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Moratuwa and Colombo Universities win titles

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University of Moratuwa won the men’s chess title.

Inter University Online Chess Championships 2021

University of Moratuwa and University of Colombo won the men’s and women’s titles of the Inaugural Inter University Online Chess Championships concluded on Sunday.

University of Moratuwa scored full 12 points to win the Men’s Chess Championship convincingly. They beat Universities of Wayamba (6 – 0), University of SL (5 1/2 – 1/2), University of Peradeniya (4 – 2), University of Colombo (4 ½ – 1 ½), Sabaragamuwa University (3 ½ – 2 ½) and Uva Wellassa University (6-0) to accomplish the target. Kaveen Ishara and Chathulanka Gamage scored full six points while HMAK Herath and Rahul Jeyanthan scored 5 ½ out of six for University of Moratuwa.

University of Colombo (Women) also had a great event as they won 10 points out of 12.

University of Colombo were the winners of the women’s championship

Though University of Ruhuna led the points table till the fourth round their loss against Sabaragamuwa University affected them badly. University of Colombo women’s team beat University of Jaffna (6 -0), Sabaragamuwa University (4-2), University of Moratuwa (4-2), University of Kelaniya (3 ½ – 2 ½ ) and University of Sri Jayawardenapura (4 ½ – 1 ½) and lost to University of Ruhuna (2 -4) to win the Championship on better tie breaker. University of Ruhuna beat Uva Wellassa University (5 -1), University of Peradeniya (4-2), University of Colombo (4-2), Eastern University (4 – 2) and Rajarata University (5 – 1) and lost to Sabaragamuwa University in the penultimate round (1-5) which ruined their chances.

University of Peradeniya beat Eastern University (6-0), University of Jaffna (5-1), University of Kelaniya (5-1), University of Colombo (4 – 2) and University of Sri Jayawardenapura (4 -2) and lost to University of Moratuwa (4 -2).

University of Sri Jayawardenapura were placed third in the Men’s Championship while Sabaragamuwa University were placed third in the Women’s Championship.

The Sri Lanka Universities Sports Association (SLUSA) was unable to organize sports events for university students due to the pandemic and they decided to conduct three possible sports events namely, Chess, Taekwondo and Karate to fill the absence. University of Moratuwa organized the chess event on behalf of the Sri Lanka Universities Sports Association with the support of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka.

The Inter University Online Chess Championships was held on the Tornelo Platform according to the Swiss System in six rounds.. The event was held with a participation of 28 teams (Boys 14 and Girls 14) from 14 Universities namely, Universities of Colombo, Peradeniya, Sri Jayawardenapura, Kelaniya, Moratuwa, Ruhuna, Jaffna, Eastern, Sabaragamuwa, Rajarata, Wayamba, Vishual and Performing Arts, Uva Wellassa and one of the newest Universities Vavunia University.



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Asalanka’s masterclass: A Test captain in the making

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Charith Asalanka

by Rex Clementine

When the ICC announced the ODI Team of the Year for 2024 last month, there was a pleasant surprise – Charith Asalanka was chosen as captain, ahead of battle-hardened leaders like Pat Cummins, Rohit Sharma and Jos Buttler, who had all won the World Cup for their respective countries. The selection panel, a mix of former players and journalists, must have seen something extraordinary in him to hand him the reins. And on Wednesday, under the floodlights of RPS, he showed us why, leading Sri Lanka to a morale-boosting win over Australia after the bruising Test series.

A poya day, a Sri Lankan win, and the Aussies struggling against spin – what more could fans ask for? While the stands weren’t bursting at the seams, thousands were glued to their TV screens, watching Sri Lanka turn the tide and reminding the Aussies that, despite their cricketing pedigree, playing spin in our backyard is still a bridge too far for them. There’s no better feeling in sports than to beat the Aussies.

Defending 215 was always going to be a tough ask. By Asalanka’s own admission, he had hoped for at least 270, but he adapted brilliantly, handling the game like a seasoned pro. His dismissal of the ever-dangerous Alex Carey was a captain’s dream. Carey, a prolific sweeper, was lured into a false sense of security as Asalanka cleverly took the pace off the ball, making the shot riskier. The inevitable happened—Carey mistimed one and Sri Lanka were back in business.

But Asalanka’s leadership wasn’t just about his own performance; it was about reading the game and making bold calls. Wanindu Hasaranga, the team’s premier bowler, wasn’t quite landing them where the team needed. Many captains would have hesitated to pull their trump card out of the attack, but Asalanka? He didn’t blink. He quickly switched to another spin option, showing that he isn’t afraid to make the tough calls – even if it means telling his best bowler to get lost.

What truly sets Asalanka apart is his man-management. He’s tactically sharp, but more importantly, he understands his players. That’s where Dhananjaya de Silva faltered in the Test series – waiting for things to happen rather than making them happen. Cricket, much like life, favours the brave, and Asalanka seems to know that instinctively.

If Sri Lanka hands him the full-time captaincy across formats, it could be the start of something special. Just look at what he did for SSC last week. The country’s premier cricket club is staring at relegation, a fate unthinkable in years gone by. For all of MJ’s tactical brilliance during his playing days, his tenures post-retirement – whether with the national team or SSC – have been, to put it mildly, disastrous.

