Sports

Mahela leaves Sri Lanka team with a heavy heart

Published

5 years ago

2021/10/22

Rex Clementine in Sharjah

Former skipper Mahela Jayawardene’s role with the Sri Lankan team as a consultant has worked wonders and everyone from captain, coach to players have praised him immensely. Unfortunately, his stay with the Sri Lankan team will be over today as he had opted to stay only during the qualifiers. In an interview with a few Sri Lankan journalists in UAE, Jayawardene explained that he was leaving due to personal reasons.

“It’s tough. I just counted that I have been 135 days in quarantine and bubbles since June and I am in last legs. But I totally understand and I told them I will be with the group with the technology that we have. I hope that anyone can understand that being a father that I haven’t seen my daughter for that many days. I definitely need to get back home,” Jayawardene explained.

Jayawardene was happy with the way things have gone for Sri Lanka in the qualifying phase. Sri Lanka went through with a game to spare and almost certainly will top the group which means they will avoid the Asian bloc in the second round.

“Things have gone fairly well but there are things that need to be improved going forward. The main thing was role clarity for players and what needs to be done in T-20 cricket. The biggest thing I realized when I spoke to the coaches was fear of failure and playing T20 cricket at this level you need to play without that. Otherwise it’s difficult to get hold of certain situations and put pressure back on the opposition,” he explained.

“We have spoken about this individually. The batting area is something we still need to work quite a bit and continue to do so. The bowling group has a lot of skill sets and creating situation awareness and match-ups to improve the skill set we had. I think so far we have been very good in executing that and hopefully they will be able to do that even though it’s going to be tougher.”

“With the batting group, we still have to work with the guys to help them continue to bat with that freedom and start taking control of certain situations. Those situations we can’t predict. Those will arise like in the last game where we were three down or like the previous game where we had some hiccups and in those situations what needs to be done and have that tempo throughout the innings. Those are situations that we discussed so that the players are aware of those situations so that it won’t be a surprise if they are in that situation.”

The decision to bring Avishka Fernando down to number four took many by surprise and when asked on this, Jayawardene was not willing to spill the beans. “To elaborate that on a media forum means we are putting out things that are detrimental to the player going forward. With Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis out of this T20 group, we needed to create bit more power in the middle which we lacked and having top heavy power wouldn’t have pitted like when you are going into a competition. You need to have that spread of different players coming and doing those things and continuing the tempo. So to break that we need to do something with Avishka.”

“Yes there were certain issues with Avishka as well where at the top he was finding it difficult with certain bowling match-ups. So we wanted to take away that element and give him a different role to play. I also felt that he had the game to do it and obviously when you look at his stats against certain bowler types, we could see his strength. That’s something we’ve analyzed to see whether he can play that role. So when I spoke to him he was very much keen to take that challenge and now we see him expressing himself well in that role. He understands his role but I do not want to go into too many details which means I am giving out certain information which the opposition might be able to utilize as well.”

Another masterstroke during the Ireland game was to send Wanindu Hasaranga at number five after Sri Lanka were three wickets down for just eight runs in the second over.

“In T20 cricket, its small phases that takes the game away from anyone. It can be four balls or five balls. Ireland game is an example. Those six balls that Wanindu played in the Power Play, sixth over against the off-spinner was the one that got us the tempo and put pressure back on Ireland. And we knew that match up was there and Wanindu has that option. They obviously made a mistake by bowling a spinner in the Power Play against him and he took advantage. So it’s that crucial in a T20 game for you to be able to control those situations and be ready for that match-up.”

Fast bowler Lahiru Kumara has been sensational with his extra pace and he was a last minute inclusion. Jayawardene’s request would have made the selectors to include him in the side. “I have always believed that bowlers win tournaments not the batsmen so having a bowling group that is capable of creating those opportunities is important. Sometimes bowlers will go for runs and a having that attacking option is required. I know it’s against qualifying nations still but even with main teams, especially against good batting line-ups the only way to control those batting line-ups is by being able to pickup wickets and having that attacking option so you need to have that fire power.”

“Lahiru has been bowling really well. Having spoken to Vaasy even before the tournament he was quite happy the way Lahiru had progressed. He has to work hard on his skill, especially the yorker. That was something that he was working quite a while with Vaasy. He was very confident in executing that. Chameera has come a long way in the last 12 months. He is probably one of the top bowlers in world cricket at the moment with T20 and been able to adapt to different condition.

Today’s game in Sharjah against Netherlands is a dead rubber but with Sri Lanka set to play a few games in the second round in Sharjah, the game will be a good opportunity to adapt to conditions.

“We’ll change the template and the way we want to play in Sharjah. In the Super 12 group, we have three games in Sharjah, one in Dubai and one in Abu Dhabi so our template and strategy will change according to the surface and how we want to go about. Before I leave, I’ll put all structures in place and give them a better idea because I was involved in a few games in Sharjah two weeks back in the IPL and we saw how in the playoffs the surfaces were playing.”

