Sports
MAS joins Sri LankaAthletics as official clothing partner
Sri Lanka Athletics has an official clothing partner for the first time after Bodyline (Pvt.) Ltd, a subsidiary of MAS Holdings pledged its support to provide kits for national athletes until the Paris Olympics, at a function held in Colombo on Thursday. Speaking at the function Major Gen. Palitha Fernando, the President of Sri Lanka Athletics marked it as a historic moment for the sport which celebrates its centenary this year.
“Through this partnership, MAS will provide Sri Lankan athletes with kits designed using the latest in apparel technology, to support their training and performance at international events leading up to the Paris Olympics in 2024. A contingent of 20 athletes who toured India in June this year was the first group to receive game day and training kits designed by MAS,”
a statement from the sponsor said. Dinesh de Silva, Chief Executive Officer of Bodyline, officially handed over the athletic kits designed by MAS to the President of the SLA and future prospect Medhani Jayamanne, who was one of the first athletes to get MAS’ support. Former national champion Umanga Surendra who trains Jayamanne had negotiated with MAS on behalf of SLA after his trainee became a beneficiary of MAS’ support for clothing.
Despite not winning international medals, the premier Olympic sport has things to celebrate in the centenary year with one of its athletes reaching phenomenal highs to be rated among the top athletes in the world. Sprinter Yupun Abeykoon who became the first South Asian to produce a sub 10 seconds feat in the 100 metres dash recently is among the top sprinters in Asia and will carry the country’s hopes at several future international events including the ongoing Commonwealth Games.
Sri Lanka Athletics is set to send athletes for a number of junior and senior events during the next two years where they will be clad in kits provided by MAS. The agreement between SLA and MAS was signed by the President of Sri Lanka Athletics, Palitha Fernando, and Dinesh de Silva, Chief Executive Officer of Bodyline Trading (Pvt) Ltd respectively.
On most days Sri Lanka would enter Thursday’s clash in Kandy against Oman as heavy favourites. They’ve beaten Oman in their solitary meeting – an ODI in 2023 – and are generally formidable in home conditions. But the psychological and tactical knock-on effects of Wanidu Hasaranga being ruled out of the tournament provide an intriguing backdrop.
The star legspinner is a renowned bully of Associates and those lower down the T20 rungs, as highlighted by his match-turning 3 for 25 against Ireland, whose batters found him too much to handle even on one leg. His absence therefore leaves a massive hole in Sri Lanka’s middle-overs containment plan – one Oman will no doubt be looking to exploit – while his power-hitting will also be missed.
His replacement, legspinning allrounder Dushan Hemantha, is like-for-like cover on paper, but the only area in which Hemantha has regularly excelled in in his handful of international white-ball outings has been in the field. The pressure will squarely shift to Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage to spearhead the spin attack, with neither being as proficient a wicket-taker as Hasaranga.
Sri Lanka’s bowling had been their trump card coming into this tournament, but Hasaranga’s injury following that of Eshan Malinga’s days prior to the tournament have exposed yet another chink in their armour.
Sri Lanka’s batting concerns have also been exacerbated by Hasaranga’s absence. The middle order has struggled for consistency, particularly against spin – a challenge they’re likely to face in abundance against a spin-centric Omani attack – and now one of their better spin hitters is out.
Runs up the order from Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis have been crucial to Sri Lanka’s recent successes, while a revelatory knock from Kamindu Mendis against Ireland has offered hope lower down. But you sense the key to an unlikely upset will be whether Oman can access Sri Lanka’s soft middle cheaply – do that and it’s anybody’s game.
For Oman, this is a quintessential do-or-die fixture. Currently at the bottom of Group B after a loss to Zimbabwe, they must secure a victory to keep their Super Eight hopes alive. They can draw confidence from their warm-up victory over a Sri Lanka A side earlier this month, where Aamir Kaleem’s blistering 80 and Vinayak Shukla’s finishing proved they can compete with the islanders’ second string. They will also need to find a way to contend with the express pair of Dushmantha Chameera and Matheesha Pathirana, having lost nine wickets to Zimbabwe’s seamers in their opener.
Kamindu Mendis wasn’t even supposed to be here. But Sri Lanka are grateful that he is. Picked, dropped, and picked again, Kamindu has never been sure of a place in Sri Lanka’s XI, but a Player-of-the-Match 44 off 19 against Ireland has removed the doubts. Sri Lanka had been crying out for his ability to bat anywhere in the middle order and provide impetus through the middle overs – particularly against spin.
