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Dharmaraja Cricket Foundation felicitates seven stalwarts at annual Awards Night

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Haresh Ratnayake, Rienzie Subasinghe, Ananda Wijajasekara and Senaka Dissanayake

Three present First XI players and four team officials were felicitated by the Dharmaraja College Cricket Foundation (DRCCF) at its annual Cricket Night and Awards Ceremony for the 2023/2024 season held on the 25th of January at the Grand Kandyan Hotel in Kandy. The event, which coincided with the 25th anniversary celebrations of DRCCF saw the presence of over 200 past cricketers of Dharmaraja College joining hands.

The annual Cricket Night and Awards Ceremony conducted by DRCCF, an event highly anticipated among the former cricketing alumni of Dharmaraja College, recognised the achievements of their three Under-19 talents, who represented Sri Lanka Youth in 2024. They were Pulindu Perera, Lakvin Abeysinghe and Sheshan Marasinghe, who have been outstanding contributors to Dharmaraja cricket, as well as the teams they represented at different levels.

Pulindu Perera, a fifth-year player who bats Left-handed and bowls right-arm off-spins, has been awarded the best batsman award in the 34th and 35th editions of the Limited Overs encounters against big match rivals Kingswood College. He also was adjudged the best batsman at the 115th Battle of the Maroons against Kingswood, and was adjudged the best bowler in the 116th edition of the two-day encounter.

Pulindu went onto represent Sri Lanka U-19s against West Indies, Pakistan, England, as well as the Youth Asia Cup and the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2024. His achievements earned him the promotion to compete in the National Super League, the Lanka Premier League and a slot in the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team against Pakistan Shaheens.

Lakvin Abeysinghe was a member of the Sri Lanka Under-19s in the Youth Asia Cup 2024 held in Dubai, where he scored 50 against Nepal and 69 against India. He was adjudged the best batsman in the U-19 Division I Tier ‘B’ segment, and also has gone the extent of playing four times in the Super Provincial Tournament, representing Under-17 and Under-19 teams since 2022.

Shehan Marasinghe, who has many accolades under his belt, has represented the Kandy District team in the SLC Super Provincial Youth League at Under-17 and Under-19 levels. A fast bowler who could hit the above 130 kilometres per hour range, Shehan represented Sri Lanka Under-19s against their tour of England.

Lakvin Abeysinghe, Pulindu Perera and Sheshan Marasinghe.

The four officials felicitated by the DRCCF were Ananda Wijajasekara, Rienzie Subasinghe, Senaka Dissanayake and Haresh Ratnayake, who contributed to the growth and success of Dharmaraja cricket in different capacities.

Wijayasekara, an experienced cricket coach who imparted his services as a coach at different age groups since 1994, has helped Dharmaraja produce many cricketers at national level, including the school’s recent star, Chamara Kapugedara. Under him Dharmaraja was able to win many titles.

Subasinghe, a well-qualified public servant, has been actively involved with Dharmaraja cricket as the Master in-Charge since he joined the Hill Capital school as an English teacher in 1987. He has worked alongside many coaches of Dharmaraja cricket including David Karunaratne, Sonny Yatawara and Senaka Dissanayake, and has guided many Rajan cricketers reach the highest level.

Celebrated cricketer from the Hill Capital, Dissanayake, has contributed his yeoman services to the recent successes of Dharmaraja cricket. Being a well recognised cricketer himself, Dissanayake has represented his alma mater, at all age levels beginning from Under-13, and also represented Sri Lanka Under-19s under the legendary Aravinda de Silva against Australia in 1984. The first Rajan cricketer to score 200 runs for his school team at the iconic Asgiriya Ground, Dissanayake has served Dharmaraja First XI cricket as a coach from 1984 to 1992 while serving as Head Coach of the team from 2005 to 2017 and a second tenure from 2023 to date.

Considered as a cricketing legend among the Rajans, Ratnayake’s achievements as a former player and captain of Dharmaraja cricket speaks greater volume. Ratnayake, who captained the Dharmaraja First XI team in the 2001/02 season, has many accolades under his belt, such as an impressive batting average of 94.5.

His talent earned him the national spotlight from the category of Under-15, where he was picked to represent the Sri Lanka Development Squad. A former skipper of Dharmaraja U-15 and U-17 teams as well, Ratnayake led the Kandy District and Central Province teams at Under-17 and Under-19 levels, before earning Sri Lanka Schools Colours. He has played for different teams, home and abroad, and has been an inspiration to the young cricketers of Dharmaraja College for many years.

