Sports

Dazzling in Delhi, Sri Lankan style

Published

3 years ago

2023/02/20

by Rex Clementine

India have yet again stamped their authority in Delhi as Australia lost the plot sweeping their way to disaster in the second Test.Delhi has been an absolute fortress of Indian cricket as of the 13 Tests they have played here since 1987, India have won 11 Tests and the remaining two have been drawn. One of those draws involved Sri Lanka when they played in 2017.

Strangely, since 2017, Delhi hasn’t hosted a Test match until this one. That gives you an idea about how Indian cricket politics work. India used to have five major cricket centers; Bombay, Calcutta, Bangalore, Madras and Delhi. But these power bases have now ceased to exist. Hard to think that apart from Delhi none of the other major four cricket centers failed to get a Test match against the Aussies. Ahmedabad has now become the stronghold of Indian cricket. Wonder why? It’s the state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and cricket’s most powerful man Jay Shah hails from there.

Going back to the Delhi Test involving Sri Lanka, it was an absolute cracker. The tourists played out of their skins to earn a hard-fought draw.

Prior to the Delhi Test, Sri Lanka had played in Nagpur and were handed an innings and 239 run defeat, their worst in history. Against that backdrop, raising the game in Delhi was no mean task.

The Delhi wicket keeps low and turns square and against an attack comprising Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, the batsmen have their work cut out. The bowling is quite formidable but the conditions in Delhi make things tougher. There’s obviously the smog and the polluted air that make you sick unless you take the necessary precautions. Even if you take all the precautions, vomiting in night and feeling lethargic by the end of the day are common factors in Delhi.

In the first innings, Angelo Mathews scored a hundred and captain Dinesh Chandimal ended with a top score of 164 to help Sri Lanka get closer to 400 runs.

India declared their second innings on the penultimate day with 17 overs to go leaving Sri Lanka with an improbable target of 410 runs. Realistically, the tourists were looking to survive three sessions and an hour. When they lost three wickets in the last hour of day four, there was very little hope. But Dhananjaya de Silva in his new role of number three gave fresh hopes with a century.

But with two sessions remaining India just needed five wickets and they were fancying their chances. Then came a fine rearguard action from a man on debut – Roshen Silva.

When Roshen was finally given his Test cap in Delhi 2017, he had already played in over 100 First Class matches. Every time there was an opportunity for him to make his Test debut, he was denied a chance on some flimsy grounds. Delhi was an opportunity to sink or swim for him and he played so well to save the game against many odds. If you see the Aussies play spin in Delhi, it’s all about sweeps. But Roshen’s game was entirely different. He trusted his defence. Being aggressive against spin is a method modern-day players employ to ensure a spinner doesn’t get settled and find his groove. But in the case of Roshen, it was just old-fashioned grinding.

Roshen wasn’t alone in this act. He had got of all people Niroshan Dickwella to hang around with him and stitch a 94 run unbroken partnership.As the game headed to the last hour, there came a temptation from Dickwella. ‘Listen, we need 110 runs in 15 overs. We have already lost the series. It doesn’t matter if we lose 1-0 or 2-0. But if we chase this down, we’ll create history by winning our first Test match in India,’ Dickwella told Roshen. But here was a man who knew how quickly things can change in cricket, especially against an attack that had Ashwin, Jadeja. Shami and Ishant. So he decided to close shop.

With Roshen not buying into his argument, Dickwella came up with a counteroffer. ‘Not many have scored hundreds on debut. Maybe you should go for one and take the selectors to take note,’ he said.Roshen, however, was happy to remain unbeaten on 74 knowing too well that things tend to happen so fast in India.It was one of Sri Lanka’s best tours of India as the team drew two Tests digging deep and fighting so hard. It’s a pity that temperamentally sound players like Roshen never got the long rope.

