Sports
Sri Lanka clinch Asia Cup for the 6th time after stunning win
Sri Lanka emerged Asia Cup champions for the sixth time with a 23-run win over the more-fancied Pakistan in Dubai. Central to the title win was a counter-attacking batting effort from Bhanuka Rajapaksa (71* off 45) and Wanindu Hasaranga (36 off 21), who lifted Sri Lanka from 58/5 and set 171 for Pakistan, a target that proved too tall for Babar Azam and Co on the night. They were bowled out for 147 in 20 overs as Sri Lanka brought up five consecutive T20Is wins for the first time since April 2014.
How the toss spiced things up
Coming into this final, Sri Lanka’s only loss in the tournament came when they batted first. To be fair, it wasn’t a one-off instance of them failing to put a total on the board; since the 2021 T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka had lost all the seven matches they batted first in. Furthermore, the venue only multiplied the challenge on offer – teams chasing in Dubai had won 26 of the last 30 games leading into this final. So when the coin fell Pakistan’s way, it pitted Sri Lanka’s bat-first limitations against Pakistan’s grey chasing record, making for a fascinating contest.
Just how did SL get to 58/5?
Pakistan were just too good with their pace upfront. Naseem Shah, steaming in, rattled Kusal Mendis’s stumps in the opening over but more pace awaited them in the form of Harif Rauf, who notched up pace in excess of 150 and picked the wickets of Pathum Nissanka (caught at mid-off) and Danushka Gunathilaka (bowled). Things went from bad to worse when Iftikhar Ahmed got rid of Dhananjaya de Silva, who had hitherto looked Sri Lanka’s best batter.
Now let’s talk about that partnership
Looking back, Pakistan were taken aback by that counterattacking partnership between Wanindu Hasaranga and Bhanuka Rajapaksa. The duo added 58 runs off 36 balls for the sixth wicket. Hasaranga, in particular, was aggressive against pace and spin alike, and even hit Rauf for two consecutive boundaries before edging one to the keeper. Rajapaksa then took control, finishing with 6 fours and 3 sixes and helping his side add 53/0 in the last five overs. It was only the second time in eight T20Is in 2022 Sri Lanka managed 150+ batting first.
Pakistan could have restricted them for fewer?
Yes.. The pitch had good bounce for shot-making but also had enough in it for the bowlers. But Babar Azam instead of attacking Sri Lanka at five-down, allowed Rajapaksa-Hasaranga to get their eyes in against three overs of spin.
Pakistan’s fielding in the last five overs didn’t help either. Rajapaksa was dropped twice, first by Shadab Khan on 49 at long-on before he collided with Asif Ali at deep mid-wicket and made for another drop. In contrast, Sri Lanka took all the catches that came their way, which at Dubai’s ‘Ring of Fire’ stadium isn’t always easy.
Pakistan and chase: what went wrong today?
Babar Azam’s form and Mohammad Rizwan’s slow-cooked fifty that lacked impetus to chase something like 171 in a high-pressure final. Looking back, Pakistan weren’t able to counterattack when they lost Babar (caught at short fine leg) and Fakhar Zaman (chopped on) off consecutive balls to Pramod Madushan (who finished with 4 for 34). Both Iftikhar Ahmed and Rizwan were slow to get off the blocks and it meant that Pakistan were only 68/2 at the halfway mark. To be fair to the duo, they had done well against Hasaranga, picking 25 runs off his first three overs but his fourth, it can be said, all but decided the match. Three wickets fell in that over; that of a well-set Rizwan (55 off 49), Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah, and it all led to Pakistan being bowled out for 147 in 20 overs. (cricbuzz)
Sri Lanka Athletics has invited India, the Philippines and the Maldives for next month’s Relay Championships conducted by Sri Lanka Schools Athletics Association in a bid to provide the men’s 4×400 metres relay quartet with a chance to reach qualifying standards for the World Relays.
