Sports
Curran, Hasaranga power Vipers into ILT20 final
Tom Curran and Wanindu Hasaranga’s all-round efforts were central to Desert Vipers becoming the first team to reach the final of the inaugural edition of the International League T20 as they defeated Gulf Giants by 19 runs in the Qualifier 1 match in Dubai on Wednesday (February 8). Hasaranga scored a 20-ball 31, Sam Billings struck 31 off 29 while Sherfane Rutherford overcame an injury to score a rapid 37 off 19 as the Vipers posted a challenging 178/7 on the board. The Giants got off to a good start but their innings crumbled thanks to quick strikes from Hasaranga (3-36). Curran, who had made a 17-ball 29 in the first innings, finished with 4-31 to bowl the Giants out for 159. The Giants now await the victor of the MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals clash to face off in Qualifier 2.
Chris Lynn and James Vince got going after a couple of quiet overs as they ensured boundaries regularly to power the start of the chase. The half-century stand was raised inside the powerplay, with the openers scoring seven fours between them in the first six overs. But the introduction of spin soon after ended the opening stand as Hasaranga struck with his first delivery to have Lynn bowled for 26. Vince fell an over later, bowled by Tom Curran for 21. The wickets, invariably, slowed the tempo of the innings as the Giants moved to 75/2 at the halfway stage of the chase, with a requires rate of over 10. Hasaranga continued to taste success as he struck twice in the 11th over, trapping both Colin de Grandhomme and David Wiese lbw. With Luke Wood slipping in a three-run over, the asking rate rose over 12.
Shimron Hetmyer provided the much-needed boost with three sixes in an over off Hasaranga – who had gone for only three runs in the two overs before this – as the Giants reached 100 after 13 overs. But Wood provided a key strike in the 15th over as Hetmyer mistimed a pull to head back after scoring 36 off 21. Tom Banton fell to Curran after scoring two fours but Dominic Drakes and Carlos Brathwaite tried to keep their team in the hunt as they struck a six apiece off Hasaranga. Drakes, however, fell to Wood (2-26) and despite Brathwaite hitting a boundary in the over, the Giants needed 37 off 12. Curran then sent Brathwaite and Sanchit Sharma off successive deliveries. Aayan Afzal Khan was the last to depart, run out without facing a ball, as the Vipers secured their first win against the Giants in three attempts.
Earlier, having been asked to bat, the Vipers did not have the best of starts as they were reduced to 33/3 inside the powerplay, losing the top three in quick succession. Rohan Mustafa looked in good touch as he raced to 23, scoring three sixes in his short stay before being dismissed by Wiese. Alex Hales and Colin Munro, on the other hand, struggled to get going before getting out to Carlos Brathwaite and Chris Jordan in successive overs. A 63-run partnership between Hasaranga and Billings ensued, with the two batters scoring regular boundaries to set a good platform for the Vipers.
But they were reduced to 108/5 in the 15th over as the set batters departed in their attempt to play big shots. With Wood departing after scoring a couple of boundaries, the Vipers were 126/6 in the 17th over when Rutherford came back to the middle having earlier been stretchered off with what seemed like a hamstring problem. He was barely able to walk but that did not stop him from playing his shots as he whacked Jordan for a four and a six before striking three successive maximums off Wiese. With Curran also coming up with a handy knock, which included two fours and as many sixes, the Vipers finished with close to 180, getting 69 in the last five overs.
Brief scores: Desert Vipers
178/7 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 37, Wanindu Hasaranga 31; Chris Jordan 3-40) beat Gulf Giants 159 in 19.4 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 36; Tom Curran 4-31, Wanindu Hasaranga 3-36) by 19 runs.
(Cricbuzz)
Corbin Bosch has been served legal notice by the PCB, alleging breach of contractual obligations, after the South Africa allrounder signed for Mumbai Indians for IPL 2025, thus pulling out of PSL 2025.
This season is the first in which the PSL will be played concurrently with the IPL: The IPL will run from March 22 to May 25, and the PSL from April 11 to May 18. Bosch had been picked by Peshawar Zalmi, in the diamond category, at the PSL draft that was held in January. But on March 8, it was announced by Mumbai Indians that he would be replacing the injured Lizaad Williams in their squad.