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India to host Zimbabwe for maiden women’s bilateral series

Published

10 hours ago

2026/05/7

Priyan

India Women have never played an international game against Zimbabwe [Cricinfo]

The India and Zimbabwe women’s teams are all set to play an international fixture against each other for the first time when Zimbabwe tour India for white-ball fixtures this October.

The tour comprises three T20Is and three ODIs and will be Zimbabwe’s first visit to India; India are yet to tour Zimbabwe for bilateral fixtures.

The three T20Is will be played in Raipur on October 16, 18 and 20, and the ODIs are on October 23, 25 and 28 in Baroda.

The fixtures were announced by the BCCI on Wednesday, along with two home series for the India A women’s side against Australia A in September and England A in December. Both those series comprise three T20s, three List A games and one multi-day fixture.

The India Under-19 women’s team will also host Sri Lanka U-19 in June and July for three T20s and three 50-over games, and England U-19 in November and December for five T20 fixtures.

The Australia A men’s side will tour India for two multi-day fixtures and three one-dayers in September and October, while the Australia U-19 side will visit India for two multi-day fixtures and three one-dayers also in September and October.

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Fast bowlers to get more opportunities as new format introduced for Under-15 Division I tourney

Published

11 hours ago

2026/05/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

St. Joseph's College won the last edition of the Under 15 Division I cricket tournament

The Inter-Schools Under-15 Division I cricket tournament will be conducted under a revamped format this year, with organisers shifting the focus back to limited-overs cricket while introducing new rules aimed at promoting fast bowling.

‎The tournament, organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA), will see only the top-tier Division I competition played in a 50-over format. Meanwhile, Division II and Division III matches will continue under the one-day, four-innings structure.

‎SLSCA Secretary Saman Hettiarachchi said the changes were made following consultations with experts from Sri Lanka Cricket, with a clear objective of providing greater opportunities for pace bowlers.

‎”We opted for the limited-overs format for Division I in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket. The lower divisions will copete in the innings format as we have observed matches ending early without utilizing the full quota of overs,” Hettiarachchi told ‘The Island’.

‎A key feature of the revised rules is the compulsory allocation of overs for fast bowlers. In a full 50-over innings, a minimum of 20 overs must be bowled by pacemen. Additionally, during the first 10 overs, at least eight overs must be delivered by fast bowlers. If an innings is reduced to 30 overs or fewer, at least six of the first eight overs must be bowled by pace.

‎”It was made mandatory to give more opportunities to pacemen,” Hettiarachchi explained.

‎Meanwhile, the official draw for the Division I tournament has been released, featuring 70 teams divided into 16 groups from Group A to Group P for the preliminary round. Each team is guaranteed multiple matches during the opening stage.

‎Defending champions St. Joseph’s College headline Group A, where they will meet Nalanda College, Dharmapala College, St. John’s College, Lumbini College and De La Salle College.

‎With traditional cricketing powerhouses spread across the groups, it will be interesting to see how the first round pans out in the new-look tournament.

