Sports
Dharshana overtakes Kalinga with fourth fastest time in 400 metres
Dharshana, Gayanthika compete in Japan on their own funds
by Reemus Fernando
Sprinter Aruna Dharshana overtook Kalinga Kumarage as the fourth fastest 400 metres sprinter in Sri Lanka’s track and field history as he clocked his personal best at the Shizuoka International Athletics Meet, a World Athletics Bronze label event in Prefectural Shizuoka Stadium, Fukuroi, Japan on Wednesday.
Dharshana clocked 45.59 seconds to erase the more than four years old personal best (45.78) which had placed him as the fifth fastest 400 metres sprinter in Sri Lanka’s history.
While Dharshana achieved his personal best being placed second in his event, Gayanthika Abeyratne won the women’s 800 metres with a time of 2:04.35 seconds.
By featuring in the World Athletics bronze label event in Japan, Dharshana and Abeyratne have opened a new chapter in the country’s track and field history as the duo have competed on their own and have used their own funds for the expensive tour.
Top level athletes had been relying on Sri Lanka Athletics, Sports Ministry or the National Olympic Committee intervention to take part in top level competitions so far.
“There was a need for us to get international exposure as there is a very important season ahead. We were helped by Madawa Bandara to communicate with the organizers in Japan to take part in this event. Sri Lanka Athletics and the Sports Ministry granted permission for us to compete. We did not ask Sri Lanka Athletics and the Sports Ministry for funds,” Dharshana’s coach Asanka Rajakaruna told The Island yesterday.
“These meets will help athletes gain valuable ranking points to improve on their World Rankings. I am glad that the last minute arrangements have produced results,” said Madawa Bandara who had been instrumental in arranging such opportunities for top local athletes on a couple of other occasions as well.
Dharshana’s impressive performance now places him in exalted company of Asian Games medallists Sugath Thilakaratne and Rohan Pradeep Kumara and Asian Championship medallist Prasanna Amarasekara as the fourth fastest 400 metres sprinter.
Thilakaratne, who was one of the first to congratulate Dharshana on his achievement on social media yesterday, is on the top of the list as Sri Lanka’s fastest 400 metres runner and national record holder. While he is the only Sri Lankan to have run the distance under 45 seconds (44.61 secs), Rohan Pradeep (45.25 secs), Amarasekara (45.47 secs), Dharshana (45.59) and Kalinga are the only Sri Lankan athletes to run the event under 46 seconds.
Dharshana, who is among the top contenders to book a place in the Sri Lanka contingent for the upcoming Asian Games, is scheduled to compete at another event in Osaka this week.
Forced to follow on after being dismissed for 111 runs, Risinu Kithmuka scored an unbeaten half century to anchor St. Servarius’ batting line up to force a draw to their Under 19 cricket encounter against S. Thomas’ at Mount Lavinia on Friday.
The dogged knock facing 121 balls, helped the visitor post 93 for five wickets at close.
In a match dominated by the home team, Aaron David’s century was the highlight for S. Thomas’. They posted 269 for four wickets at close on day one and declared on the overnight score.
Meanwhile at Kotahena, Mevan Dissanayake top scored with 91 runs inclusive of eight fours and three sixes for St. Benedict’s to post 295 for 9 declared against Sri Dharmaloka Kelaniya.
Results
Thomians dominate against St. Servatius’ at Mount Lavinia
Scores
S. Thomas’ 269 for 4 decl. in 73.3 overs (Jaden Amaraweera 40, Avinash Fernando 50, Aaron David 100n.o., Reshon Soloman 56; Lasindu Ramanayaka 2/87)
St. Servatius’ 111 all out 54.4 overs (Risinu Kithmuka 26, Thathsilu Bandara 20; Minon Warnasuriya 2/14, Chamash Gunawardena 2/24, Shanil Perera 3/18, Reshon Solomon 2/09) and 93 for 5 in 36 overs (Risinu Kithmuka 51n.o.; Aaron de Silva 2/30, Shanil Perera 3/23)
Bens 295 for 9 decl., Sri Dharmaloka 87/2 at Kotahena
Scores
St. Benedict’s 295 for 9 decl. in 56.4 overs (Mevan Dissanayake 91, Vihanga Rathnayake 42, Yohan Edirisinghe 31, Ayesh Gajanayake 49; Sathindu Praboda 4/98, Tharusha Mihiranga 2/66)
Sri Dharmaloka 87 for 2 in 25 overs (Senuka Pehesara 40, Kaveen Deneth 40n.o.; Ayesh Gajanayake 2/27)
by Reemus Fernando
Pakistan marched into the final of the Under 19 Asia Cup with a clinical eight wicket win over Bangladesh in the rain-hit semi-final in Dubai, after a dominant bowling performance led by Abdul Subban set up a straightforward chase. The victory sets up a final clash against India, who won the first semi final against Sri Lanka earlier in the day.
