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Joe-Pete encounter takes top billing at school rugby knockout semis

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By A Special Sports Correspondent

The semi-finals of the school’s rugby President’s Trophy knockout tournament will be worked off this weekend with reigning champions Isipatana taking on Zahira on Saturday (September 2) and St. Peter’s scrumming down with arch-rivals St. Joseph’s the next day in the other semi-final. Both matches will be worked off at Havelock Park. The tournament is conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association and is sponsored by Dialog.

Isipatana badly needs this semi-final win to beef up their morale because they know that they were beatable this season. Their opponents Zahira is no pushover and produced some memorable wins this year; the victories against Dharmaraja (18-15) and Vidyartha (23-3) stand out as their best performances to date. The predictions are that the Greens would win given that their indefatigable backline would produce the results when it comes to try scoring. Navin Kanishka leads Isipatana while Aadil Rafeek leads the lads from Maradana.

St. Peter’s will go out as firm favourites in their clash against the Josephians and the organizers of the tournament have given them the green light to consider this fixture as their traditional rugby encounter which is played for the Fr. Basil Weerathunga Shield. Hence a packed audience is expected on Sunday when the two teams clash to find the second finalist for the knockout finals.

The Peterites are led this season by flanker Ashain Madugasge while the Josephians are marshalled by that able third row forward Navin Marasinghe whose players destroyed St. Anthony’s Katugastota (57-0) on their way to the semi-finals. The Peterites got the better of Trinity (25-13) in their quarter-final game played last Sunday. Josephians have done well to make a comeback this season and reached the semi-finals of the knockout given their bellow par show in the league tournament where they finished seventh in the points table behind Zahira who finished sixth. This year’s knockouts began only with seven teams without the runners-up in the league Royal which chose instead to feature in their traditional rugby game against S.Thomas’; a team that finished eighth in the league tournament points table.



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The Moratuwa duo hit the high notes

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A record-breaking 206-run stand between Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando helped Sri Lanka secure a decisive victory over New Zealand, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Rex Clementine at Dambulla

The Moratuwa duo stole the limelight on Wednesday, etching their names into the record books as Sri Lanka secured a comfortable 45-run victory over New Zealand in Dambulla. Kusal Mendis hammered a career-best 143, while opener Avishka Fernando brought up his fourth ODI century. Hailing from the same cricketing cradle—Kusal from Prince of Wales’ College and Avishka just a stone’s throw away at St. Sebastian’s—the pair stitched together a magnificent 206-run partnership for the second wicket, leading Sri Lanka to a win with flair and finesse.

Kusal’s knock was a treat for the purists, as he danced down the track to the spinners with nimble footwork, while Avishka was a powerhouse against the pacers, unleashing his trademark hook shot that sent the crowd roaring.

“I told Avishka not to worry if he had a few dot balls early on; it wasn’t the kind of wicket where you could hit the ground running,” Kusal revealed to journalists after Sri Lanka claimed a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. “I assured him that the runs would flow from my end, allowing him to play his natural game without feeling the weight of the scoreboard.”

Kusal was all praise for Avishka’s potential, forecasting a bright future. “Avishka will score plenty of runs. The wicket was a bit on the sluggish side today, and the ball didn’t come onto the bat as we expected. But once he got his eye in, there was no looking back.”

With his 143, Kusal also broke new ground for Sri Lankan cricket, setting a national record against New Zealand by surpassing the previous highest scores of 140 by both Sanath Jayasuriya and Thisara Perera. His tally now also stands as the highest individual score in Dambulla, eclipsing Shikhar Dhawan’s 132 not out made in 2017.

“Delighted to bring this win home,” Kusal added. “When Avishka got out, my focus was to stay in as long as possible. I’m glad it all came together in the end.”

After a batting masterclass, Sri Lanka’s bowlers found themselves in a tight spot as the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern system set New Zealand a revised target of 221 in 27 overs, a challenge that tested Sri Lanka’s nerve.

“We knew bowling them out in 27 overs was a tall order, so our strategy was to keep the run rate in check even if wickets didn’t fall immediately. The bowlers handled the pressure brilliantly, especially with the wet outfield,” Kusal reflected.

The action now shifts to Pallekele, where the two teams will resume on Sunday, with Sri Lanka keen to tighten their grip on the series.

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The Kiwis enchanted by Sri Lanka’s spellbinding charm

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Michael Bracewell, enthralled by Sri Lanka’s sights

Rex Clementine in Dambulla

The New Zealanders have seized every moment in Sri Lanka, embracing its wonders with open arms. Their sightseeing ventures included a trip to the breathtaking Minneriya National Park and the historic rock fortress of Sigiriya. Michael Bracewell, the versatile spin-bowling all-rounder, was utterly entranced by Sigiriya’s ancient allure, inviting tourists worldwide to experience Sri Lanka’s magic.

“It’s a beautiful and deeply spiritual place,” Bracewell remarked about Sigiriya. “The view from the top is awe-inspiring. That’s the beauty of international cricket—you get to explore these marvelous places. We even went on a safari and spotted elephants roaming free in the national park. Embracing the local culture, learning its nuances, and exploring different countries is incredible. The warmth of the Sri Lankan people has been overwhelming. We can’t wait to see what the next city has in store for us, along with its renowned hospitality.”

On the field, New Zealand appeared to be cruising in the first ODI, reaching 88 without loss. It looked like a walk in the park, as Sri Lankan bowlers struggled to get a firm grip on the ball. But just when things seemed to be going smoothly, a lapse in concentration led Tim Robinson to take on Maheesh Theekshana—only to be stumped, triggering a shocking collapse.

“The Sri Lankans bowled well, and we allowed them a few too many runs,” Bracewell admitted. “It was a challenging wicket to start on, and tough for the middle order to score immediately. Chasing 221 off 27 overs was always going to be a tall order. We gave it our best shot but perhaps missed a few scoring opportunities in the middle overs.”

“Cricket’s a funny old game, and partnerships are the name of the game,” he continued. “We saw that 200-run stand in the first innings—it was the game-changer. Small details, like how our guys got out, can make all the difference under scoreboard pressure. Coming in during the later stages is never easy, but it’s part of the job. Tonight didn’t go our way, but in a couple of days, we’ll aim to bounce back.”

New Zealand sorely missed their pace spearhead, Lockie Ferguson, who had to return home due to injury. Ferguson, known for his blistering pace, had spun the second T20 International on its head with a hat-trick, but a calf injury cut short his tour, limiting him to just one game in Sri Lanka.

“When a player of Lockie’s caliber is sidelined, it’s always tough,” Bracewell explained. “But we have faith in the team, and everyone’s ready to step up to the challenge.”

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Ashlin to meet Rehan in the final

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Ashlin de Silva will meet Rehan Gunawardhana in the boys’ singles final after they advanced from the semi-finals in the ATF Under 16 week two tournament at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts on Thursday.

While Ashlin de Silva beat Bhishman Balaratnarajah (6-1, 6-4), Rehan Gunawardhana advanced after his opponent Methika Wickramasinghe retired due to injury (6-7, 4-0) in the semi-finals. (RF)

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