Sports

Hiran creates history against Royal, Chamindu’s marathon effort saves Petes

Published

3 years ago

2023/01/16

Thilina Walpola

St. Sebastian’s, Nalanda record victories

by Reemus Fernando

St. Joseph’s batsman Hiran Jayasundara, St. Peter’s opener Chamindu Perera and Nalanda bowler Minod Caldera recorded remarkable achievements for their respective schools in the Under 19 traditional matches completed over the weekend.

Jayasundara became the first batsman from any school in the history to score a double century against Royal in their traditional cricket encounter ended in a draw at Darley Road. According to Royal College statistician M.L. Fernando, the 199 runs scored by R. David from Wesley (1990) remained the highest score by a batsman from a rival school against Royal until Jayasundara scored the double century on Saturday. His unbeaten knock of 200 runs came in 309 balls (18x4s, 3x6s).

The Josephian also broke nearly a century old batting record in the historic Royal-St. Joseph’s series as he took under his belt the record for the highest individual score overtaking the 194 runs scored by L.D.S Gunasekara for Royal in 1925. The Josephian record in the series was the 174 runs scored by Milroy Brohier in 1952. The Joes amassed 414 runs for six wickets against Royal. The visitors made 311 for seven wickets at close as the 126th encounter, which is one of the oldest traditional matches in the country ended in a draw at Darley Road.

At Bambalapitiya, St. Peter’s were rescued by their open bat Chamindu Perera who batted the whole second day for the home team to force a draw to their match against Trinity. After Petes were reduced to 67 runs, Trinity took a firm grip posting 285 for six wickets declared. The Petes commenced the final day with a huge first innings deficit and Perera rose to the occasion as he anchored the batting line up with a dogged knock. His marathon innings propelled the home team to post 247 for five wickets at close. The Philip and Eddie Buultjens Trophy remained at Bambalapitiya.

At Campbell Place, Nalanda laid their hands on the Bandula Warnapura memorial trophy as Caldera collected a match bag of nine wickets to lead the team to ten wickets victory against Dharmaraja.

St. Sebastian’s pulled off a stunning two wickets win over formidable Mahanama in their match at Moratuwa as Sandeesh Fernando bagged nine wickets to for them to fight back. At Mount Lavinia, S. Thomas’ took batting honours against Wesley as Mahith Perera top scored for the home team in the Mahadevan Sathasivam memorial trophy encounter.

Match Results

S. Thomas-Wesley ends in draw at Mount Lavinia

Scores:

S. Thomas’ 312 for 6 decl. in 81 overs (Romesh Mendis 37, Romesh Mendis 37, Senesh Hettiarachchi 66, Mahith Perera 152n.o., Charuka Peiris 32n.o.; Sanithu Amarasinghe 2/53) and 204 for 5 in 42.4 overs (Sadev Soysa 32, Thisen Ehaliyagoda 22, Romesh Mendis 81, Dineth Goonewardene 47; Sanithu Amarasinghe 2/35)

Wesley 226 all out in 69.4 overs (Sanithu Amarasinghe 58, Chamath Gomez 37, Anuga Pahansara 30, Nilupul Liyanage 25n.o.; Abheeth Paranawidana 2/47, Charuka Peiris 2/48, Kavindu Dias 2/28, Akash Fernando 3/43)

A draw at Sooriyawewa

Scores:

Lumbini 217 all out in 65.4 overs (Dhanitha Sandeth 49, Shahan Kaushalya 62, Yasiru Yugath 30; Puljith Wathuska 4/79, Irushka Thimira 4/68) and 169 for 9 in 47 overs (Dhanitha Sandeth 55, Malith Kawindu 35, Dumindu Sewmina 26; Irushka Thimira 3/38, Pathum Shaminda 2/24, Gimhan Rasanjana 3/32)

Devapathiraja 295 all out in 84.2 overs (Yasiru Lakshan 24, Pawan Sandesh 90, Jeewaka Shashen 54, Gimhan Rasanjana 35, Irushka Thimira 47; Dumindu Sewmina 2/51, K B Sathmina 2/24, Sasanka Nethmina 2/82, Malith Kawindu 4/71)

Chamindu saves St. Peter’s at Bambalapitiya

Scores:

St. Peter’s 67 all out in 29 overs (Nimutu Gunawardana 14, Sanshay Gunathilaka 14; Manula Kularathna 2/26, Kavindu Jayaratne 3/26, Dinuka Tennakoon 2/01, Theeraka Ranathunga 2/06) and 247 for 5 in 105 overs (Chamindu Perera 82n.o., Vishen Helambage 43, Nimutu Gunawardana 23, Kavika Jayasundara 28, Shennan Rodrigo 17n.o.; Wathila Udara 2/28)

