Sports

Mahanama’s new book expected to be a sensation

Published

1 year ago

2021/12/17

by Rex Clementine

Roshan Mahanama’s first book ‘Retired Hurt’ was launched two decades ago and it created quite a stir and was popular among cricket fans. Cricket lovers were able to get to know many behind the scene happenings and the one that upset the Australians most was the claim that Glenn McGrath had sledged Sanath Jayasuriya calling the former Sri Lankan captain, ‘a black monkey’. The Australian Cricket Board at that time wanted to get an injunction against the book, but they were fighting a losing battle. Mahanama’s new book, ‘My Innings’ co authored by former S. Thomas’ cricketer Ashan Peiris is sure to become a hit as well. It was launched yesterday in Colombo. The Sinhala translation has been done by Asoka Goonetilleke, the former Sports Editor of our sister newspaper Divaina.

“People can find out about the challenges I faced as a player and as a Match Referee through this book,” Mahanama said.

“For me to work in the capacity of Match Referee was no easy task. I worked hard to prove my critics wrong. I left the ICC on my own terms. Lot of people will not leave the ICC for prestige and money. I feel that in life you need to stand up for what is right and your principles. There is a segment in the book where I am trying to send a message to young people in this country,” Mahanama said.

“I firmly believe that we can not compromise on integrity, honesty, values, friendship and loyalty. I am not perfect. I have had my faults as well. Imran Khan once said that people who have been successful in life are those who have failed, but they have corrected, analyzed and come back stronger,” he went onto explain.

All proceeds from the book will go to charities that Mahanama supports, especially the ones that helps cancer patients.

Mahanama briefly spoke on the challenges he faced after his first book was released. “When I first wrote the book, it was not for commercial purposes. This is not a commercial exercise either. What I mentioned in the first book was a sequence of events that made us stronger as a team. At that time Cricket Australia said they were going to get an injunction against the release of the book. CEO of Cricket Australia was Malcolm Speed at that time. When I joined the ICC, he was the CEO there. Had I fabricated a story, he wouldn’t have considered my name to be a Match Referee.”

Mahanama is one of the highly respected individuals in cricket and his name has been floated around to take up a coaching role with the national cricket team.

Responding to a query from The Island, the former captain said he is ready to accept a challenge. “There was an invitation for me to try and coach the team. I wanted time to reflect and see. I had some obligations towards my daughters. I had to settle them first. If you are asked to do something for your country you should think positively. That’s not something that I want to do. but if they want me to do it I will seriously consider,” Mahanama said.

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Sports

Lions beat Giants in Legends League Cricket final

Published

20 hours ago

2023/03/23

Priyan

Asia Lions clinched the Legends League Cricket title (pic LLC)

Upul Tharanga (57) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (58) hit half centuries as Asian Lions beat World Giants to win the Legends League Cricket (LLC) Masters. In the final held in Doha, Asia Lions scored an emphatic seven-wicket victory with 23 balls to spare.

Earlier, the Lions restricted World Giants to 147 for 4 despite Jacques Kallis’ unbeaten 78 off 54 balls with five boundaries and three sixes. Kallis also had a 92 runs partnership in 11.1 overs for the fourth wicket with Ross Taylor, who hit 32 off 33 balls with three boundaries but that was not enough for the World Giants.

Sports

Spinners lead turnaround as Australia clinch series

Published

20 hours ago

2023/03/23

Priyan

The series-clinching victory propelled Australia to no.1 in the ICC ODI rankings (pic BCCI)

Australia put on a clinical show with the ball on Wednesday (March 22) as they clinched the ODI series decider at the MA Chidambaram stadium by 21 runs that helped them go past India and reach the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings.

Brief Scores:

Australia 269 all out (Mitchell Marsh 47; Hardik Pandya 3-44, Kuldeep Yadav 3-56) beat India 248 all out (Virat Kohli 54, Hardik Pandya 40; Adam Zampa 4-45) by 21 runs

Sports

St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya, Holy Cross earn Division I promotion

Published

21 hours ago

2023/03/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

St. Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya with their officials.

