Sports
Pawan helps Devapathiraja take command
Under 19 Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
A match-turning knock of 159 runs by Pawan Sandesh for Devapathiraja, a century by Mahen Silva for St. Sebastian’s and a quick fire half century by Ramika Sonal for Thurstan were the highlights in the Under 19 Division I tournament and traditional matches played on Wednesday.
While Sonal’s knock of 58 runs (in 46 balls, inclusive of six fours and three sixes) helped Thurstan reach a target of 105 runs in just 16 overs to beat Moratu Vidyalaya, Sandesh’s unbeaten knock helped Devapathiraja take command against St. Anthony’s, Wattala.
Mahen Silva’s 103 runs propelled St. Sebastian’s to 351for nine wickets declared against St. Benedict’s at Moratuwa.
Thurstan fought back after conceding a slender first innings deficit when they contained Moratu Vidyalaya to 92 runs in the second innings. Thanuga Palihawadana (5/18) and Thenuka Dewapriya did most of the damage to turn things around.
They were left with a target of 105 runs to chase. Sonal took it on his shoulders to guide Thurstan as he cracked a belligerent half century to seal the victory with six wickets to spare.
At Sooriyawewa, Devapathiraja did well to restrict St. Anthony’s Wattala to 117 runs, but when their reply innings got off to a terrible start losing four wickets in quick succession, a special effort was needed to repair the damage. Pawan Sandesh did exactly that as he put on two fruitful partnerships for Devapathiraja to recover from being four wickets down for six runs at one stage to post 228 runs for five wickets at stumps.
First he added 107 runs for the fifth wicket with Pathum Shaminda. Later he was joined by Tharindu Rukshan to put on an unbroken 115 runs partnership for the sixth wicket.
Sandesh’s knock included 16 fours and six sixes.
Results
Thurstan beat Moratu Vidyalaya
at MCA ground
Scores:
Moratu MV 175 all out in 44.2 overs (Isuru Fernando 100; Azeem Mohomad 2/19, Vihas Thewmika 7/49) and 92 all out in 48.2 overs (Isuru Fernando 20, Deneth Sithumina 21, Vihanga Nimsara 24; Thanuga Palihawadana 5/18, Thenuka Dewapriya 3/10)
Thurstan
108 for 6 overnight 163 all out in 72.5 overs (Thenuka Dewapriya 21, Navindu Fernando 25, Vihas Thewmika 36, Azeem Mohomad 32, Ushan Imesh 28; Kaviska Oshan 5/38, Thushan Ferdinando 2/07, Isuru Fernando 3/40) and 105 for 4 in 16 overs (Ramika Sonal 58; Kaviska Oshan 2/38, Isuru Fernando 2/34)
Devapathiraja take command against St. Anthony’s at Sooriyawewa
Scores:
St. Anthony’s (Wattala)
117 all out in 49.3 overs (Shan Samaradivakara 27, Prasad Maduranga 21; Pawan Sandesh 2/29, Pathum Shaminda 2/35, Irushka Thimira 3/30, Dharshaka Sandeep 2/06)
Devapathiraja
228 for 5 in 46 overs (Pawan Sandesh 159n.o., Pathum Shaminda 36, Tharindu Rukshan 24n.o.; Prasad Maduranga 3/31)
St. Sebastian’s post 351 for nine wickets declared at Moratuwa
Scores:
St. Sebastian’s
351 for 9 decl. in 88.5 overs (Sanesh Fernando 20, Vimath Dinsara 79, Aloka Fernando 32, Mahen Silva 103, Nadeesh Fernando 55, Manuja Chanthuka 25; Vihara Aththanayake 2/56, Chamath Chathurya 3/73, Kojitha Himsara 2/30)
St. Benedict’s
19 for 1 in 5 overs
Gurukula 138/9 decl., St. Servatius’
89/3 at Uyanwatta
Scores:
Gurukula
138 for 9 decl. in 41.2 overs (Poorna Kalhara 33, Mohomad Mursad 42; Chathum Bimsara 5/33, Chiran Neththaru 2/14, Kushan Wijerama 2/20)
St. Servatius’
89 for 3 in 33 overs (Mithila Charles 29, Diniru Abeywickramasinghe 28)
After winning back to back warm up matches Sri Lanka Under 19s led by Vimath Dinsara will kick off their Youth World Cup campaign with confidence when they meet minnows Japan in their first match at Windhoek Namibia on Saturday.
Sri Lanka lost the last two matches before the World Cup. They conceded defeat against Bangladesh in the last group match of the Asia Cup before suffering an eight wickets defeat at the hands of India in the semi-final of the tournament. That was not the ideal preparation ahead of the World Cup but now having defeated South Africa and Afghanistan during warm up matches Sri Lanka will enter the World Cup arena with confidence.
If stats of recent matches are of any indication to the form they are in Dimantha Mahavithana, Viran Chamuditha, Kavija Gamage and Dulnith Sigera are the players to watch in the batting department.
