Sports
Dhanushka, Tamadi win best player titles
Junior National Table Tennis Championship 2021
Dhanushka Wijesinghe of Kingswood College, Kandy and Tamadi Kavindya of Devananda College Ambalangod won the best player titles of the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively of the Junior National Table Tennis Championship 2021 conducted at the S. Thomas’ Indoor Stadium, Mount Lavinia over the weekend.
The Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka conducted the 2021 edition of the Junior National Table Tennis Championship which could not be held due to the pandemic last year. The Senior Championship which could not be held in 2021 will be held over the next weekend.
Dhanushka Wijesinghe won the title of the Under 19 age category after beating Yasiru Maleesha of Vidyartha College, Kandy 11-7, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7 in the final. Wijesinghe was also the winner of the Under 17 age category.
The Under 19 girls’ title was won by Hillwood College, Kandy player Bimandee Bandara who beat Rehansa of Prajapathi Balika, Ambalangoda 11-6, 11-7, 11-5.
Results
Under 19 Boys Singles
Finals:
Dhanushka Wijesinghe of Kingswood College, Kandy beat Yasiru Maleesha of Vidyartha College, Kandy – 11/ 07, 12/10, 09/11, 11/07
Under 19 Girls Singles
Finals:
Bimandee Bandara of Hillwood College Kandy beat Nadithi Rehansa of Prajapathi BMV Ambalangoda – 11/06, 11/07, 11/05
Under 19 Boys Doubles
Finals:
Yasiru Maleesha of Vidyartha College, Kandy/Hasitha Udara of Kingswood College, Kandy beat Thisum Gamage/Danuk Lamasuriya of Ananda College, Colombo – 11/06, 11/07, 08/11, 11/08
Under 19 Girls Doubles
Finals:
Divya Dharani / Lesanya Sethumdee of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda beat Heshi Nirmi of Prajapathi BMV Ambalangoda / Shenali Mendis of Musaeus College, Colombo – 08/11 , 11/08, 11/08, 06/11, 11/05
Under 19 Mixed Doubles
Finals:
Chandupa Alahakoon of ICBT / Bimandee Bandara of Hillwood College Kandy beat Hiruna Warusavithana of Ananda College, Colombo / Nadithi Rehansa of Prajapathi BMV Ambalangoda – 05/11, 11/09, 11/08, 04/11, 11/08
Under 17 Boys Singles
Finals:
Dhanushka Wijesinghe of Kingswood College, Kandy beat Vinuka Gunawardane of Royal College, Colombo – 11/07, 11/08, 15/13
Under 17 Girls Singles
Finals:
Lesanya Sethumdee of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda beat Heshi Nirmi of Prajapathi BMV Ambalangoda – 11/03, 11/04, 11/07
Under 15 Boys Singles
Finals:
Janith Batugedara of Royal College, Colombo beat Thisum Gamage of Ananda College, Colombo – 11/07, 11/08, 11/07
Under 15 Girls Singles
Finals:
Tamadi Kavindya of Devananda College Ambalangod beat Mekelya Fernando of Musaeus College, Colombo – 11/ 06, 11/03, 11/07
Under 13 Boys Singles
Finals:
Shafiullah Akram of Hill Country International School , Kandy beat Janith Batugedara of Royal College, Colombo – 11/07, 12/10, 11/08
Under 13 Girls Singles
Finals:
Tamadi Kavindya of Devananda College Ambalangoda beat Sinethmi Thesanya of Devananda College Ambalangoda – 11/ 05 , 11/02, 11/03
Under 11 Boys Singles
Finals:
Naviru Nethsitha of Dharmasoka Colege, Ambalangoda beat Osanda Upekshana of Vidyartha College, Kandy – 15/13, 11/07, 11/ 05
Under 11 Girls Singles
Finals:
Anudi Ariyarathne of St. Joseph’s College, Kegalle beat Muthuli Sahanya of Southlands College, Galle – 11/09, 07/11, 11/05, 12/10.
India took on Bangladesh in Kuala Lumpur and delivered a commanding performance, restricting Bangladesh to a mere 64 runs before chasing down the target with ease in just 7.1 overs
Wet weather in Kuala Lumpur delayed the highly anticipated clash between India and Bangladesh, with rain threatening to force an abandonment of the second match of the day. However, the cricket gods showed mercy, allowing play to resume and ensuring a full spectacle. India won the toss and chose to field, immediately putting Bangladesh under pressure by taking a wicket on the third ball of the match. The Indian bowlers maintained their dominance, either claiming wickets or restricting runs, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 23-5 by the end of the tenth over.
Skipper Sumaiya Akter and Jannatul Maoua displayed resilience for Bangladesh, putting together a 31-run partnership before Vaishnavi Sharma made a crucial impact with two wickets in the 17th over. Bangladesh managed to reach 64-8 at the end of their 20 overs. Vaishnavi Sharma was the standout bowler, finishing with impressive figures of 3/15, while Shabnam, Joshitha V. J., and Trisha Gongadi each chipped in with a wicket.
India made light work of the chase, facing no resistance from the Bangladesh bowlers as they chased down the target in just 7.1 overs. Trisha Gongadi led the charge with a blazing 40 off 31 balls, featuring an impressive eight boundaries. Habiba Islam Pinky and Mst. Anisa Akter Soba managed to pick up a wicket each, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Bangladesh from suffering a heavy defeat.
Vaishnavi Sharma was awarded Player of the Match for her outstanding figures of 3/15.
With this victory, India secured their spot in the semi-finals with one game remaining against Scotland. Bangladesh are unable to make it out of the Super 6 stage regardless of the result in their final match against the West Indies.
Brief scores:
Bangladesh Women Under 19s 64/8 in 20 overs [Jannatul Maoua 14, Sumaiya Akter 24; Shabnam Shakil 1-07, VJ Joshitha 1-06, Vaishnavi Sharma 1-15, Gongadi Trisha 1-06] lost to India Women Under 19s 66/2 in 7.1 overs [Gongadi Sharma 40, Sanika Chalke 11*; Anisa Akter Soba 1-29, Habiba Islam 1-15] by nine wickets
The wet weather found its way to Malaysia’s capital, and the start to Sri Lanka’s Super Six showdown with Scotland continued to be pushed back, until time ran out.
The two sides split the points, with neither now able to qualify for the semi-finals.
Scotland will play their last game of the tournament on Tuesday against India, while Sri Lanka will end their campaign with the final match of the Super 6 phase against Australia on Wednesday.
Kamindu Mendis, who scored 1451 runs across formats at an average just above 50, rubbed shoulders with some of the greats of the game in 2024.
The flamboyant left-handed batter had made just a solitary Test appearance for Sri Lanka prior to 2024, but ended the year having not only cemented his place as an all-format resource for Sri Lanka but also becoming their go-to-player in moments of crises and when the stakes were high.
This was on the show during Sri Lanka’s push for a maiden ICC World Test Championship Final spot as the 26-year-old delivered a streak of big scores in the whites.
Mendis’ year in review: 1049 runs from nine Tests, averaging 74.92
Slotting in the middle-order, Mendis was one of the six batters who scored over 1000 Test runs in the recently concluded calendar year – averaging the highest among them.
Making the most of his starts, Mendis hit five centuries and three fifties in his staggering tally of runs, taking Sri Lanka home on multiple occasions.
[ICC]
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