Sports
England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt named ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year for the second year in a row
For the second year in a row, Nat Sciver-Brunt has been named as the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year. The player remained in prime form throughout the year, with some of her most remarkable knocks coming in 2023’s Women’s Ashes against Australia.
Sciver-Brunt overcame challenge from Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, and the Australia pair of Ash Gardner and Beth Mooney.
Record in 2023: 894 runs and nine wickets in 18 games
Similar to last year, Sciver-Brunt was at her dominant best in ODI cricket.
From only six games, she scored 393 runs with an average of 131, which included three tons. This brought her total number of ODI tons to eight, now just one behind England’s national record jointly held by Tammy Beaumont and Charlotte Edwards (nine each).
She also had sturdy knocks in her two Test outings of the year, hitting two fifties against Australia and India respectively.
Sciver-Brunt was England’s highest run-getter at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, scoring 216 runs at a strike rate of 141.17. She continued performing throughout the year, contributing with a brilliant 77 against India to set a vehement England win at Wankhede in December. She also picked up nine wickets with the ball.
Sciver-Brunt won the Player of the Series award during the Ashes series against Australia, but shined in particular during the ODI leg.
After a handy 31 and 2/38 which helped England win the first ODI, Sciver-Brunt delivered one of her best performances in the second game.
England needed to win to tie with Australia on the points table and head into the final ODI with a chance of winning the Ashes. Sciver-Brunt was economical in the first innings, conceding 44 runs in her quota of overs. However, Australia managed a strong target of 283. The ask was always difficult, and as England lost crucial wickets in the middle overs, the required rate picked up.
However, Sciver-Brunt held her own and kept scoring at a fast pace. Forging important stands with Beaumont, Amy Jones, and Sarah Glenn, the all-rounder took the game to the very last ball. England needed five off one to keep the Ashes alive but Sciver-Brunt could only manage a single. It was her fighting century (111*) that kept England in the game after they were 144/5 and 213/7 at one stage.
She scored a hundred once more in the third game, this time in a comfortable win for England.
(ICC)
Sprinter Aruna Dharshana, whose participation at the upcoming Asian Athletics Championship was in doubt due to an injury, proved his fitness for next week’s event with an impressive performance at the fitness test conducted in Colombo on Wednesday.
Dharshana completed 300 metres in a time of 33.41 seconds at the Sugathadasa Stadium to the satisfaction of track and field authorities.
Sri Lanka Athletics announced Dharshana’s effort as ‘successful’ after the 26-year-old completed the test. That will make him eligible for his pet event the 400 metres and the two relay events, the men’s 4×400 metres and the 4×400 metres mixed relay.
He had to prove his fitness for the event in South Korea following an injury he sustained at the recently held World Relays in China.
Dharshana was a key member of the team that established a new championship record in winning the men’s 4×400 metres relay at the last edition. He was also part of the team that won silver in the mixed relay.
The Asian Championship is vital for all track and field athletes as it opens a valuable opportunity to improve their world rankings and earn qualifying standards for the World Championships which will be held in Tokyo, Japan later this year.
by Reemus Fernando
Gateway College proudly celebrates the achievement of nine outstanding students who have been selected to represent Sri Lanka in three major sporting disciplines – football, squash and athletics. This remarkable milestone highlights the school’s commitment to holistic education, where excellence is pursued both inside and outside the classroom.
Gateway encourages every student to discover and nurture their talents with the support of expert coaches, modern facilities and a school culture that values discipline, passion, and perseverance. These international selections are a reflection of that vision in action.
In football, Gateway remains the only international school competing in Division 1 of the All-Island Schools’ Football League. Three talented players — Aidan Francis Perera, Nadal Aaron Senapala, and Anuk Shahil Dassanayake — have been chosen to represent Sri Lanka at the SAFF U19 Football Championship in India.
In squash, Gateway continues its proud tradition of producing national-level players. Five students have qualified to compete at the Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships in South Korea: Taveesha Goonasekera (Girls U13), Manuth Dassanayake and Dillon Perukanda (Boys U15), and Sithumli Mendis and Chanumi Thebuwanna (Girls U15).
On the track, Shanuka Costa flew the Sri Lankan flag at the Asian Youth Athletics Championship in Saudi Arabia. He finished fourth in the Medley Relay and reached the semi-finals in the 400m — a performance that speaks volumes about his potential and dedication.
These young athletes are not only ambassadors of Gateway but also of Sri Lanka. Their achievements stand as a testament to what is possible when talent meets opportunity. Gateway College congratulates them all and wishes them continued success as they take their next steps on the global stage.
Sri Lanka A will travel to Australia for a multi-format series against Australia A in July, marking the return of first-class cricket to Darwin for the first time since 2006.
This series includes three 50-over matches and two four-day games, all to be played at the Marrara Cricket Ground and Marrara Stadium in Darwin.
All five matches will be streamed live on Kayo Sports and cricket.com.au, offering fans the chance to follow the action closely.
Peter Roach, CA Head of Cricket Operations and Scheduling said:
“It’s fantastic to confirm a multi-format series which gives the next crop of emerging cricketers excellent development opportunities throughout the Australian winter.
“Darwin’s dry season weather between May and September offers both the Northern Territory and Australian Cricket an incredible winter opportunity which allows cricket to be played in Australia all-year round.
Hosting these matches, and especially a match at Marrara Stadium, gives significant status to the series ahead of the 2025-26 international season.
Schedule
July 4:
First 50-over Match (D/N)
July 6:
Second 50-over Match
July 9:
Third 50-over Match
July 13–16:
First Four-Day Match
July 20–23:
Second Four-Day Match
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