Gamage and Chamuditha reached 90s during the warm up matches.
Trinity College speedster Sethmika Senevirathne who did well during the Asia Cup, Jaffna paceman Kugathas Mathulan who has attracted the interest of India’s franchise cricket due to his sling arm action resembling Lasith Malinga and St. Joseph’s spinner Vigneswaran Akash who also hails from Jaffna are among the bowlers in a balanced attack.
Mahanama College’s Sigera and Chamika Heenatigala, St. Sebastian’s Moratuwa player Malintha Silva, Chamuditha, Rasith Nimsan, Gamage and late inclusion Jeewahan Sriram of Wesley are the other bowlers.
Sri Lanka will play all their group matches at Windhoek. Their other group stage opponents are Ireland and Australia.
Sri Lanka’s Group A Fixtures
SL Vs Japan 17- Jan- 2026
SL Vs Ireland 19- Jan- 2026
SL Vs Australia 23- Jan- 2026
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has removed Nazmul Islam as chairman of the board’s finance committee, following the CWAB’s player boycott of cricket in country until he resigns from his position.
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to inform that, following a review of recent developments and in the best interest of the organisation, the BCB President has decided to release Mr. Najmul Islam from his responsibilities as Chairman of the Finance Committee with immediate effect,” the BCB said in a statement.
“The decision has been taken in accordance with the authority vested in the BCB President under Article 31 of the BCB Constitution and is aimed at ensuring the continued smooth and effective functioning of the Board’s affairs. Until further notice, the BCB President will assume the role of Acting Chairman of the Finance Committee.
“The BCB reiterates that the interests of the cricketers remain its highest priority. The Board remains fully committed to upholding the honour and dignity of all players under its jurisdiction.
“In this regard, the BCB hopes that all cricketers will continue to display the highest standards of professionalism and dedication to the betterment of Bangladesh cricket during what is a challenging period for the game, and will do their utmost to ensure continued participation in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).”
Both BPL matches on Thursday – the first between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express, and the second between Rajshahi Warriors and Sylhet Titans – have been postponed due to the player boycott.
Even though there seemed to be movement on the issues – the BCB agreed to the player body CWAB’s demands and removed Nazmul Islam from his position as head of the board’s finance committee – but it came too late in the day for the matches to go ahead as scheduled. There was no confirmation yet whether the boycott would be called off or not, and whether the BPL matches on Friday would also be impacted.
[Cricinfo]
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has issued a show cause notice to its director M Nazmul Islam over his “objectionable comments” in public against the country’s cricketers on Wednesday.
The notice came a couple of hours before the scheduled start of the BPL matches for the day, though the players’ body CWAB has called for a nationwide boycott on all forms of cricket unless Islam tenders his resignation.
The four first-division matches in the Dhaka Cricket League scheduled for the day didn’t start on Thursday morning, which caused serious concern in the BCB. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express players, who were supposed to play the first BPL match on Thursday, are sticking to the boycott.
“The board has already initiated formal disciplinary proceedings against the board member concerned,” the BCB statement read. “A show cause letter has been issued, and the individual has been instructed to submit a written response within 48 hours. The matter will be dealt with through due process and appropriate action will be taken based on the outcome of the proceedings.”
ESPNcricinfo understands that some board directors contacted the CWAB president Mohammad Mithun late on Wednesday night, offering that they would make Nazmul stand down from his role as the finance committee chairman. But Mithun said the cricketers’ call for the boycott remained in place.
The toss of the first BPL match on Thursday is at 12.30 pm local time. Once the start time for the match has passed, the CWAB leaders are supposed to hold a press conference, where they will present the BCB with their demands, including the resignation of the director.
[Cricinfo]
Probe into Chinese exit from Cable Car Project
Buddha statue issue: monk refuses meals in remand prison
‘Lanka faces food crisis’ :FAO calls for $16.5m aid
Education Reforms: Academics, activists condemn personal attacks on PM
Tehran protests hijacked, says Iranian Embassy
Making ‘Sinhala Studies’ globally relevant
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Business1 day agoKoaloo.Fi and Stredge forge strategic partnership to offer businesses sustainable supply chain solutions
-
Business5 days agoDialog and UnionPay International Join Forces to Elevate Sri Lanka’s Digital Payment Landscape
-
News5 days agoSajith: Ashoka Chakra replaces Dharmachakra in Buddhism textbook
-
Features5 days agoThe Paradox of Trump Power: Contested Authoritarian at Home, Uncontested Bully Abroad
-
Features5 days agoSubject:Whatever happened to (my) three million dollars?
-
News5 days agoLevel I landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended
-
Business1 day agoSLT MOBITEL and Fintelex empower farmers with the launch of Yaya Agro App
-
Business2 days agoNew policy framework for stock market deposits seen as a boon for companies