwe’s second-highest successful run chase in T20Is.
Earlier, after opting to bat, Sri Lanka were once again anchored by Pathum Nissanka. Fresh from becoming the tournament’s first centurion earlier in the week, Nissanka produced a polished 62 off 47 balls, bringing up his seventh T20 World Cup half-century, equalling Mahela Jayawardene’s record for the most by a Sri Lankan.
He and Kusal Perera gave the innings early impetus with a brisk 54 off 30 balls for the opening stand before Nissanka added a further 46 in 43 deliveries alongside Kusal Mendis.
Pavan Rathnayake provided the late thrust, clearing the ropes twice in a 44 off 25 balls as Sri Lanka posted a competitive 178.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers, however, ensured it was a chaseable target rather than a daunting one. Veteran leg-spinner Graeme Cremer led the way with 2-27, applying the squeeze in the middle overs, while the towering Blessing Muzarabani struck twice to finish with 2-38.
Sri Lanka now turn their attention to a Super Eight showdown against England in Kandy on Sunday, a contest that promises high stakes and little margin for error. Zimbabwe, brimming with belief, head to Bombay to face the West Indies on Monday, no longer the underdogs but a side that has earned its place at the top table.
Yuhansa Peiris is set to meet Aaraa Aasaal Azim of Maldives in the girls’ singles final after emerging victorious in the semi finals of the J30 ITF Junior Week 4 tournament continued in Colombo on Thursday.
She was the only Sri Lankan player reaching the finals as Ganuka Fernando was eliminated in the boys’ semi final.
Semi Final results
Girls
Yuhansa Peiris beat Aarioda of Japan 6-4, 6-1.
Aaraa Aasaal Azim of Maldives beat Chiu Kwan Nina Wang of Hong Kong 4-6, 6-2, 7-6
Asahi Yamazaki of Japan beat Ganuka Fernando 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
Kenshin Sato of Japan beat Eunho Park of Korea 6-3, 6-1
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PM reveals allowances and perks available to MPs
CID expresses regret to Natasha; IGP to issue guidelines on ICCPR arrests
Construction begins on country’s largest solar power project in Hambantota
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