Sports

Sri Lanka hammer Australia in record 174-run rout

Published

10 months ago

2025/02/15

Captain Charith Asalanka was named Player of the Series after Sri Lanka beat Australia 2-0. Asalanka scored a hundred in the first ODI and followed it up with an unbeaten half-century in the second game. Here he’s seen receiving the award from SLC Treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyadda.

Australia were handed a humbling defeat – one for the record books – as Sri Lanka trounced them by a massive 174 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday. It was Australia’s heaviest defeat in ODIs against Sri Lanka and their fifth-worst margin of loss in history. Chasing a target of 282, the Aussies never got going, bundled out for a meager 107 – their second-lowest total against Sri Lanka in ODIs. It was also their lowest total in Asia.

The visitors were off to a rocky start, and things only got worse as they collapsed in spectacular fashion, losing their last seven wickets for just 28 runs. It was a textbook demolition job, orchestrated first by Asitha Fernando, who set the tone with a fiery opening spell of three for 23 in four overs, before the spinners tightened the screws.

On a surface offering plenty of bite for the slow bowlers, the Sri Lankan spinners merely had to land the ball in the right areas and let the pitch do the talking. Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage triggered the collapse, bamboozling Josh Inglis with a skiddy arm ball that crashed into the stumps. In his next over, he delivered another peach, rattling the dangerous Glenn Maxwell’s timber to finish with four wickets.

From the other end, Wanindu Hasaranga joined the party, weaving his magic and claiming three wickets, including that of skipper Steve Smith, who was trapped plumb in front. There was no way back for the Aussies, as Sri Lanka ran through the defending World Champions like a hot knife through butter.

This emphatic victory sealed a 2-0 series win for Sri Lanka and propelled them to fifth in the ODI rankings. More importantly, it sent a strong message to the cricketing world: Sri Lanka’s absence from the upcoming Champions Trophy will be felt. The former World Champions missed out on qualification after finishing ninth in the 2023 World Cup, but this performance was a firm reminder of what they are capable of.

Sri Lanka’s batting had been under the microscope in recent weeks, but the top order silenced critics with a commanding display. Kusal Mendis was the star of the show, crafting a superb century – his fifth in ODIs and first against Australia. He found ample support from Nishan Madushka and Charith Asalanka, who chipped in with crucial half-centuries.

Asalanka, fresh from his match-winning hundred two days ago, was in irresistible form again. Unfazed by the opposition, he bludgeoned an unbeaten 78 off just 66 balls, peppering the boundary with six fours and three towering sixes.

The foundation was laid by a 98-run partnership between Mendis and Madushka for the second wicket, stabilizing the innings after an early loss. Mendis then built on the momentum, stitching a 94-run stand with Asalanka for the fourth wicket. Even after Mendis perished soon after reaching his ton, Asalanka ensured Sri Lanka finished with a flourish. He and Janith Liyanage put the finishing touches with an unbroken 66-run stand off just 35 balls, shifting into top gear as Sri Lanka plundered 97 runs in the last ten overs.

Australia were without their pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, and the absence of firepower was glaring. With the Champions Trophy set to kick off in Pakistan next week, they have plenty to ponder. Their bowling attack lacked bite, and their batting was in disarray – issues they must address swiftly if they hope to put up a fight in the tournament.

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Sports

Sri Lanka Under 19s pull off two wickets win against Afghanistan

Published

16 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka Under 19s scored back to back victories as Mahanama College batsman Chamika Heenatigala anchored the tail with an unbeaten half century to seal two wickets victory over Afghanistan U19s in their second group match of the Under 19 Asia Cup in Dubai on Monday.

‎Chasing 236 runs to win Sri Lanka U19s were eight wickets down for 217 runs in the 48th over but Heenatigala with Rasith Nimsara kept their cool to seal the victory with four balls to spare.

