Sports

Pace dominates spin in Sri Lankan attack

Published

3 years ago

2023/06/18

When Dushmantha Chameera is fit, he wins Sri Lanka lots of games. He was Player of the Series in the recent Afghanistan ODIs.

by Rex Clementine

When Singer boss Hemaka Amarasuriya headed the cricket board some 20 years ago, one of his keen interests was to build up a cricket academy at RPS like the one in Brisbane, Australia. The Queensland Academy was producing top notch cricketers at a rate and Amarasuriya had ambitious plans.

A keen sports enthusiast who loved both rugby and cricket, Amarasuriya wasn’t just interested in producing fine cricketers, but giving a professional outlook on them as well. The academy that he introduced taught players essentials of life such as managing finances, cricket history, etiquette and English among many other things.

Sadly, once Amarasuriya left office, the academy stationed at RPS ceased to exist. His visionary thinking should have been carried forward.

Along with the academy came the program called Pace Ace, a unit headed by Rumesh Ratnayake and supported by Champaka Ramanayake. Those days Sri Lanka were solely depending on Chaminda Vaas and the need to have more fast-bowling resources was felt.

Not only did the two coaches work with the next crop of quicks, but they also went headhunting for promising talents and were able to spot the likes of Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara, just to name a few.

Similarly, you see several young fast bowlers coming up in recent years and it seems that Sri Lanka’s fast bowling strengths are better than spin options. Usually, it is the other way around. You have got to give credit to SLC’s District and Provincial coaches who have done an excellent job over the years in grooming rare talents.

Hambantota district where just a handful of schools play the game of cricket has produced the cream of the nation’s fast bowlers in recent years. There is Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka and Pramod Madushan. Of course, there is also workhorse Suranga Lakmal, whose journey from Debarawewa to Derbyshire has been quite sensational.

The only captain to have won a Test match in Barbados, the fortress of West Indies cricket, is not Imran Khan, not Kapil Dev, not Arjuna Ranatunga but Lakmal.

It is the return of Dushmantha Chameera lead up to the World Cup Qualifiers that has enabled Sri Lanka to breathe easy. The quickest man in Sri Lankan colours is going to knock over the associate nations. He returned to international cricket this month after a seven-month layoff due to surgery and was quite a handful troubling the Afghans with his pace and not too often a Sri Lankan quick ends up as Player of the Series at home.

There maybe not much cricket left in Chameera as he has been constantly injured and rarely fulfilled his promise. The team management has carefully looked after his workload but even then he struggled with fitness and Sri Lanka will be hoping that he won’t break down this year which is very crucial with the Asia Cup and World Cup coming up.

Lahiru Kumara is capable of challenging Chameera when it comes to pace. Kumara at times struggles with his control whereas Chameera is on the money and tempts batters to take risks with his tight bowling.

The most improved bowler of them all is Kasun Rajitha, who has taken over Lakmal’s role since the tall quick retired last year. It is Rajitha’s discipline and his ability to move the ball that has proved to be handy and often he provides a breakthrough earlier on.

All the talk is about left-arm quick Dilshan Madushanka, who became the highest paid player in LPL with teams bidding for his services fiercely. He will take home a cool US$ 92,000 for just two week’s work. But the left-arm seamer who doesn’t get much attention is Binura Fernando. Standing at six feet and six inches, the former D.S. Senanayake College cricketer generates a steep bounce thanks to his height.

Matheesha Pathirana provides raw pace and his slingy action has not only earned him the nickname ‘podi Malinga’ but also has given Chennai Super Kings a quality death bowling option as they went onto win the IPL this season. The former Trinity player is yet to convert his success in franchise cricket into international cricket and questions remain whether he will be effective in the 50 over format.

The fact is Pathirana is just 20 and he will learn as he goes along and will win Sri Lanka lots of games in years to come.

Gradually, Sri Lanka’s attack has become pace oriented than spin. Wonder whether the curators should prepare pitches accordingly for home games. Not many pacemen barring Vaas and Malinga have had a major impact for Sri Lanka for a long period of time. You just get the feeling that all that is set to change.

All News Advertisement

Up Next

Royal win annual tennis encounter against S. Thomas’

Don't Miss

Sri Lanka to host Afghanistan next month

Click to comment

Latest News

Ronaldo apologizes for Portugal walkout; says Jesus broke promise

Published

9 hours ago

2026/10/7

Priyan

Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal's leading scorer (Aljazeera)

Cristiano Ronaldo has accused Portugal ‌coach Jorge Jesus of twice breaking his word, saying a failed agreement to publicly ⁠explain his omission ⁠against Norway drove him out of the camp, but insisting he remained available after any punishment.

In a lengthy statement, the 41-year-old gave his account of the dispute ⁠that prompted his departure from Copenhagen before Portugal’s Nations League match versus Denmark last week.

Ronaldo said Jesus had agreed a plan under which the forward would miss the Norway and Denmark ⁠matches to manage his fitness. However, on the day of the Norway game, the coach told him he would play for 30 minutes.

“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from halftime onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said.

“The manager had broken his word to me.”

Portugal’s ‌captain and all-time leading scorer said a subsequent meeting with Jesus, attended by his club side Al Nassr’s sporting director Simao Coutinho, produced an agreement for the coach to clarify events at his next news conference.

