Sports

Sonal Dinusha and the epic draw

Published

3 weeks ago

2026/09/8

The just-concluded two Test series against strong Indian side has restored Sri Lanka’s pride and confidence, thanks largely to a remarkable display of fighting spirit. At the centre of this remarkable story is Sonal Dinusha, whose extraordinary batting performance turned what appeared to be certain defeat into an epic draw.

Sonal made headlines by scoring three centuries and a big half-century across the two Tests. In doing so, he joined an elite group of Sri Lankan batsmen who have scored three centuries in a two Test series, including Aravinda de Silva, Kumar Sangakkara and Kamindu Mendis.

There is an even more remarkable dimension to Sonal’s achievement. By scoring a century in both innings of a Test match, he joined another distinguished group of Sri Lankan batsmen who have accomplished this rare feat.

Yet, as with every great sporting story, there are several fascinating sub stories within the main story.

One of those sub stories is the emergence of Pasindu Sooryabandara, who became Sri Lanka’s first Test concussion substitute when he replaced Dinesh Chandimal in the first Test in Galle.

The concussion substitute rule is one of the significant innovations introduced by the ICC. It allows a player to replace a teammate who suffers a concussion or other head injury during a match, subject to the relevant medical assessment and the approval of the match referee. The substitute can then participate fully in the match, within the conditions governing concussion replacements.

Pasindu’s own concussion substitute story initially appeared far less glamorous. His first innings ended with the disappointment of a first ball golden duck. But that setback did not end his story.

Instead, the Sri Lankan selectors and team management showed faith in the young batsman by retaining him for the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club. That confidence was richly rewarded. Pasindu responded with a composed 80 in the first innings and a superb 92 in the second, providing the crucial foundation for Sri Lanka’s extraordinary resistance.

His batting displayed the qualities expected of a Test top order batsman: solid defence, controlled aggression, patience and above all, temperament. His First Class performances had been repeatedly knocking on the selectors’ door. This time, the door opened and Pasindu walked through it.

But the story does not end with Sonal and Pasindu.

The resilience of the Sri Lankan fast bowlers, led by Asitha Fernando, was another important chapter. Their persistence and discipline kept Sri Lanka in the contest when the match appeared to be slipping away.

The Sri Lankan batsmen then produced the kind of courageous resistance that Test cricket demands. Instead of surrendering to the pressure, they fought session by session, partnership by partnership, and run by run. Their collective determination transformed an apparently inevitable defeat into a memorable draw.

That fighting spirit may ultimately prove to be the most valuable outcome of the series.

Sonal Dinusha may rightly occupy the centre of the stage. His three centuries, his remarkable consistency and his role in rescuing Sri Lanka from the brink of defeat have made him the headline maker. Pasindu Sooryabandara, meanwhile, has shown what can happen when talent meets opportunity and confidence.

But behind these individual performances lies something even more encouraging: Sri Lanka have rediscovered the belief that they can compete, fight and survive against strong opposition even when the circumstances appear overwhelmingly against them.

That renewed belief could be extremely important as Sri Lanka face challenging Test assignments against New Zealand and Pakistan in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.

For the newly appointed coach, this remarkable comeback must have brought a huge sigh of relief. More importantly, it provides evidence that this Sri Lankan Test side possesses the character and resilience required to compete with any opposition, in any conditions.

The epic draw was therefore more than just a result on the scoreboard. It was a statement of character.

Sonal Dinusha wrote the headline. Pasindu Sooryabandara provided one of the most inspiring subplots. The bowlers refused to surrender. And the entire Sri Lankan team reminded everyone of the fighting spirit that has long been associated with Sri Lankan cricket.

Ayampillai Dharmakulasingham

Retired Sri Lankan diplomat

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Sri Lanka to face India in semi-finals after washout

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/29

Priyan

Rain has been a constant for the past few days (Cricinfo)

Sri Lanka will face India in the semi-finals of Asian Games men’s tournament after their quarter-final clash against Nepal was abandoned without a ball being bowled in Nisshin, Japan. The game was called off prior to the toss, with rain having begun hours prior to the scheduled 9am local start and not looking like abating.