UNDER 19 CRICKET

By Reemus Fernando

St. Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya with a sensational last-ball victory and Holy Cross College, Kalutara with a marathon first innings performance earned their much-awaited Division I promotion as they outdid their opponents in the Under 19 Division II Tier ‘A’ semi-finals worked off at Surrey Village Ground, Maggona and Kirimandala Mawatha, Colombo respectively.

At Surrey Village, Sri Sumangala dominated the first innings and a better part of the second but St. Sebastian’s fought back through their seventh wicket pair to record three wickets victory. Chasing a target of 172 runs to win, the boys from Katuneriya were troubled by spinner Mevindu Kumarasiri who took six wickets. But after being 135 for seven wickets at one stage, the seventh wicket pair of Gayan Harshana (26n.o.) and Vihanga Theekshana fought back scoring less than run-a-ball knocks to secure their passage to Division I.

Sri Sumangala, considered the most consistent team in the Division II tournament were without their key player Vishwa Lahiru who is with Sri Lanka Under 19 team in UAE.

At Kirimandala Mawatha grounds, Holy Cross earned first innings points against Sri Devananda as their tail-enders stretched their first innings almost to the end of the second day, batting for 141 overs. In reply to Sri Devananda’s 138 runs, Holy Cross posted 251 runs.

Holy Cross College, a former Division I school were the champions of the last Division II Tier ‘A’ Limited Overs tournament. They beat Sri Sumangala in the semi-final on their way to that title. Now they will be facing St. Sebastian’s in the Two-Day tournament final. The result of that match will have no bearing on their promotion to the top Division of the Under 19 tournament as the finalists are guaranteed the Division I promotion according to tournament rules. The top teams in the Division II Tier ‘A’ tournament were waiting for nearly three years to get their promotion as promotions and demotions were not done during the last two years due to the pandemic.

Hansaja Brian who also took four wickets, played a crucial role in anchoring the batting lineup with a marathon innings (58 runs in 231 balls) for Holy Cross to overtake their opponents in the first innings. He was ably supported by Nadeera Deshan as they added a vital sixth wicket stand of 60 runs. Later skipper Sasindu Kaushan put on a last wicket stand of 76 runs with Amash Fernando, who contributed with an unbeaten 15 runs in as many as 135 balls. Kaushan scored 78 runs facing 205 balls as the last wicket pair frustrated the boys from Ambalangoda for 48 overs.

Holy Cross College, Kalutara with their officials.

The tenth wicket pair denied an opportunity for the boys from Ambalangoda to make a comeback in the second innings as they extended their innings almost to the close of play on the final day.

Results

St. Sebastian’s beat Sri Sumangala by three wickets at Surrey Village

Scores:

Sri Sumangala

185 all out in 64.3 overs (Kishan Eranga 62, Sachira Demian 43; Chathumal Nimesh 4/45, Tharuka Manaram 5/30) and 135 all out in 48.5 overs (Kavindu Gayathra 25, Vidusha Peiris 21, Imalka Fernando 59; Chathumal Nimesh 5/59, Malindu Daham 2/29, Tharuka Manaram 3/39)

St. Sebastian’s

149 all out in 50.1 overs (Thisara Madushan 43, Ashen Dinuka 38; Mevindu Kumarasiri 3/41, Imalka Fernando 3/13) and 174 for 7 in 39 overs (Hasith Kavinda 27, Nimesh Madusanka 26, Chathumal Nimesh 35, Gayan Harshana 26n.o., Vihanga Theekshana 15n.o.; Mevindu Kumarasiri 6/66)

Holy Cross in first innings win over Sri Devananda at Kirimandala Mawatha

Scores:

Sri Devananda

138 all out in 60.4 overs (Sithum Vihanga 36, Kaveesha Kalpana 31; Pasindu Wimansa 3/38, Hansaja Brayan 4/20, Rashan Kethaka 2/17)

Holy Cross

251 all out in 141.5 overs (Gayantha Nadeesha 40, Hansaja Brian 58, Nadeera Deshan 31, Sasindu Kaushan 78, Amash Fernando 15n.o.; Kaveesha Kalpana 5/50, Ravindu Jeewanka 2/50)