Sports

Jaffna Stallions highly impressive in LPL

Published

4 years ago

2020/12/8

Jaffna Stallions’ CEO Ananthan Arnold (middle) in conversation with the team’s overseas signing Shoaib Malik. COO Paven Savuntharasa is also in the picture.

by Rex Clementine

With most cricket playing nations initiating a franchise based tournament in their calendar, Sri Lankan cricket was left stranded for years not being able to start something of their own. However, with the launch of Lanka Premier League, there was a shot in the arm. Interest for franchise ownerships were mostly shown by Indian and Pakistani business entities. Jaffna Stallions’ ownership though is different.

Anandan Arnold, who played cricket for St. John’s, Jaffna is the founder CEO of Jaffna Stallions and leading investor. Canadian born Rahul Sood, who now lives in Seattle is a major co-owner in the consortium which also consists of Sri Lankan expatriates living in the UK, Canada, Australia and Europe. The owners are multi-ethnic, multi-faith Sri Lankans of diverse backgrounds.

Jaffna Stallions are also the most organized franchise in the competition. While most franchises were putting through the logistics in the 11th hour, according to Thisara Perera, the captain of the team, all his players were taken to Kandy for a five-day residential training camp. While no doubt the training camp helped develop skills it also enabled the team to bond well.

The franchise has a formidable outfit. Their fast bowlers – Suranga Lakmal, Duanne Olivier, Kyle Abbott and Usman Shinwari are good enough to form the nucleus of any international side.

But the franchise has not forgotten the development of young talent as well and hence they have picked a few uncapped players – from north and south – Sebastianpillai Vijeyaraj, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Kanagarathinam Kabilraj, Theivendram Dinoshan and Nuwanidu Fernando.

Among the four youngsters Viyaskanth had an impressive debut last week but there is another exciting talent in Vijeyaraj, who bowls like Lasith Malinga. He has been nicknamed ‘Killinochchi Express.’

Viyaskanth was the talk of the town as he debuted last week. His line and length were impeccable and the leg-spinner foxed Angelo Mathews of all players. His efforts came in for high praise from all and sundry – both team mates and opposition.

The Stallions are the in form side in the competition as they recorded four straight wins while the others were playing catch up. For the fifth game, with a slot in the semi-final certain, the team rested four of their front line players and gave a break to some others. If they continue to rotate players, that will be a good idea as well as when the business end of the tournament comes along, the leading players will be fresh and raring to go.

The team’s motto is to be a cricket club that provides a pathway to excellence for local and national athletes. They have made huge strides in the LPL and don’t be surprised if they win the maiden title for they say, ‘well begun is half done.’

All News Advertisement

Sports

Extra ODI added to Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka

Published

19 hours ago

2025/01/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Australia previously visited in Sri Lanka in 2022

An extra ODI has been added to Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka which will provide the visitors additional preparation for the Champions Trophy.

The two matches will now take place on February 12 and 14 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and will be day games.

The first of the games begins just two days after the scheduled fifth day of the second Test in Galle so it remains to be seen how many players featuring in that match can turnaround for the one-dayer if the Test goes the distance.

However, Australia have nine players in their preliminary Champions Trophy squad who aren’t part of the Test series, including captain Pat Cummins and fellow quick Josh Hazlewood.

But Cummins’ participation remains uncertain as he is carrying an ankle injury which he played with during the India Test series.

Australia’s ODI players are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka around the start of the second Test. Their first match in the Champions Trophy is against England on February 22 followed by South Africa on February 25 and Afghanistan on February 28.

The first semi-final will take place in Dubai on March 4 with the second in Lahore on March 5 following confirmation of the hybrid model due to India not traveling to Pakistan. The final will be on March 9, in either Dubai or Lahore depending on whether India qualify.

