Sports

Dinusha shows the lost art of playing spin

Published

2 months ago

2026/08/21

Thilina Walpola

Sonal Dinusha was the standout performer for Sri Lanka during the first Test in Galle

by Rex Clementine

Every dark cloud, they say, has a silver lining. And as Sri Lanka’s poor run against India continued, that silver lining was young Sonal Dinusha. The manner in which this little man soaked up pressure while some of his team-mates went searching for glory shots was refreshing to watch. Sri Lanka appear to have unearthed a rare talent, one who could take them places.

In recent years, we have seen how poorly our batters have handled spin. The defence against the turning ball is often faulty and once beaten a couple of times, patience disappears and wickets are gifted away. The sweep and reverse sweep seem to have become the staple diet of Sri Lankan batters whenever spin is thrown at them. The nimble footwork of Mahela Jayawardene, the classical drives of Marvan Atapattu, the quick hands of Aravinda de Silva and the nudges and flicks of Arjuna Ranatunga seem to belong to a bygone era.

There are better ways of playing spin than sweeping everything in sight. That is exactly what Dinusha showcased in Galle.

He would step out of his crease and you thought the next move was obvious, a loft over mid-off. Instead, he would get right to the pitch of the ball and defend it as assuredly as if he were playing from the crease. It was delightful to watch: a young man who knows exactly how to play spin and more importantly, trusts his defence.

If you wonder why Dinusha is better equipped to play spin than many of his contemporaries, the secret may lie in his younger days.

Dinusha played basketball for De La Salle College as a kid. Basketball demands plenty of footwork; without it, you are dead meat on the court. His basketball career, however, was cut short by De La Salle’s cricket coach Felix Dias, who told him that a short man like him had little future in basketball.

Basketball’s loss turned out to be cricket’s gain.

Head Coach Gary Kirsten has been equally impressed by the youngster.

“He is an exciting talent for us. What has impressed me most about him is his love for Test cricket. We like to have that Test match mindset in other players as well.”

A maiden hundred in the first innings followed by 84 in the second, when things were falling apart around him, spoke volumes. But there is more to Dinusha than runs. His humility, focus and work ethic give you every indication that this could be a long and fruitful career.

When the selectors sat down around this time last year to pick the side for the second Test against Bangladesh, they had several options after Angelo Mathews had moved on. Dinusha got the nod because there was something unmistakable about him. Even then, it was clear that this bloke had a bright future, not merely because of the runs he had scored but because of the way he went about his business.

Don’t underestimate his bowling either. He already has 133 First-Class wickets to his name and his fielding is outstanding. He is a natural leader too, having skippered CCC to the domestic one-day title last season before captaining the SLC XI against India in the warm-up game at the NCC.

All that at the age of 25.

Sri Lanka have endured plenty of gloomy days of late, particularly against India. But in Sonal Dinusha, they may just have found that precious silver lining and perhaps someone rather special.

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Ronaldo apologizes for Portugal walkout; says Jesus broke promise

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/7

Priyan

Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal's leading scorer (Aljazeera)

Cristiano Ronaldo has accused Portugal ‌coach Jorge Jesus of twice breaking his word, saying a failed agreement to publicly ⁠explain his omission ⁠against Norway drove him out of the camp, but insisting he remained available after any punishment.

In a lengthy statement, the 41-year-old gave his account of the dispute ⁠that prompted his departure from Copenhagen before Portugal’s Nations League match versus Denmark last week.

Ronaldo said Jesus had agreed a plan under which the forward would miss the Norway and Denmark ⁠matches to manage his fitness. However, on the day of the Norway game, the coach told him he would play for 30 minutes.

“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from halftime onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said.

“The manager had broken his word to me.”

Portugal’s ‌captain and all-time leading scorer said a subsequent meeting with Jesus, attended by his club side Al Nassr’s sporting director Simao Coutinho, produced an agreement for the coach to clarify events at his next news conference.

According to Ronaldo, an eight-point document was prepared saying he had never demanded playing time, had respected Jesus’s decisions and that the coach asking him to warm up without bringing him on had been a mistake.

Ronaldo said the agreed notes did ⁠not require Jesus to apologise to him but said the coach’s ⁠public remarks bore no resemblance to their private discussion.

“It was the second time he had broken his word to me,” Ronaldo said. “I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.”

The statement provided Ronaldo’s account⁠, but on Sunday, after Portugal’s win over Norway, Jesus denied he had made any agreement with the player, nevertheless leaving the door open ⁠for his return.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) did not immediately respond ⁠to a request for comment about Ronaldo’s statement.

