Sports
Nissanka ton knocks Australia out as Sri Lanka script Pallekele heist
Cricket, as they say, is a funny old game. Barely a fortnight after being booed off this very stadium following a humbling 3-0 drubbing by England, Sri Lanka were hoisted on shoulders and hailed as heroes on Monday night as they sent Australia packing from the World Cup with a performance that had nerve, nous and no shortage of swagger.
Kandy, which had turned hostile earlier this month, was suddenly awash with jubilation. Fans burned the midnight oil, firecrackers lit up the hill capital and chants echoed long after the winning run was scored. There is no sweeter music in Sri Lankan cricket than the sound of Australia being knocked out of a tournament.
Australia had come out all guns blazing. At 100 for no loss in eight overs, with the Power Play carnage extending into the middle phase, the former champions looked set to bat Sri Lanka out of the contest. It was leather on willow and Sri Lanka were staring down the barrel.
Then the tide turned.
The spinners applied the handbrake on a surface that offered just enough grip, bowling with discipline and clever changes of pace to drag things back from the brink. The squeeze was relentless. Boundaries dried up, risks multiplied and panic crept in.
At the death, Dushmantha Chameera was ice-cool under pressure. Nailing his yorkers and varying his pace cleverly, he denied Australia the late surge that so often proves decisive. What followed was a collapse of dramatic proportions, six wickets for 21 runs, as Australia were bundled out for 180, a total that looked well below par given their flying start.
“We knew this was a 200 wicket,” Pathum Nissanka told reporters. “When Australia were bowled out for 180, we believed we could chase it down. But we had to be watchful and plan well.”
What followed was a run chase for the ages.
Knockout games against Australia are rarely strolls in the park. More often than not, they are arm-wrestles that go down to the wire. But Sri Lanka got home with two overs to spare, a statement win carved out with composure rather than brute force.
For years, Sri Lanka have bemoaned the absence of a power-hitter in the mould of David Miller, Hardik Pandya or Tim David, men who can clear the ropes at will. Nissanka, however, proved that timing can trump muscle.
His hundred was worth its weight in gold.
Elegant rather than explosive, he peppered the boundary with five sixes of the highest quality, each one greeted by a roar that rolled down from the Pallekele stands. The pick of the lot was a reverse-swept six off the left-arm spinner that had audacity written all over it.
“I loved that reverse-swept six,” Nissanka said. “I knew that area was vacant but you had to execute well. I’m glad it paid off.”
It was the first hundred of this World Cup and a landmark knock for the 27-year-old, who became the first Sri Lankan to score two T20I centuries.
“Scoring a hundred in a World Cup has always been my dream,” he added. “I’m glad I achieved that today.”
If Nissanka was the architect, Kusal Mendis was the steady hand on the tiller. His mature approach at the top ensured Sri Lanka did not lose wickets in clusters, and his game awareness, particularly regarding the dew, proved crucial.
“Kusal batted so well and told me the dew would come in,” Nissanka said. “We had to make sure we didn’t take undue risks. We planned well and are happy to be through to the second round.”
That clarity of thought, so conspicuously absent during the England series, was evident throughout the chase. Sri Lanka rotated strike smartly, picked their moments to attack and refused to be drawn into a slugfest.
The victory ensured Sri Lanka became the first team from Group ‘B’ to seal passage into the second round, where sterner tests await in the form of England, Pakistan and New Zealand.
Rex Clementine at Pallekele
Open batsman Aveesha Samash produced a superb century to power St. Joseph’s College to a commanding first-day total against Prince of Wales College in their Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ semi-final encounter at the D.H.H. Ground, Madampella on Monday.
Samash top scored with a brilliant 122 runs, striking 14 fours and three sixes, as the Josephians piled up an imposing 354 in their first innings.
Asked to take first lease of the wicket, St. Joseph’s suffered an early setback, losing two wickets for just 16 runs. However, Samash steadied the innings with a crucial third wicket partnership alongside Pamoda Dalpadado. The pair added a valuable 173 runs to turn the match in favour of the Josephians.
