Sports
Asian Games medallist Uththara returns to schools competitions
by Reemus Fernando
Asian Games medallist Jayeshi Uththara returned to local schools competitions just a couple of days after returning from China and dominated the Under 20 sprint events on day two of the Athletics Championship of the Western Province Schools Games at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Thursday.
Uththara who won the women’s 4×400 metres relay bronze at the Asian Games won the Under 20 girls’ 400 metres heat in comprehensive ease and also ran the third leg of the heat in the 4×100 metres relay for Holy Cross College Gampaha to advance to the next stage as the favourites.
Incidentally, Jayeshi was the best athlete at the last edition of the Western Province Schools Games Athletics Championships. The official times of her performances were not available as the organisers had not made arrangements for media to obtain details of the heats.
Meanwhile, St. Lawrance’s Convent, Wellawatta athlete Oshini Kodikara and Loyola College, Negombo thrower T.S.S. Tennakoon won back to back titles yesterday.
Kodikara followed up her record breaking feat in the triple jump bagging the title of the Under 18 girls’ long jump with a feat of 5.64 metres. Tennakoon who won the shot put on Wednesday clinched the title in the Under 16 girls’ discus throw with an effort of 29.26 metres.
The day’s grueling 5000 metres events in the Under 20 boys’ and girls’ categories were won by Lyceum International Wattala duo of Angelo Benedict (16:57.5 secs) and Sethmi Kaushika (22:21.4 secs) respectively.
Thareen Sanchith won the Under 20 boys’ javelin title for St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya with a throw of 55.62 metres. Pothupitiya MV athlete Dilki Nehara excelled winning the Under 16 girls’ long jump as she cleared a distance of 5.52 metres.
L.M. Amaraweera of D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo won the Under 14 boys’ high jump event with a height of 1.66 metres.Official results of the events held in the afternoon were not available when this edition went to press.
Italy’s first men’s World Cup appearance arrives with a level of attention the team has rarely experienced. Coverage back home has widened and television exposure is expected to follow as matches go out live. This T20 World Cup, there are lots of eyes on them, helped by the novelty of the occasion and the promise of their squad.
Former South Africa international JJ Smiuts brings firepower and experience. Ben Manenti comes in after a strong BBL campaign with Sydney Sixers and a frugal economy rate of under six. His brother Harry can go big. The Mosca brothers – Justin and Anthony – as openers have a strong understanding of each others’ games. Thomas Draca has the potential to be an X-factor. And 42-year-old captain Wayne Madsen has decades of experience under his belt across different cultures to hold it all together.
On the eve of the game, Madsen said that they’re done soaking in the occasion. It’s action time now, and standing in front of Italy are Scotland, a team they took down during the Europe Qualifier for the World Cup.
Scotland’s opening-day defeat to West Indies showed promise but also frustration. They threatened to gain control in phases but they missed their opportunities along the way. The positive is the turnaround for the Italy game is under 48 hours, and they have the advantage of being able to brush that defeat off. They are also familiar with Eden Gardens.
Scotland – also the higher-ranked T20I side – possibly start off as favourites since former captain Joe Burns and batter Emilio Gay are not part of this squad, but Italy won’t back down from turning a historic game into an unforgettable one.
Former South Africa international JJ Smuts is possibly Italy’s biggest batting trump card. His clean-hitting can travel far at Eden Gardens, and his years between 2017 and 2021 bring an experience that is irreplaceable in the Italy camp. At 37, he couldn’t even fathom playing another World Cup, but his qualification via marriage to play for Italy has given a late boost to his motivations, and he wants to leave a mark in India.
George Munsey, occasionally called the reverse-sweeping demon, always finds a way to score runs. His crisp shots with the new ball always makes him dangerous in the powerplay, and he is threatening against the spinners with his sweeps. Against West Indies, he dazzled with three fours in a quick-fire start of 19, and looked good for more on that pitch, but his innings was cut short courtesy a magical catch from Shimron Hetmyer. A strong start from Munsey makes Scotland an even more dangerous side.
Italy are expected to field both sets of brothers. After the Moscas up top, Smuts and Wadsen will follow. The Manentis will look to finish the innings. Crishan Kalugamage could be their attacking right-arm wristspinner.