Sri Lanka’s batters struggled to get away Ireland’s modest spin offering at the Khettarama. The pitch in Pallekele might not be as helpful, but recent history has shown that spinners will still play a role. As such, Sri Lanka will need to be particularly wary of Shakeel Ahmed‘s accuracy. He picked up 2 for 24 against the Sri Lanka A side, and if the Pallekele pitch offers any turn, he is the most likely candidate to exploit the co-hosts’ historical struggles against disciplined left-arm spin.
Hasaranga’s injury will test Sri Lanka’s resolve in whether they stick to a 6-5 combination. Hemantha could slot in for Hasaranga, or Sri Lanka might opt for an extra batter.
Sri Lanka (probable): Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana.
Oman have no injury concerns and are likely to name an unchanged XI.
Oman (probable): Jatinder Singh (capt), Aamir Kaleem, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale, Jiten Ramanandi, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Sufyan Mehmood, Nadeem Khan, Shah Faisal, Shakeel Ahmed.
[Cricinfo]
Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign has hit another pothole on a road already full of bumps after champion leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was ruled out of the tournament with a torn hamstring. The injury, sustained during Sunday’s opener against Ireland, leaves the former champions nursing a second casualty following young quick Eshan Malinga’s shoulder setback earlier this month. Fellow leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha has been drafted in as replacement.
Hasaranga, no stranger to the physio’s table, saw his troublesome left hamstring giving him worries after just one over on Sunday. He limped off, returned to soldier on, but the pain proved too sharp to grin and bear. Doctors expect a six-week lay off, a cruel blow for a side that leans heavily on his box of tricks. Hasaranga remains the only Sri Lankan bowler inside the ICC’s top-ten rankings for bowlers and his absence robs the attack bite.
Hemantha brings a handy bit of willow to the table, having featured in five ODIs and three T20Is, yet what Sri Lanka will truly miss is Hasaranga’s street-smart experience and big moment nerve.
While Colombo has been a hive of activity, the team have slipped into Kandy to fine tune their plans for today’s clash with Oman at Pallekele, followed by Monday’s heavyweight bout against Australia. The win over Ireland wasn’t all that convincing with middle over wobbles, playing spin and boundary drought concerning the team.
Questions swirl over team balance after Charith Asalanka was benched for the opener with pundits wondering whether he and Kamindu Mendis can be squeezed into the same XI. Kusal Perera, another man capable of clearing the ropes at will, has been reduced to water boy duties despite his late call up, adding to the selection conundrum.
Critics have also taken aim at Sri Lanka’s habit of fielding Test style batters in a format that demands dash and daring rather than dead bat defence.
On paper, Sri Lanka should have enough in the tank to see off Oman and even Zimbabwe, but Australia will be a different kettle of fish for a batting line-up short on swagger. Two wins from the remaining three games is the equation, anything less and the campaign could go belly up.
It will be an early 11am start at Pallekele today.
by Rex Clementine
Under 19 Cricket
Damesh Mathishan hogged the limelight with a knock of 144 (139-ball) runs as his innings and a half century by Nethan Fernando (71) helped Isipatana post 325 for eight wickets declared (65.2 overs) against St. Joseph Vaz’s Wennappuwa (134/3) in the Under 19 Division I Tier B match at Colts ground on Wednesday.
In the matches concluded on Wednesday,
St. Anne’s College Kurunegala (411/7) enjoyed the result most as they registered an innings and 97 runs win over St. Anthony’s Wattala (171 and 143). Manuja Wijerathna bagged six wickets in the Tier ‘B’ encounter at Kurunegala.
A five-wicket haul by Bihanga Silva was the highlight as Sri Sumangala, Panadura (245 & 17/2) forced Wesley (132 & 222/6dl.) to follow on in another Tier B match at Bandaragama. Wesley were better in the second innings but Sri Sumangala had first innings points in their bag.
Nethuja Basitha (5/59) and Minaga Ariyadasa shared nine wickets between them for Richmond (283 & 150/3) to record a first innings win over St. Anthony’s Katugastota (216) in the Tier ‘A’ match at Ambepussa. Ariyadasa then followed up his four wicket haul with a half century.
In a Tier ‘A’ match which started on Wednesday, Venura Kaveethra led the way with a four wicket haul for Mahanama to bowl out S. Thomas’ for 203 runs at Mount Lavinia. Mahanama were 69 for one wicket at stumps. (RF)
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