The Dharmaraja College Cricket Foundation, who recognised these seven individuals for their outstanding contributions at different capacities, as players, coaches and officials, also pledged to continue their enduring commitment towards the development of the school’s cricket future. The event was held under the patronage of the Immediate Past Principal of the school as well as the Past Presidents of the DRCCF.



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Scotland face West Indies with a chance to reopen World Cup wounds

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Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce is in good form with both bat and ball [Cricinfo]

Scotland take on West Indies in Leeds at 18:30 local time (17:30 GMT) in Group 2 of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.  Both teams won their opening matches in this competition – Shemaine Campbelle’s unbeaten 90 aided by New Zealand’s dropped catches saw West Indies emerging victorious, while a strong all round performance from Scotland brushed aside Ireland.

Scotland and West Indies have played each other only three times across formats – their lone T20I meeting coming at the last World Cup. Crucially, though, Scotland dealt West Indies perhaps their biggest blow in recent times with their win in the Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifier last year. Scotland staved off an all-round show from Hayley Matthews to eke out an 11-run win, denying West Indies a chance to qualify for the ODI World Cup last year.

Coming on the back of a comfortable win, expect Scotland to go in unchanged.

Scotland (probable XI): Darcey Carter, Katherine Fraser, Kathryn Bryce (capt),  Sarah Bryce (wk),  Ailsa Lister, Megan McColl, Priyanaz Chatterji, Rachel Slater,  Chloe Abel,  Kirstie Gordon,  Gabriella Fontenla

West Indies head coach Shane Deitz had said that Chinelle Henry was close to playing their opening game. If fit, she can add heft to their lower-middle order as well as the bowling department.

West Indies (probable XI): Qiana Joseph, Hayley Matthews (capt),  Shemaine Campbelle (wk),  Deandra Dottin,  Jahzara Claxton/Chinelle Henry,  Jannillea Glasgow,  Aaliyah Alleyne, Zaida James,  Shawnisha Hector,  Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack

Players to watch:

Kathryn Bryce: The Scotland captain had a big role to play in their first win at this T20 World Cup. She scored a rapid half-century and picked up two wickets against Ireland. Bryce has picked up at least one wicket in 11 of the 12 T20Is she has played this year, apart from being consistent with the bat. Her experience of playing regularly in England’s domestic circuit could be key for Scotland against West Indies.

Deandra Dottin: She was at her brutal best in the last iteration of the T20 World Cup (strike rate 165.54, average 39.4, 12 sixes) but since the start of 2025, Dottin has only one T20I half-century at a strike rate of 122.84. Dottin had scored an unbeaten 15-ball 28 the last time she faced Scotland. Can she find her mojo back against them?

While Australia’s bowlers bulldozed Bangladesh, India’s batters made merry to show the batting-friendly nature of the surface in Leeds. Weather wise, the evening is likely to become cooler, with temperatures ranging from 19 to 22 degrees Celsius. There is no forecast of rain, even though it grew slightly overcast towards the start of Netherlands’ innings on Wednesday.

[Cricinfo]

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Sooryavanshi to have parents with him on tour of Ireland and England

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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is currently playing for India A in Sri Lanka [SLC]

The BCCI has allowed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s parents to accompany their son on his maiden India tour of Ireland and England in June and July to help the 15-year-old cope with any challenges that may arise. The board secretary Devajit Saikia said the BCCI would cover their expenses on the trip.

“You see, not all national teams at the senior level have a 14 or 15-year-old in their squad. After many decades, we have someone like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi,” Saikia told PTI. “At one point in time, it was Sachin Tendulkar who made it to the national team at such a young age. When such a young kid is part of the senior team, there are obviously a lot of issues that can crop up.

“Therefore, to make him comfortable and help him get used to an adult environment, where all the other players are above 18 years of age, and the team management members are also adults, we felt it would be helpful.

“We are doing this because we believe it will ease a lot of issues as far as Vaibhav is concerned.”

Sooryavanshi was picked in India’s T20I squad for the first time following a stellar IPL 2026 season in which he top-scored with 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, winning the Orange Cap, the MVP, and Emerging Player awards.

He is currently in Sri Lanka, representing India A for the first time, in a 50-over tri-series against Afghanistan A and Sri Lanka A, and became the focal point of an on field confrontation that involved physical contact during the game against the hosts.

