Sports
Sooriyabandara and Ratnayake earn maiden Test call-ups
Sri Lanka’s Test squad is set for a shake-up as the national selectors prepare to plug the gaps left by the recent exits of two stalwarts — Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews. Into the spotlight step Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Tharindu Ratnayake, both named in a Test squad for the first time ahead of the two-match series against Bangladesh starting later this month in Galle.
Karunaratne called time on his illustrious career following the Australia series in February, while Mathews will don the whites for one final appearance in the first Test at his favourite venue, Galle. Their departures leave big shoes to fill — and the selectors have turned to a pair of consistent performers from the domestic and ‘A’ team circuits.
Sooriyabandara, 25, is a stylish right-hander who has piled on the runs in recent seasons, showing the temperament and technique required at the top level. Ratnayake, meanwhile, at 29, is a late bloomer — but his recent form has forced the selectors’ hand. An ambidextrous spinner who bowls both right-arm off-spin and left-arm orthodox, Ratnayake has emerged as a reliable option at a time when Sri Lanka’s spin department has looked threadbare.
The likes of Ramesh Mendis and Nishan Peiris have failed to deliver with any consistency — struggling with their lines and lengths. Ratnayake’s call-up rewards 15 months of steady returns with the ball across formats.
“They’ve both earned it. Consistent performances, strong character and the hunger to succeed,” a source close to selection matters told Telecom Asia Sport.
The official squad announcement is expected later this week.
With Karunaratne gone, the opening slot is up for grabs. Lahiru Udara, who was in the squad for the Australia series but is yet to debut, could be in line — although Oshada Fernando, who already has 22 Test caps, presents a more experienced alternative to partner Pathum Nissanka.
Mathews’ departure opens a middle-order vacancy, with Sooriyabandara and Sonal Dinusha — a spin-bowling all-rounder — seen as the leading contenders.
This will be Sri Lanka’s first assignment in the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. They had been in contention for a place in the final as late as last December, but a 2-0 series defeat in South Africa followed by a whitewash at home against Australia derailed their campaign. Eventually, they finished sixth on the WTC standings.
Dhananjaya de Silva, whose captaincy came under fire during the Australian series for a perceived lack of urgency and tactical aggression, is expected to continue as skipper — largely due to a lack of viable alternatives in the leadership group. (Telecom Asia Sport)
Brazil are the unlikely candidates to have claimed two cricket records as one of their bowlers took a record nine wickets – including five in a row – in their 189-run T20 Women’s International victory against Lesotho in Botswana.
Having won the toss on Thursday, at the BCA Kalahari Women’s T20 International Tournament, Brazil posted a daunting 202-8 with wicketkeeper Monnike Machado hitting 69 off 41.
The fun, for the Brazilians, was only just beginning, though, as Laura Cardoso claimed a hat-trick with the last three deliveries of her first over – the second of the Lesotho innings – to set in motion the incredible feat that eventually saw the Africans bowled out for 13.
The 21-year-old then continued her wicket-taking achievement with a Women’s T20 International first of five dismissals in a row as she struck with the first two balls of her second over. This was all part of claiming the first nine Lesotho wickets to fall, but being denied the chance to take all 10 after a change of bowling following her third over. Her final wicket was Ret’sepile Limema, who fell to the fifth ball of the fifth over, with Cardoso replaced for the following over at that end. Her nine wickets, nevertheless, is the best return in either men’s or women’s T20 internationals.
The right-arm seamer did, indeed, come close to another hat-trick, when she claimed wickets with the last two balls of her second over, which itself totalled four victims.
Cardoso, who has has taken 55 wickets in 48 T20 matches for Brazil, replaces Indonesia’s Rohmalia Rohmalia at the top of the Women’s T20 best bowling rankings, as she finished with figures of 3-2-4-9.
Rohmalia had claimed seven wickets in 2024 in a match against Mongolia in Bali. Only three other women have claimed seven in a T20 international.
The men’s record, and the overall in the format, had been held by Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey after he took eight wickets for seven runs against Myanmar last year.
The previous record for the number of wickets in consecutive deliveries was four, and was jointly held with the most prominent occasion in women’s cricket being when Shakera Selman pulled off the feat for the West Indies against Pakistan in 2018. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga are among the most notable bowlers from the men’s game to have claimed four consecutively in the format.
Although a huge winning margin, Brazil’s overall win does not compare with Argentina’s record after they beat Chile by 364 runs in 2023. The Argentinians had struck 427-1 to set up their victory.
Lesotho’s part in the record extends to no further than Cardoso’s haul, with the record-lowest total belonging to Mali, who were bowled out for 6 in 2019 by Rwanda.
Brazil, who lead the six-team tournament with five straight wins, play Mozambique on Friday.
[Aljazeera]
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| May 3 | 1st ODI |
| May 6 | 2nd ODI |
| May 9 | 3rd ODI |
| May 12 | 1st T20I |
| May 14 | 2nd T20I |
| May 15 | 3rd T20I |
[Cricbuzz]
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