Sri Lanka’s progression was assured by virtue of their higher seeding in terms of the ICC T20I rankings – Sri Lanka, alongside India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are the four seeded teams in the tournament. On Monday, India had qualified over Afghanistan after another washout, again by virtue of their higher. Similarly, Pakistan’s qualification was assured following a rain abandonment in their quarter-final against Hong Kong.

In the 2022 Asian Games, Sri Lanka had been eliminated at the quarter fial stages by Afghanistan. Another washout in the semis against, India though, will see the latter qualify for the final.

A few hours later, the fourth quarter-final between Bangladesh and Malaysia was also washed out. Bangladesh will now face Pakistan in the first semi-final on October 1, followed by India vs Sri Lanka later on the same day

(Cricinfo)

Latest News

Bangladesh to take on Pakistan in semis after another washout

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/29

Priyan

Litton Das' team is closer to a medal finish (Cricinfo)

The Bangladesh vs Malaysia abandonment on Tuesday completed a quartet of rained off matches in the Asian Games men’s tournament. The match was called off two hours before the toss, with the teams told not to even turn up at the venue.

Bangladesh, by virtue of higher seeding, go through to the semi-finals where they will now face Pakistan on October 1. Earlier in the morning, the Sri Lanka vs Nepal fixture was also called off due to rain, with Sri Lanka advancing into the semi-finals where they will meet India.

There is, however, some good news, as the weather forecast in Nisshin is better for the semi-final and the medal match day, on October 1 and 3, respectively.

In the last edition (2023), Bangladesh had lost to India in the semi-final but won the third-place playoff against Pakistan to take home the bronze medal. They had won the bronze in 2014 as well and Bangladesh’s best finish was winning the gold medal in 2010, when they beat Afghanistan in the final.

(Cricinfo)

Sports

Tharanga seals remarkable season with Asian Games gold

Published

8 hours ago

2026/09/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rumesh Tharanga reached Japan as the overwhelming favourite

by Reemus Fernando

‎

World javelin leader Rumesh Tharanga lived up to his billing to win Sri Lanka a highly anticipated gold medal, overcoming wet weather and a slow runway at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, on Monday.

‎The overwhelming favourite after a string of victories at global level this year, Tharanga made an unlikely start, opening with 73.52m in the first round and trailing his South Asian rivals, including reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan. At the halfway mark he surged ahead with a massive 88.33m, then sealed the contest with 88.55m.

‎”He rose like a true champion at the most crucial moment. It was an incredible performance in these wet conditions,” veteran coach Susantha Fernando, who watched from the stands, told The Island. “I was blessed to see a Sri Lankan win gold at back-to-back Asian Games.” Fernando’s own charge, Tharushi Karunaratne, won the 800m at the last edition. He was one of the team coaches at the venue yesterday.

‎The 23-year-old, trained by Tony Prasanna, arrived in Japan as world No. 1 and the season’s leading thrower. In June he became the first Sri Lankan to throw beyond 90m, launching a national-record 92.62m at the Rome Diamond League. In July he beat India’s Neeraj Chopra to take Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow, and this month he won the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. He also became the first Sri Lankan to win the Diamond League title. He was the only thrower in the field with two throws beyond 92m this season.

‎With such a reputation to carry, a Games record (89.15m) was widely expected, and Tharanga came close, but nearly every thrower struggled in the wet conditions.

‎With Chopra absent, India’s Y. Singh and R. Yadav took silver and bronze with 85.72m and 84.35m respectively. Nadeem finished just outside the podium with 80.29m. Former national record holder and Olympian Sumedha Ranasinghe was sixth with 78.08m.

‎

‎Akalanka impresses in hurdles

‎‎Meanwhile, hurdler Ayomal Akalanka produced one of Sri Lanka’s best performances among those who narrowly missed the podium, finishing fifth in the men’s 400m hurdles.

‎Running from lane two, the 20-year-old clocked 49.37 seconds against an elite continental field. The former Ambagamuwa Central Udubulathgama athlete stayed in contention throughout the final and finished ahead of Japan’s Kazuki Kurokawa, India’s Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan and Kazakhstan’s Vyacheslav Zems.

‎Qatar’s Bassem Hemeida won gold in 47.82, with Japan’s Taiju Goto taking silver in a personal best of 47.93. Taiwan’s Chung-wei Lin claimed bronze in a personal best 48.74, and his compatriot Jian-rong Chen was fourth in 49.25.