Sports

Chamindu, Sadisha hammer centuries as SL U19s romp to victory

Published

4 years ago

2021/12/27

Sri Lanka Under 19s romped to their second consecutive victory in the Asian Cricket Council Under-19 Asia Cup tournament as Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Sadisha Rajapaksa scored centuries to set the stage to beat Nepal Under 19s by 60 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 323 runs to victory Nepal top order provided hope with openers putting up a 59 runs stand but three quick wickets by Raveen de Silva proved vital as Nepal lost the momentum to be placed 92 for four wickets in the 23rd over.

Wicketkeeper batsman Arjun Saud anchored the batting line up with a half century to keep hopes alive for Nepal but bowlers did well to contain the run flow. His run out dismissal at the start of the last ten overs doused late sparks as Nepal were bowled out for 262 runs with 13 balls remaining in their innings. Paceman Matheesha Pathirana accounted for three late order wickets.

Deciding to bat first, the second wicket pair of Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Sadisha Rajapaksa put on a massive stand of 223 runs as both went on to score centuries. That stand provided the key for Sri Lanka Under 19s victory. It was the second Youth ODI century for Wickramasinghe as the St. Anthony’s, Katugastota all rounder scored 111 runs inclusive of eight fours and two sixes. His first Youth ODI century was scored in the home series against Bangladesh.

When he got out, the team had posted 262 runs leaving the middle order batsmen with seven overs to accelerate the run rate with Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa went on to compile a valuable 131 runs in just 119 balls. The Royal College, Colombo batsman’s knock included 11 fours and two sixes. Wellalage provided the finishing touches to the innings scoring an unbeaten 34 in 24 balls. He scored three fours and a six.

The team posted over 300 runs for the second time with as many as five batsmen not facing a single ball. In their first match Sri Lanka Youth team beat Kuwait by 274 runs.

Sri Lanka Under 19s will now meet their Bangladesh counterparts in the last group match on Tuesday.

Scores:

Sri Lanka U19s 322

for 4 in 50 overs (Chamindu Wickramasinghe 111, Shevon Daniel 17, Sadisha Rajapaksa 131, Dunith Wellalage 34n.o.; Mohammad Aadil Alam 2/46)

Nepal U19s 262

all out in 47.5 overs (Santosh Karki 34, Dev Khanal 28, Arjun Saud 64, Basir Ahamad 43, Bibek Yadav 46; Matheesha Pathirana 3/49, Raveen de Silva 3/35)

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Sports

Ananda earn first innings honours against Royal

Published

1 hour ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

Ananda earned first innngs honours against Royal as a five wicket haul by spinner Kithma Vidanapathirana and useful contributions with the bat from Nethula Edirimanne (34), Vidanapathirana (30), Lithma Perera (44), Rashan Dilaksha (52) and Himira Kudagama (24n.o.) stood in good stead for the home team in the Under 19 traditional cricket encounter at Ananda Mawatha on Friday.‎

‎Scores

‎Royal 189 all out in 53.1 overs (Rehan Peiris 58, Udantha Gangewatta 33, Sehandu Sooriyaarachchi 22; Kithma Vidanapathirana 5/34, Ashinsa Nainayake 2/38) and 222 for 9 in 62 overs (Hirun Liyanarachchi 57, Rehan Peiris 29, Udantha Gangewatta 47, Thevindu Wewalwala 37; Danindu Sellapperuma 5/45)

‎Ananda 239 all out in 69.5 over (Nethula Edirimanne 34, Kithma Vidanapathirana 30, Lithma Perera 44, Rashan Dilaksha 52, Himira Kudagama 24n.o.; Himaru Deshan 2/56, Ramiru Perera 5/61)

‎Bens looking for first innings advantage against Thomians at Kotahena

Day One ‎Scores

‎S. Thomas’ 189 all out in 63.3 overs (Mahith Rajapaksha 29, Ludeesha Matarage 25, Reshon Soloman 20, Raphael Hettige 44, Shanil Perera 22; Vihanga Rathnayaka 4/30, Lithika Jayasundara 2/17)

‎St. Benedict’s 134 for 4 in 31 overs (Mario Fernando 49, Mihila Jayaweera 47, Vihanga Rathnayake 22n.o.; Gimhan Mendis 3/29) (RF)

Latest News

SCG curator ‘really happy’ with pitch for final Ashes Test

Published

14 hours ago

2026/01/2

Priyan

The pitch at the SCG has been the centre of much attention [Cricinfo]

Todd Murphy is firming to play his first home Test, after the SCG’s head curator declared the pitch’s green covering would be near-irrelevant come day one.

