Sports
Australia crush Sri Lanka to seal 2-0 series sweep
Rex Clementine in Galle
Australia wrapped up a dominant 2-0 sweep of the Test series against Sri Lanka, romping to a comprehensive nine wicket victory before lunch on day four at Galle on Sunday. It was a ruthless display from the world’s No. 1 Test side, who hardly put a foot wrong throughout the series.
Chasing a modest target of 75, openers Travis Head and Usman Khawaja put on 38 for the first wicket, looking at ease on a surface that had played tricks throughout the game. However, Prabath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka’s tireless workhorse, provided the breakthrough, drawing an edge from Head, who was snapped up behind the stumps.
Marnus Labuschagne strode in at number three and posted his highest score in the series and together with Khawaja knocked off the target.
With three runs required for the win, Dimuth Karunaratne, playing his 100th and last Test match, was called up to bowl his part-time off-spin and Labuschagne flicked his third delivery to mid-wicket to level the scores and with another flick in the next ball sealed the win.
The tourists had already stamped their authority on Galle’s dustbowl, having bulldozed Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs in the first Test – handing the hosts their heaviest defeat in Test history. This time, the contest was more drawn out, but the result was never in doubt.
The final rites were performed with 16 minutes to lunch, triggering jubilant celebrations among the Australian faithful, who far outnumbered the locals in the stands. Many fans perched themselves atop the historic Dutch Fort – built by the Portuguese in 1588 and fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century – soaking in the sun and the spectacle. One banner, unfurled along the ramparts, read “Shane Warne Stand”, a tribute to the late leg-spinning maestro who had claimed his 500th Test wicket at this very ground. Another banner fired a warning shot: “South Africa, you’re next!” – a nod to the upcoming World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June, where Australia and South Africa will battle for the coveted mace.
Australia once again proved why they are perched atop the Test rankings, delivering a clinical performance from start to finish. Fully aware that Galle’s turning pitches can be as treacherous as a snake pit, the visitors had left nothing to chance. They had set up a week-long training camp in Dubai, honing their skills against turning tracks, and that meticulous preparation paid dividends.
The batting unit put up a masterclass – registering a double hundred and four centuries in the series. With scoreboard pressure firmly on Sri Lanka, Australia’s spinners turned the screws. Not a single Sri Lankan batter managed a century across the two Tests, with Kusal Mendis’ unbeaten 85 standing as the highest individual score.
Resuming the fourth morning at 211 for eight, Sri Lanka’s hopes of prolonging the inevitable fizzled out within 26 minutes. The tail wagged only momentarily, adding a mere 20 runs before the final two wickets fell.
Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon shared the spoils, but it was the unassuming Kuhnemann who stole the show. Playing just his fifth Test, the left-arm spinner finished as the leading wicket-taker of the series with 16 scalps, outshining the seasoned Lyon. There were no magic tricks – no rabbits pulled out of hats – just unwavering discipline. He bowled a relentless line and length, letting the pitch do the talking. That he did so just weeks after breaking his right thumb only added to the magnitude of his achievement.
Sri Lanka’s slim hopes of resistance rested on Kusal Mendis and for a while, he gave them a glimmer. Following up his first-innings half-century, he notched another fifty, reaching the milestone with a crisp punch through the covers off Lyon. But his joy was short-lived. Off the very next ball, Lyon extracted extra bounce, catching Mendis in two minds – an attempted flick ended up as a simple catch to Steve Smith at short fine leg.
Smith, as safe as houses in the field, etched his name into the record books. By completing that catch, he became only the fifth player in Test history to bag 200 grabs, joining an elite club featuring Rahul Dravid, Joe Root, Mahela Jayawardene, and Jacques Kallis.
[Cricbuzz]
Former Sri Lanka head coach Mickey Arthur has voiced disappointment over remarks made by Chairman of Selectors Pramodya Wickramasinghe, who last week claimed that Arthur was reluctant to include a young Pathum Nissanka during Sri Lanka’s tour of the Caribbean in 2021.
