Rex Clementine at Dambulla

Sri Lanka’s preparations for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand have been dealt a blow as key leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out with a hamstring strain. Hasaranga’s absence leaves a significant gap in Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, as his wicket-taking ability has been instrumental in Sri Lanka’s recent success. In his place, Dushan Hemantha has been drafted into the squad, while Jeffrey Vandersay is expected to play in today’s first ODI here in Dambulla.

“It’s a setback, of course, but Jeffrey filled in for Hasaranga during our recent series against India and performed admirably. We’ve been working on building our depth, and players are rising to the challenge when called upon,” said Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka.

The stakes are high for Sri Lanka, ranked sixth in ODIs and just behind New Zealand in fifth place. A series victory would elevate Sri Lanka into the fifth spot, a target Asalanka’s team has had in sight all year.

“Our focus this year has been on climbing the rankings. We started from a lower position, so we’ve made a conscious effort to improve and rise up the ladder. We’ve been making strides in all formats, and this series is a chance to achieve a goal we’ve been working towards—securing that fifth position,” Asalanka explained.

Despite the injury setback, Asalanka remains optimistic about the team’s bench strength and believes the squad is prepared to take on New Zealand.

On the other side, New Zealand have also been hit by injury, with their star pacer Lockie Ferguson sidelined due to a calf strain. Ferguson’s absence comes as a relief to Sri Lanka’s middle order, which struggled against his fierce pace in the recent T20 series, where he claimed a hat-trick to seal a five-run victory for New Zealand in the second match. Adam Milne has been called in to replace Ferguson, though he is unlikely to be available for the series opener.

“It’s a big loss for us. Lockie brings intensity to our attack with those high-energy spells. But Adam Milne, who has similar skills, should step in soon,” New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said.

New Zealand, meanwhile, will be entering the ODI series with limited recent experience in the format, having not played an ODI this year. While this could pose a challenge for the visitors, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner expressed confidence in his side’s preparedness.

“It’s not ideal, but most of the team has been involved in domestic one-day games recently. We know Sri Lanka is a tough opponent, and they’ve proven that with their performances against the West Indies,” Santner remarked.

Santner also addressed concerns around New Zealand’s batting, which faltered in both T20 games, underscoring the importance of a strong start from the top order. “Our lower order has chipped in, but our top order needs to give us a solid foundation. The pitch here looks like it’ll turn, though there’s more grass than on the T20 surfaces,” he noted.

Sri Lanka’s captain, meanwhile, is focused on bouncing back from their recent T20 loss, where they struggled to chase a modest target of 109 runs. Asalanka vowed that his side would approach the ODI series with renewed determination.

“We were disappointed by that last game, no question. But what counts is how we respond now. We’re ready to make our mark and put in a strong performance tomorrow,” he affirmed.

Sri Lanka (From):

Charith Asalanka (Captain), Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (Wicketkeeper), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nishan Madushka, Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Mohamed Shiraz.

New Zealand (From)

: Mitchell Santner (Captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay (Wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Tim Robinson, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Will Young.

Umpires:

Rod Tucker (Aus) and Ravindra Wimalasiri (SL).

Television Umpire:

Langton Rusere (SL)

Match Referee:

Graeme Labrooy (SL).

Sri Lanka Cricket has signed up former South Africa Test cricketer Neil McKenzie. He will work with the Sri Lankan players who arrived in South Africa today for a pre-series camp.

McKenzie has had stints with Bangladesh and South Africa as a Batting Coach.

Sri Lanka hired former England batter Ian Bell in a similar role during their tour of UK recently. The two Test series against South Africa will get underway later this month. The first Test will be played in Durban followed by the second game in Port Elizabeth.

Along with Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Kumara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Milan Ratnayake, Kasun Rajitha and Lasith Embuldeniya travelled to South Africa to resume training.

The players who are involved in the current white ball series against New Zealand are expected to travel to South Africa next week.

Under 19 Cricket

by Reemus Fernando

A century by skipper Ryan Dissanayake and a match bag of ten wickets by Malintha Silva helped St. Sebastian’s record an innings and 78 runs victory over St. Sylvester’s in their Under 19 traditional cricket encounter at Moratuwa on Tuesday.

Malintha picked up seven wickets in the second innings to lead the way for St. Sebastian’s to record their second victory of the season. While Koshendra Fernando played a key role in the first innings taking six wickets to restrict the visitors to 119 runs, skipper Dissanayake powered them to 323 for seven wickets declared with a valuable knock of 139 runs. It was Dissanayake’s second century of the tournament.

At Wijerama Mawatha, Richmond amassed the highest score of the season as Thamindu Pradeeptha top scored with 166 runs. Richmond declared their innings when they were 401 for six wickets. No school in the Division I tournament had topped 400 runs until yesterday.

