Sports

Joes savour Under-19 Tier ‘A’ cricket title

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

Shevon Daniel hammers unbeaten 146

by Reemus Fernando

St. Joseph’s College clinched the Under-19 Division I Tier ‘A’ Limited Overs Cricket title as Shevon Daniel with an unbeaten century and Lahiru Amarasekara with a four wicket haul excelled in the final played at NCC ground on Saturday.

The Darley Road team ended the unbeaten run of Royal when they contained the latter to 190 runs. Royal were chasing a target of 288 runs.

Royal’s formidable batting line up suffered early blows when Mithira Thenura and Deshan Seneviratne took the first three wickets for just nine runs. Seneviratne accounted for Isiwara Dissanayake and Sadisha Rajapaksha in the same over. Skipper and Sri Lanka Under-19 batsman Ahan Wickramasinghe joined Sineth Jayawardena to steady the innings, adding 71 runs for the fourth wicket. But both fell in quick succession when Lahiru Amarasekara jolted the middle order with a four wicket haul. Amarasekara took the crucial wickets of tournament’s highest scorer Wickramsinghe, Jayawardena and Dasis Manchanayake.

Kavindu Pathirathna taught his colleagues a lesson waging a loan battle. He scored almost a run a ball 59 before Joes’ skipper Dunith Wellalage and Shenuka de Silva mopped up the tail to seal the victory in the 41st over.

Deciding to bat, the Joes’ top order batted patiently before accelerating towards the end. Openers Sadeesh Jayawardena and Sheran Fonseka who remained unbeaten in their ten wicket win in the semi final against Trinity, added 50 runs for the first wicket. Jayawardena was run out for 25 and Fonseka was dismissed for 38 runs by Prashan Kalhara who caught him off his own bowling.

Then followed a valuable 136-run partnership between Mithira Thenura and Shevon Daniel. The fourth wicket stand was dominated by Daniel who remained unbeaten to guide Joes to their eventual total. Daniel scored 146 runs in 133 balls and hammered six fours and nine sixes in his knock.

With Daniel accelerating towards the end of the innings Joes accumulated almost 100 runs in the last ten overs.

It was a remarkable achievement for Joes who overcame early setbacks in the tournament with clinical victories in the quarter-final, semi-final and the final. They were the third placed team in their group during the league stage, but during the knockout phase they were in a league of their own. In contrast Royal were an unbeaten team and was considered by many as favourites.

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Rusty West Indies face upbeat Sri Lanka with series on the line

Published

29 seconds ago

2026/06/6

Priyan

Kusal Mendis scored a vital half-century in the first ODI [Cricinfo]

A first ODI win in the West Indies since 2013 and more importantly, a winning start to Gary Kirsten’s tenure as head coach. The action now returns to the same venue for the second of three games, as the hosts seek to keep the series alive and both sides look to implement any learning from the first game.

For Kirsten and Sri Lanka, there were elements of the veteran coach seeking to come to terms with the talents at his disposal and identifying their best fit. The promotion of Kamindu Mendis to the top of the order – while not coming off on Wednesday – is one such example, while Kusal Mendis’ aggression through the middle overs showed that captaincy has not dulled his attacking instincts.

But there were concerns too. Pavan Rathnayake had a breakout 2026 T20 World Cup, but having been positioned in a pivotal No. 4 role, his 24 off 38 only served to snuff the momentum Kusal had created. Kirsten will no doubt have taken note, as he would have of Janith Liyanage’s pivotal contributions at the death. Perhaps trialing Liyanage at four instead?

For West Indies, the problems certainly outweighed the positives. Despite the quick start provided by their openers – something that in most scenarios ought to have helped break the spine of a 300-plus chase – the middle order struggled to contend with Sri Lanka’s spinners.

There also seemed to be a distinct lack of clarity in their batting approach; unlike in T20s where they are a side renowned for their ability to clear the boundary with regularity, in the 50-over format – perhaps owing to the fact this was their first such assignment in six months – there seemed to be some rustiness and even unease around the need to build at pace through the middle.

Nevertheless, there will be strands to cling to heading into Saturday’s second ODI, particularly the execution of their plans in shackling Pathum Nissanka. At the same time, it will have been impressed on the top-order the importance of capitalising on their starts.

In the opening game, Roston Chase showcased his utility, delivering a tidy ten-over spell of 2 for 47 before chipping in with a steady 33 off 46 balls during the chase. Those numbers kept the home side competitive, but in a must-win second game, West Indies will be hoping he ramps things up, particularly with the bat. Chase’s technical expertise against spin will likely prove pivotal in combating the pair of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, and that anchor role will ideally allow the team’s designated boundary-hitters to play with freedom around him.

