Sports

Jayasuriya backs Kamindu Mendis

Published

2 years ago

2024/12/11

Sahan Weerasooriya

Kamindu Mendis

Rex Clementine in Port Elizabeth

Sri Lankan cricket has experienced a year of dramatic highs and sobering lows. Triumphs across formats—like breaking a 27-year ODI series drought against India, clinching a Test win in England after a decade, and securing a Test series victory over New Zealand after 14 years—are testaments to their resurgence. But the recent Test series defeat in South Africa has been a bitter pill to swallow, especially when a World Test Championship final berth seemed within reach.

At the forefront of this rollercoaster ride is Sanath Jayasuriya, who has reinvigorated the team with his bold decisions and unwavering support for emerging players. However, the South African tour exposed significant gaps in Sri Lanka’s armour, leading to a 2-0 defeat.

“It’s been a good turnaround overall, but this series was disappointing,” Jayasuriya admitted candidly. “We had moments of promise but couldn’t sustain pressure. Back home, we’ll address the areas that need fixing.”

Kamindu Mendis, the exciting young talent who has already matched Sir Don Bradman’s feat of being the third-fastest to 1,000 Test runs, faced a reality check in South Africa. Targeted by South African bowlers, he couldn’t cross fifty in the series, but Jayasuriya remains optimistic.

“I’m not concerned about Kamindu. He’s a quick learner, and these phases are part of Test cricket,” said Jayasuriya. “The South Africans had done their homework on him and didn’t give him breathing room, but that’s how you grow as a player. Kamindu is resilient and will come back stronger.”

Despite his struggles, Kamindu’s potential remains undeniable. His ability to adapt to conditions and his temperament have already drawn comparisons to some of the game’s greats.

While Kamindu struggled, Lahiru Kumara emerged as the shining star of the series. Often plagued by injuries in the past, the fast bowler has found a new level of consistency this year. His performance against South Africa was nothing short of phenomenal. He has taken 30 wickets in seven Tests this year at an average of 23—significantly better than his career average of 35.

“Lahiru has been phenomenal,” Jayasuriya said, beaming with pride. “He’s always had raw pace, but now he’s added accuracy to his game. He troubled every South African batter and bowled with heart.”

Kumara’s fiery spells left the South African camp bruised—literally. His bouncers fractured Wiaan Mulder’s finger, left Ryan Rickelton nursing a bruised hand, and forced Kagiso Rabada to undergo a concussion test after being struck on the helmet.

Jayasuriya’s faith in Kumara’s abilities has paid dividends. “His fitness and consistency have improved tremendously, and he’s now a strike bowler we can rely on,” the coach noted.

While Kumara and Kamindu took center stage for different reasons, the team’s collective batting performance left much to be desired. Not a single Sri Lankan managed a century in the series, and veterans Angelo Mathews and Dimuth Karunaratne had a series to forget.

The inability to capitalize on starts has been a recurring issue. Dinesh Chandimal and Pathum Nissanka were guilty of throwing away promising innings, and the team’s tail failed to add valuable runs—highlighting the gap between Sri Lanka’s lower order and their counterparts.

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Ronaldo apologizes for Portugal walkout; says Jesus broke promise

Published

3 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

4 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

4 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;