Trinity 285 for 6 decl. in 71 overs (Kusal Wijethunga 45, Supun Waduge 65, Dinusha Peiris 70, Manula Kularathna 55; Shennan Rodrigo 2/83, Nimutu Gunawardana 3/32)

St. Sebastian’s stun Mahanama at Moratuwa

Scores:

Mahanama 211 all out in 58.1 overs (Kavindu Amameth 41, Inuka Karannagoda 35, Anjala Bandara 57; Sandeesh Fernando 3/41, Manuja Chanthuka 5/52) and 121 all out in 28.1 overs (Banula Algawatte 32, Rashmika Perera 50; Manuja Chanthuka 2/56, Sandeesh Fernando 6/44, Yashin Fernando 2/13)

St. Sebastian’s 135 all out in 53.5 overs (Adesh Almeda 35, Sanesh Fernando 35, Mahen Silva 25; Duvindu Ranathunga 3/43, Viranga Yeshan 4/38, Inuka Karannagoda 2/23) and 198 for 8 in 54 overs (Vimath Dinsara 69, Mahen Silva 31, Sasindu Prarthana 41; Viranga Yeshan 4/76)

Hiran breaks records at Darley Road

Scores:

St. Joseph’s 414 for 6 in 116.4 overs (Naren Muralidaran 47, Hiran Jayasundara 200, Muditha Dissanayaka 73, Hirun Matheesha 21, Lahiru Amarasekara 21; Dan Poddiwela 2/42, Anush Polonowita 2/36)

Royal 311 for 7 in 84 overs (Sineth Jayawardena 27, Rehan Peiris 62, Sanvidu Senaratharachchi 78, Uvindu Weerasekara 64, Dasis Manchanayake 27; Yenula Dewtusa 2/95, Gagan Chamodh 2/24)

Nalanda win Bandula Warnapura memorial trophy at Campbell Place

Scores:

Dharmaraja 97 all out in 44.5 overs (Onajith Siva 26; Minod Caldera 6/32, Sajitha Vithanage 2/11) and 167 all out in 45.4 overs (Pulindu Perera 36, Isuru Pannala 31, Dulara Bandulasena 26, Thisaru Wanninayake 43; Minod Caldera 3/70, Eranga Jayakodi 3/32)

Nalanda 208 all out in 66.1 overs (Yasiru Samarakoon 49, Sadew Samarasinghe 45, Eranga Jayakody 26, Sajitha Vithanage 25, Thisara Dewdunu 20; Nisala Abeyrathne 2/32, Thisaru Wanninayake 2/62, Pulindu Perera 4/08, Kalana Herath 2/42) and 57 for no loss in 11.4 overs (Rusiru Vilochana 30n.o., Yasiru Samarakoon 27n.o.)

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Sports

Harmanpreet fires as India complete 5-0 sweep over Sri Lanka

Published

17 hours ago

2026/01/1

Thilina Walpola

Harmanpreet hammered 68 off just 43 balls.

India were pushed more than they had been at any point in this series but still ran home victors in the final T20I at Trivandrum to complete a 5-0 series win over Sri Lanka – the first time they have swept a bilateral T20I series of this length at home. Besides a stronger performance from their opponents, the hosts faced sterner challenges – the rare failure of their top order, a dewy ball in defence but managed to overcome them all as they ran home winners by 15 runs.

The win was set up by the skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who hadn’t crossed 21 in the four previous innings of this series but come a tricky situation, she stepped up with a 43-ball 68. After being put in to bat, India found themselves in early trouble at 27 for 2, with debutant G Kamalini, coming in for the rested Smriti Mandhana, following the in-form Shafali Verma back to the hut. Inside the 10th over, India also lost Harleen Deol and Richa Ghosh and were struggling for any kind of momentum.

But Harmanpreet rose to the moment with a commanding knock that mixed caution with aggression. She hit nine fours and a six and was particularly effective playing the field against the left-arm spinners. Even with Harmanpreet providing the backbone of the innings, India needed a late push from Arundhati Reddy and Amanjot Kaur, who scored a pair of useful 20s to push the score forward. Arundhati, in particular, smashed 27 off 11 balls as India found 66 runs in the final five overs to get to 175.

