Sports

Jayasuriya blitz from an umpiring perspective

Published

6 years ago

2020/11/1

by Rex Clementine

Kiwis hate losing to Aussies, Everton hate losing to Manchester United and Sri Lankans hate losing to India. In sports, there is a sensational feeling when you beat the big brother. Sri Lankan cricket at present may have fallen by the wayside but time was when India feared taking on Sri Lanka like the plague. There was one man who terrorized successive Indian teams – Sanath Jayasuriya. This week marked his brutal onslaught of Indian bowlers on his way to 189 – in the finals of the Champions Trophy in Sharjah.

The attack by the Sri Lankan captain was so brutal that it demoralized the Indians and they hardly made an effort to chase down the target of 300 runs. They were shot out for 54 as Sri Lanka secured a 245 run win. Just one Indian batsman managed double figures.

Australian umpire Daryl Harper officiated the game and he recalled the day in a chat with Sunday Island.

“Sanath won the toss and immediately batted brilliantly, almost carrying his bat with 189 runs. He was devastating and never looked in trouble. I anticipated a double century but he was out chasing runs for the team in the penultimate over,” Harper said.

The World Record for highest individual score then was 194 – established by Saeed Anwar. With two over left, Sri Lankan fans not only expected Jayasuriya to break the record but go onto establish the first double hundred in ODI cricket.

Tony Greig’s commentary was top class too. Thanks to YouTube, you can access it easily. “He’s hit that one into the gap and another four. He continues to plunder this Indian attack to all corners of the ground.”

“Jayasuriya is having the party of his life here in Sharjah. It may well be his wife’s birthday, but oh boy, he is taking all the presents himself smashing all over Sharjah,” Greig said at one point.

Sourav Ganguly, the Indian captain was a gutsy cricketer. With things falling apart, he brings himself on with Jayasuriya in devastating mood. The first ball he bowls, Ganguly dismisses Jayasuriya – stumped off a wide. Greig can not hide his disappointment.

“We have been privileged to see one of the best innings. Someone could have told him that you could have made the highest score ever. There are Indians, there are Arabs, there are Sri Lankans and Englishmen. They are all cheering him. We have witnessed a great innings.”

As for Harper, he remembers things vividly although it has been 20 years since that memorable day.

“India needed 300 runs to win on a very flat pitch. I was umpiring with George Sharp and we expected a serious run chase in the night session. Chaminda Vass demolished India by removing Ganguly, Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and Kambli inside his fifth over,” Harper recalled.

“The end came quickly with only RR Singh reaching double figures. My most disturbing memory came in the airport later that night. Several Indian players informed me that they could expect to be pelted with rotten fruit when they reached their home airports, such was the embarrassment of being bowled out for such a paltry score. That could never happen in Australia. I was shocked at the thought but began to understand the absolute passion of Indians for the game.”

“It was a fantastic final even if one sided. I counted myself lucky to be out on the field in the middle of the carnage,” Harper concluded.

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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;