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Harshitha’s composed knock seals Sri Lanka’s semi-final berth

Published

14 hours ago

2026/09/7

Priyan

Harshitha Samarawickrama took Sri Lanka home with her unbeaten 48 [ACC]

Harshitha Samarawickrema’s splendid 48 not out off 37 balls took Sri Lanka over the line in a low-scoring thriller against Bangladesh. The defending champions secured a semi-final berth with a four-wicket win, and by virtue of topping Group B, will play the side that finishes second in Group A on Friday.

An excellent opening spell of 2 for 17 from Marufa Akter put Bangladesh in firm control of the match after they posted a below-par target of 115, thanks to Chamudi Prabodha’s career-best figures of 3 for 21.

Sri Lanka found themselves behind the required run rate for much of the chase after losing their top order inside the powerplay and slipping to five down by the tenth over. But a resolute Samarawickrama brought Sri Lanka back into the contest by absorbing the pressure throughout the middle overs before landing the final punches to seal the win. This was Sri Lanka’s seventh consecutive win over Bangladesh.

Praboda strangles Bangladesh

This was only the sixth international match the 17-year-old left-arm spinner had played after making her debut against Pakistan in a three-match T20I series last month, and she doubled her tally of wickets on Sunday.

As Bangladesh looked to rebuild after Juairiya Ferdous fell in the fifth over, Praboda struck in her first over, the seventh of the match, to send the dangerous-looking Dilara Akter back to the hut two balls after being hit for a boundary by her. Dilara made a run-a-ball 26 after adjusting to the slow surface. She made her attacking intent known in the third over when she dispatched three consecutive balls from Sri Lanka pacer Chethana Vimukthi for boundaries.

Praboda and the other Sri Lankan spinners bowled with great discipline and used their variations with great guile to put a stranglehold on the Bangladesh batters, who managed just 114 for 8.

With Sobhana Mostary (34 off 41) and Shorna Akter (9 off 14) stretching their steady 41-run stand into the death overs, the Bangladesh dugout must have anticipated a much bigger total than what they eventually managed. Their hopes were bulldozed by Praboda in her last over as she accounted for both batters inside three balls. The left-arm spinner bamboozled Mostary with flight to have her stumped before drawing Dilara into chipping a tossed-up delivery back to her.

An unlucky outing for Athapaththu

Nilakshi Silva and Vimukthi dropped sitters off Chamari Athapaththu’s bowling, with the former putting down Mostary in the 14th over. Athapaththu eventually got a wicket in her last over, but missed out on a second when on-field umpire Humaira Farah turned down a clear caught-behind appeal off the last ball of her spell.

During the chase, her stay at the crease lasted only two balls, as Fahima Khatun took a sharp catch at first slip when she advanced down the pitch to smash Marufa over the top of her head. That shot, on any other day, would have landed in the stands, as is often the case when Athapaththu charges at the bowlers.

Marufa turns a straightforward chase into a contest

Bangladesh needed early wickets to make a contest of what many expected to be a cakewalk for Sri Lanka, with the required rate below a run-a-ball at the start of the chase. Marufa delivered exactly what was needed, accounting for both Sri Lankan openers.

Marufa had Athapaththu caught at first slip off the last ball of the first over before bowling a jaffa in her next over, rattling Imesha Dulani’s stumps with one that ripped through the gate. Her three powerplay overs yielded 2 for 17.

Sri Lanka’s middle order crumbled under pressure as Sanjana Kavindi was bowled by Sultana Khatun off the last ball of the powerplay. They were soon five down for 44 in the tenth over, but a gutsy 38-run stand between Samarawickrama and Nilakshika Silva brought them back into the contest and threatened to take the game away from Bangladesh.

Desperate for a breakthrough, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana returned to her trump card in the 17th over, and Marufa obliged with a perfect over to shift the momentum back in her side’s favour. The seamer bowled Silva and conceded only four runs to finish with career-best T20I figures of 3 for 21. It was the fourth time in her 48-match T20I career that she had taken three wickets in the format.

Samarawickrama finishes the job

Ritu Moni had been immaculate in her first three overs, but Samarawickrama plundered 16 runs off her last over – the most conceded in an over in the match – to swing the game in Sri Lanka’s favour.

A lucky inside edge off the second ball raced to the fine-leg boundary as Moni followed Samarawickrama after she backed away to make room on the off side. The next ball landed straight into the advertising cushion at midwicket as the batter swept the medium pacer for six. She then danced down the wicket to launch Nahida Akter for a towering six down the ground, reducing the equation to two off the final over.

The win came off the second ball of the final over, with the ball trickling past the keeper after brushing her pad.

