Sports
Sahil equals legendary Sathasivam’s schools batting record
Sahil Dias equaled a batting record held by legendary cricketer Mahadevan Sathasivam.
Under-19 Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Wesley’s Sahil Dias equaled a schools batting record held by legendary cricketer Mahadevan Sathasivam when he scored 142 runs against S. Thomas’ in their traditional Under-19 encounter which commenced at Mount Lavinia on Friday.
According to Clifford Rodrigo, the Sports Administrator of Wesley College, 142 is the highest score made by a Wesley batsman against S. Thomas’.
“Sahil equaled the record held by legendary Mahadevan Sathasivam. Sathasivam scored 142 against S. Thomas’ in 1936. No one has scored higher than that against S. Thomas’,” Rodrigo told The Island.
The National Youth development squad player, who is eligible to play next year as well, scored 15 fours in his knock which was vital in the Thomians reaching 317. Dias faced 202 balls for his knock.
Incidentally, the historic series between Wesley and S. Thomas’ is played for the Mahadevan Sathasivam trophy.
St. Anthony’s display long batting line up
St. Anthony’s also topped 300 runs in their first innings in the match against Maris Stella as many as eight batsmen topped 20 runs for the Kandy team. While Tharindu Lakshan top scored with 55 runs, Ashen Sandeepa with four wickets was the pick of the bowlers.
At Bambalapitiya, skipper Nipunaka Fonseka and Sanuka Galagoda repaired early damage for St. Peter’s to reach 67 for two wickets at stumps in reply to St. Sebastian’s 160 for nine wickets declared.
Left-hander Fonseka and Galagoda posted an unbroken stand for the third wicket after they lost two wickets for no runs. Earlier, left arm spinner Wanuja Kumara picked up five wickets (26.5-4-40-5)
Match results
Wesley V S. Thomas at Mount Lavinia
Scores:
Wesley 317 all out in 89.5 overs
(Lakshan Ruwantha 19, Sahil Dias 142, Semila Liyanage 77, Thenuka Perera 31; Manith Perera 2/89, Anuk Palihawadena 5/32, Thisen Eheliyagoda 2/26)
St. Anthony’s V Maris Stella at Katugastota
Scores
St. Anthony’s 320 all out in 88.1 overs
(Tharindu Lakshan 55, Asitha Wanninayake 44, Mohamed Kamil 49, Chandimal Herath 27, Lahiru Abeysinghe 35, Anjala Bandara 33, Nimnaka Jayathilaka 26n.o., Chamindu Wickramasinghe 21; Priyashan Silva 3/125, Ashen Sandeepa 4/69, Hansaja Hiruna 2/28)
Maris Stella 17 for no loss 4 overs (Sahan Dulara 15n.o.)
St. Peter’s V St. Sebastian’s at Bambalapitiya
Scores:
St. Sebastian’s 160 for 9 decl. In 72.5 overs
(Avishka Fernando 66, Sukitha Prasanna 28, Sandeesh Fernando 20n.o.; Wanuja Kumara 5/40)
St. Peter’s 67 for 2 in 20 overs
(Sanuka Galagoda 35n.o., Nipunaka Fonseka 29n.o.)
England Women 81 for 3 in 13.5 overs (Sophia Dunkley 22, Mala Bouchier 19*, Heather Knight 18; Bree Illing 1-20, Nensi Patel 1-07, Melle Kerr 1-18) beat New Zealand Women 80 in 19.1 overs (Isabella Gaze 17, Maddy Green 14, Jess Kerr 20; Linsey Smith 2-15, Issy Wong 1-20, Sophia Ecclestone 1-11, Charlie Dean 3-13, Dani Gibson 3-14) by seven wickets
Royal Challengers Bengaluru [RCB] might look at Gujarat Titans [GT] across the ring in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026, and wonder if they helped create this monster. When GT went to Bengaluru on April 24, they were still a conservative side straddling the middle of the table, and happy with a 57-ball hundred from their opener. But they have been a changed unit since RCB cruised to that chase of 206 against them that day.
Since that match, the halfway point for GT, their run rate has increased by nearly a run per over. That is 20 runs per innings. By the time they faced RCB next, they were giving more importance to balls remaining than to wickets in hand while chasing. When batting first, GT were looking to score above par; there has been a pair of 229s in the two matches they have batted first in since that Bengaluru debacle.
The thing with GT is that they have a team with such strong basics that they don’t need to make only subtle changes to their approach. Their control rate has gone from 80% to 75%. A little more risk, a lot more rewards. Their bowling has only become more streamlined over this period with Jason Holder adding constant threat to an already good attack. The result is a 6-1 win-loss record in the second half of their tournament.