The PSL franchises have been keen to take some sort of action on Bosch, as they are worried it could set a precedent for players signing up with the PSL but then switching to the IPL. The idea of an outright ban on such players has also been floated in informal discussions.
A PCB statement said: “The legal notice was served through his agent, and the player has been asked to justify his actions of withdrawing from his professional and contractual commitments. The PCB management has also outlined the repercussions of his departure from the league and expects his response within the stipulated time frame. The PCB will not make any further comments on the matter.”
The statement did not specify what the time frame was for Bosch to respond.
The PCB had shifted the PSL window with a view to improve the quality and availability of overseas players whom the league would be able to sign. When the PSL was in the February-March window, it also had to compete with the SA20, ILT20 and the BPL for players. ESPN Cricinfo had reported last year when the window was changed that holding the PSL draft after the IPL auction had also been discussed, to have greater clarity about the availability of overseas players for the league. Leading into this season, the IPL auction was held in November 2024 and the PSL draft in January 2025.
The PSL draft duly attracted a large number of high-profile players, including David Warner, Daryl Mitchell, Jason Holder, Rassie van der Dussen and Kane Williamson.
[Cricinfo]
By A Special Sports Correspondent
Kandy Sports Club crowned themselves as ‘Cup Championship’ winners in the inter-club league rugby tournament when they overcame their final hurdle by beating Havelocks Sports Club by 50 points to 24 at Nittawela last evening.
Kandy SC was anyway assured of the title this season before this final game of the season even began, given that they were unbeaten thus far in the league tournament. Kandy SC collected their points through seven tries, six conversions and a penalty while Havelocks Sports Club responded with a three converted tries and a penalty.
Kandy SC set the pace for the game from the kick off itself and recorded first half tries through Dinal Ekanayake, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Kenula Hettiarachchi and Dahan Wickremaarachchi and all four conversions were slotted in by Tharinda Ratwatte. Havelocks SC got most of their points in the first half through Sandesh Jayawickreme who scored a try and booted through a conversion. The penalty for the Park Club was kicked right by Samuel Maduwantha.
Kandy SC faced some resistance from Havies after the turn around, but the side from Nittawela found the try line by breaking through a barrage of tackles from the men wearing the pink and chocolate jerseys.
Dahan Wickremaarachchi started the ball rolling for Kandy with a try after the turn around which took the side’s score to 38 with the conversion. Havies played in patches thereafter and scored through Jayathu Rajaratne and Janidu Fernando. Jayawickreme was spot on with the conversions.
Kandy’s Ethen Schneider Loos smashed his way through for the side’s sixth try which was converted by Ratwatte. Kandy had the game in the bag despite Havies playing attacking rugby whenever they had possession. But the score line deference that Kandy maintained throughout the game made it hard for Havies to make a real comeback into the game.
The Nittwala side erupted in jubilation when Ekanayake punted ahead and sent crowd favourite Nigel Ratwatte for the seventh and final try. There was speculation throughout the game that this would be Nigel’s final game for the Kandy SC side. Surprisingly Tharinda missed the conversion.
At the awards presentation ceremony after the game, Kandy Sports Club’s Tharinda Ratwatte was named as the highest points scorer for the 2024/25 league rugby season. He has accumulated 139 points this season.
Havelocks Sports produced the highest try scorer for the season. That award went to Jayathu Rajaratne of Havies. He has had 16 touchdowns this season. Havelocks Sports Club had to be satisfied with the runners-up trophy at the awards presentation. Players from both sides including the coaching staff were presented with medals by the organisers of the tournament.
Meanwhile CR&FC did well in their last outing in the Cup Championship segment of the league tournament when they beat Air Force by 31 points to 16 at Longden Place.
In the two Plate Segment matches, Sri Lanka Navy beat Sri Lions by 41 points to 38 at Race Course.In the other match of the Plate segment, Police SC beat Army SC by 24 points to 17. The match was played at Police Park.
Mutthusami Sivarajan and Rasara Wijesuriya won the men’s and women’s Cross Country Championships of the National Sports Festival conducted in Nuwara Eliya.
Sivarajan representing Central Province returned a time of 34 minutes and 21 seconds to finish ahead of Samantha Pushpakumara and Damith Hemantha Kumara.
In the women’s category, Wijesuriya from Eastern Province clocked 38 minutes and 41 seconds finish ahead of Madhushani Herath and Chamini Herath.
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