by Rex Clementine

Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya has earned a ticket back to the Sri Lankan Test squad for the much-anticipated series against South Africa, set to kick off later this month in Durban. Joining him in the comeback parade is pacer Kasun Rajitha, who returns after being left out of the two-match home series against New Zealand.

Leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay and off-spinner Ramesh Mendis, both part of the New Zealand series squad, find themselves on the sidelines this time.

Embuldeniya’s last dance in Sri Lankan whites was over two years ago, during the Galle Test against Australia. Meanwhile, Rajitha has been a familiar face in the Test setup, even making the squad for the England tour earlier this year, though he didn’t get a chance to play.

Both players have hit the ground running in South Africa, arriving early as part of the Test specialist contingent for a pre-series camp. They are sharpening their skills under the watchful eye of consultant coach Neil McKenzie. The rest of the squad, currently locked in the white-ball battle against New Zealand, are set to join them later this week.

With the stakes sky-high, this series promises to be a nail-biter. Both Sri Lanka and South Africa are in the hunt for a coveted spot in next year’s World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s. A series victory could significantly boost either side’s chances, with neither having tasted WTC final glory before.

South Africa, too, have pulled out the big guns, announcing their squad yesterday. Skipper Temba Bavuma is back in action after recovering from an elbow injury, while all-rounder Marco Jansen and fiery young quick Gerald Coetzee also return from their respective injury spells.

The two-match series will be played in Durban and Port Elizabeth, venues that have traditionally been kinder to the spinners and slower bowlers—something Sri Lanka will look to exploit. It’s worth noting that Sri Lanka remain the only Asian team to have pulled off a Test series win on South African soil. They achieved this historic feat in 2019 under Dimuth Karunaratne, with Durban and Port Elizabeth also hosting that landmark triumph.

The curtain-raiser in Durban promises to be a thriller, with both teams armed to the teeth and ready to battle for WTC supremacy.

Sri Lanka Squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Oshada Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Prabath Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Lasith Embuldeniya, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha.

South Africa Squad: Temba Bavuma (Captain), David Bedingham, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne.

Under 19 Cricket

by Reemus Fernando

St. Thomas’ College Matara pulled off five wickets victory against St. Anne’s College Kurunegala as Manuga Guruge completed a match bag of 13 wickets including an eight wicket haul in the second innings in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘B’ cricket encounter at Uyanwatta Stadium on Tuesday.

Scores

St. Anne’s

58 all out and 93 all out in 37.1 overs (Kushan Subasinghe 37; Manuga Guruge 8/34)

St. Thomas’

64 all out in 22.2 overs (Bazeer Shakeel 5/17, Kevin Nanayakkara 4/14) and 90 for 5 in 24 overs

Dineth scores century as Thomians win on first innings at Mount

Scores

Prince of Wales

126 all out in 57.1 overs (Oshan de Silva 23, Naveen Fernando 44; Kavindu Dias 3/35, Minon Warnakulasuriya 2/26, Aaron de Silva 4/39) and 65 for 1 in 16 overs (Rivith Jayasuriya 34)

S. Thomas’

215 for 9 decl. in 94.4 overs (Dineth Goonewardene 104, Anshen de Silva 21, Kavindu Dias 24; Nethul Anuhas 3/66, Naveen Fernando 2/28 , NV Aponso 2/28)

Sebs on first innings win at Moratuwa

Scores

St. Sebastian’s

162 all out in 47.1 overs (Ushen Silva 28, Navod Fernando 34; Tharusha Kodikara 5/57, Poorna Kalhara 3/45, Thathsara Eshan 2/21) and 139 all out in 47.3 overs (Koshendra Fernando 62; Tharusha Kodikara 2/29, Thathsara Eshan 3/34, Poorna Kalhara 4/36)

Gurukula

131 all out in 50.1 overs (Nethan Dishen 23, Poorna Kalhara 24, Thathsara Eshan 56; Adesh Almeida 5/27, Malintha Silva 4/39) and 104 for 7 in 29.3 overs (Janith Mihiranga 29; Malintha Silva 4/26)

Trinity on first innings win at Campbell Place

Scores

Nalanda

82 all out in 45.2 overs (Manupa Manmitha 28, Sathmina Serasinghe 23; Thisal Yapa 3/21, Vathila Udara 3/08) and 135 for 4 in 58 overs (Nemidu Akmeemana 54, Manupa Manmitha 45; Malith Rathnayake 2/41)

Trinity

160 for 8 decl. in 52.1 overs (Pulisha Thilakarathne 59; Hasith Rathnayake 2/39, Malsha Fernando 3/43, Methuka Randul 2/31)

ka’s hopes of completing a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand were left hanging by a thread as rain played havoc, forcing players off the field after just 21 overs of the New Zealand innings in the third ODI at Pallekele yesterday.

The game was a mere dead rubber, with Sri Lanka having already wrapped up the series in a nail-biting finish on Sunday, clinching victory with just an over to spare.

Sri Lanka got off to a dream start, removing Tim Robinson early. Charith Asalanka pulled off a stunning catch at mid-off, leaping high like a salmon to hand Mohamed Shiraz his maiden international wicket. However, the tables turned quickly, as New Zealand’s batters wrestled back control.

Will Young and Henry Nicholls consolidated New Zealand’s position putting together a commanding 88-run partnership for the second wicket. Young, in red-hot form throughout the tour, brought up his ninth ODI half-century in style. His 56 off 68 balls was peppered with eight crisp boundaries, showcasing elegant drives and powerful cuts through the off-side. Nicholls, meanwhile, was cruising on 46 off 51 balls, anchoring the innings with four boundaries and some deft leg sweeps against the spinners.

Young was timing the ball sweetly dispatching loose deliveries with clinical precision while Nicholls, the left-hander, complemented him perfectly, using the sweep shot to good effect and keeping the scoreboard ticking.

The rain initially eased around 5:15 PM, and match officials planned an inspection for 6:00 PM. But just as hope glimmered, another downpour dashed any chance of resumption, forcing an early end to the day.

Sri Lanka made wholesale changes for this inconsequential match, resting key players Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, and Asitha Fernando, all of whom are set to fly to South Africa soon. Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage was also given a breather, making way for Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who earned his ODI debut.