RCB, though, have been solid throughout, carrying forward the change in approach that took them to the title last year. They won five in the first half and four in the second. They have consistently looked to finish matches early or set above-par scores when batting first. A second consecutive top-two finish is just rewards for being the most consistently good side over this period.
They will want to make it straight from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad, where they won their first title last year. Not only to make the final but to also hope to avoid meeting GT in a final at their home, something that should be the right of defending champions. Not least because GT are on a four-match winning streak at home, which includes two wins despite losing the toss.
RCB have used the fewest number of players this IPL, a sign of a settled unit. It would certainly have been fewer if not for the injury to Phil Salt, who is now back in India and racing against time to be ready in time for the playoffs. If he doesn’t make it, though, it brings in the temptation to drop Suyash Sharma for Jacob Duffy considering Suyash has not had a great IPL, and night games in Dharamsala can negate spinners. In fact, Dharamsala hosted the only completed match this season where no spin was used.
Venkatesh Iyer has made a case for himself in the limited opportunities he has got, but Salt should be a no-brainer as opener if he is fit.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (probable): Virat Kohli, Phil Salt/Venkatesh Iyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (capt), Jitesh Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy/Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam
GT have played the second-fewest number of players. They seem to have their first XI figured with Nishant Sindhu being persisted with as the extra batter. Their only doubt remains around the Impact Player: extra fast bowler in Prasidh Krishna or extra spinner in R Sai Kishore or Manay Suthar.
Gujarat Titans (probable): Shubman Gill (capt), B Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Nishant Sindhu, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna/R Sai Kishore/Manav Suthar
[Cricinfo]
Aken Thilakawardhana produced an impressive all-round display as St. Sylvester’s registered a huge 101-run victory over Sri Rahula, Katugastota in their Under 17 Division I first round cricket encounter at Katugastota on Monday.
Chasing a target of 219 runs for victory, the home team never looked in contention as wickets fell at regular intervals before they were bowled out for 117 runs in the 34th over.
St. Sylvester’s bowlers struck early to put Sri Rahula under pressure, with Sasiru Dineth and Sakuna de Silva reducing the hosts to 18 for three wickets. Aken then joined the attack to further dismantle the batting line-up, claiming three wickets to cap an outstanding all-round performance.
Aken, who had earlier contributed a valuable 48 runs with the bat, finished with impressive figures of 3 for 24.
Sri Rahula’s innings was led by Savinu Mendis, who top scored with 28 runs, but lacked support from the other batsmen as St. Sylvester’s maintained control throughout the chase. Sasiru Dineth returned figures of 3 for 33, while Sakuna de Silva too two for 23.
Earlier, put to bat first, St. Sylvester’s posted a competitive 218 all out in 49.2 overs after receiving a brisk start from opener Adithya Ranamukage. He raced to a half-century in just 35 deliveries, smashing nine boundaries and two sixes in an aggressive knock.
Nithil Herath contributed 25 runs, Keshan Perera made 27, while Aken added 48 to strengthen the innings. Vihanga Perera also chipped in with 23 runs.
For Sri Rahula, Chamindu Sathsara was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 55, while Shehan Weddagala, Praboth de Silva and Savinu Mendis claimed two wickets apiece.
Scores:
St. Sylvester’s
218 all out in 49.2 overs (Adithya Ranamukage 50, Nithil Herath 25, Keshan Perera 27, Aken Thilakawardhana 48, Vihanga Perera 23; Shehan Weddagala 2/31, Chamindu Sathsara 3/55, Praboth de Silva 2/24, Savinu Mendis 2/31)
Sri Rahula Katugastota
117 all out in 33.2 overs (Savinu Mendis 28; Sasiru Dineth 3/33, Sakuna de Silva 2/23, Aken Thilakawardhana 3/24). (RF)
Cabinet approves sale of Paddy stocks held by the Paddy Marketing Board
Amendment to the Promotion of Export Agriculture Act, No. 46 of 1992 to be gazatted
Ms. M.K.D.N. Madampe, appointed as Director General of the Department of Management Services
Cabinet approves collaboration agreement between Sri Lanka and Brazil for the implementation of the “Sugarcane Project in Sri Lanka”
Cabinet approval for Implementation of a Project for the Joint Exchange of Genetic Resources between Sri Lanka and Vietnam and the Development of High-Yielding and Salinity-resilient Rice Varieties.
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura extended till1600 hrs on Wednesday [27]
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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