While no official sanctions have been announced for any code of conduct breaches, the A-team tri-series falls within the jurisdiction of the host board – Sri Lanka Cricket – and not the ICC or BCCI. Saikia dismissed the notion of the BCCI taking any action.

“A lot of things are going on in the social media that BCCI is contemplating action, etc. Do you want BCCI to step into the domain of match referee?” Saikia said. “The BCCI is not an authority, we should not intrude into the area where the match referee and the umpires are the main persons who can take any decision regarding any incident that had happened in the playground.

“Whatever had happened, it was a part of the game, and the BCCI have no role to play. The role is of the match referee. If anything is going wrong, he will take a call, the umpires will take a call, and there is a system in place.”

Sooryavanshi has so far scored only 117 runs with a high score of 44 in four innings in the tri-series , but those runs have come at a strike rate of 153.94. India A have qualified for the final in Dambulla on June 21.

[Cricinfo]

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Luis Diaz, Colombia defeat World Cup 2026 debutants Uzbekistan

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Colombia's Luis Diaz celebrates scoring their second goal [Aljazeera]

Colombia opened their World Cup Group K campaign with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan at the Estadio Azteca on Wednesday, as Daniel Munoz, Luis Diaz and Jaminton Campaz ⁠struck to overcome a spirited second-half response from the tournament debutants.

Uzbekistan were disciplined for long periods under their Italian coach Fabio Cannavaro, but Colombia’s greater quality stood out in front of a crowd of over 80,000 on a cool, rain-tinged evening in Mexico City.

Colombia the Copa ⁠America runners-up, had early sights of goal through Jhon Arias and James Rodriguez, but Uzbekistan sat deep, scrapped gamely and waited for mistakes. Bekhruz Karimov almost profited when he burst forward, only for Jhon Lucumi to intervene before he could shoot.

Diaz had the clearest chance of the opening half when he struck the post, before Abdukodir Khusanov slid in after the winger ‌had knocked the ball past him, taking out both the Colombian player and a pitchside cameraman who required medical treatment.

Uzbekistan’s resistance finally cracked in the 40th minute. Diaz gathered the ball after an attack had broken down and clipped a fine pass into the path of Munoz, who guided home a neat finish for his third international goal.

The large  Colombian contingent erupted, their yellow shirts making the Azteca look and sound almost like home. Chants of “Vamos Colombia”, adapted from a Club America-style chorus, rolled around the ground, while Uzbekistan’s small band ⁠of supporters answered with drums of their own.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group K - Uzbekistan v Colombia - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico - June 17, 2026 Colombia's Luis Diaz celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Eloisa Sanchez
Colombia’s Luis Diaz celebrates scoring their second goal [Aljazeera]

Uzbekistan improved after the ⁠break and equalised on the hour with the country’s first World Cup goal.

Dostonbek Khamdamov fed Eldor Shomurodov, whose shot from the right side of the box was saved low by Camilo Vargas. The goalkeeper could not hold it, however, and Abbosbek Fayzullaev nodded in the rebound from ⁠close range.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group K - Uzbekistan v Colombia - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico - June 17, 2026 Uzbekistan's Abbosbek Fayzullaev celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Eloisa Sanchez
Abbosbek Fayzullaev celebrates scoring Uzbekistan’s first World Cup goal [Aljazeera]

However, Uzbekistan’s joy lasted only five minutes.

Gustavo Puerta released Diaz in the 65th minute, and the forward side-footed across goal to restore Colombia’s lead. The crowd ⁠responded with chants of “Lucho, Lucho”.

Uzbekistan kept pushing. Akmal Mozgovoy shot narrowly off ⁠target in stoppage time, Karimov hit the bar with an effort from distance, and Azizbek Amonov had a shot blocked after Otabek Shukurov’s pass.

But Colombia had the final word, Campaz scoring in the ninth minute of stoppage time to settle a contest in which Nestor Lorenzo’s side had 15 attempts to Uzbekistan’s nine, ‌and extended their strong recent group-stage record to seven wins in eight World Cup matches.

Colombia face DR Congo on Tuesday in Guadalajara, after Uzbekistan play Portugal on the same day in Houston.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group K - Uzbekistan v Colombia - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico - June 17, 2026 Colombia's Jaminton Campaz celebrates after the match REUTERS/Eloisa Sanchez
Colombia’s Jaminton Campaz celebrates after the match [Aljazeera]

[Aljazeera]

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