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Asitha Fernando; from beach boy to history maker

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Asitha Fernando went on to become the first Sri Lankan right-arm quick to claim a match bag of ten wickets.

by Rex Clementine

Arjuna Ranatunga’s mantra for turning the fortunes of a cricket team was backing outstation talents. Colombo ceased to own the exclusive rights for cricket and as a result, the game thrived. Three decades on the outstations are still producing match winners. There are still unearthed and untapped talents in far-off areas. One such created history last week by bowling Sri Lanka to a series win in Dhaka. From a beach boy of far off Katuneriya, Asitha Fernando went on to become the first Sri Lankan right-arm quick to claim a match bag of ten wickets.

A fishing village on the northwest coast, Katuneriya is situated between the towns of Chilaw and Negobmo. Asitha is the youngest in a family of three. His father is a fisherman and life as a child had many challenges for young Asitha with his parents unable to make ends meet.

Like for Australian all-rounder Keith Miller pressure in cricket was child’s play compared to the Japanese enemies whom he was fighting in World War II. Similarly, plenty of trips to rough seas with his dad had toughened up Asitha. The Bangladeshi batsmen trying to unsettle him by being aggressive weren’t scaring him up as he had seen scarier things.

Asitha was into football initially. Anton Costa, the cricket coach of St. Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya saw him playing softball cricket one day and called him up for training. What impressed him was Asitha’s smooth action.

The school was not playing in the top division but yet, when Sri Lanka Under-17, under the captaincy of Chamika Karunaratne toured England, Asitha was picked in the squad. He could bowl fast and he was a skidy type of bowler.

Soon, other schools were coming up with scholarships. S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia offered him a full scholarship whereby Asitha didn’t even have to pay for the lodging at the hostel. But he politely denied the offer as he loved his beach life. Moving to the city would be good for his cricket but would certainly put an end to fun-filled evenings and fishing trips to the sea.

Continuing his cricket in the rural Katuneriya without accepting the scholarship was a tough choice, but thankfully the school’s principal Mohan Wickremesinghe was also a cricket umpire and he found ways to support Asitha.

Asitha was part of the Sri Lanka Under-19 squad that played the Youth World Cup under the captaincy of Charith Asalanka and finished as the team’s highest wicket-taker. Former captain Sanath Jayasuriya was Chairman of Selectors at that point and soon brought him to the senior side and he was part of the squad as Sri Lanka whitewashed Australia 3-0.

One of Asitha’s specialties is his ability to bowl with the older ball and pick up wickets. Why he is able to do this cleverly is because, at school, new cricket balls were a luxury. All training sessions and practice games were played with older balls and Asitha has learned the art of bowling with old balls. He has mastered the art and now he’s lethal.

In the second Test when play stopped for lunch, Litton Das and Shakib Al Hasan had been involved in a 100-run partnership for the sixth wicket and the game heading for a draw. Then Asitha came up with a couple of quick wickets. Liton was brilliantly caught off his own bowling while Shakib gloved a short ball as Asitha exhibited his skill set in a session where Sri Lanka won the game.

The departure of Suranga Lakmal had caused some concern but Asitha with that performance where he created history has ensured that the future of Sri Lankan fast bowling is in safe hands. It’s been a remarkable journey from beach boy to history maker.



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Ex-Nascar driver and his family among seven killed in US plane crash

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[pic BBC]

A former Nascar driver and his family were among the seven people killed in a plane crash at a regional airport in North Carolina, the car-racing organisation has said.

A highway patrol spokesman said people on the ground confirmed that Greg Biffle was among those who boarded the plane.

The Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport around 10:20 local time (15:20GMT), officials investigating the incident told reporters.

“Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many,” Nascar said in a statement where it confirmed Biffle had died along with his wife, daughter, son, and three others.

WSOC via AP This screengrab made from video provided by WSOC shows firefighting crews responding to a reported plane crash at a regional airport in Statesville, N.C., erupting in a large fire, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.

“His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport,” the company added.

Beyond the racetrack, Biffle was remembered for helping in North Carolina in the aftermath of last year’s Hurricane Helene, when he used his personal helicopter to rescue stranded residents and deliver supplies.

Tributes to the former racer poured in on Thursday.

“Heartbreaking news out of Statesville,” North Carolina Governor Josh Stein posted on X. “Beyond his success as a NASCAR driver, Greg Biffle lived a life of courage and compassion and stepped up for western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.”

Motorsport YouTuber Garrett Mitchell wrote on Facebook that Biffle and his family were on their way to spend the afternoon with him.

“Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane… because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us,” he wrote on Facebook. “We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this.”

Statesville Airport Director John Ferguson described the aircraft as a corporate jet and said it was already engulfed in flames when he arrived on the scene.

The Cessna C550 aircraft is owned by a private company associated with Biffle, CBS, the BBC’s US partner, reported.

The jet took off around 10:06 local time and was in the air briefly before it crashed on the east end of the runway.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

Statesville Airport will remain closed until further notice as crews clear debris off the runway, Mr Ferguson told reporters.

Officials did not provide any information about deaths or people aboard the aircraft during their first media conference.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation has sent in a team to investigate the fatal crash.

The Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH) is owned by the City of Statesville, which is about 45 minutes north of Charlotte.

It also provides aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several Nascar racing teams.

[BBC]

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Tannane goal from own half sets Morocco on way to FIFA Arab Cup 2025 title

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino, left, and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, centre, hands the FIFA Arab Cup trophy to Morocco's Mohamed Hrimat, right, on the podium [Aljazeera]

Oussama Tannane’s wonder goal from inside his own half set Morocco on their way to their second FIFA Arab Cup title with a 3-2 win after extra time in the final against Jordan at the Qatar-hosted event.