Ronaldo apologised for failing to greet supporters after the Norway match and for leaving his teammates, accepting that his captaincy made his conduct more serious.

“The consequences of my actions must be assessed ‌and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation,” he said.

Despite the rupture, Ronaldo said he was not limiting his international ambitions to a farewell appearance.

“If I’m physically fit, playing for my club – scoring ‌goals, ‌I hope – after serving whatever suspension is imposed on me, I’ll be available, as I’ve always been until now, to compete and win for our national team,” he added.

(Aljazeera)

Sports

Nalanda on the cusp of reaching knockout stage as unbeaten run continues

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rusandu Silva has nine wickets against his name after three matches.

by Reemus Fernando

Nalanda College, Colombo continued their unbeaten run to come closer to securing a berth in the knockout stage as they beat Gurukula College by nine wickets in the Under 19 Division I Tier A Limited Overs Tournament match played at Campbell Place on Tuesday.

‎With Rusandu Silva continuing his impressive run in the tournament, Nalanda did well to restrict the team from Kelaniya to just 113 runs (in 35.4 overs).

‎After two outings Rusandu had six wickets against his name coming to this match.‎Rusandu and Methuka Perera claimed three wickets each. ‎Lithum Wijekumara also impressed with two wickets, while Santhul Wijeyarathne took one.

‎Adeepa Pinsara was the only batsman to make a contribution of note as he top-scored with 35 off 49 balls, including four fours and two sixes, while Javindu Madusanka made 20.

‎In their chase Nalanda made light work of the modest target, reaching 114 for one, scoring at a rate of over a run a ball.

‎Nadul Jayalath cracked an unbeaten 62 from just 52 balls. His innings contained four fours and five sixes. He received valuable support from Lithum Wijekumara, who scored 35 off 42 deliveries with six boundaries.

‎Ranmith Senarath completed the successful chase with an unbeaten 10 off seven balls, including two fours.

‎Nalanda lost only one wicket as the opening pair added 89 for the first wicket. Jayalath and Senarath then finished the contest comfortably, securing a convincing nine-wicket victory with many overs to spare.

‎It was Nalanda’s third successive victory in the Tier A tourney after having beaten Thurstan (155) by seven wickets and St. Servatius’ Matara (187) by four wickets in the first two matches.

‎As of now, they are the leading team in Group G where they have only St. Joseph’s Darley Road to meet before the knockout stage.

‎With just two teams advancing to the next stage from each Group Nalanda are almost assured of their place.

Sports

Wins for Hayley’s Group ‘A’ , HNB ‘A’ and CDB on Saturday

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

33RD SINGER – MCA Super PREMIER LEAGUE

Hayley’s Group ‘A’, HNB ‘A’ and CDB registered wins by defeating Colombo Aces, Fairfirst Insurance and SLC Youth in the matches of the Mercantile Cricket Association’s Super Premier League cricket tournament on Sunday (04).

The MCA Super Premier League is sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka for the 33rd consecutive year.

At the Bloomfield Cricket ground, Nishan Madushka, Pulindu Perera and Minod Dhanuka smashed half tons as Hayley’s Group ‘A’ registered their second win of the tournament defeating Colombo Aces by six wickets.

At the Thurstan ground, Nipun Dhananjaya and Muditha Lakshan posted eighty plus scores to help CDB amass 307/8, which the bowlers defended by 71runs.

At the Colts Ground Milan Rathnayake starred with bat and ball [71 and 3-24] to help HNB ‘A’ overcome SLC Youth by 41 runs. Rehan Pieris topped SLC Youth score card with a 108 ball 77 with six fours and a six.

At Bloomfield Ground Colombo:

Hayley’s overcome Colombo Aces by six wickets

Colombo Aces 222/10 in 49 overs

[ Kavin Bandara 62, Dinura Kalupahan 50; Dhanajaya Lakshan 2-14, Ramesh Mendis 4-36]

Hayleys Group A 227/4 in 25.2 overs [Nishan Madushka 61, Pulindu Perera 51, Minod Bhanuka 54; Dinura Kalupahana 2-35]

At Thurstan College Ground:

CDB BY 71 runs

CDB 307/8 in 50 overs

[ Vishsd Randika 53, Nipun Dhananjaya 86, Muditha Lakshan 89; Himesh Ramanayake 3-49, ]

Fairfirst Insurance 236/10 in 46.4 overs

[Sanoj Dharshika 58, Yasiru Rodriga 78; Movin Subasinghe 3-27, Lahiru Madushanka 2-16]

At Colts ground;