Scores:
Sri Lanka Women 115 for 6 in 19.2 overs (Imesha Dulani 12, Harshitha Samarawickrama 48*, Nilakshika Silva 18, Kaushini Nuthyangana 11*; Marufa Akter 3-21, Sultana Khatun 1-14, Ritu Moni 1-29) beat Bangladesh Women 114 for 8 in 20 overs (Dilara Akter 26, Juairia Ferdous 14, Solbhana Mostary 34, Fahima Khatun 14; Sugandika Kumari 2-22, Chamari Athapaththu 1-20, Chamudi Praboda 3-21, Kavisha Dilhari 1-17) by four wickets

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Pathum rejoins Sri Lankan team after surgery

Published

15 hours ago

2026/09/7

Thilina Walpola

Prolific top order batter Pathum Nissanka taking part in religious observances before heading off to London on Saturday

by Rex Clementine

Prolific top order batter Pathum Nissanka has rejoined the Sri Lankan squad after three months on the sidelines following wrist surgery.

Nissanka suffered the injury during Sri Lanka’s tour of the West Indies in June and subsequently flew to London for surgery. The setback ruled him out of the LPL, the Test series against India and the start of the domestic season.

He returned to action for NCC in the domestic T20 competition last week, using the outing to prove his fitness and earn a recall to the national side.

Nissanka travelled to London with the Sri Lankan team on Saturday. The tourists will hold several training sessions in the capital before heading to Southampton for the first T20I next week.

While Nissanka has cleared the fitness hurdle, white-ball skipper Kusal Mendis has not been so fortunate. Mendis, who has been nursing a hamstring injury, was withdrawn from the T20 squad along with left-arm seamer Binura Fernando, with both yet to prove their fitness.

Sri Lanka Cricket announced that Charith Asalanka will lead the side in Mendis’ absence, while Pavan Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka have been added to the squad.

There will be plenty of focus on Nissanka during the tour, not least because of the memories he created in England two years ago, when a stunning hundred at The Oval set up one of Sri Lanka’s most memorable overseas Test wins.

Chasing 219 under gloomy, overcast skies, with conditions tailor made for England’s seamers, Nissanka produced an innings of rare quality. Early on, his judgement outside off stump and ability to counter the moving ball drew admiration. Once his eye was in, however, caution gave way to command. Elegant drives flowed before the cuts and pulls came out, underlining that he was anything but a one dimensional player.

Wisden, reflecting on the innings, observed that there was a touch of Roy Dias in Nissanka early on before the Duleep Mendis in him emerged after he had passed fifty. It was an especially fitting comparison given that Roy had coached Nissanka at Sri Lanka Under-19 level.

Nissanka’s unbeaten 127 came from just 124 deliveries and proved instrumental in Sri Lanka securing their first Test victory in England in a decade.

Attention will also be firmly fixed on how Sri Lanka fare in the T20s, a format in which they have struggled in recent months. Their ODI fortunes, however, have been considerably brighter, with victories over Australia and India, two of the world’s leading sides, during the last 24 months.

Sports

Carey, Wadduwa Central clash in U17 Division II semi-final

Published

15 hours ago

2026/09/7

Thilina Walpola

Carey College Colombo will meet Wadduwa Central College in the semi-final of the Under-17 Division II Inter-Schools Limited Overs Cricket Tournament at Ananda Mawatha today.

‎The tournament, conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association, began with 65 teams divided into eight groups. The top four teams from each group advanced to the second round, where the competition switched to a knockout format.

‎Carey College entered the second round as group champions, while Wadduwa Central progressed as runners-up from their group. Carey then defeated St. Aloysius’ College, Ratnapura, St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya (B), and Trinity College, Kandy (B), in successive knockout rounds.

‎Wadduwa Central overcame Zahira College, Colombo, Anuradhapura Central College and S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia (B), to book their place in the last four.

‎Carey College will be led by Akid Ossen, while Anuja Gihan will captain Wadduwa Central in what promises to be a keenly contested semi-final.

Carey College (from):

Akid Ossen (Captain), Tuan Jappar, Omika Sanhiru, Irusha Vidarshana, Dinan Ekanayake, Thenula Ekanayake, Siluna Sandil, Dulina Nanayakkara, Sandila Nanayakkara, Nethum Peiris, Shenal Jayasekara, Oshada Bandara.

Officials:

Shehan Lasantha David (Master in Charge), Preethiraj Walpitagamage (Coach)

Wadduwa Central (from):

Anuja Gimhan (Captain), Dinith Newumal (Vice captain), Sumesh Malka, Imesh Chathuranga, Ishan Priyadarshana,Vikum Sathsara, Lesandu Sanhindu, Nadith Prabodha, Daham Didula, Yasiru Nethsara, Chamesh Mokshan, Praveen Theekshana, Kaveesha Sayuranga, Senuth Hesara, Binara Gimsara.

Officials:

Gayathri De Silva (Teacher in Charge), Dhanushka Ranmuthu (Head Coach)