Sports
Sashimal hat tricks on debut, bags ten wickets for Ananda

First Chandimal, then Nirmal, now Sashimal
by Reemus Fernando
Left-arm spinner Ayesh Sashimal, the younger brother of Sri Lanka cricketer Dinesh Chandimal made a memorable First XI debut for Ananda as he took eight wickets including a hat trick to guide the team almost close to victory in the Under 19 cricket encounter against Dharmaraja at Lake View on Thursday.
Sashimal only had two wickets in the first innings where Sachin Jayasinghe led the attack with a four wicket haul to restrict the home team to 193 runs.
In their second essay Ananda made 182 for two wickets declared with Lakshita Kularatne and Nushal Dharmaratne making quick fire 80s.
Given a target of 272 runs to chase, Dharmaraja survived thanks to a valuable century scored by Sachintha Dissanayaka.
Incidentally, all eight wickets to fall in the Dharmaraja second innings were claimed by Sashimal, who first rattled the top order batting line up with a hat-trick.
With Sashimal, two of Chandimal’s brothers have now played for Ananda. Kamesh Nirmal captained Ananda in the 2018/19 season.
Scores:
Ananda
283 all out in 66.4 overs (Iruth Gimshan 91, Nethma Karunarathne 69, Hansaja Jayasinghe 49, Tehaan Perera 21n.o.; Thisaru Wanninayaka 4/85, Dulara Bandulasena 3/46) and 182 for 2 in 22 overs (Lakshita Kularatne 86, Nushal Dharmaratne 80)
Dharmaraja
193 all out in 52 overs (Dushyanga Gunasinghe 76, Dulara Bandulasena 27, Isuru Pannala 22; Nethma Samaraweera 2/60, Sachin Jayasinghe 4/42, Ayesh Sashimal 2/40) and 187 for 8 in 50 overs (Sachintha Dissanayaka 107, Maleesha Rajakaruna 24; Ayesh Sashimal 8/58)
Sports
Dinara continues impressive run

Dinara de Silva secured a place in the singles semi-final and also booked a spot in the doubles final at the ITF Junior Circuit J30 Week 1 tournament continued at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts on Friday.
Dinara de Silva overcame a first set defeat to beat Gwen Emily Kurniawan of Indonesia 2-1 (4-6, 6-0, 6-1) in the quarter-final.
Dinara is set to meet Shivali Gurung of Nepal in the semi-final.
In the doubles semi-final Dinara joined China’s Yijia Zhao to beat Japan’s Sakino Miyazawa and Eyuyo Shida 6-4, 4-6, 10-5.
Sports
Debutant Madara, Athapaththu fashion Sri Lanka women’s first T20I win in New Zealand

Debutant Malki Madara’s three-for combined with two-fors from Kavisha Dilhari and Inoshi Priyadharshani set up a comfortable victory for Sri Lanka in the T20I series opener in Christchurch. Chamari Athapaththu’s unbeaten 64 off 48 balls then took the visitors home with seven wickets in hand. This was Sri Lanka’s first T20I win in New Zealand and second win overall against New Zealand in the format.
Emma McLeod (44) was New Zealand’s highest scorer but only two of her team-mates got into double figures, and there was only one partnership that stretched past 20 balls.
Despite Priyadharshani dismissing Georgia Plimmer early, the hosts got off to a decent start thanks to captain Suzie Bates’ 14-ball 21. Madara, Sri Lanka’s fourth bowling option, brought on in the fifth over, got the big wicket of Bates which dried up the scoring. The next two overs went for just five runs.
Dilhari, the seventh bowler, struck twice upon being introduced in the ninth over as New Zealand slipped from 39 for 1 to 52 for 4. Maddy Green being run out cheaply had New Zealand play with caution as illustrated by the next two partnerships which produced a combined 29 runs off 41 balls.
McLeod, who had three fours in her first five balls, finished without adding to that tally across her 46-ball innings. She was the last New Zealand batter to fall as Madara ended the innings in the penultimate over.
Athapaththu then hit seven fours and took Sri Lanka to 46 for 0 at the end of the powerplay. Jess Kerr removed Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama in successive overs while Dilhari’s innings was cut short by a run out. Sri Lanka slipped to 66 for 3 but that didn’t stop their captain from attacking.
She hit Eden Carson for four immediately after Dilhari’s exit and smacked two sixes and a four off Bree Illing, the first of the sixes brought up her fifty off 43 balls. It left the hosts no room to make an unlikely comeback as Sri Lanka romped to a victory with 35 balls to spare.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Women
102 for 3 in 14.1 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 64*, Kavisha Dilhari 12, Nilakshika Silva 12*; Jess Kerr 2-18) beat New Zealand 101 in 18.5 overs (Suzie Bates 21, Emma McLeod 44, Jess Kerr 10; Sugandika Kumari 1-18, Malki Madara 3-14, Kavisha Dilhari 2-18, Inoshi Priyadharshani 2-25, Chamari Athapaththu 1-10) by seven wickets
(Cricinfo)
Latest News
Debutant Madara, Athapaththu fashion Sri Lanka women’s first T20I win in New Zealand

