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Bhanuka Rajapaksa; all talk and no action

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by Rex Clementine

Do you think Bhanuka Rajapaksa merits selection in the 50 over format? Well, numbers don’t just match up. He wasn’t covering himself in glory in domestic cricket representing BRC in the last season. But his social media appearance seems to have upset the selectors who eventually caved in to public pressure not only recalling him for the T-20 format but giving him a go in the 50 over format as well.

Public opinion can earn you back what you deserve. Tilan Samaraweera for example. When he was axed from the team in 2011, the selectors were criticized and they were left with Hobson’s choice but to recall Samaraweera for the tour of South Africa.

Once back in the fold, Samaraweera let his bat do the talking. He went onto prove that he belonged there and his axing was in fact unfair by scoring a match winning hundred in Durban as Sri Lanka went onto win a Test match in South Africa for the first time. He didn’t stop there. He scored another one in Cape Town to finish off an excellent tour.

Bhankua Rajapaksa this series has been exposed by high class pace. Kagiso Rabada was too good for him on Saturday. He had collected duck in the first ODI too having faced three balls. So when he came into bat in the second ODI, Rabada bowled a yorker, Bhanuka was late in bringing the bat down and South Africa reviewed for LBW. Bhanuka survived.

Rabada then bowled a full and wide delivery which the batsman drove but couldn’t find the gap. The third ball was a killer. It was a short ball and Bhanuka took the eye off the ball and was looking to protect his face by bringing the bat and glove together in front of his helmet. The ball hit the glove and popped up to the keeper. It was a soft dismissal.

It was a sorry sight. The fault doesn’t lie with Bhanuka. He is a T-20 format player trying to cash in from the moment he walks out to bat. But instead, he’s being played in a format where he doesn’t belong. For some reason those running our cricket for decades have chosen the nation’s finest batters at number three. There was Roy Dias in our formative years, then Asanka Gurusinha in our glory days followed by Kumar Sangakkara. All had unprecedented success at number three. The incumbent in that position is a misfit; a square peg in a round hole.

As for Bhanuka, in his social media interview that went viral, he claimed that he had been victimized not being given a proper run. Here now he’s been given a chance and it is time for him to walk the talk. So far, it’s been all talk and no action.



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Nissanka’s masterclass powers Sri Lanka fightback in Galle Test

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Pathum Nissanka posted a career best 187 and his first century at home as Sri Lanka came up with a strong reply on day three of the first Test against Bangladesh in Galle yesterday

Pathum Nissanka produced a career-best 187 to anchor Sri Lanka’s spirited reply on day three of the first Test against Bangladesh in Galle on Thursday, guiding the hosts to a commanding 368 for four at stumps.

Sri Lanka still trail by 127 runs, but with wickets in hand and a placid pitch beneath their feet, the momentum appears to be tilting in the hosts’ favour.

On a surface that has offered little to the bowlers, Nissanka made hay while the sun shone, unleashing an array of strokes that left the Bangladesh attack chasing leather. The right-hander peppered the off-side with exquisite drives and was equally adept square of the wicket, cutting and pulling with authority to force the field back.

The 27-year-old had been under the pump coming into the match, having managed just one half-century in nine innings since his heroic ton at The Oval last year against England. But there was no stopping him this time, as he cashed in on a batter-friendly deck to silence critics and steady Sri Lanka’s ship.

Having first made waves with a century on debut in the Caribbean four years ago, Nissanka’s red-ball career has been sporadic, punctuated by injuries. But since August last year, he has carved out a regular spot in the Test side, though recurring back niggles have occasionally sidelined him.

Nissanka was cruising towards a maiden double hundred when he was castled by Hasan Mahmud with the second new ball — bowled through the gate in classic fashion. His knock, laced with 23 fours and a six, was a timely reminder of his pedigree and poise at the crease.

He put on 47 for the opening wicket with debutant Lahiru Udara, before adding a crucial 157 runs with Dinesh Chandimal for the second wicket. Chandimal, who looked set for a big score, fell against the run of play, flicking one to leg slip to give Bangladesh a much-needed breakthrough.

Angelo Mathews, walking out to bat in his farewell Test amidst a guard of honour from the opposition, joined Nissanka in a stand worth 89. The veteran looked composed until he feathered a catch behind off part-time spinner Mominul Haque for 39.

Though Nissanka stole the limelight, the most assured batter at the crease by day’s end was Kamindu Mendis. The left-hander was a picture of composure, using his feet to good effect against the spinners and rotating strike with ease. He remained unbeaten on 37, with skipper Dhananjaya de Silva on 17, as Sri Lanka ended the day with plenty still in the tank.

Earlier in the morning, Bangladesh added just nine runs to their overnight total before being dismissed for 495. Asitha Fernando mopped up the tail, finishing with four wickets as the tourists lost their last six wickets for just 37 runs — a collapse that handed Sri Lanka the opening to claw back into the contest.

Rex Clementine ✍️
in Galle

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Seven cueists to compete for Sri Lanka at Asian 6 Red & Team Snooker Championship

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Sri Lanka will field seven cueists including champions Irshath Thaha and Susantha Boteju when the country hosts the Asian 6 Red and Team Snooker Championship 2025 at the Moors Sports Club billiards table in Colombo from June 22.

The seven-day championship is hosted by Billiard and Snooker Association of Sri Lanka (BSASL) under the auspices of the Asian Confederations of Billiard Sports (ACBS).

Irshath Thaha and Susantha Boteju are joined by Mohamed Rikaz, Dhanushka Puwakgolla, Mohamed Musharaff, Mohamed Mubeen, and Thiyagarajah Thanji to vie for honours

The seven day championship due to end on June 28 will see the participation of 17 countries namely Kuwait, Hong Kong China, China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Oman, UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Cambodia, Macau, Qatar, Singapore, Iraq and host Sri Lanka.

The regional event will see the participation of over 50 cueists and will showcase the action of past and present world champions giving the snooker fans a rare opportunity to witness the top notch players in action. The championship will be played over six tables and action will begin for the day from 10.00 a.m. each day with five sessions planned to be conducted.

The players will clash for two titles the Asian 6 Red which is an individual event and the Team championship that will be contested between two players from each country.

At the last edition of the tournament which was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last year, Awais Muneer of Pakistan clinched the men’s singles 6 Red event and Team Thailand emerged the team champions. They will be looking to retain the titles.

The tournament will give the emerging and established players the much needed exposure and gain valuable international experience and an opportunity to showcase their talent.

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Sri Lanka book final berth against Turkmenistan

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Sri Lanka did well to reach the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup Asia Oceania Group III tournament as the hosts recorded a 3-0 win over Nepal at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts on Thursday.

Sri Lanka are set to meet Turkmenistan in the final today, after the latter beat Pakistan in their encounter.

In the first singels match Akeesha Silva beat Shivali Gurung 7-7, 7-6 before Dinara de Silva beat Abhllasha Bista 6-4, 6-2.

Inuki Jayaweera and Tuwini de Alwis made it three wins in a row by beating Shivali Gurung and Abhilasha Bista 6-4, 1-6,  10-5.

The winners of today’s final will be promoted to Group II.

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