Sports

Kamindu Mendis – a star in ascent

Published

1 year ago

2025/06/22

Kamindu Mendis

There was a time – not too long ago – when Sri Lanka’s batting collapses were as predictable as monsoon rain in May. But in Galle, the tables turned. Bangladesh, after sitting pretty at one stage, lost six wickets for 37 runs in a classic case of snatching defeat from the jaws of dominance. And when Sri Lanka, on the fourth morning, lost Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis in quick succession, the familiar ghosts of Galle past began to stir. Bangladesh were roaring, tails up and on the hunt. But one man stood firm amid the ruins: Kamindu Mendis.

This wasn’t a flash in the pan. Kamindu has been building a reputation for precisely these moments. Since his entry into the Test fold, Sri Lanka’s lower order has begun to wag with purpose. He’s become a master of the unglamorous art – batting with the tail, a discipline requiring both brains and bravery. Time and again, he’s played the shepherd, farming the strike, shielding the rabbits and frustrating bowlers with a cat-and-mouse game that’s as much mental chess as physical endurance.

In this innings, his 84-run alliance with Milan Rathnayake was pure grit stitched with guile. Milan, no mug with the bat, wasn’t content to just survive. Bangladesh tried the old trick – bring the field up, deny the single and have a crack at the tailender. Kamindu, like a wily old fox, flipped the script. He pierced the infield with boundaries, forcing the fielders back. And once they realised Milan could hold a bat, the horse had well and truly bolted.

There’s a quiet evolution in Kamindu’s batting. Once slotted at number seven, he now bats at five – a promotion that has given him more time at the crease and a canvas to construct an innings. And he’s painting quite the picture.

Post-Angelo Mathews, the question beckons: Should Kamindu move up to number four? That’s a call for the selectors, but there’s a twist in the tale. Like Hashan Tillakaratne in his pomp, Kamindu has become a dependable finisher, someone who knows how to squeeze the last ounce of juice from the innings. Sometimes, the art of batting with the tail is too rare to be relocated.

And here’s a nugget for the romantics: last year, Kamindu entered rarefied air when he matched the immortal Don Bradman – both men reaching 1000 Test runs in 13 innings. Of course, no one dares compare mortals to The Don, but to breathe that same statistical air is something to savour.

So what makes Kamindu tick?

He keeps things disarmingly simple. There are no exaggerated flourishes and urgency to his batting. He stands still, plays late and lets the ball come to him. There’s elegance in that economy – class without clutter.

His shot selection is risk-averse, yet never pedestrian. His understanding of tempo – when to accelerate, when to drop anchor – is a hallmark of maturity. It took Angelo Mathews a few years to master that art; Kamindu seems to have cracked it already. And dare one say it, he does so with a sounder technique than the retiring stalwart.

Spin or seam, pace or patience Kamindu handles them all with aplomb. It’s no surprise that IPL franchises came sniffing this year. He may not be the showiest player on the park, but he’s one of the smartest – the thinking man’s cricketer.

If this upward curve continues, there’s little doubt: Sri Lanka haven’t just unearthed a reliable middle-order bat – they’ve found a cornerstone for the future. Pathum Nissanka is another one and on their broad shoulders Sri Lanka’s future will be built.

Rex Clementine ✍️
in Galle

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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;