At Weeraketiya, following on, Tissa Central Kalutara were 176 for seven wickets when rain interrupted the match against Mahinda during the second session. Mahinda won first innings points.

Results

Traditional Matches

Sebs in innings and 78 runs win

at Moratuwa

Scores:

St. Sylvester’s 119 all out 35.5 overs

(Piyumaka Karunaratne 33, Gagana Lankeshwara 30, Vidusara Ganegoda 22; Malintha Silva 3/23, Koshendra Fernando 6/23) and 126 all out in 29.3 overs (Kaveesha Chandimal 60; Malintha Silva 7/59, Ryan Dissanayake 2/28)

St.Sebastian’s 222 for 3 overnight 323 for 7 decl. in 79.4 overs

(Kaveesha Perera 48, Ryan Dissanayake 139, Adesh Almeida 24, Navod Fernando 58, Lashen Fernando 38; Kaveesha Chandimal 2/20)

Richmond top 400 runs

at Wijerama Mawatha

Scores:

Richmond 401 for 6 decl. in 88.4 overs

(Nikil Jayaweera 28, Helitha Edirisinghe 99, Thamindu Pradeeptha 166, Shehan de Zoysa 60; Kiran Janendra 3/90)

DSS 32 for 1 in 9 overs

Tier ‘A’

Nalanda in first innings win over Royal at Campbell Place

Scores:

Royal 185 all out in 57.1 overs

(Rehan Peiris 37, Shane Abeyratne 23, Isula Geeganage 47, Yasindu Dissanayake 25; Malsha Fernando 7/49, Methula Randul 2/40) and 152 for 4 in 54 overs (Rehan Peiris 65, Thevindu Wewalwala 37; Hasith Rathnayake 2/58)

Nalanda 124 for 4 overnight 244 all out 86.4 overs

(Manupa Manmitha 53, Nemindu Akmeemana 20, Osanda Pamuditha 53, Santhul Wijeyarathne 22, Sathmina Serasinghe 49; Ranuka Malaviarachchi 3/80, Thevinsu Wewalwala 2/17, Yenula Bandara 2/40)

Gurukula win first innings points against Maris Stella at Panagoda

Scores:

Maris Stella 134 all out in 45.5 overs

(Ranmith Bandara 51, Yohan Aloka 45; Tharusha Kodikara 3/33, Ohas Sadew 3/33) and 248 for 9 decl. in 73.3 overs (Oshada Gunasinghe 75, Levin Fernando 37, Safni Deen 41, Yohan Aloka 31, Hasmika Nethshan 36n.o.; Ohas Sadew 2/36, Thathsara Eshan 2/57, Poorna Kalhara 4/71)

Gurukula 167 for 4 overnight 342 for 9 decl. 84.3 in overs

(Kavindu Madusanka 24, Hiruna Nimsara 55, Poorna Kalhara 120, Daham Vimukthi 35; Oshada Gunasinghe 3/81, Kevin Kadigamuwa 4/93)

Mahanama in control against

Bens at Bloomfield

Scores:

St. Benedict’s 131 all out in 42.5 overs

(Akein Perera 43, Didula Eshan 28, Trishane Silva 21n.o.; Anuka Wijewardhane 7/39, Chamika Heenatigala 3/20)

Mahanama 171 for 6 in 45 overs

(Dulneth Algawatte 31, Chamika Heenatigala 62n.o., Eshan Withanage 41; Ayesh Gajanayake 2/28, Mevan Dissanayake 2/51, Samindu Peiris 2/23)

Tier ‘B’

Mahinda on first innings win at Weeraketiya

Scores

Mahinda 255 all out in 64.1 overs

(Thevindu Rashmika 69, Randul Mabarana 48, Sehas Ashinsa 49, Senuka Dangamuwa 47; Mindew Hansana 2/24, Hashen Imsara 6/66)

Tissa 74 all out in 23.5 overs

(Sandew Nethmina 4/42, Senuka Dangamuwa 3/18, Arosha Udayanga 2/01) and 3 for 1 overnight 176 for 7 in 60 overs (Sithum Mihiranga 40, Umantha Akash 68, Nadun Asela 22; Senuka Dangamuwa 2/55, Sadew Nethmina 3/39)

Thurstan in first innings

win at Kadirana

Scores

Thurstan 274 for 9 overnight 297 all out in 87 overs

(Dinal Induwara 33, Sethru Fernando 98, Pathum Dananjaya 45, Thanuga Palihawadana 30; Ashinsa Nainayaka 4/89, Sharada Jayaratne 5/69) and 74 for 2 in 11.4 overs (Dinal Induwara 51n.o.; Sharada Jayaratne 2/21)

Ananda 175 all out in 78.5 overs

(Danidu Sellapperuma 57; Thanuga Palihawadana 6/70, Sethru Fernando 3/27)