With administrators still on edge after last week’s two day debacle in Melbourne, an extremely green SCG surface raised eyebrows in Sydney on Thursday.

But chief curator Adam Lewis insisted on Friday that should not be a concern, and he was hopeful Sydney would extend into a fifth day.

“You want to see green tinge three days out,” Lewis said. “If you’re not seeing any live grass three days out, then that’s when it’s a worry, … I’m really comfortable with where we’re sitting.

“We had a little bit of sun this morning. They’re saying a bit more sun tomorrow. That will take the greenness out of the pitch. We’re really happy with the pitches at the moment. We’re looking good.”

Lewis admitted he felt for MCG counterpart Matt Page last week, but said he felt no external pressure to ensure the fifth Test in Sydney went the distance.

It’s estimated that Cricket Australia (CA) has lost in the vicinity of AUD15 million in profits this summer, with the opening Test in Perth also finishing inside two days.

Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joked at a function with teams on Thursday night that they had to ensure the game went to day three, in order to support the McGrath Foundation fundraiser.

One of the hardest grounds in the world to bowl on between 2014 and 2023, last year’s SCG Test was over in just two-and-a-half days.

Lewis said that his ground staff would go with 6mm of grass this year compared to 7mm last season, while also reducing its density. That in itself generally acts to flatten out the wicket and produce less movement, while also inviting the chance of spin late in the match.

“We just thought … we could thin our density out a little bit,” Lewis said. “That’s what we’ve done this year. We’ve practised that in the Shield matches and we’ve received very good marks.”

CA CEO Todd Greenberg said he too was confident the SCG Test would last the distance.

“I’ve had more phone calls and conversations about wickets and millimetres of grass than I thought I’d ever have,” Greenberg said. “But I’m hopeful and confident we will have a long and productive Test match here.”

All of which should spell good news for Murphy. Australia’s coaching staff had a prolonged conversation around the pitch on Friday morning, after leaving Murphy out and going with four quicks at the MCG.

Murphy then spent most of Friday’s training session bowling to Australia’s top order, while Alex Carey also had an extended run keeping to him.

With seven Tests to his name overseas, Murphy would be expected to come in for Jhye Richardson if he does play in Sydney.

England have promised to take the attack to Murphy, who played two Tests during the 2023 Ashes were he conceded 4.72 an over.

“Whoever plays, I think that’s the mantra of our team, is to try and put pressure on people,” opener Zak Crawley, said. “Todd’s a very good bowler, but I can envisage us trying to put some pressure on him, like we would all their bowlers.

That’s going to come with some risks, and if it’s turning it’s definitely going to be a threat. But I think we’ll try and put pressure on all their bowlers.”

The other question for Australia will be whether Cameron Green remains in the side, after Beau Webster was spotted fielding in the gully during slips training on Friday. Green has averaged 18.66 with the bat in this series. The SCG was the scene of Webster’s debut a year ago against India.

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Pramod hits 42 runs in an over

Published

1 day ago

2026/01/2

Thilina Walpola

Pramod Madushan hit 42 runs in an over.

Young Pramod Madushan has become the talk in cricket circles after he scored 42 runs in an over for Mercantile Services Cricket Academy against Sigi Cricket Academy at Ambalangoda recently.

In an over that contained nine deliveries, including two no-balls and a wide, Madushan cut loose hitting three fours and five sixes. In all, the over bowled by Bihandu Sandiv went for 45 runs.

The young cricketer from D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo shares the same name as Sri Lanka fast bowler Pramod Madushan. However, the 19-year-old is a wicketkeeper batter.

His knock of 103 came in just 38 deliveries and contained eight fours and ten sixes.