Chasing 176, Sri Lanka produced their best batting performance of the series, built around an excellent 79-run partnership off just 56 balls between Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani for the second wicket. Perera, playing her 81st T20I, finally brought up her maiden half-century in the format, while Dulani also reached the milestone as the visitors raced to stay within touching distance of the target.

The momentum shifted dramatically when Amanjot Kaur struck with her very first delivery to dismiss Dulani, breaking the dangerous stand. Perera continued to fight, threatening to pull off an unlikely heist. But after clubbing a four and a six off Sree Charani, she was cleaned up by the left-arm spinner with a full delivery that slipped under Perera’s bat to knock out the stumps. Between that, Deepti Sharma trapped Nilakshi Silva to pass Megan Schutt as the format’s leading wicket-taker.

Those late wickets meant, Sri Lanka were left needing 34 runs from the final two overs. They got close, but ultimately not close enough to cause India enough jitters on the night.

Brief scores:

India Women 175 for 7 in 20 overs

(Gunalan Kamalini 12, Harleen Deol 13, Harmanpreet Kaur 68, Amanjot Kaur 21, Arundhati Reddy 27*; Nimasha Meepage 1-25, Kavisha Dilhari 2-11, Rashmika Sewwandi 2-42, Chamari Athapaththu 2-21) beat Sri Lanka Women 160 for 7 in 20 overs (Hasini Perera 65, Imesha Dulani 50, Rashmika Sewwamdi 14*; Deepti Sharma 1-28, Arundhati Reddy 1-16, Sneh Rana 1-31, Vaishnavi Sharma 1-33, Shree Charani 1-31, Amanjot Kaur 1-17 ) by 15 runs

[Cricbuzz]

Sports

Former Sri Lanka Under-19 player Akshu Fernando dies after being in coma for years

Published

17 hours ago

2026/01/1

Thilina Walpola

Akshu Fernando

Former Sri Lanka Under-19 cricketer Akshu Fernando has died on December 30, after having been in a coma for several years.

Fernando had been crossing an unprotected railway track in the southern Colombo suburb of Mount Lavinia following a training session on the beach, when he was struck by a train on December 28, 2018. Having been critically injured in the accident, he had been on life support for much of the time since.

A bright right-handed batter, Fernando’s domestic career seemed to just be taking off when he was hit by the train at age 27. He had scored his maiden first-class hundred for Ragama Cricket Club in the weeks before the accident, and had also been developing his offspin at the time. All told, he had seven 50-plus scores at the senior level. In a nine-year domestic career, he had played for Colts Cricket Club, Panadura Sports Club, and Chilaw Marians Sports Club, among others.

International commentator and one of Ragama Cricket Club’s most senior administrators Roshan Abeysinghe paid tribute to Fernando following the news of his death.

“He was truly a wonderful young man whose promising career was cut short by a cruel accident,” Abeysinghe said. “A quality player for his school and his final club Ragama, it’s a sad day for all of us who knew him. A cheerful, friendly and thorough gentleman was he. We will miss you Akshu and remember you for the rest of our life. Rest in peace sweet prince.”

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

Lasith Malinga to work with the Sri Lanka Team in lead up to T20 World Cup

Published

1 day ago

2025/12/31

Priyan

Lasith Malinga chats with Matheesha Pathirana [Cricinfo]

Lasith Malinga has once more been retained as consultant bowling coach for Sri Lanka’s men’s team, as they prepare for the T20 World Cup they are due to co-host from early February.

Although this is only a 40-day appointment, running from December 15 to January 25, it is essentially a continuation of Malinga’s work with key bowlers in the national set-up. Malinga has worked officially as a fast-bowling consultant at least twice before, but has also worked unofficially with top bowlers over the years, and has been advising the coaching team led by Sanath Jayasuriya, over the past two years.

With round-arm bowlers Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara both in Sri Lanka’s preliminary squad for the T20 World Cup, and likely to make the final 15, Malinga will be especially well-placed to assist.

“Sri Lanka Cricket aims to leverage Malinga’s vast international experience and renowned expertise in death bowling, particularly in the shortest format of the game to strengthen Sri Lanka’s preparations for the upcoming World Cup,” the board release said.

Sri Lanka are set to co-host their first men’s global tournament since 2012, from February 7. Three Sri Lankan venues will be used – Khettarama and SSC in Colombo, and Pallekele.

The T20 World Cup will run from February 7 to March 8. Sri Lanka are in Group B along with Australia, Ireland, Oman and Zimbabwe.

[Cricinfo]