Sports

Eight-try Kandy clout Sri Lions before welcoming them into A Division rugby

Published

1 year ago

2024/12/16

Air Force Sports Club did pretty well in the curtain-raiser to the Inter-club league rugby tournament for the calendar year 2024/25 on Friday (December 13) by defeating CH&FC by 36 points to 15 at Ratmalana

By A Special Sports Correspondent

Kandy Sports Club led by utility player Srinath Sooriyabandara started the inter-club league tournament for the calendar year 2024/25 with a bang by beating new entrants to domestic rugby, Sri Lions SC, by 61 points to 14 at Nittawela Grounds yesterday (December 15).

Kandy SC faced some resistance from the visiting team in the first half. But the host team’s power and pace combined proved too much for Sri Lions as the game stretched into the second half. If Sri Lions SC thought that a first half performance of producing two tries and trailing 27-14 at half time was commendable, they were proved wrong as Kandy raked in five tries in the second half to bury them. The winners collected their points through eight tries, six conversions and three penalties while Sri Lions SC responded with two converted tries.

Kandy SC’s forwards were on the rampage and destroyed the Sri Lions SC ‘eight’; especially in the scrums. The host team’s second row forward Chathura Soysa was outstanding both in the set pieces and in the loose and even scored the team’s seventh try, late into the second half.

The other try scorers for Kandy SC in the second half were Tharinda Ratwatte (1), Dahan Wickremarachchi (1), Ethan Schneider Loos (1) and Tharindu Chathuranga (1). Fly half Ratwatte was outstanding with his kicking boots, slotting in six conversions and three penalties. Kandy SC hooker Dilshan Fareed was also outstanding for the winners and produced one of the three first half tries for Kandy SC. Scrum half Heshan Jansen, Dinal Ekanayake and Kavindu Perera also stood out for the winners.

Sri Lions SC showed guts and purpose in their first outing in A Division rugby. The side led by Kevin Dixon, despite losing, won the hearts of an appreciative Sunday crowd at Nittawela for trying so hard. Much is expected of this new side this season.

Many thought that referee Suranga Arunashantha controlled this hotly-contested game between Kandy SC and Sri Lions SC rather well.

On Friday (December 13) Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club (SLAF) did pretty well in their opening fixture of the Inter-club league rugby tournament for the calendar year 2024/25 by defeating CH&FC by 36 points to 15.

The winners collected their points through five tries, four conversions and a penalty while the visitors to Ratmalana responded with two tries, one conversion and a penalty.

On Saturday (December 14) Havelocks Sports Club (Havies) had to grind hard to beat Navy Sports Club in their opening game for the season. Though Havies were able to convert pressure into points whenever they applied themselves the game turned out to be a ding dong battle to the very end. Samuel Maduwantha and Jayathu Rajaratne dazzled for the winners, but Havies were checked time and again in the game by Navy who even took control of the proceedings briefly in the first half. Denuwan Wickremaratne was a cut above the rest with his power-play while Dimuth Perera also stood out with a touch down. Havies collected their points through six tries, five conversions and a penalty while Navy responded with three tries, a conversion and two penalties.

The game between Army SC and Police SC was called off due to heavy rain and fading light. The tournament’s officials and the referee were forced to decide against resuming the game after half time as a result of the adverse weather conditions. The match will be resumed from the point at which it was stopped on a future date. At half time Army was leading 8-5.

The tournament is conducted by Sri Lanka Rugby the controlling body for rugby union in Sri Lanka and sponsored by Mastercard. The tournament will run for nine weeks after which teams will be pooled into the Cup and Plate Championships keeping with their performances.

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SCG curator ‘really happy’ with pitch for final Ashes Test

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/2

Priyan

The pitch at the SCG has been the centre of much attention [Cricinfo]

Todd Murphy is firming to play his first home Test, after the SCG’s head curator declared the pitch’s green covering would be near-irrelevant come day one.

With administrators still on edge after last week’s two day debacle in Melbourne, an extremely green SCG surface raised eyebrows in Sydney on Thursday.

But chief curator Adam Lewis insisted on Friday that should not be a concern, and he was hopeful Sydney would extend into a fifth day.

“You want to see green tinge three days out,” Lewis said. “If you’re not seeing any live grass three days out, then that’s when it’s a worry, … I’m really comfortable with where we’re sitting.

“We had a little bit of sun this morning. They’re saying a bit more sun tomorrow. That will take the greenness out of the pitch. We’re really happy with the pitches at the moment. We’re looking good.”

Lewis admitted he felt for MCG counterpart Matt Page last week, but said he felt no external pressure to ensure the fifth Test in Sydney went the distance.

It’s estimated that Cricket Australia (CA) has lost in the vicinity of AUD15 million in profits this summer, with the opening Test in Perth also finishing inside two days.

Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joked at a function with teams on Thursday night that they had to ensure the game went to day three, in order to support the McGrath Foundation fundraiser.

One of the hardest grounds in the world to bowl on between 2014 and 2023, last year’s SCG Test was over in just two-and-a-half days.

Lewis said that his ground staff would go with 6mm of grass this year compared to 7mm last season, while also reducing its density. That in itself generally acts to flatten out the wicket and produce less movement, while also inviting the chance of spin late in the match.

“We just thought … we could thin our density out a little bit,” Lewis said. “That’s what we’ve done this year. We’ve practised that in the Shield matches and we’ve received very good marks.”

CA CEO Todd Greenberg said he too was confident the SCG Test would last the distance.

“I’ve had more phone calls and conversations about wickets and millimetres of grass than I thought I’d ever have,” Greenberg said. “But I’m hopeful and confident we will have a long and productive Test match here.”

All of which should spell good news for Murphy. Australia’s coaching staff had a prolonged conversation around the pitch on Friday morning, after leaving Murphy out and going with four quicks at the MCG.

Murphy then spent most of Friday’s training session bowling to Australia’s top order, while Alex Carey also had an extended run keeping to him.

With seven Tests to his name overseas, Murphy would be expected to come in for Jhye Richardson if he does play in Sydney.

England have promised to take the attack to Murphy, who played two Tests during the 2023 Ashes were he conceded 4.72 an over.

“Whoever plays, I think that’s the mantra of our team, is to try and put pressure on people,” opener Zak Crawley, said. “Todd’s a very good bowler, but I can envisage us trying to put some pressure on him, like we would all their bowlers.

That’s going to come with some risks, and if it’s turning it’s definitely going to be a threat. But I think we’ll try and put pressure on all their bowlers.”

The other question for Australia will be whether Cameron Green remains in the side, after Beau Webster was spotted fielding in the gully during slips training on Friday. Green has averaged 18.66 with the bat in this series. The SCG was the scene of Webster’s debut a year ago against India.

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Pramod hits 42 runs in an over

Published

13 hours ago

2026/01/2

Thilina Walpola

Pramod Madushan hit 42 runs in an over.

Young Pramod Madushan has become the talk in cricket circles after he scored 42 runs in an over for Mercantile Services Cricket Academy against Sigi Cricket Academy at Ambalangoda recently.

In an over that contained nine deliveries, including two no-balls and a wide, Madushan cut loose hitting three fours and five sixes. In all, the over bowled by Bihandu Sandiv went for 45 runs.

The young cricketer from D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo shares the same name as Sri Lanka fast bowler Pramod Madushan. However, the 19-year-old is a wicketkeeper batter.

His knock of 103 came in just 38 deliveries and contained eight fours and ten sixes.

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Usman Khawaja to retire after fifth Ashes Test

Published

14 hours ago

2026/01/2

Priyan

Usman Khawaja has played 22 Ashes Tests [BBC]

Australia batter Usman Khawaja will retire from international cricket following the fifth Ashes Test against England in Sydney this week.

The 39-year-old will play his 88th and final Test on the ground where he made his debut against the same opponents in January 2011.

Khawaja was born in Pakistan and became the first Muslim to play for Australia when he took the place of Ricky Ponting at the end of England’s 3-1 series win 15 years ago.

The left-hander has made 6,206 Test runs at an average of 43.39, with 16 hundreds.

He has played in six Ashes series – winning two, losing two and drawing two.

He was also part of the Australia team that won the World Test Championship in 2023.

The final Test at the SCG starts on Sunday (23:30 GMT, Saturday).

Alongside Steve Smith, Khawaja is one of two remaining members of the Australia team beaten by England in their most recent series win in this country in 2010-11.

He needs 30 runs in his final Test to go above Mike Hussey and into 14th on Australia’s all-time run-scorers list, behind the great Donald Bradman in 13th.

Khawaja played the last of his 40 one-day internationals in 2019, having scored 1,554 runs at 42. He played in nine T20 internationals, scoring 241 runs at 26.77.

Now playing domestically for Queensland, Khawaja will end his career on the ground that was his home when he first played professional cricket for New South Wales in 2008.

Often in and out of the Australia team during his Test career, he found a home at the top of the order during the previous home Ashes in 2021-22.

However, his place has come under scrutiny during this series after he suffered back spasms in the first Test that prevented him from opening.

Travis Head took Khawaja’s place in the second innings and made a swashbuckling century to lead Australia to an eight-wicket win.

Khawaja subsequently missed the second Test with the back problem and was due to be left out of the third, only to receive a late call-up when Steve Smith fell ill.

He made 82 and 40 in Adelaide to retain his place for the fourth Test. Australia lead the series 3-1.

After the Ashes Australia will not play another Test until August, by which time Khawaja will be almost 40.

[BBC]