But Asalanka wasn’t about to let SSC go down without a fight. In their last First-Class game, he scored a century and then, with his part-time off-spin, picked up a staggering ten-wicket match haul – sending down more than 50 overs in the process! This isn’t Muralitharan we’re talking about. This is a batter who bowls a bit of off-spin, yet he put his body on the line for his club. If he brings that same passion to the national team, Sri Lanka could be in for a revival.

And let’s talk about his batting on Wednesday – it was unreal. After yet another batting collapse, Sri Lanka looked down and out, but Asalanka orchestrated a rescue act that was a joy to watch. The way he farmed the strike with Eshan Malinga at the other end, ensuring the innings went deep, was pure cricketing intelligence. Then came the calculated risks – targeting the right bowlers at the right moments. He couldn’t have executed it better.

The mood in Sri Lanka after the Test series drubbing was gloomy, but Asalanka has given fans a reason to believe again. If he leads Sri Lanka to a series win, the selectors should waste no time in handing him the captaincy across all formats heading into the next World Test Championship cycle.

Sri Lanka need a leader who can take the game by the scruff of the neck, someone who doesn’t just react to the opposition but forces them to react to him. Charith Asalanka might just be that man.

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Ushen, Malintha battle as Sebs take first innings lead

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by Reemus Fernando

St. Sebastian’s took first innings lead against St. Joseph’s as their highest run scorer of the season Ushen Silva with a century and Malintha Silva with 99 runs helped the team from Moratuwa reach 342 runs on day two of the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket tournament semi-final at Samadi Ground Anuradhapura on Thursday.

In reply to Joes 270 runs, the Sebs were 138 for eight wickets at one stage but two fighting partnerships for the ninth and tenth wickets ensured the Sebs take the first innings lead.

Ushen and Malintha put on a ninth wicket stand of 161 runs before the latter was run out on 99 runs.

Ushen batted almost the whole day for his 106 which included nine fours and five sixes. His tenth wicket stand with Risinu Prabesh was worth 43 runs. Malintha’s knock contained eight fours and four sixes.

As of now St. Sebastian’s are the closest to booking the final berth from this semi-final. Now only an outright victory can earn St. Joseph’s the place in the final. Today is the final day.

Scores

St. Joseph’s

270 all out in 84.3 overs (Rishma Amarasinghe 31, Yenula Dewthusa 74, Maanasa Madubashana 116, Adesh Almeida 6/47, Risinu Prabesh 2/39)

St. Sebastian’s

4 for no loss overnight 342 all out in 91.2 overs (Kaveesha Perera 58, Ushen Silva 106, Navod Fernando 49, Malintha Silva 99; Yenula Dewthusa 3/96, Demion de Silva 5/127)

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Zimbabwe, Ireland look to enhance their ODI cred as road to 2027 World Cup begins

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Ireland will have a settled top six, with Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie up the order [Cricinfo]

Zimbabwe and Ireland are set to play three ODIs starting on February 14. The series is not wrapped in a larger context but is working towards the 2027 ODI World Cup – a converging goal for both teams. ESPNcricinfo looks ahead to what the teams can do to align themselves towards their goals in Harare.

Zimbabwe’s summer of 2024-25 is galloping towards its finish, and while they were able to snatch an ODI win each against Afghanistan and Pakistan, they are yet to win a series. In fact, they are yet to win a series across formats. They have three ODIs and three T20Is to change that before heading to England for a Test in three months.

Ireland came out of the cold to seal a hat-trick of Test wins, and they now have the opportunity to whet their appetite in white-ball cricket before their home summer, which also starts in three months.

Both teams did not qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup, so they were not in contention to make the upcoming Champions Trophy. But they do have a carrot to run towards.

Zimbabwe will co-host the 2027 ODI World Cup along with South Africa. Ireland, who were unable to qualify for the last two editions despite ODIs being the format that helped them break into the international stage, have a chance to make a comeback.

On the flipside, the absence of high stakes can free the teams to test out tactics and players if they wish to do so.

The first ever ODI between these two teams, which took place in the 2007 World Cup, ended in a tie, and since then, Ireland have won ten of the 21 ODIs that have been played. The extent of their dominance is magnified in their last ten completed games, out of which they have won eight.  They have won five of the 11 games in Harare, but are coming in with a streak of three wins at the venue.

Zimbabwe will be boosted by the return of Craig Ervine, who missed the Test due to a family emergency, and Sikandar Raza, who was with Dubai Capitals – the winners of the third edition of the ILT20. Their top-seven batters, who have averaged 16.69 since the start of 2024, will need to step up for the team to go through an upward trajectory.

In that period, Ireland have played five ODIs, compared to Zimbabwe’s nine. So, time in the middle will be significant in and of itself. They have a settled top-six, with captain Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie at the top, and a seasoned bowling line-up, led by Craig Young and Mark Adair.

Only three ODIs have been played in Harare in the past 12 months. But in the 19 games it has hosted in the last two – including the ODI World Cup Qualifiers in 2023 – the pacers have picked up 144 wickets at an average of 30.38 and economy of 5.37, while the spinners have taken 94 wickets at an average of 36.08 and an economy of 5.10 . However, those numbers could be a result of the fact that all 19 games have been played during the day, where the new ball assisted bowlers in the powerplay before conditions eased out in the middle overs.

So, top-order runs and early wickets in the first innings are likely to carry a premium, as will good defensive spin bowling in the middle overs.

[Cricinfo]

 

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