Sports

Kamindu at three in long run, a good move

Published

2 years ago

2024/09/8

Prolific middle order batter Kamindu Mendis was almost pushed to bat at number three in England, but the selectors have delayed the decision until later this month.

Rex Clementine in London

The Finance Minister has more clout than the Central Bank Governor but while the Finance Minister can be a person elected by the people and some strange ones have held the plumb portfolio, the Central Bank Governor, who has equal privileges as a Cabinet Minister, is generally chosen after careful consideration. The reason being that he plays a pivotal part in holding the economy together, making key decisions on monetary policy, financial stability and reserve management.

Similarly, in cricket, seniority earns a player the captaincy but number three in the batting line up is handed to someone after careful consideration. The whole batting unit of a team revolves around the number three. He can be in the middle facing the second ball of the innings after the opening batter had picked up a golden duck or he can be padded up for two sessions and walk in after tea at 190 for one. Number three is not for the faint-hearted.

Sri Lanka have generally placed a lot of emphasis on their number three. The men picked to bat in that position are mostly been technically sound with an ability to grind the bowling and bat for long hours.

In Sri Lanka’s early days, Roy Dias occupied the slot and then Asanka Gurusinha was drafted in at number three while Roy was still around. Roy moved down to number four making way to Gura. Now, that’s grooming the next generation.

Then after Gura prematurely retired, Marvan Atapattu was tried in that slot. He was solid. But then, once the need for an opener arose, Marvan was pushed to open the innings. Number three fell vacant again and various players were tried out with little luck.

Eventually, Kumar Sangakkara settled in there nicely and occupied the slot for his entire career that stretched for 15 years.

Unlike, Marvan, Roy or Gura, Sanga was not known for his technical brilliance. It is his strong mindset and willingness to learn and improve that pushed Dav Whatmore to give him the prime slot. That proved to be a masterstroke as Sanga pushed all limits and went on to end up as the leading run scorer for Sri Lanka in Test match cricket.

When Sanga started, his cover drives went through the fine-leg or mid-wicket region. But by the time he was done, there was no better role model for technical perfection than him.

Physically, it would have been a lot demanding as well for Sanga for the first six years of his Test career, kept wickets. But finally, when Ashanta de Mel decided to take the wicket keeping gloves from him in 2006, it proved to be a wise decision as he went on to become world’s number one ranked batter for a number of years.

Since Sanga, for nine years now, the number three slot has been tossed around with various batters tried in the position and none have been able to secure it.

Given the form that Kamindu Mendis has enjoyed in Test match cricket in his brief career so far, the selectors were pushing hard to get him to bat at three.

It nearly happened at Lord’s but with the series still in line, they didn’t want to push it. But at The Oval, with the series lost, they were going in that direction. In the 11th hour, they put an hold to the move but it is bound to happen in Galle, when Sri Lanka play the Kiwis in less than two weeks time.

Good call for someone who has played all his cricket in Galle. The home ground is a much better option than the overcast Oval. But, Kamindu over these few months has shown that he has got it in him to overcome any condition. It was certainly dark and gloomy at Old Trafford when he notched up that fabulous hundred.

Many have lamented that Kamindu at number seven has been wasted. He was denied a hundred at Lord’s in the second Test as he ran out of partners. In the second innings at Lord’s, as Sri Lanka employed the nightwatchman, Kamindu was pushed further down the order to number eight and there was very little he could do batting so low.

It will be a good move letting your best batter bat through the innings rather than pushing him too low where too often he will have to bat with the tail.

Most seniors like Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal are in the twilight of their careers and are unlikely to be around in the next 36 months and smooth transition is something that needs to be done.By pushing Kamindu to three, Sri Lanka in fact are looking at the future.

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Ronaldo apologizes for Portugal walkout; says Jesus broke promise

Published

4 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

5 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

5 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;