Sports
Ranhinda towers above the field
He has what it takes to become a champion– coach Prabath Danushka
by Reemus Fernando
Thrower Jayavi Ranhinda Alwis of Royal College, Panadura accomplished a remarkable achievement in the shot put at the Youth Selection Trial held at the Sugathadasa Stadium last week.
The 16-year-old hurled the 5kg implement to a distance of 17.74 metres, the furthest a Sri Lankan athlete of his age has ever thrown the put in history. The massive throw rightly puts him in contention for a place in the country’s team for next year’s Youth Asian Championship which will be held in Kuwait.
His coach Prabath Danushka commenting on his charge’s performance said that Ranhinda has the potential to become a champion athlete and highlighted the need to support him to persevere in athletics.
“He has the potential to become a future champion. He has the stature of a champion athlete in Asia in his age category. What is important is to look after him. Support should be given for his nutrition needs. If someone could come forward to sponsor him for his nutrition needs and other expenses that would be a great help,” Prabath Danushka told The Island.
Incidentally, Danushka is also the coach of the reigning national champion Samith Madusanka who established a National Championship record three weeks ago.
Sri Lanka Athletics conducted the trial as a precursor to next year’s youth selection trial for Asian Youth Championship. The athletes of this age category did not have competitions during the last two years due to the Covid 19 pandemic and Ranhinda took the opportunity with both hands to deliver the best throw of his budding career.
Had all the junior competitions been held this year Ranhinda would have attempted records in each event as all existing meet records of Junior National Championships, All Island Schools Games Championships and the Sir John Tarbet Senior Championships are all below his new mark of 17.74 metres.
When Hartley College Jaffna athlete S. Mithunraj established the All Island Schools Games record in the Under 18 category in 2019 he threw a distance of 15.95 metres. St. Rita’s College, Taldeka athlete Malinda Madushanka cleared a distance of 16.28 metres for his Sir John Tarbet Senior Championship (U18) record in 2014. Madusanka’s Junior National Championship record too was below 17 metres (16.32m in 2014).
At the last Junior National Championships, no one hurled beyond 15 metres. While the winner Akalanka Wijesuriya threw only a distance of 14.94 metres, S. Mithunraj managed a distance of 14.76 metres for his silver.
With the Asian Youth Championships just months away Ranhinda’s performances are just a solitary metre behind the medal standard of the Asian region. “He has the potential to reach medal standard. We are looking forward to the Selection Trial,” said Prabath Danushka.
At the first edition of the Asian Youth Championship, the shot put bronze medal was won with a feat of 17.76 metres. The bronze medals of the last two editions went to performances of 18.59m (2017 and 2019).
With five of his six attempts at the Youth Selection Trial measured over 17 metres (16.98m, 17.46m, 17.11m, 17.65m, 17.74m, 17.60m) Ranhinda has indicated what could be expected of him in the future. Let us keep our fingers crossed.
Upul Tharanga (57) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (58) hit half centuries as Asian Lions beat World Giants to win the Legends League Cricket (LLC) Masters. In the final held in Doha, Asia Lions scored an emphatic seven-wicket victory with 23 balls to spare.
Earlier, the Lions restricted World Giants to 147 for 4 despite Jacques Kallis’ unbeaten 78 off 54 balls with five boundaries and three sixes. Kallis also had a 92 runs partnership in 11.1 overs for the fourth wicket with Ross Taylor, who hit 32 off 33 balls with three boundaries but that was not enough for the World Giants.
Australia put on a clinical show with the ball on Wednesday (March 22) as they clinched the ODI series decider at the MA Chidambaram stadium by 21 runs that helped them go past India and reach the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings.
Brief Scores:
Australia 269 all out (Mitchell Marsh 47; Hardik Pandya 3-44, Kuldeep Yadav 3-56) beat India 248 all out (Virat Kohli 54, Hardik Pandya 40; Adam Zampa 4-45) by 21 runs
UNDER 19 CRICKET
By Reemus Fernando
St. Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya with a sensational last-ball victory and Holy Cross College, Kalutara with a marathon first innings performance earned their much-awaited Division I promotion as they outdid their opponents in the Under 19 Division II Tier ‘A’ semi-finals worked off at Surrey Village Ground, Maggona and Kirimandala Mawatha, Colombo respectively.