Italy (possible): Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, JJ Smuts, Wayne Madsen (capt), Harry Manenti, Ben Manenti, Gian-Piero Meade (wk), Marcus Campopiano, Jaspreet Singh, Crishan Kalugamage, Ali Hasan
Could 19-year-old seamer Zainullah Ihsan get a debut for Scotland? Otherwise, Scotland are likely to field the same XI, barring any last-minute niggles.
Scotland (possible): George Munsey, Michael Jones, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington (capt), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross (wk), Mark Watt, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson, Safyaan Sharif, Brad Currie
[Cricinfo]
Jumpers Madushani Herath and Pasindu Malshan and distance runner Rasara Wijesuriya took the opportunity at the Asian Indoor Championship to improve the National Indoor Records of their respective disciplines.
Nannapurawa athlete Herath was placed seventh in the triple jump final but her performance of 13.10 metres emerged as the best feat so far by a Sri Lankan woman at an Indoor event.
She cleared 13.10 metres to improve on the record held by Hashini Prabodha.
She also improved on the national indoor long jump record with a feat of 6.11 metres.
Malshan was placed fifth with a feat of 15.70 metres in the men’s triple jump. His feat erased the national indoor record held by Manjula Kumara.
Wijesuriya took 24 seconds off the record held by the US based athlete Hiruni Wijeratne (9:46.35 secs) with a feat of 9:22.97 seconds in the 3,000 metres.
Sri Lakan athletes rarely compete indoors and could not win podium places at the Asian Indoor Championship took place in Tianjin, China.
by Reemus Fernando
Sri Lanka 163 for 6 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 24, Kamil Mishara
Catches win matches. Ireland dropped seven, of varying difficulty, and that proved to be a major factor in their 20-run loss to Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium.
Sent in, Sri Lanka started briskly but the Ireland spinners George Dockrell and Gareth Delany, handcuffed them in the middle overs. After 16 overs, they were on 104 for 4. That they could add another 59 to finish on a competitive 163 for 6 was down to Ireland’s sloppy fielding.
Kamindu Mendis was dropped on 14; he went on to smash 44 off 19 balls. Kusal Mendis was first put down on 34; he finished on 56 not out off 43. The pair added 67 off 30 balls for the fifth wicket to inject the much-needed momentum.
Ireland made a solid start to their chase, reaching 52 for 1 in seven overs. But Wanidu Hasaranga, who had hurt his hamstring after sending down just two balls, derailed them. Bowling with hardly any follow-through, he picked up 3 for 25 from his four overs. Maheesh Theekshana also took three, hastening the end as Ireland were bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs.
Earlier, Kamil Mishara barely looked assured during his brief stay. In the third over, he hit one uppishly back towards Barry McCarthy but the bowler had little time to react. In the same over, he was dropped by Ross Adair at short midwicket. But Mishara failed to make it count. In the following over, he was caught at mid-off off a slower delivery from Mark Adair. Kusal started briskly, hitting three fours in his first eight balls to take Sri Lanka to 50 for 1 by the end of the powerplay.
After the powerplay, Ireland deployed spin from both ends. That put the brakes on the scoring rate. Pathum Nissanka went for the cut against Dockrell and was caught at extra cover. Pavan Rathnayake tried to upper-cut the spinner, only for the ball to hit the middle stump. That left Sri Lanka on 68 for 3 in the 11th over.
Such was the stranglehold of the Ireland spinners that Sri Lanka couldn’t hit a boundary for 56 balls after the powerplay. All told, Ireland bowled 13 overs of spin, the most by them in a T20I.
Kamindu ended the boundary drought in the 16th over when he reverse-swept Delany for four over backward point. After that, Ireland made one fielding mistake after another to cede the advantage. In the 17th over, bowled by Matthew Humphreys, Kusal was reprieved twice and Kamindu once. The Kamindu chance at long-off went for six. To rub it in, he hit the next two balls for four, making it a 21-run over.
There was another drop in the following over, with Ross Adair putting down Kusal off Mark Adair at deep square leg. The wheels completely came off in the 19th. McCarthy started with a beamer down the leg side, which Kamindu put away for four. When the free hit arrived after two wides, Kamindu pulled it for a six. McCarthy did send back Kamindu and Dasun Shanaka off successive balls but ended up conceding 19 from the over. Lasting 11 balls, it was the joint longest over in the T20 World Cup history. Kusal, who largely played second fiddle to Kamindu, brought up his half-century in the final over.
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