Debutant Malki Madara’s three-for combined with two-fors from Kavisha Dilhari and Inoshi Priyadharshani set up a comfortable victory for Sri Lanka in the T20I series opener in Christchurch. Chamari Athapaththu’s unbeaten 64 off 48 balls then took the visitors home with seven wickets in hand. This was Sri Lanka’s first T20I win in New Zealand and second win overall against New Zealand in the format.
Emma McLeod (44) was New Zealand’s highest scorer but only two of her team-mates got into double figures, and there was only one partnership that stretched past 20 balls.
Despite Priyadharshani dismissing Georgia Plimmer early, the hosts got off to a decent start thanks to captain Suzie Bates’ 14-ball 21. Madara, Sri Lanka’s fourth bowling option, brought on in the fifth over, got the big wicket of Bates which dried up the scoring. The next two overs went for just five runs.
Dilhari, the seventh bowler, struck twice upon being introduced in the ninth over as New Zealand slipped from 39 for 1 to 52 for 4. Maddy Green being run out cheaply had New Zealand play with caution as illustrated by the next two partnerships which produced a combined 29 runs off 41 balls.
McLeod, who had three fours in her first five balls, finished without adding to that tally across her 46-ball innings. She was the last New Zealand batter to fall as Madara ended the innings in the penultimate over.
Athapaththu then hit seven fours and took Sri Lanka to 46 for 0 at the end of the powerplay. Jess Kerr removed Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama in successive overs while Dilhari’s innings was cut short by a run out. Sri Lanka slipped to 66 for 3 but that didn’t stop their captain from attacking.
She hit Eden Carson for four immediately after Dilhari’s exit and smacked two sixes and a four off Bree Illing, the first of the sixes brought up her fifty off 43 balls. It left the hosts no room to make an unlikely comeback as Sri Lanka romped to a victory with 35 balls to spare.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Women 102 for 3 in 14.1 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 64*, Kavisha Dilhari 12, Nilakshika Silva 12*; Jess Kerr 2-18) beat New Zealand Women 101 in 18.5 overs (Suzie Bates 21, Emma McLeod 44, Jess Kerr 10; Sugandika Kumari 1-18, Malki Madara 3-14, Kavisha Dilhari 2-18, Inoshi Priyadharshani 2-25, Chamari Athapaththu 1-10) by seven wickets
[Cricinfo]
-
Editorial6 days ago
Ranil roasted in London
-
Latest News7 days ago
S. Thomas’ beat Royal by five wickets in the 146th Battle of the Blues
-
Features6 days ago
The JVP insurrection of 1971 as I saw it as GA Ampara
-
Opinion5 days ago
Insulting SL armed forces
-
Features6 days ago
Mr. JR Jayewardene’s passport
-
News3 days ago
Alfred Duraiappa’s relative killed in Canada shooting
-
Features6 days ago
As superpower America falls into chaos, being small is beautiful for Sri Lanka
-
Opinion6 days ago
Beyond Victory: sportsmanship thrives at Moratuwa Big Match