Sports

Second ODI on a knife edge

Published

3 years ago

2021/07/21

Sahan Weerasooriya

Charith Asalanka top scored with 65 runs as Sri Lanka posted 275 in the second ODI against India at RPS yesterday.

By Rex Clementine

The second ODI between Sri Lanka and India was on a knife edge with the tourists needing 112 runs in 132 deliveries with four wickets in hand to wrap up the series 2-0 when this edition went to print yesterday. Set a target of 276 to win, India had reached 164 for six at the end of 28 overs at RPS.

Despite some sloppy fielding efforts and bowling displays, Sri Lanka put India under pressure thanks to some clever bowling by Wanindu Hasaranga.

Skipper Dasun Shanaka boldly introduced the leg-spin of Hasaranga in the third over of the game and Prithvi Shaw was castled for 13 after he had hammered three boundaries off the first over of the innings bowled by Kasun Rajitha.

Rajitha replaced Hasaranga after just one over and accounted for Ishan Kishan as the wicketkeeper batsman dragged one onto his stumps.

Hasaranga then trapped Shikhar Dhawan leg before wicket for 29 to reduce India to 65 for three.

A 50 run partnership followed between Manish Pandey and Suryakumar Yadav before Shanaka produced a run out with Pandey backing up too far. In the same over, Shanaka dismissed the dangerous Hardik Pandya, who was caught at short mid-wicket by Dhananjaya de Silva.

Despite impressing in patches, Sri Lanka were horrible on the field with Rajitha constantly misfielding. He wasn’t the only sloppy fielder with Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Lakshan Sandakan not living up to international standards.

Sandakan was awful with his line serving full tosses that Indian batsmen were quick to dispatch to the boundary. He did claim the big wicket of Suryakumar Yadav when he trapped the batsman leg before wicket but continued to bowl too many wides.

A maiden half-century by Charith Asalanka was the highlight of the Sri Lankan innings. Avishka Fernando and Minod Bhanuka added 77 runs for the first wicket in 80 deliveries. Fernando threw away his wicket soon after completing the half-century.

Bhankua Rajapaksa was dismissed for a first ball duck and Sri Lanka’s middle order did not give the team a solid platform.

However, Asalanka teamed up with the lower middle order to help reach a decent total of 275. He added 50 runs for the seventh wicket with Chamika Karunaratne, who has been impressive with the bat this series.

Karunaratne, who had posted an unbeaten 43 in the first ODI, was 44 not out yesterday. Apart from a sensible knock, he showed lot of character as well on the field and while bowling. He could be someone who needs to be persevered with.

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Sports

Akalanka, Abisheka qualify for finals

Published

4 hours ago

2024/04/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

Tharushi Abisheka and Ayomal Akalanka

Asian Junior Athletics Championships

by Reemus Fernando

Ambagamuwa Central hurdler Ayomal Akalanka who was included in the team at the eleventh hour qualified for the finals of the men’s 400 metres hurdles as he came almost close to matching his personal best time on day one of the Asian Junior Athletics Championships in Dubai on Wednesday.

Akalanka clocked 52.96 seconds to finish second in his heat and qualify for the finals.

Sri Lanka Athletics decided to drop him from the team after the Commonwealth Youth Game medallist failed to reach qualifying standards at the trials. He was included at the eleventh hour on the request of the Sports Minister who heeded an appeal. Akalanka will compete in the final on Friday.

Young Tharushi Abisheka provided the Sri Lankan team a morale boosting start as she qualified for the final of the women’s 800 metres in the morning.

Abisheka is the youngest member in the team and is eligible even to compete at the next edition of this Under 20 event in 2026. The Wickramabahu National School Gampola athlete finished third in her heat and will carry the third fastest time to the final which will be held on Friday.

In the men’s 100 metres, Merone Wijesinghe of Ananda College Colombo finished fourth in his heat.