Currently Sri Lanka men’s 4×400 metres relay team is within the required ranking position to compete at the prestigious World Relays taking place in Guangzhou, China. The 3:04.48 seconds finish to win the gold medal of the men’s 4×400 metres at the Asian Relays in May last year has placed Sri Lanka in the 31st position in the ‘Road to Guangzhou’ rankings.
But with many competitions coming up within the next couple of months Sri Lanka Athletics wants to leave no stone unturned in their quest to keep the ranking position within the qualifying range.
The teams in the first 32 positions according to the times produced within the qualifying period (January 1, 2024 to April 13, 2025) become eligible for the World Relays taking place on May 10 and 11 in Guangzhou.
Sri Lanka’s chances of improving the current standings (31st) at this week’s World Indoor Championship in China are minimal as Olympian Aruna Dharshana, who is the fastest of the current crop of athletes will not be available for the event.
Dharshana is currently training and competing in Australia. He is looking forward to reach qualifying standards or reach the required ranking position for World Championships in the 400 metres.
The World Athletics has set a tough standard of 44.85 seconds for the men’s 400 metres. While only 17 are selected through direct qualifying standards, 31 athletes are selected through rankings for the 400 metres. Dharshana is yet yo enter rankings to be eligible for the World Championships.
Sri Lanka Athletics will field Dharshana, Kalinga Kumarage, S.B.R. Madushan and Sadew Rajakaruna for the relay event in April.
by Reemus Fernando
Defence Services Beach Volleyball Championship 2025 was held from March 12 to 14 at the SLAF beach volleyball courts, Katunayake. During the finals SLAF Men’s team defeated SL Army (2-0) while the SL Navy Women’s team defeated SLAF Women’s team (2-0). Incidentally is the seventh Defence Services Beach Volleyball title won by the SLAF Men’s Team.
Base Commander SLAF Base Katunayake AVM Dhammika Dias graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Chairman of SLAF Volleyball, Group Captain Milinda Mendis, Senior Officers from SL Army and Navy were also present for the finals.
The Central Province Badminton Association (CPBA) is now accepting entries for one of Sri Lanka’s most anticipated badminton competitions, the Summer Season All-Island Open Championships 2025, which will be staged at the Municipal Council Indoor Stadium in Nuwara Eliya from April 21 to 27.
The highly followed seven-day annual badminton tournament, held during the Nuwara Eliya April Holiday Season, is known to attract Sri Lanka’s top ranked shuttlers. The National Ranking Level 1 competition, sanctioned by Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), is one of the key sporting attractions of Nuwara Eliya during April every year, known to generate increasing public interest.
The championship will feature a wide range of events from Under-11 to Under-19 in the Junior category and Over-30 to Over-70 in the Senior category, with an addition of three Combined Age segment of 100+. The main attraction of the competition will be the Open events comprising Men’s and Women’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles, with an addition of a Plate Championship for the losers in Men’s and Women’s Singles.
The opening ceremony will take place on April 21st at 9:00am, followed by the preliminary rounds, leading up to the climax on April 26 with the quarter-finals and semi-finals. The excitement will continue on April 27 with the highly anticipated semi-finals and final matches, followed by the Closing Ceremony to mark the culmination of this championship.
The main draw seeding will be determined based on SLB Ranking as of April 13, followed by the draw on April 16 at 11:00am at No.2, Cambridge Terrace, Colombo 7. Entries will close on April 10 at noon. Entries can be submitted online or by contacting Sadeesha Adithya on 0761759017 and further details of the tournament are available in the prospectus published in the SLB website.
A total prize money of Rs.750,000 for all events based on the number of entries will be on offer, in addition to trophies, medals and certificates guaranteed for winners, runners-up and semi-finalists of each event of the tournament. Junior winners will receive appropriate gifts instead of prize money, according to a decision taken by the tournament organisers. The tournament is sponsored by Mobil, Li Ning, McFoil, 3M and GAC.
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