A full house at Lusail Stadium in Doha on Thursday was quickly on their feet in the fourth minute when Qatar-based footballer Tannane drilled an effort from well over the halfway line – estimated at 59 metres – to catch out goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila.

The Jordan keeper desperately scrambled back to his line in an attempt to stop the shot and collided with the post, resulting in a lengthy four-minute stoppage before he was cleared to continue and play resumed.

It was only the start of a turbulent final that saw Jordan come back to claim the lead, for the match to be sent to extra time, with Jordanian hearts broken seconds away from their first FIFA Arab Cup title in normal time.

Morocco's Oussama Tannane scores their first goal past Jordan's Yazeed Abu Laila
Oussama Tannane scores Morocco’s first goal past Jordan’s Yazeed Abulaila [Aljazeera]

Jordan, who were defeated finalists at the 2025 AFC Asian Cup, pulled level on the night three minutes into the second period when Ali Oliwan pulled away from his marker to head home from close range after a well-worked corner.

Jordan then took the lead for the first time after Mahmoud Almardi’s shot hit the raised hand of Achraf El Mahdioui inside the box, allowing Oliwan to convert from the penalty spot for his second in the 68th minute.

The drama was far from over, however, as second-half substitute Abderrazak Hamdallah levelled in the 88th minute – tapping in on the goal line after a scramble from a corner.

It was Oliwan, though, who had the chance of glory with virtually the final kick of normal time when – put clean through on goal – he was unable to beat the keeper to seal the final for Jordan with what would also have been his hat-trick.

Where many may not have taken their seats for Tannane’s opener, the same may have been the case for the start of extra time as Mohannad Abutaha volleyed a spectacular left-footed effort into the top right corner from the left edge of the box.

Like Tannane’s, it was a strike worthy of winning any final, but VAR ruled out the goal for a controversial handball as the Jordanian controlled the ball before unleashing the effort.

Worse was to follow when Hamdallah tapped in his second time – and the winning goal – after Marwane Saadane’s bicycle kick from a set piece fell kindly into his path from close range.

Morocco previously lifted the Arab Cup in 2012, defeating Libya in the final staged in Saudi Arabia. The Atlas Lions succeed Algeria, who defeated their North African neighbours Tunisia in the final four years ago.

Earlier, Morocco dominated the first period and Tannane, who plays his club football for Umm Salal in the Qatar league, had a glorious opportunity to double the lead on the stroke of half time when Abulaila spilled a cross into his path, but the forward failed to make a clean connection with his left-footed follow up and Issam Smeir slid to clear off the line.

The Jordanian stopper had to be on his feet throughout the first period and produced his best save in the 17th minute when Karim El Berkaoui, after exchanging a one-two with Tannane, drove across the face of goal from the edge of the box, but Abulaila was equal to it, low to his right, to push the effort wide.

Morocco, the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal when they achieved the feat at Qatar 2022, will now turn their attention to hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where the squad will be further boosted by a number of their European-based stars who had to prioritise club over country during the Arab Cup.

The FIFA Arab Cup sold more than a million tickets for the 2025 event, doubling what was sold at the previous competition four years ago.

[Aljazeera]

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Kaveethra bags eight wickets as Mahanama record innings win

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Venura Kaveethra

Venura Kaveethra completed a match bag of eight wickets as Mahanama registeted an innings and 62 runs victory over Lumbini in the Under 19 Division I tier A tournament match at Mattegoda on Thursday.

‎It was the first outright victory for Mahanama in the tournament.

‎After having declared their innings on the overnight score, Mahanama bowlers did well to restrict Lumbini to 103 runs as Kaveethra picked up four wickets.

‎Lumbini looked better in the second innings thanks to the resistance of late order batsmen Jayanitha Mendis (8 in 65 balls) and Binuka Ranhiru (12 in 89 balls) who made them last for more than 50 overs.

‎The day’s other highlight was the unbeaten century scored by Aron David for S. Thomas’. The Thomians were 269 for four wickets at stumps on day one of their match against St. Servatius’ at Mount Lavinia.

Mahanama in innngs win at Mattegoda

Scores

‎Lumbini

63 all out in 25.2 overs (Venura Kaveethra 4/17, Geeth Sandaruwan 3/31, Thaviru Perera 2/07) and 103 all out in 54.4 overs (Kisandu Dulneth 23; Venura Kaveethra 4/17, Sithum Vihanga 3/05, Geeth Sandaruwan 2/36)

‎Mahanama

228 for 4 in 41 overs overnight declared (Sithum Vihanga 82, Kaushika Thilakarathne 60, Venura Kaveethra 39n.o., Sanul Weerarathne 24; Mihisara Weerasinghe 2/53)

No decision at DSS ground

Scores

DSS

234 for 7 overnight 283 for 9 in 80 overs (Mayuru Bandara 22, Janindu Ranasinghe 23, Shevan Menusha 68, Randisha Bandaranayake 41, Haamid Afdhal 53, Chithum Baddage 44n.o. ; Ranindu de Silva 2/35, Minage Ariyadasa 2/63, Tenush Nimsara 2/81)

Richmond 90 for 7 in 41 overs (Ravindu Randinu 21, Bevin Jayawardhana 24n.o.; Oshada Perera 4/33, Shanaal Binuksha 2/18)

by Reemus Fernando ✍️

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