According to Ronaldo, an eight-point document was prepared saying he had never demanded playing time, had respected Jesus’s decisions and that the coach asking him to warm up without bringing him on had been a mistake.

Ronaldo said the agreed notes did ⁠not require Jesus to apologise to him but said the coach’s ⁠public remarks bore no resemblance to their private discussion.

“It was the second time he had broken his word to me,” Ronaldo said. “I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.”

The statement provided Ronaldo’s account⁠, but on Sunday, after Portugal’s win over Norway, Jesus denied he had made any agreement with the player, nevertheless leaving the door open ⁠for his return.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) did not immediately respond ⁠to a request for comment about Ronaldo’s statement.

Ronaldo apologised for failing to greet supporters after the Norway match and for leaving his teammates, accepting that his captaincy made his conduct more serious.

“The consequences of my actions must be assessed ‌and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation,” he said.

Despite the rupture, Ronaldo said he was not limiting his international ambitions to a farewell appearance.

“If I’m physically fit, playing for my club – scoring ‌goals, ‌I hope – after serving whatever suspension is imposed on me, I’ll be available, as I’ve always been until now, to compete and win for our national team,” he added.

(Aljazeera)

Sports

Nalanda on the cusp of reaching knockout stage as unbeaten run continues

Published

10 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rusandu Silva has nine wickets against his name after three matches.

by Reemus Fernando

Nalanda College, Colombo continued their unbeaten run to come closer to securing a berth in the knockout stage as they beat Gurukula College by nine wickets in the Under 19 Division I Tier A Limited Overs Tournament match played at Campbell Place on Tuesday.

‎With Rusandu Silva continuing his impressive run in the tournament, Nalanda did well to restrict the team from Kelaniya to just 113 runs (in 35.4 overs).

‎After two outings Rusandu had six wickets against his name coming to this match.‎Rusandu and Methuka Perera claimed three wickets each. ‎Lithum Wijekumara also impressed with two wickets, while Santhul Wijeyarathne took one.

‎Adeepa Pinsara was the only batsman to make a contribution of note as he top-scored with 35 off 49 balls, including four fours and two sixes, while Javindu Madusanka made 20.

‎In their chase Nalanda made light work of the modest target, reaching 114 for one, scoring at a rate of over a run a ball.

‎Nadul Jayalath cracked an unbeaten 62 from just 52 balls. His innings contained four fours and five sixes. He received valuable support from Lithum Wijekumara, who scored 35 off 42 deliveries with six boundaries.

‎Ranmith Senarath completed the successful chase with an unbeaten 10 off seven balls, including two fours.

‎Nalanda lost only one wicket as the opening pair added 89 for the first wicket. Jayalath and Senarath then finished the contest comfortably, securing a convincing nine-wicket victory with many overs to spare.

‎It was Nalanda’s third successive victory in the Tier A tourney after having beaten Thurstan (155) by seven wickets and St. Servatius’ Matara (187) by four wickets in the first two matches.

‎As of now, they are the leading team in Group G where they have only St. Joseph’s Darley Road to meet before the knockout stage.

‎With just two teams advancing to the next stage from each Group Nalanda are almost assured of their place.

Sports

Wins for Hayley’s Group ‘A’ , HNB ‘A’ and CDB on Saturday

Published

10 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

33RD SINGER – MCA Super PREMIER LEAGUE

Hayley’s Group ‘A’, HNB ‘A’ and CDB registered wins by defeating Colombo Aces, Fairfirst Insurance and SLC Youth in the matches of the Mercantile Cricket Association’s Super Premier League cricket tournament on Sunday (04).

The MCA Super Premier League is sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka for the 33rd consecutive year.

At the Bloomfield Cricket ground, Nishan Madushka, Pulindu Perera and Minod Dhanuka smashed half tons as Hayley’s Group ‘A’ registered their second win of the tournament defeating Colombo Aces by six wickets.

At the Thurstan ground, Nipun Dhananjaya and Muditha Lakshan posted eighty plus scores to help CDB amass 307/8, which the bowlers defended by 71runs.

At the Colts Ground Milan Rathnayake starred with bat and ball [71 and 3-24] to help HNB ‘A’ overcome SLC Youth by 41 runs. Rehan Pieris topped SLC Youth score card with a 108 ball 77 with six fours and a six.

At Bloomfield Ground Colombo:

Hayley’s overcome Colombo Aces by six wickets

Colombo Aces 222/10 in 49 overs

[ Kavin Bandara 62, Dinura Kalupahan 50; Dhanajaya Lakshan 2-14, Ramesh Mendis 4-36]

Hayleys Group A 227/4 in 25.2 overs [Nishan Madushka 61, Pulindu Perera 51, Minod Bhanuka 54; Dinura Kalupahana 2-35]

At Thurstan College Ground:

CDB BY 71 runs

CDB 307/8 in 50 overs

[ Vishsd Randika 53, Nipun Dhananjaya 86, Muditha Lakshan 89; Himesh Ramanayake 3-49, ]

Fairfirst Insurance 236/10 in 46.4 overs

[Sanoj Dharshika 58, Yasiru Rodriga 78; Movin Subasinghe 3-27, Lahiru Madushanka 2-16]

At Colts ground;