‎Under 15 Division I Tournament First Round Groups

GROUP A

‎St. Joseph’s College, Colombo

‎Nalanda College, Colombo

‎Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya

‎St. John’s College, Nugegoda

‎Lumbini College, Colombo

‎De La Salle College, Colombo

‎GROUP B

‎D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo

‎S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia

‎Presidents’ College, Kotte

‎Wesley College, Colombo

‎Carey College, Colombo

‎Sri Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya

‎GROUP C

‎St. Anthony’s College, Wattala

‎St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa

‎Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Kottawa

‎St. Peter’s College, Colombo

‎C.W.W. Kannangara MV, Colombo

‎Ashoka College, Colombo

‎GROUP D

‎St. Benedict’s College, Colombo

‎Royal College, Colombo

‎Gurukula College, Kelaniya

‎Lyceum International School, Wattala

‎Bandaranayake MMV, Gampaha

‎St. John’s College, Panadura

‎GROUP E

‎De Mazenod College, Kandana

‎Isipathana College, Colombo

‎Christ King College, Ja-Ela

‎Thurstan College, Colombo

‎Ananda Shastralaya NS, Kotte

‎St. Joseph Vaz College, Vennappuwa

‎GROUP F

‎Mahanama College, Colombo

‎Piliyandala MMV, Piliyandala

‎Ananda College, Colombo

‎Sri Jayawardenapura NS, Kotte

‎Presidents College, Maharagama

‎St. Thomas’ College, Kotte

‎GROUP G

‎Wadduwa MMV, Wadduwa

‎Sri Sumangala College, Panadura

‎Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa

‎Moratu Vidyalaya, Moratuwa

‎Revatha College, Balapitiya

‎Royal College, Panadura

‎GROUP H

‎Dharmaraja College, Kandy

‎St. Mary’s College, Kegalle

‎Kegalu Vidyalaya, Kegalle

‎Kingswood College, Kandy

‎Vidyartha College, Kandy

‎Ibbagamuwa MMV, Ibbagamuwa

‎GROUP J

‎Maris Stella College, Negombo

‎Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala

‎Harischandra College, Negombo

‎Maliyadeva Adarsha MV, Kurunegala

‎Galahitiyawa MMV, Ganemulla

‎Sandalankawa MMV, Sandalankawa

‎GROUP K

‎St. Anthony’s College, Kandy

‎St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy

‎Trinity College, Kandy

‎Royal College, Polonnaruwa

‎St. Thomas’ College, Matale

‎Jaffna Hindu College, Jaffna

‎GROUP L

‎Sri Pangnananda MMV, Raddoluwa

‎St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala

‎St. Mary’s College, Chilaw

‎Sri Sumangala NS, Wariyapola

‎St. Peter’s College, Negombo

‎St. Xavier’s College, Marawila

‎GROUP M

‎Devapathiraja College, Rathgama

‎St. Aloysius College, Galle

‎Holy Cross College, Kalutara

‎Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda

‎Kalutara Vidyalaya, Kalutara

‎Vidyaloka College, Galle

‎GROUP N

‎Mahinda College, Galle

‎Tissa MV, Kalutara

‎Rahula College, Matara

‎Debarawewa NS, Debarawewa

‎St. Thomas’ College, Matara

‎Meepawala Amarasuriya MV

‎GROUP P

‎St. Servatius’ College, Matara

‎Richmond College, Galle

‎Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda

‎Karandeniya MMV, Karandeniya

‎P. De S. Kularathna MV, Ambalangoda

‎President’s College, Embilipitiya.

by Reemus Fernando

Sports

Women’s Cricket receives a shot in the arm from the Mercantile Cricket Association

Published

11 hours ago

2026/05/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Girls teams of the MCA's Cricket Academy line up at the commencement of the acadamy inter house tournament

With the success the seven MCA men’s cricket tournaments have achieved, the Executive Committee of Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) have decided to give Women’s Cricket in Sri Lanka a boost by introducing a hard ball Women’s Cricket Tournament for the corporate sector.

With the international recognition women’s cricket has gained at present, it is no secret that there still are many talented lasses aspiring to reach the zenith of the game.

Even with the measures Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) the game’s governing body through the Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) have taken to promote girls cricket in schools, a considerable number of talented players, specially in the provinces do not have an opportunity to be recognized.

It is the MCA’s belief that with the introduction of a MCA Women’s Cricket Tournament, the corporate sector will be encouraged to field teams, and in doing so will give a hand to talented lasses and school leavers by providing them with employment as well as the opportunity to realise their aspirations in the Women’s Cricket arena.

At present in addition to the seven major Men’s tournaments the MCA organise the

Mercantile Six-a-Side tournament, the Over-40 Sixes competition, the 20×20 league, and the esteemed MCA Inter Academy Invitational tournament,

As an initial step, the MCA will be conducting a Women’s six and side soft ball cricket tournament for the corporate sector teams on Saturday 23rd May 2026 at the Mercantile Cricket Association grounds.

For further information please contact Chamara on 0759592488 or Prasad 0759809777.