Opting to field after winning the toss in the rain-reduced 27-overs-a-side contest, Pakistan made early inroads as Bangladesh slipped to 24 for 2 inside six overs. Captain Azizul Hakim offered brief resistance to steady the innings, but wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.
Fast bowler Subhan was the standout with the ball, picking up four wickets to dismantle the middle order. From 55 for 2 in the 13th over, Bangladesh lost five wickets for just 38 runs, collapsing to 93 for 7. The lower order struggled to rebuild, and Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 121 in 26.3 overs, with no batter able to convert a start into a big score.
In reply, Pakistan’s chase was smooth. After the early loss of opener Hamza Zahoor in the first over, Sameer Minhas anchored the innings with a composed, unbeaten 69, ensuring there were no further hiccups. He struck six fours and two sixes as Pakistan cruised to 122 for 2 with 63 balls to spare.
With this knock, Minhas took his tournament’s tally to 299 to be the highest run-getter.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 122 for 2 in 16.3 overs (Sameer Minhas 69*, Usman Khan 27; Samiun Basir 1-17) beat Bangladesh 121 in 26.3 overs (Samiun Basir 33; Abdul Subhan 4-20, Huzaifa Ahasan 2-10)by eight wickets
[Cricinfo]
Vihaan Malhotra and Aaron George’s patient half-centuries helped India beat Sri Lanka in a rain-reduced game and set up an U-19 Asia Cup final with Pakistan.
It was a game where the momentum kept changing hands. India had Sri Lanka at 28 for 3 after opting to bowl. Captain Vimath Dinsara and Chamika Heenetigala hit back with a 45-run stand, but Sri Lanka soon lost 3 for 11. A 62-run stand between Heenatigala and Sethmika Seneviratne followed, but India again turned it around in the final three overs.
In reply, India were 25 for 2 as Sri Lanka sniffed a comeback. But Malhotra and George added an unbeaten 114 runs in a partnership of two halves: the first 62 runs they added took 51 balls, while the next 52 came off 36 deliveries. It was Malhotra who swung the game India’s way when he went 4, 4, 6 off Dulnith Sigera in the 13th over. Malhotra reached his fifty off 35 balls, while George took 43 balls.
India’s win was set up after their bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 138. Kishan Singh and Deepesh Devendran struck early, while Vedant Trivedi’s direct hit ran Kavija Gamage out in the sixth over.
But Kanishk Chouhan struck twice in the 12th over, and Khilan Patel in the 13th, to force Sri Lanka to rebuild again. That brought Heenatigala and Seneviratne together. Seneviratne was the attacking of the two while Heenatigala, limping a little, was more patient. At 118 for 6 with three overs left, and with Seneviratne connecting it cleanly, Sri Lanka may have hoped to post 150. But just 20 runs amid two wickets in the last three overs applied the brakes on their scoring.
India will meet Pakistan in the final on Sunday.
Brief scores:
India Under 19s 139 for 2 in 18 overs (Vihaan Malhotra 61*, Aaron George 58*; Rasith Nimsara 2-31) beat Sri Lanka Under 19s 138 for 8 in 20 overs (Chamika Heenatigala 42, Vimath Dinsara 32, Sethmika Senevirathne 30; Henil Patel 2-31, Kanishk Chouhan 2-36) by eight wickets
[Cricinfo]
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