Sri Lanka won the toss and choose to field first in the 4th match of the ODI tri-series

India are unchanged from the XI that played against South Africa. Sri Lanka are also playing the same side that beat South Africa on Friday.

Sri Lanka’s First-Class cricket has long cried out for reform, and finally, some bold strokes are being played. The playing field has been trimmed down in recent seasons – deadwood cleared to raise the stakes. But the googly of the season was the axing of SSC, the grand old club with a trophy cabinet full of stars. It raised eyebrows, but the message from the top was loud and clear – no room for reputation alone. The long-term plan? Slim the domestic First-Class circuit to a lean, mean ten-team league. That’s a shot well worth taking.

Towering above the club scene is the National Super League (NSL), now firmly established as the litmus test for national selection. This year’s edition went down to the wire, with Galle emerging champions on a first-innings lead over Dambulla in a rain-hit final at SSC – a draw on the scorecard, but a win on the balance sheet.

One man who set the NSL ablaze was Ravindu Rasantha de Silva. The former Sri Lanka U-19 and S. Thomas’ College opener piled on the runs like a man on a mission – 563 runs at a Bradmanesque average of 93, with three centuries and a mammoth 206 not out, the tournament’s highest score. He didn’t just knock on the selectors’ door – he’s banging it down.

Another comeback kid was Pathum Nissanka, who had been on a bit of a lean patch in both Test and First Class cricket. But he cashed in with a double ton that may have just saved his Test spot ahead of the Bangladesh series.

Oshada Fernando and Avishka Fernando, old boys of St. Sebastian’s College, also came to the party, finding form at just the right time. The two Fernandos were among the few batters who batted with intent and purpose – a welcome sign with a new Test cycle on the horizon.

But if there was one player who bowled his heart out, it was Akila Dananjaya. The off-spinner spun a web around batsmen, grabbing 37 wickets – a staggering stat considering the next best tally was a mere 15. Akila’s showing could tempt selectors into throwing him a red-ball lifeline, but caution must be the watchword. His history with suspect actions is no secret. Unless his remodelled action is rock solid, the call-up could backfire.

One of the most heartening takeaways from this year’s NSL was seeing players traditionally pigeonholed as white-ball specialists embracing the grind of the longer format. Charith Asalanka skippered Colombo and anchored the innings when it mattered, while Dunith Wellalage was the real revelation – batting like a top-six player and bowling with the guile of a veteran. With a batting average of 39 and bowling average of 19, the all-rounder ticked every box. He may not earn a Test cap just yet, but he’s definitely warming up in the nets for future call-ups.

The story doesn’t end at home. Several NSL stars carried their form overseas, donning Sri Lanka ‘A’ colours in the UAE and delivering the goods. Against Afghanistan ‘A’, the likes of Lahiru Udara and Sonal Dinusha struck hundreds in the first innings, while Nuwanindu Fernando, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, and Pavan Ratnayake joined the party with second-innings tons.

On the bowling front, Isitha Wijesundara stole the spotlight with a ten-wicket match bag – a performance worthy of a standing ovation.

With Dimuth Karunaratne’s retirement and four consecutive Test defeats hanging over the national team like a dark cloud, there’s no time for sentiment. The selectors need to pad up and make bold calls. The new World Test Championship cycle kicks off in June, and if ever there was a time to blood fresh talent, it’s now.

by Rex Clementine

From fighting hemoglobin defdeficiency to creating national records

Kelaniya University undergraduate Rasara Wijesuriya is set to become the first Sri Lankan female athlete to compete in the two longest track events at the Asian Athletics Championship outside Sri Lanka. The athlete trained by veteran coach Sajith Jayalal established a new national record in the 10,000 metres in February this year prompting track and field authorities to shortlist her for the May 27-31 event taking place in Gumi, South Korea. Incidentally, it will be her first competition outside the country after the postponement of the South Asian Athletics Championship for which she was first selected.

“It is an exciting prospect as I have not competed outside Sri Lanka,” Rasara told The Sunday Island.

Hailing from Ampara, Rasara first reached national level when she won the 800m and 1500m at the Eastern Province Schools Athletics championships following which she received a sports scholorship at Ratnayake Central Walala for her A/L studies. However, at Walala she was diagnosed with a hemoglobin deficiency and had to stop training on medical advice.

“I did not train from February to August that year. I think the hemoglobin deficiency was due to lack of nutrition. I started training under Sajith Sir in 2023,” replied the 22 year old.

It is remarkable to note an athlete who had to stop training for low hemoglobin counts improving in a short time to shatter national records in gruelling long distance events.

In February, Rasara broke US based athlete Hiruni Wijayaratne’s 10,000m national record (33:55.04 secs) with a feat of 33:39.60 seconds.

From the early 90s the Sri Lanka National record of the 10,000m had remained with Sujeewa Nilmini Jayasena until Hiruni erased it in the last decade. The record breaking feat in February has firmly established Rasara as the athlete to beat in every distance from 5000m to Cross Country races in Sri Lanka. At the Asian level she will have a tough ask with seasoned runners of the region and African born distance runners competing for Middle Eastern country joining the frey.

Some of Sri Lanka’s legendary athletes have been associated with the 5000m and the 10,000m success at Asian level. In his day S.L.B Rosa turned tables on Japanese favourites to win a gold double in these events at the Asian Games. But at the Asian Championships, the flagship event organised by the regional federation no male athlete has won a medal in any of these events. Sujeewa Nilmini Jayasena became the first athlete to win a medal for Sri Lanka in these events when she clocked 34 minutes and 47 seconds to finish second in the 10,000 m at the 2003 edition in Manila.

Not many Sri Lakan female athletes pursuing long distance events have succeeded outside Sri Lanka. In fact Sri Lanka had not fielded female athletes for the gruelling events at the Asian Championships untill the country hosted the biennial event in 2002.

As the host country, Sri Lanka had the luxury of fielding three athletes each for every discipline. While D.A. Inoka competed in both the 5000m and the 10,000m, Sujeewa Nilmini made her Championship debut in the 10,000m in Colombo. According to Sri Lanka Athletics statistics H.M.W.K. Herath (5,000m), Kanchanamala Udagedara (5,000m) and M.A. Chandrawathie (10,000m) were the others to have competed for the hosts.

That was the only occation when more than one female athlete competed for Sri Lanka in these disciplnes. That was also the only occation one female athlete (D.A. Inoka) competed in both events. With Sri Lanka Athletics opting for medal winning standards to send athletes for overseas events in recent times not many athletes got opportunities to compete at Asian level in the longest track events. Rasara will be aiming to make her overseas debut a memmorable one.

by Reemus Fernando