Sports
Night watchman Nirmal slams double century against Joes
First batsman since Clive Inman to score a double century against Joes
by Reemus Fernando
D. S. Senanayaka College paceman Daham Nirmal who was promoted up in the order to play the night watchman role created a piece of history when he went on to score an unbeaten double century against St. Joseph’s in their Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ tournament match at Darley Road on Friday(16).
Nirmal who generally bats at the number 11 position was asked to play the night watchman role when DSS were two wickets down for 42 runs on day one evening.
Coach Keerthi Gunarathna’s decision to persevere with him on day two proved to be a master stroke as Nirmal sent the home team on a leather hunt in the morning. Nirmal who had not even topped 20 runs before as a batsman went on to post an unbeaten 204 runs.
His knock contained (in 225 balls) 16 fours and 12 sixes.
Incidentally, Nirmal became the first batsman since St. Peter’s bat Clive Inman to score a double century against Joes. Inman scored a double century against Joes in 1954.In reply to Joes 196 runs, DSS posted 353 for 4 wickets declared. In their second essay the Joes were 77 for four wickets at close.
Match Results
DSS earn first innings points
against Joes
Scores:
St. Joseph’s 196 all out in 61.3 overs (Hirun Kapurubandara 29, Hiran Jayasundara 34, Rishma Amarasinghe 55; Akmal Fazly 2/64, Dilash Kumaranayake 2/31, Shanal Binuksha 4/36) and 77 for 4 in 26 overs
DSS 353 for 4 in 76 overs (Gaviru Senhas 29, Malitha Perera 43, Daham Nirmal 204n.o., Chenul Pinsara 63; Lahiru Amarasekara 2/74)
Isipatana beat Mahinda by 131
runs at Galle
Scores:
Isipatana 164 all out in 54.5 overs (Tharushka Ashel 68; Kaveen Rukshan 3/39) and 158 all out in 63.5 overs (Tharushka Ashel 42, Kevin Samuel 40; Kaveen Rukshan 3/49)
Mahinda 136 all out in 43.5 overs (Chanul Dinoth 4/28) and 55 all out in 14.3 overs (Sithuka Gunawardene 5/14, Tharushka Ashel 5/11)
Moratu Vidyalaya beat Dharmapala by an innings and 13 runs at Pannipitiya
Scores:
Moratu MV 176 all out in 61 overs (Vihanga Nimsara 30, Shehara Fernando 35; Chithum Beddage 4/19, Menusha Pabasara 3/69)
Dharmapala 61 all out in 41.4 overs (Isuru Fernando 4/11, Nishitha Fernando 3/17) and 102 all out in 37.3 overs (Nethmina Nirmal 48; Isuru Fernando 4/32)
Sebs post 448 against Petes at Moratuwa
Scores:
St. Peter’s 380 for 9 decl. in 90.2 overs (Dilana Damsara 75, Rusanda Gamage 123; Nadeesh Fernando 3/45)
St. Sebastian’ s 448 all out in 100.2 overs (Koshendra Fernando 126, Tharindu Dilanka 101; Lashmika Perera 5/91)
Lasith Malinga has once more been retained as consultant bowling coach for Sri Lanka’s men’s team, as they prepare for the T20 World Cup they are due to co-host from early February.
Although this is only a 40-day appointment, running from December 15 to January 25, it is essentially a continuation of Malinga’s work with key bowlers in the national set-up. Malinga has worked officially as a fast-bowling consultant at least twice before, but has also worked unofficially with top bowlers over the years, and has been advising the coaching team led by Sanath Jayasuriya, over the past two years.
With round-arm bowlers Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara both in Sri Lanka’s preliminary squad for the T20 World Cup, and likely to make the final 15, Malinga will be especially well-placed to assist.
“Sri Lanka Cricket aims to leverage Malinga’s vast international experience and renowned expertise in death bowling, particularly in the shortest format of the game to strengthen Sri Lanka’s preparations for the upcoming World Cup,” the board release said.
Sri Lanka are set to co-host their first men’s global tournament since 2012, from February 7. Three Sri Lankan venues will be used – Khettarama and SSC in Colombo, and Pallekele.
The T20 World Cup will run from February 7 to March 8. Sri Lanka are in Group B along with Australia, Ireland, Oman and Zimbabwe.
[Cricinfo]
India’s untested lower order played a key role in turning a modest total into a competitive one. Amanjot Kaur added stability, scoring 21 off 18 balls and putting on a 61-run partnership with Harmanpreet for the fifth wicket, helping the innings regain momentum after regular wickets fell.
After her dismissal, Arundhati Reddy – promoted ahead of Sneh Rana – launched a late assault, hitting four fours and a six off 11 balls for an unbeaten 27, guiding India to 175 for 7. The team scored 32 runs in the final two overs.
