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.
by Reemus Fernando
Sri Lanka Athletics has invited India, the Philippines and the Maldives for next month’s Relay Championships conducted by Sri Lanka Schools Athletics Association in a bid to provide the men’s 4×400 metres relay quartet with a chance to reach qualifying standards for the World Relays.
Currently Sri Lanka men’s 4×400 metres relay team is within the required ranking position to compete at the prestigious World Relays taking place in Guangzhou, China. The 3:04.48 seconds finish to win the gold medal of the men’s 4×400 metres at the Asian Relays in May last year has placed Sri Lanka in the 31st position in the ‘Road to Guangzhou’ rankings.
But with many competitions coming up within the next couple of months Sri Lanka Athletics wants to leave no stone unturned in their quest to keep the ranking position within the qualifying range.
The teams in the first 32 positions according to the times produced within the qualifying period (January 1, 2024 to April 13, 2025) become eligible for the World Relays taking place on May 10 and 11 in Guangzhou.
Sri Lanka’s chances of improving the current standings (31st) at this week’s World Indoor Championship in China are minimal as Olympian Aruna Dharshana, who is the fastest of the current crop of athletes will not be available for the event.
Dharshana is currently training and competing in Australia. He is looking forward to reach qualifying standards or reach the required ranking position for World Championships in the 400 metres.
The World Athletics has set a tough standard of 44.85 seconds for the men’s 400 metres. While only 17 are selected through direct qualifying standards, 31 athletes are selected through rankings for the 400 metres. Dharshana is yet yo enter rankings to be eligible for the World Championships.
Sri Lanka Athletics will field Dharshana, Kalinga Kumarage, S.B.R. Madushan and Sadew Rajakaruna for the relay event in April.
Defence Services Beach Volleyball Championship 2025 was held from March 12 to 14 at the SLAF beach volleyball courts, Katunayake. During the finals SLAF Men’s team defeated SL Army (2-0) while the SL Navy Women’s team defeated SLAF Women’s team (2-0). Incidentally is the seventh Defence Services Beach Volleyball title won by the SLAF Men’s Team.
Base Commander SLAF Base Katunayake AVM Dhammika Dias graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Chairman of SLAF Volleyball, Group Captain Milinda Mendis, Senior Officers from SL Army and Navy were also present for the finals.
The Central Province Badminton Association (CPBA) is now accepting entries for one of Sri Lanka’s most anticipated badminton competitions, the Summer Season All-Island Open Championships 2025, which will be staged at the Municipal Council Indoor Stadium in Nuwara Eliya from April 21 to 27.
The highly followed seven-day annual badminton tournament, held during the Nuwara Eliya April Holiday Season, is known to attract Sri Lanka’s top ranked shuttlers. The National Ranking Level 1 competition, sanctioned by Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), is one of the key sporting attractions of Nuwara Eliya during April every year, known to generate increasing public interest.
The championship will feature a wide range of events from Under-11 to Under-19 in the Junior category and Over-30 to Over-70 in the Senior category, with an addition of three Combined Age segment of 100+. The main attraction of the competition will be the Open events comprising Men’s and Women’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles, with an addition of a Plate Championship for the losers in Men’s and Women’s Singles.
The opening ceremony will take place on April 21st at 9:00am, followed by the preliminary rounds, leading up to the climax on April 26 with the quarter-finals and semi-finals. The excitement will continue on April 27 with the highly anticipated semi-finals and final matches, followed by the Closing Ceremony to mark the culmination of this championship.
The main draw seeding will be determined based on SLB Ranking as of April 13, followed by the draw on April 16 at 11:00am at No.2, Cambridge Terrace, Colombo 7. Entries will close on April 10 at noon. Entries can be submitted online or by contacting Sadeesha Adithya on 0761759017 and further details of the tournament are available in the prospectus published in the SLB website.
A total prize money of Rs.750,000 for all events based on the number of entries will be on offer, in addition to trophies, medals and certificates guaranteed for winners, runners-up and semi-finalists of each event of the tournament. Junior winners will receive appropriate gifts instead of prize money, according to a decision taken by the tournament organisers. The tournament is sponsored by Mobil, Li Ning, McFoil, 3M and GAC.
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