2025-02-10

Published

11 months ago

2025/02/10

Thilina Walpola

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Sports

Pretoria Capitals recover from 7/5 to beat Joburg Super Kings

Published

55 mins ago

2026/01/18

Priyan

Rutherford struck an unbeaten 74 [Cricbuzz]

Durban’s Super Giants vs Paarl Royals

Durban’s Super Giants kept their playoff hopes alive with a bonus-point 58-run win in their final home game, powered by a commanding century from Aiden Markram. His 108 off 58 balls lifted DSG to 189 for 7 on a surface that became increasingly difficult to bat on as the match progressed.

Markram, who batted well into the last over, hit 12 fours and 5 sixes and ensured that Super Giants got to an incredible 189/7. He got to his fifty off 34 balls and then hit a different gear, finding support along the way from Kane Williamson, Heinrich Klaasen and Liam Livingstone. Hardus Viljoen finished with four wickets.

While defending, DSG’s spinners took full advantage of the conditions, with Sunil Narine and Simon Harmer conceding just 31 runs across eight overs while picking three wickets. Markram also chipped in with the key wicket of Lhuan-dre Pretorius early on. Royals slid to 60 for 4 and never recovered, eventually finishing with 131 for 9, with only Bjorn Fortuin offering brief resistance late in the innings.

Brief Scores:
Durban’s Super Giants 189 for 7 (Markram 108; Viljoen 4-21) beat Paarl Royals 131 for 9 (Fortuin 35*; Narine 2-18) by 58 runs

Joburg Super Kings vs Pretoria Capitals

Pretoria Capitals pulled off one of the comebacks of the season, beating Joburg Super Kings by 21 runs after being reduced to 7 for 5 on a difficult surface. A record century stand for the sixth wicket between Dewald Brevis and Sherfane Rutherford rescued Capitals from a collapse.

JSK’s seamers dominated the opening phase under overcast conditions, with Daniel Worrall and Wiaan Mulder tearing through the top order to leave Capitals reeling inside five overs. From 7 for 5, the match turned through Brevis and Rutherford, who counterattacked and smashed 103 off 74. Their partnership lifted Capitals to 143 for 6, with Rutherford finishing unbeaten on 74. Brevis made 53 after being dropped early.

The chase never looked on despite Dian Forrester’s unbeaten 44. Keshav Maharaj was decisive through the middle overs, removing James Vince, Matthew de Villiers and Mulder to reduce JSK to 54 for 4. They slipped further to 68 for 6, and the task became steeper when captain Donovan Ferreira retired hurt with a shoulder injury. Lizaad Williams struck twice in the final over to finish with three wickets.

The defeat meant that JSK missed the chance to seal qualification, with their playoff fate now hinging on their final league match against Paarl Royals.

Brief Scores:
Pretoria Capitals 143 for 6 (Rutherford 74*, Brevis 53; Worrall 2-12) beat Joburg Super Kings 122 for 8 (Forrester 44*; Maharaj 3-15, Williams 3-25) by 21 runs

[Cricbuzz]

Weather

Dry weather will prevail in most parts of the island

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/18

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 18 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 18 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central and Uva provinces and in Galle, Matara and Ampara districts during the early hours of the morning.

There is a possibility of ground frost at some places in the Nuwara-Eliya district in the early hours of the morning.

Mainly dry weather will prevail in most parts of the island.

News

Premadasa: Grade 6 syllabus fiasco signals deeper issues

Published

6 hours ago

2026/01/18

Thilina Walpola

Harini Sajith

Vicious attacks disguised as criticism of education reforms, says PM

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has said Sri Lanka’s education system has fallen into a “tragic condition,” warning that the crisis extends far beyond the Grade 6 syllabus fiasco.Premadasa made these remarks at the Opposition Leader’s Office during the establishment of the “Common Platform to Protect Free Education.”

Premadasa said that while public attention was on the Grade 6 syllabus issue, the problems facing the education sector were far deeper and affected the entire education system, including schools, universities and tertiary education institutions.

The Opposition Leader noted that the current crisis had not manifested itself overnight due to result of recent decisions; instead, it had developed over time due to reforms being introduced without proper consultation, dialogue or a participatory process involving stakeholders.

The Opposition Leader stressed the urgent need for setting political agendas aside and making a concerted effort to introduce meaningful educaton reforms. He said the rights of more than 4.1 million schoolchildren must be protected.

Premadasa said Sri Lanka must ensure that education was free and of high quality, and warned that failure to do so would have long-term consequences for the country’s future.

Taking part in a televised interview, PM Harini Amarasuriya responded to criticism of the government’s proposed education reforms, especially recent criticism on the rainbow colours on the covers of modules.

This is not constructive in any way. This is vile. This is really vicious. This is the politics the people of this country rejected in three elections in 2024 and 2025,” she said.

She added that the government was open to constructive criticism.