At Surrey Village, Sri Sumangala dominated the first innings and a better part of the second but St. Sebastian’s fought back through their seventh wicket pair to record three wickets victory. Chasing a target of 172 runs to win, the boys from Katuneriya were troubled by spinner Mevindu Kumarasiri who took six wickets. But after being 135 for seven wickets at one stage, the seventh wicket pair of Gayan Harshana (26n.o.) and Vihanga Theekshana fought back scoring less than run-a-ball knocks to secure their passage to Division I.
Sri Sumangala, considered the most consistent team in the Division II tournament were without their key player Vishwa Lahiru who is with Sri Lanka Under 19 team in UAE.
At Kirimandala Mawatha grounds, Holy Cross earned first innings points against Sri Devananda as their tail-enders stretched their first innings almost to the end of the second day, batting for 141 overs. In reply to Sri Devananda’s 138 runs, Holy Cross posted 251 runs.
Holy Cross College, a former Division I school were the champions of the last Division II Tier ‘A’ Limited Overs tournament. They beat Sri Sumangala in the semi-final on their way to that title. Now they will be facing St. Sebastian’s in the Two-Day tournament final. The result of that match will have no bearing on their promotion to the top Division of the Under 19 tournament as the finalists are guaranteed the Division I promotion according to tournament rules. The top teams in the Division II Tier ‘A’ tournament were waiting for nearly three years to get their promotion as promotions and demotions were not done during the last two years due to the pandemic.
Hansaja Brian who also took four wickets, played a crucial role in anchoring the batting lineup with a marathon innings (58 runs in 231 balls) for Holy Cross to overtake their opponents in the first innings. He was ably supported by Nadeera Deshan as they added a vital sixth wicket stand of 60 runs. Later skipper Sasindu Kaushan put on a last wicket stand of 76 runs with Amash Fernando, who contributed with an unbeaten 15 runs in as many as 135 balls. Kaushan scored 78 runs facing 205 balls as the last wicket pair frustrated the boys from Ambalangoda for 48 overs.
Holy Cross College, Kalutara with their officials.
The tenth wicket pair denied an opportunity for the boys from Ambalangoda to make a comeback in the second innings as they extended their innings almost to the close of play on the final day.
Results
St. Sebastian’s beat Sri Sumangala by three wickets at Surrey Village
Scores:
Sri Sumangala
185 all out in 64.3 overs (Kishan Eranga 62, Sachira Demian 43; Chathumal Nimesh 4/45, Tharuka Manaram 5/30) and 135 all out in 48.5 overs (Kavindu Gayathra 25, Vidusha Peiris 21, Imalka Fernando 59; Chathumal Nimesh 5/59, Malindu Daham 2/29, Tharuka Manaram 3/39)
St. Sebastian’s
149 all out in 50.1 overs (Thisara Madushan 43, Ashen Dinuka 38; Mevindu Kumarasiri 3/41, Imalka Fernando 3/13) and 174 for 7 in 39 overs (Hasith Kavinda 27, Nimesh Madusanka 26, Chathumal Nimesh 35, Gayan Harshana 26n.o., Vihanga Theekshana 15n.o.; Mevindu Kumarasiri 6/66)
Holy Cross in first innings win over Sri Devananda at Kirimandala Mawatha
Scores:
Sri Devananda
138 all out in 60.4 overs (Sithum Vihanga 36, Kaveesha Kalpana 31; Pasindu Wimansa 3/38, Hansaja Brayan 4/20, Rashan Kethaka 2/17)
Holy Cross
251 all out in 141.5 overs (Gayantha Nadeesha 40, Hansaja Brian 58, Nadeera Deshan 31, Sasindu Kaushan 78, Amash Fernando 15n.o.; Kaveesha Kalpana 5/50, Ravindu Jeewanka 2/50)
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