In a pulsating day of Test cricket, it was Pat Cummins who turned the tide with a captain’s spell for the ages, breathing life back into Australia’s World Test Championship campaign. Trailing and under the pump after a modest first innings, Cummins dug deep and delivered a spell that not only levelled the playing field but tilted it firmly in Australia’s favour.

At one stage, South Africa looked to be tightening the screws, inching away at 126 for five. But after lunch, Cummins returned with fire in his belly and thunder in his boots. What followed was a breathtaking collapse – South Africa folded for 138, losing their last five wickets for just 12 runs in the space of 34 balls. The Lord’s faithful watched in disbelief as the Australian skipper ran through the tail like a hot knife through butter.

Cummins finished with six for 28 – his best at the Home of Cricket – and in the process, joined the elite 300-wicket club. It was not just a captain’s effort with the ball; it was a rallying cry, a statement of intent.

The Proteas, who had been on top in the morning, suddenly found themselves on the ropes. Their lower middle order crumbled under pressure, riddled with soft dismissals, a comical run-out thrown in for good measure – turning the Lord’s slope into a South African slide.

From promising to pitiful, the collapse wasn’t so much triggered by demons in the pitch as it was by lapses in temperament. Day one had been tailor-made for the quicks – gloomy skies, nip off the seam, and swing on tap. But on day two, the sun was out, and the conditions far friendlier. Yet, South Africa batted as if the clouds were still hanging over their heads.

For a side with several players seasoned in County Cricket, the meek surrender was hard to digest. They were expected to weather the storm, but instead, they walked straight into it without a raincoat.

The final word? A familiar tale in Protea folklore – another high-stakes final, another slip-up when it mattered most. The game hasn’t yet run away from them, but they’re chasing leather and momentum now, and Pat Cummins has well and truly bowled Australia back into contention

Emerging athlete  Dilni Rajapaksha of Lyceum International, Wattala produced the most impressive long jump feat of the day and Mayon Rajasinghe won back to back golds for St. Joseph’s Darley Road as the Junior National Athletic Championship commenced with record breaking performances at Diyagama on Thursday.

Dilni erased her own meet record  (5.80m -2024) with a feat of 5.96 metres to win the Under 16 girls’ long jump.

Dilni established herself as a promising jumper last year and her achievements yesterday left enthusiasts comparing the long jump performances of the Under 18  and Under 16  age categories. Incidentally, the Asian Youth Championship medallist Dilki Nehara of Sri Sumagala Balika, Panadura who competed in the Under 18 girls’ long jump in the morning had her winning jump measured at 5.91 metres.

The opening day was notable for several record breaking performances in field events.

Dilki Dewmini of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo established a new meet record in the Under 16 shot put with a throw of 12.68 metres. She shattered her own meet record established last year as she became the first athlete to clear the 12 metres mark at these championships.

Mayon Rajasinghe won two golds on the opening day of the Junior National Athletics Championship. (Pic by Kamal Wanniarachchi)

Taxila Central thrower Shalomi Jayakody became the first athlete to clear the 40 metres mark in the Under 18 girls’ hammer throw as she rewrote record books with a throw of 40.81 metres.

In the Under 16 boys’ hammer throw, S.M. Karunarathne of Taxila Central cleared 40.68 metres to create a new meet record.

In track events, Matara Central athlete Nuhansa Kodituwakku won the Under 20 girls’ 800 metres ahead of Lyceum International Wattala athlete Humansi Pradeepani. She returned a time of 2:10.72 seconds.

In the Under 18 age category, Rusith Nimsara of St. Servatius’ College, Matara won the boys’ long jump with a feat of 6.97 metres, while Tharusha Mendis of Lyceum International excelled in the boys’ high jump with a season’s best of 2.08 metres.

Mayon Rajasinghe dominated both the shot put and the javelin throw in the Under 16 age category. The Josephian cleared 15.19 metres to win the shot put before throwing the javelin to a distance of 58.13 metres to clinch the second gold.

by Reemus Fernando ✍️

The four-day Junior National Athletics Championship commenced at Diyagama on Thursday, with athletes in the Under 18 age category vying to earn spots in the team for the Asian Youth Games (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)