In his first media briefing, Wickramasinghe said it was he who pushed for Nissanka’s inclusion despite Arthur’s reservations. The former coach has flatly denied the allegation, calling it wide of the mark.
“I am very disappointed with Pramodya’s comments,” Arthur told Telecom Asia Sport. “The right people know exactly how I felt about Pathum. There was never any doubt that he was our future. I don’t want any credit for Pathum’s success. That belongs entirely to his hard work. I simply gave him an opportunity because the talent was impossible to ignore.”
Arthur said Nissanka’s domestic form had left little room for debate. “He was scoring runs for fun and the sheer weight of them made it impossible not to take a look. Once he joined the squad on tour, his attitude and work ethic were truly remarkable. From that moment, there was no doubt this bloke was going places,” Arthur added.
Even before Nissanka’s elevation to the senior side, Arthur had publicly spoken of his admiration for young prospects such as Nissanka and Charith Asalanka, stressing the importance of giving emerging players a long rope. His view was simple: once talent is identified and the attitude checks out, selectors and team management must back those players through thick and thin.
Arthur arrived in Sri Lanka with a formidable résumé, having coached South Africa, Australia and Pakistan. He placed a premium on fitness and fielding and under his watch a team in transition began to show signs of turning the corner. At the end of his tenure, Arthur opted not to renew his contract and instead took up a stint in English county cricket with Derbyshire.
As for Nissanka, he has scarcely put a foot wrong since breaking into the side. There was a Test hundred on debut in the West Indies, followed last year by a match-winning unbeaten century against England at The Oval on a lively seaming pitch. In between, he made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan to score a double hundred in ODIs. Last week, he was snapped up by Delhi Capitals at the IPL auction.
Nissanka is currently ranked third in T20 internationals and is knocking on the door of the top ten in both Tests and ODIs.
73rd National Badminton Championship
Defending champions Viren Nettasinghe and Ranithma Liyanage made a fitting end to their campaigns of the 2025 season, by defending the Men’s and Women’s Open Singles titles as Varangana Jayawardana and Rashmi Mudalige clinched the Women’s Open Doubles title at the 73rd National Badminton Championship, concluded at the S. Thomas’ College Indoor Sports Complex, Mount Lavinia on Wednesday (24).
Viren clinically overcame each of his opponents from the Round of 32, all in straight sets, to reach the final. The country’s top Men’s Singles shuttler continued his form against Rasindu Hendahewa in the final, winning in straight sets to defend the title. Viren defeated Rasindu 21-10 and 21-14 to win his second national title in style.
Ranithma aptly defended her Women’s Open Singles title by recording a comfortable straight sets win against Rashmi Mudalige in an absorbing final that lasted nearly 45 minutes. Though the title decider stretched way longer than anticipated, Ranithma managed to seal the victory by recording set wins of 21-12 and 21-18 to claim the national title for the second year running.
Fourth seed pair Sanuda Ariyasinghe and Thisath Rupathunga created an upset by toppling top seeds Oshamika Karunarathne and Thulith Palliyaguru in a lengthy final that went down to the wire in the Men’s Open Doubles. Sanuda and Thisath won the first set 21-15, but the top pair bounced back to level the game one-all with a 21-18 win. But the gritty pair of Sanuda and Thisath maintained their composure to overcome the favourites 21-15 in the decider and claim the Men’s Open Doubles title.
Varangana Jayawardana and Rashmi Mudalige completed a successful campaign to defend the Women’s Open Doubles title from last year, this time overcoming the aspiring pair of Dilni Ambalangodage and Ranumi Manage in straight sets. Varangana and Rashmi remained unbeaten throughout, as they ended the unblemished run of Dilni and Ranumi with set wins of 21-13 and 21-18.
The Mixed Open Doubles title was claimed by Thulith Palliyaguru and Panchali Adhikari, who battled for 45 minutes to overcome Aashinsa Herath and Rashmi Mudalige 2-1 in the final. After conceding the first set by 12-21, Thulith and Panchali regrouped to claim the next two sets 21-18 and 21-15.
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