(Cricinfo)

Sports

Annaya reaches girls’ singles final

Published

19 hours ago

2025/01/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Damsath Peiris and Yudheerya Atapaththu

ITF Asia 14 and Under Championship

Annaya Norbert edged out compatriot Sahansa Damsiluni to reach the girls’ singles final of the ITF Asia 14 and Under Development Championship (South Asia, South East Asia and East Asia) week one tournament at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts on Wednesday.

Annaya beat Damsiluni 6-1, 7-6, 6-3 in the semi-final, while Nepal’s Shivali Gurung prevented an all-Sri Lanka final by eliminating Eliza Kahagalla registering 6-1, 6-1 victory.

In the boys’ tournament, Damsath Peiris partnered Yudheerya Atapaththu to beat Shayan Muhammad and Rasheed Ali (Pakistan) 6-2, 7-5 to reach the doubles final. Peiris was also the only Sri Lankan player to book a semi-final berth in the singles. Peiris beat Akash Hossain of Bangladesh 6-0, 6-1. Revan Amarasinghe suffered a 6-0, 6-0 defeat at the hands of Nicholas Pak of Singapore in his singles quarter-final.

: Annaya Norbert (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)

: Damsath Peiris

Boys’ quarter-final results

Damsath Peiris (Sri Lanka) beat Akash Hossain (Bangladesh) 6-0, 6-1.

Metthey Tay (Singapore) beat Khabbo Gayen (Bangalides) 6-2, 6-4.

Nicholas Pak (Singapore) beat Revan Amarasinghe (Sri Lanka) 6-0, 6-0.

Shayan Muhammad (Pakistan) beat Krel Jan Gecosala (Philippines) 4-6, 6-2, 7-5. (RF)

Sports

CDB crush Fairfirst Insuarance by five wickets

Published

19 hours ago

2025/01/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

The victorious Citizens Development Business (CDB) team

9th MCA Super Premier League 2024 T20 Tournament

A swashbuckling half century by Pavan Ratnayake (51 runs in 26 balls inclusive of 05 sixes and 04 fours), guided Citizens Development Business (CDB) to a comprehensive 05 wickets win with 38 balls to spare over Fairfirst Insurance, in 9TH – MCA Super Premier League 2024 T20 Final, concluded on 14th January at the MCA Grounds.

Fairfirst Insurance, sent into bat scored 170 for 09 in 20 overs, riding on the solid half century by Anuk Fernando (51 runs in 37 balls, inclusive of 04 sixes & 02 fours)

CDB raced to their target in Just 13.4 overs (171 for 05) , with Pavan Ratnayake and Sonal Dinusha (36 not out in 17 balls inclusive of 02 sixes & 02 fours) engaged in a hurricane 55 runs stand in 25 balls for the 04th wicket.

MCA appointed Match Referee, Basil Perera picked Pavan Ratnayake (CDB) as the Man of the Match.

The other two special awards offered went to Movin Subasinghe (CDB), best bowler and T.M. Sampath (Hayleys Group), best batsman .

Thus the curtain came down on 31st Singer- MCA Super Premier League 2024, with debutants, Maliban Biscuits, being the “League” Champions & Fairfirst Insurance winning the “Knock-out” tournament.

Awards were given away by the Chief Guest, Senior Manager Promotions, Singer Sri Lanka PLC, KDS Kanishka, along with MCA Officials, Mahesh de Alwis, President, Rohan Somawansa, General Secretary and Lakmal de Silva, Chairman, Tournament Committee.

Brief scores :

Fairfirst Insurance –

170 for 09 in 20 overs ( Gaviru Senhas 13, Minod Bhanuka 26, Anuk Fernando 51, Moditha Ranatunga 20, Nimesh Vimukthi 37, Movin Subasinghe 2/33, Lasith Croosepulle 2/7)

CDB –

171 for 05 in 13.4 overs (Lahiru Udara 35, Oshada Fernando 15, Pavan Ratnayake 51, Sonal Dinusha 36 not out, Lahiru Madusanka 10, Nimesh Vimukthi 2/15, Imthiyas Slaza 2/19)