With Chamari Athapaththu gone in the second over, Perera and Dulhani faced a daunting task. Dulhani, coming in at No. 3 again ahead of Harshitha Samarawickrama, played a confident innings, coming down the track and sweeping as needed, hitting five boundaries inside the powerplay. Perera rotated the strike well, keeping the scoreboard ticking. Aided by the dew, their 79-run second-wicket stand was broken in the 12th over when Amanjot dismissed Dulhani for 50, with her first ball.
Perera carried on, moving from 32 off 23 balls to register her maiden 38-ball fifty in her 89th T20I. Having debuted in 2014 and shuffled around the order, she opened this series for the first time in three years. When the equation came down to 55 off 24 balls, Perera struck a four and a six off Shree Charani before being yorked. Her 42-ball 65 included eight fours and a six.
When Sri Lanka needed 44 off 20 balls, India fought back hard. The visitors lost their key batters at the death, collapsing from 132 for 4 to 140 for 7, eventually falling short and remaining winless in India.
Brief scores:
India Women 175 for 7 in 20 overs (Gunalan Kamalini 12, Harleen Deol 13, Harmanpreet Kaur 68, Amanjot Kaur 21, Arundhati Reddy 27*; Nimasha Meepage 1-25, Kavisha Dilhari 2-11, Rashmika Sewwandi 2-42, Chamari Athapaththu 2-21) beat Sri Lanka Women 160 for 7 in 20 overs (Hasini Perera 65, Imesha Dulani 50, Rashmika Sewwamdi 14*; Deepti Sharma 1-28, Arundhati Reddy 1-16, Sneh Rana 1-31, Vaishnavi Sharma 1-33, Shree Charani 1-31, Amanjot Kaur 1-17 ) by 15 runs
[Cricinfo]
Under 19 Cricket
Manitha Rajapaksha collected a match bag of 11 wickets as Mahinda romped to an innings and 25 runs victory over Lumbini in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket encounter at Galle.
Forced to follow on after being bowled out for 173 runs, the visitors managed to last only 33 overs as bowlers used the home advantage to good effect.
In a similar performance, Sri Sumangala reduced Isipatana to just 69 runs in the second innings to record an innings and 96 runs win in the Tier ‘B’ match at Panadura. While Mevindu Kumarasiri excelled once again to claim a match bag of 11 wickets, overnight batsmen Sandeep Wijerathna and Neksha Iddamalgoda went on to score centuries for Sri Sumangala to boost the score to 301 for eight wickets declared.
Meanwhile at DSS ground the home team scored a first innings win over Nalanda.
Match Results
Mahinda in innings win at Galle
Scores
Mahinda 284 all out in 72.2 overs
(Dulsith Darshana 63, Randula Mabarana 28, Manitha Rajapaksha 23, Kaveesha Githmal 43, Kavindu Nimsara 66; Yashod Kavindu 5/100, Dinal Sewmina 2/32)
Lumbini 76 for 4 overnight 173 all out in 53.4 overs
(Kisandu Dulneth 33, Yashod Kavindu 26, Jayanitha Mendis 41, Pasindu Mahisha 38; Manitha Rajapaksha 6/64, Sadev Nethmina 2/27) and 86 all out in 32.4 overs (Nikil Abilash 33; Manitha Rajapaksha 5/25, Gesandu Bisas 2/12, Arosha Udayanga 2/15)
Sri Sumangala in innings win at Panadura
Scores
Isipatana 136 all out in 47.2 overs (Yuveen Keshan 21, Dasith Senal 31; Mevindu Kumarasiri 6/54) and 69 all out in 25.2 overs (Janith Selaka 25; Mevindu Kumarasiri 5/32, Methum Fernando 4/23)
Sri Sumangala 158 for 2 overnight 301 for 8 decl. in 79.4 overs (Sandeep Wijerathna 100, Neksha Iddamalgoda 110, Mevindu Kumarasiri 34; Dasith Senal 2/86, Dimuthu Tharuka 2/34)
First innings win for DSS at DSS ground
Scores
DSS 365 all out in 79 overs (Savain Kalansooriya 54, Bihan Gamage 102, Janindu Ranasinghe 50, Shevan Welgama 73; Osanda Pamuditha 2/69, Dunitha Anusara 4/66, Sahas Godage 3/76) and 144 for 3 in 35.2 overs (Miyuru Bandara 41, Savain Kalansooriya 57, Shanaal Binuksha 34)
Nalanda 28 for 1 overnight 197 all out in 66.1 overs (Nemindu Akmeemana 40, Ranmith Dinuwara 42; Shanaal Binuksha 6/61, Randisha Bandaranayake 2/40)
by Reemus Fernando
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