Batting for more than thirty overs together, Samash played the aggressor’s role while Dalpadado provided steady support, ensuring the Joes rebuilt strongly and maintained control of the contest. Dalpadado contributed a well-compiled 64 before being caught by Rusandu Silva off the bowling of Oshan Maneesha, who emerged as the pick of the Prince of Wales bowlers.
Samash continued his fluent innings to reach a well-deserved century before being dismissed after laying a solid platform for his side.
Following their departures, Chethina Kavinda added a useful 34 while Nushan Perera accelerated the scoring with an entertaining 60 off 68 balls, which included nine boundaries and a six, helping the Josephians reach their formidable total of 354.
For Prince of Wales, Oshan Maneesha led the bowling effort with good support from Nethul Anuhas and Rusandu Silva, who claimed two wickets each.
At stumps on the opening day, the Cambrians safely negotiated one over each from Nushan Perera and Vishwa Peiris without losing a wicket, beginning their reply cautiously.
Scores:
St. Joseph’s 354 all out in 78.3 overs (Aveesha Samash 122, Pamoda Dalpadado 64, Nushan Perera 60, Chethina Kavinda 34; Oshan Maneesha 4/91, Nethul Anuhas 2/83, Rusandu Silva 2/39).
Prince of Wales
3 for no loss in 2 overs. (RF)
Sri Lanka made an impressive start on the opening day of the ITF Asia Under-14 Development Championship finals as five local players recorded victories at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts on Monday.
The tournament, which will run until April 19, features young tennis talent from fourteen Asian nations competing for honours. Teams from Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Nepal, Myanmar, Syria, Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, Thailand and hosts Sri Lanka are taking part in the championship.
Sri Lanka’s girls produced a strong showing in the first round with three convincing victories. Navya Banagala delivered a dominant performance to defeat Leisan Laksova of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-0. Sahansa Damsiluni also impressed as she overcame M. Akramov of Uzbekistan 6-4, 6-2. Dinethma Ekanayake completed the successful outing for the girls with a comfortable 6-0, 6-2 win against Vin Miyo Aye of Myanmar.
In the boys’ competition, Buvindu Jayawardhne fought back strongly after losing the first set to beat Nepal’s Bishwo Dallakot 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. Chirath Subasinghe added another victory for the hosts with a convincing 6-4, 6-0 win over Aung Zay of Myanmar.
With five players progressing after the opening round, Sri Lanka enjoyed a promising start to the championship as the young national hopefuls look to make their mark against some of Asia’s emerging tennis talent.
Arrangements have been made to conduct the 71st National Billiards Championship 2026 sponsored by Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) and conducted by the Billiards & Snooker Association of Sri Lanka.
It is the fourth consecutive year that the sponsors have come forward to bear the cost of the championship.
The organisers envisage that there will be around 100 players taking part from around the country. The Championship will constitute of three segments, namely, district, the all Island and finally the national segment.
The 16 seeded players who played the Nationals last year will play for laurels this year too. In addition, the All Island level matches will comprise the players relegated from the last year Nationals and players who will be selected from the districts at this year’s tournament.
The matches will be played at the billiards parlor of the Association and the final matches will take place at the Automobile Association of Ceylon tables.
Affiliated clubs from the entire country are entitled ti enter for this year’s tournament. Most of the entries are expected from the tri forces players.
The proud record that billiards have established in the country dates back to 1973 where M J M Lafir annexed the World ‘s Billiards Championship played in India.
Sun directly overhead Dehiwala, Maharagama, Pannipitiya, Padukka, Eheliyagoda, Maskeliya, Siyambalanduwa and Pottuvil at about 12:13 noon. today (07th)
will occur at several places in the Northern, North-central, Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva and Southern provinces after 1.00 p.m.
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and Monaragala and Hambantota districts.
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