Sports
Medhani qualifies for World Junior Championships

Country’s women’s 4×100 metres relay team (from left). Safia Yamic (ran in the heats), Medhani Jayamanne, Lakshika Sughandi, Amasha de Silva and Shelinda Jansen.
by Reemus Fernando
Lumbini College sprinter Medhani Jayamanne once got an earful from her famous aunt Susanthika Jayasinghe for mentioning her name during a media interview. From then on her coach Umanga Surendra has taken extra care. Whenever a journalist speaks to her, Umanga would request them to be careful in mentioning the Olympian’s name. Yesterday Jayamanne qualified for the World Junior Athletics Championship with a stunning 24.08 seconds feat in the women’s 200 metres final at the 60th Interstate Athletics Championship in Patiala India. “Now anyone would be proud of her performance,” Umanga told The Island after her triumph.
Just more than an hour after anchoring country’s women’s 4×100 metres team to silver Jayamanne breasted the finish line of the 200 metres in a time of 24.08 seconds to win silver and also to achieve qualifying standards for the World event in Kenya. According to Sri Lanka Athletics statistician Saman Kumara, it is the fourth fastest time by a Sri Lankan junior athlete in history. She overtook Rumeshika Ratnayake to take the fourth place in a list dominated by Jayasinghe, Damayanthi Dharsha and present sprinter Shelinda Jansen with whom she shared the relay silver yesterday.
While Shelinda clocked 24.07 seconds at the Youth Olympics, Rumeshika’s fastest time as a junior was 24.09 seconds. Rumeshika was the only absentee among country’s future female sprinters who produced a good performance in the 4×100 metres relay yesterday.
Sri Lanka conceded the women’s 4×100 metres gold medal to India in the home straight but there was lot to take heart from the spirited performance as the team returned a time of 44.55 seconds, the fastest feat in nearly two decades on the final day of the 60th Interstate Athletics Championship where the country’s team was competing on India’s invitation.
India anchored by Dutee Chand took the advantage of a poor baton change in the last exchange zone by Sri Lankans to win the gold. India clocked 44.15 seconds. Sri Lankans finished in a time of 44.55 seconds as teenager Jayamanne failed to regain the lost ground. Sri Lanka were given a promising start by Lakshika Sughandi and national champion in the 100 metres Amasha de Silva and Shelinda Jansen sprinted fast enough for Sri Lanka to enter the home stretch as leaders. But inexperienced Jayamanne conceded the lead as she turned back to collect the baton. But she soon overcame the gloom as she bettered the target qualifying time (24.35 secs) in the 200 metres.
Sports
Dominant Delhi Capitals dethrone Mumbai Indians from top spot

Mumbai Indians were given a rude awakening by a dominant Delhi Capitals as the top of the table clash turned out to be a one-sided affair on Monday (March 20). MI, who won five in a row to stay at the top, were dethroned as a result by a resurgent DC who have now edged closer to fetch a place in the final.
Brief scores:
Mumbai Indians Women 109/8 in 20 overs (Pooja Vastrakar 26; Marizanne Kapp 2/13, Shikha Pandey 2/21) lost to Delhi Capitals Women 110/1 in 9 overs (Alice Capsey 38*, Shafali Verma 33, Meg Lanning 32*) by 9 wickets.
Sports
Harris, McGrath power UP Warriorz into playoffs

Half-centuries from Grace Harris and Tahlia McGrath powered UP Warriorz into the playoffs as they secured a three-wicket victory in a high-scoring thriller against Gujarat Giants at the Brabourne Stadium on Monday (March 20). UPW went past GG’s total off 178 off the penultimate ball, thus knocking out the Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the process.
Brief scores:
Gujarat Giants 178/6 in 20 overs (Ash Gardner 60, Dayalan Hemalatha 57; Parshavi Chopra 2-29) lost to UP Warriorz 181/7 in 19.5 overs (Grace Harris 72, Tahlia McGrath 57; Kim Garth 2-29) by 3 wickets.
Sports
New Zealand seal 2-0 whitewash despite Sri Lanka’s resistance

Despite a strong resistance by Sri Lanka’s lower order, three wickets apiece by Tim Southee and Blair Tickner helped bundle out the visitors for 358 to help New Zealand clinch the second Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington by an innings and 58 runs, on Monday. With the win, the hosts also sealed the two-match Test series 2-0.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 164 (Dimuth Karunaratne 89; Matt Henry 3-44, Michael Bracewell 3-50) & 358 (Dhananjaya de Silva 98, Dinesh Chandimal 62; Tim Southee 3-51, Blair Tickner 3-84) lost to New Zealand 580/4 decl. (Kane Williamson 215, Henry Nicholls 200*; Kasun Rajitha 2-126) by an innings and 58 runs
-
Sports6 days ago
Dickwella – a monster the selectors created
-
News7 days ago
LG polls: Cardinal asks Prez to abide by SC order
-
Opinion7 days ago
Tear gas: More than Tears
-
Editorial7 days ago
Canker of clientelism
-
News7 days ago
Funds not released despite SC order Govt. intensifies campaign against LG polls
-
Features4 days ago
Earth’s Greatest Rivalry
-
Breaking News5 days ago
Credit Suisse slump renews fears of global banking crisis
-
News7 days ago
Sri Lanka adopting new economic model: CBSL Chief