When this edition went to press women’s team captain Madushani Herath of Nannapurawa MV Bibila was competing in the women’s triple jump.

Sri Lanka fielded a team of 17 athletes including four relay teams for the four-day regional event.

Sports

Saneshi wins three titles at Bandarawela

Published

4 hours ago

2024/04/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

Saneshi Willoraarachchi

Saneshi Willoraarachchi won three titles at the Bandarawela Open Ranking Tennis Tournament.

The Musaeus College player won the women’s open singles, women’s open doubles and the Under 18 girls’ doubles.

She beat Inuki Jayaweera 6-4, 6-3 in the women’s open singles final and joined the latter to score a 4-2, 5-4 win in the doubles final against Lihini Jayakody and Diyana de Silva.

Saneshi and Inuki overcame a first set defeat to beat Gehansa Methnadi and Sandithi Usgodaarachchi 0-4, 5-4, 10-6 for the Under 18 doubles title.

Sports

Hayley Matthews’ 141 completes ODI series sweep for West Indies

Published

1 day ago

2024/04/24

Priyan

Hayley Matthews scored 141 off 149 balls in Karachi (PCB)

Hayley Matthews smacked 141 to follow up her unbeaten 140 in the series opener to take an inspired West Indies to a crushing win in the 3rd ODI. The victory sealed a clean sweep over Pakistan.

She powered West Indies to 278 as Pakistan’s bowlers struggled for wickets on a somewhat turgid track in Karachi. Pakistan managed little more than a feeble response, with Muneeba Ali’s 38 the highest score as they were skittled out for a limp 190. Matthews ensured her contribution was all round with figures of 2 for 26 in eight overs as an 88-run win was secured.

This was a dead rubber anyway, but there was little jeopardy in the game from the moment Matthews won the toss and elected to set a target. The captain led from the front as she put the pressure on Pakistan’s bowlers, with the opening attack of Fatima Sana and Nida Dar placed under immediate pressure. First-change spinner Nashra Sandhu, the pick of the attack with 3 for 54, provided an early breakthrough, but it was little more than a speedbump for an unstoppable West Indies side.

Matthews and former West Indies captain Stefanie Taylor combined for a 101-run stand for the third wicket, by which time Matthews brought up her fifth ODI hundred and second this series. As Taylor rotated the strike, Matthews pressed home the visitors’ advantage by hitting 19 fours herself. In contrast, Pakistan managed 21 in their entire innings. Sandhu’s twin strikes in the 46th over to remove Taylor and Chinelle Henry came much too late, with an unbeaten 12-ball 20 from Aaliyah Alleyne helping their side march to 278.

Pakistan’s response saw a bunch of double figures but very little substance. Openers Sadaf Shamas and Sidra Ameen had their stumps knocked back by Shamilia Conell and Henry, and while Muneeba and Bismah Maroof added 45 for the third wicket, the run-scoring was simply too leisurely to trouble the visitors. It took 69 balls for those 45 to be scored before Karishma Ramharack prised Maroof out. Matthews’ twin strikes to get rid of captain Nida Dar and top scorer Muneeba Ali killed the game off for good.

Aalia Riaz and Fatima Sana put on another partnership, but the game was going through the motions by now. West Indies struck at regular intervals, and it all wrapped up in the 48th over when a double strike from Alleyne finished Pakistan off. The two sides will now play a five-match T20I series, with all five games in Karachi.

Brief scores:
West Indies 278 for 6 in 50 overs (Hayley Matthews 141,Shermaine Campbelle 38, Stefanie Taylor 47, Aaliyah Alleryne 20*; Fatima Sana 2-67, Nashra Sandhu 3-54) beat Pakistan 190 all out in 47.5 overs (Muneeba Ali 38, Aliya Riyaz 36, Fatima Sana 23, Tuba Hassan 23; Aaliyah Alleyne 2-10, Hayley Matthews 2-26, Stefanie Taylor 2-29) by 88 runs

(Cricinfo)