Sports

Exciting Test series awaits fans after hard-fought ODIs

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/27

Shane Warne took his 500th Test wicket in Galle in 2004. There are efforts by cricket and tourism officials to bring down Warne's family members to Galle for the series.

by Rex Clementine

After three weeks of eight exciting one-day games, the Australians will now move to the south coast where Galle will host them for two Test matches. On paper, Sri Lanka, a team that had struggled in white-ball cricket for some seven years, had a snowball’s chance in hell. But cricket is such a funny game. One stunning run chance at Pallekele in the third T-20 scripted by Dasun Shanaka gave them confidence that there’s nothing impossible in sports and Sri Lanka looked a different side from thereon.

A lot has been said about the ODI series win being Sri Lanka’s first against Australia in 30 years at home. It is also their first-ever five-match series win against the five-time World Champions. It’s a pity that this series was not part of the ICC World Cup Super League. Had it been they would have carried vital points in a bid to qualify automatically for the World Cup. Now, even if they win their next six games in the Super League – against New Zealand away and Afghanistan home, they will not have enough points to go through.

The performance of several young players was the talking point. While Charith Asalanka and Pathum Nissanka posted their maiden hundreds, Kusal Mendis finally delivered coming up with consistent performances. Wanindu Hasaranga is feared by every opposition while Maheesh Theekshana has improved leaps and bounds. Dunith Wellalage looks a mature man for a 19-year-old and claimed some big wickets in the series. Chamika Karunaratne showed the potential of a true all-rounder who needs a bit more trust from his captain. He is nicknamed ‘suicide’ by his NCC team mates and while the energy is good it could also bring him trouble unless he controls his emotions when things heat up. But, Sri Lanka had played boring white ball cricket in the last half a decade and the least thing we should complain about is energy.

What really pleases you is that the team could have in fact won all five ODIs. The manner in which they chased down stiff targets and the character they showed defending below par totals gives you assurance that this team has turned a huge corner. The Aussies may give you a loan to come out of the economic crisis but they give no corner in sports and the manner in which the likes of David Warner and Glenn Maxwell were tamed was quite impressive. Warner in particular looked a pale shadow of his former self. The Sri Lankan players will be hoping that we have not spoken too early with regards to Warner.

Head Coach Chris Silverwood has certainly made an impact and during a media interaction, he agreed that this team has the potential to do greater things when they fire on all cylinders. A lot of people feel that Australia will struggle in Galle as spin is their Achilees’ heel. But a look at stats would suggest that they have in fact done better in Galle having won two Tests and lost one. Those Australian sides that won in 2004 and 2011 played spin much better one may say. In the same breath Sri Lankan spinners of yesteryear were far better than the current inexperienced lot. The trio of Ramesh Mendis, Praveen Jayawickrama and Lasith Embuldeniya struggled in the recent Bangladesh Tests as pace won Sri Lanka the games. Hoping pace to win you Test matches against Australia is wishful thinking. But the good news for Sri Lanka is that their batsmen are in form. This will be a keenly contested series like the limited over games.

Australia are ranked number one in the world in Test match cricket. A 2-0 series win will see seventh-placed Sri Lanka climbing up to number five above Pakistan and England. A 1-0 series win will see them securing the number six spot.

With Pathum Nissanka returning to the side the team will have a few selection headaches as to which batsman to leave out. Opener Oshada Fernando who replaced him in Bangladesh when Nissanka was injured could be the casualty.

There will be lot of emotions as well when the Australian train today in Galle for the first time as it was here Shane Warne took his 500th wicket. A match bag of ten wickets by the late leg-spinner helped Australia win the Test 2004 Test match. Later that year, when the tsunami struck, he was the first cricketer to visit the city pledging his support to rebuild. The winners of the series will take away the Warne-Murali Trophy.

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Ronaldo apologizes for Portugal walkout; says Jesus broke promise

Published

9 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

10 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

10 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;