Dushmantha Chameera proved that absolute pace remains lethal, regardless of the type of surface on offer. The quick turned up once more with his now customary consistent displays of hit-the-deck bowling, as he ran through the West Indies middle-and-lower order to finish with match-winning figures of 4 for 67. His capacity to extract sharp bounce from a good length will also once more prove a challenge for the West Indian openers.

West Indies will most probably go in with an unchanged XI.

West Indies (probable): John Campbell, Justin Greaves, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (capt & wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales

Sri Lanka will likely field an unchanged lineup. Though considering Sri Lanka’s stacked seam-bowling department, and the reverse swing on offer in the first game, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Eshan Malinga brought into the XI.

Sri Lanka (probable): Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (capt & wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Milan Rathnayake, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando/Eshan Malinga

[Cricinfo]

Business

PEOTV secures media rights for FIFA World Cup

Published

2 hours ago

2026/06/6

Priyan

SLT-MOBITEL PEOTV, Sri Lanka’s pioneering Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service provider and leading digital entertainment platform, announced a landmark partnership with Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), securing the exclusive media broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Sri Lanka.

The strategic partnership marks one of the most significant sports media acquisitions in the country’s broadcasting landscape, granting SLT-MOBITEL PEOTV exclusive rights to deliver every match of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to audiences across Sri Lanka. Through PEOTV, PEO MOBILE, and digital platforms, football fans nationwide will have unparalleled access to the world’s most prestigious sporting event, ensuring they experience every moment of the tournament live, from the opening match to the final championship.

The acquisition of FIFA World Cup 2026™ rights represents another significant milestone in SLT-MOBITEL PEOTV’s continued investment in premium sports broadcasting. Over the years, PEOTV has built a strong reputation for delivering major international sporting events, offering customers reliable, high-quality coverage and enhanced viewing experiences through advanced IPTV technology. Viewers will enjoy the tournament in true High Definition (HD), delivering exceptional picture quality and an immersive viewing experience. Whether watching from home through PEOTV, on the move via PEO MOBILE, or through digital access points, fans can follow every defining goal and unforgettable celebration throughout the competition.

The FIFA World Cup 2026™ is set to make history as the largest edition of the tournament ever staged, with 104 matches featuring 48 nations competing across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Expected to captivate billions of viewers worldwide, the tournament represents the pinnacle of international football and stands among the most celebrated sporting events on the global calendar.

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Iran footballers issued US visas for World Cup, says White House

Published

6 hours ago

2026/06/6

Priyan

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei will lead side at World Cup 2026 [Aljazeera]

Iran’s World Cup football players have been granted visas to enter the United States, according to a White House official, just 10 days before their first match in Los Angeles amid a conflict between ⁠the two countries.

Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, said late on Thursday the squad had still not received their US visas, but these were granted overnight, the White House official said.

US Ambassador to Turkiye Tom Barrack confirmed the visas in a message on X on Friday. “Proud of our outstanding team at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara for their work processing visas for Iran’s national football team on their road to the @FIFAWorldCup in the United States,” he said, commenting on a news report that Iran’s World Cup players have been granted the visas to enter the United States.

The US had not yet issued visas to some members of the Iran team’s technical and administrative staff, the semi-official Fars news agency ‌reported on Friday.

Iran’s federation has not yet made a statement on the news.

“Visas for some members of the national team’s technical and executive staff have not yet been issued, and the US embassy has so far refused to issue them,” Fars said, without citing a source.

The US-Israel war on Iran has turned the World Cup – the biggest global sporting event – into a geopolitical contest, with both sides appearing to use the tournament for political posturing.

It is the first World Cup, since its inception in 1930, in which a host nation is set to receive a country it is at war with.

Tehran negotiated a last-minute move of the team’s base from Arizona ⁠to Tijuana in Mexico due to the visa issues and a growing feeling in Iran ⁠that the squad’s presence in the United States should be kept to a minimum.

They are scheduled to land in Tijuana early on Sunday.

Iran are due to play their first Group G match on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles, where they will also face Belgium before taking on ⁠Egypt in Seattle.

The US has never formally said it does not want the Iranian team to stay on its territory, Ambassador Pasandideh said.

However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on ⁠Tuesday that the US would not allow Iran to include in its World Cup ⁠delegation individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful branch of the Iranian armed forces.

Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s football federation, was denied entry for the tournament draw in Washington in December. He is a former commander in the Revolutionary Guards.

Iran’s desire to compete in the World Cup underscored its efforts ‌to reach a resolution in the war with Washington, Pasandideh said.

“Iran’s participation in the World Cup – even on the soil of what is seen as its enemy – shows that Iran seeks peace,” Pasandideh said, speaking through a Spanish interpreter at the ‌Iranian ‌embassy in Mexico City.

Progress in peace talks between Iran and the US has been slow, with both sides seemingly inching towards an interim agreement even as they continue to carry out military strikes

[Aljazeera]