‎In their chase, Viran Chamuditha top scored with 62 runs and put on a first wicket stand of 55 runs with Dimantha Mahavithana (27).

‎While Kavija Gamage (34) and Dulnith Sigera (22) made vital contributions with the bat, Sethmika Senevirathne and Sigera took three wickets each.

‎It was Sri Lanka Youth team’s second consecutive win in the tournament after registering their first win against Nepal.

Sports

Dasun Shanaka’s all-round effort can not hold Vipers

Published

16 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sam Curran bagged two wickets before scoring an unbeaten fifty. (ILT20)

Dasun Shanaka scored an unbeaten 29 and took two wickets but that could not hold Desert Vipers becoming the first team to seal a playoffs spot as they made it six wins out of six on Sunday (December 14) halfway through the league stage of the ILT20 2025-26.

‎Sam Curran produced an all-round effort as Vipers chased down Dubai Capitals’ 166/4 with five wickets in hand and a ball to spare.

‎Asked to bat, Capitals lost Shayan Jahangir to Naseem Shah in the third over and were kept on a tight leash by the Vipers pacers in the powerplay, reaching 35/1. Gulbadin Naib and Leus du Plooy then added 39 at close to a run-a-ball before Noor Ahmad removed his Afghanistan teammate. Capitals were 68/2 at the halfway mark and in need of momentum through the second half of the innings.

‎Du Plooy injected some urgency with two fours off Lockie Ferguson in an over, followed by a six off Naseem Shah to bring up a 38-ball fifty. But Curran turned the innings again with a double-wicket over, dismissing du Plooy and Rovman Powell off successive deliveries. Jordan Cox and Dasun Shanaka, however, ensured a strong finish, striking six fours and three sixes in an unbroken 72-run stand off 40 balls.

‎Max Holden set the tone in the chase, accounting for six of the seven fours Vipers struck in the powerplay. Fakhar Zaman fell to Mustafizur Rahman in the fifth over but Vipers still reached 50 in six overs. Holden was dismissed for 34 by Haider Ali while attempting a slog sweep, and although Hasan Nawaz struck three sixes, he fell to Waqar Salamkheil to leave Vipers at 88/3 after 10 overs.

‎Dan Lawrence and Curran steadied the chase with a 32-run stand before Lawrence was dismissed by Shanaka for 20 in the 14th over. In the same over, Shimron Hetmyer struck a four and a six and was later reprieved by Shanaka. A couple of tight overs followed, but Vipers remained in control, needing 31 from the final four overs.

‎Curran took them closer with two fours off David Willey and a six off Muhammad Jawadullah. With three required in the final over, Hetmyer fell to Shanaka, but Curran finished the chase with a six off the fourth ball, completing a 33-ball fifty to cap a fine all-round performance.

‎‎Brief scores:

‎Dubai Capitals 166/4 in 20 overs (Leus du Plooy 54, Jordan Cox 49*; Sam Curran 2-17)

‎Desert Vipers

171/5 in 19.4 overs (Sam Curran 52*, Max Holden 34; Dasun Shanaka 2-19)

Sports

Akbar Brothers crowned MBSA A-Division champions

Published

1 day ago

2025/12/15

Priyan

Akbar Brothers Ltd delivered a commanding all-round performance to clinch the ‘A’ Division title at the 33rd MSBA League Basketball Tournament, defeating defending champions Fairfirst Insurance 70–60 in a thrilling final held recently.

Despite a group stage loss to Fairfirst, a revitalized Akbar Brothers team returned for the final with renewed focus, executing a strategic and disciplined game plan with some excellent passing and defense. Akbar Brothers came in with all guns blazing right from the outset. The first quarter was all Akbar’s that stacked up a 13 to 4 lead. Fairfirst mounted a strong challenge in the second quarter, narrowing the margin, but Akbar’s momentum secured a 35–28 lead at halftime, a margin they maintained with composure through to the final whistle.

Dasun Mendis led the charge for Akbar Brothers with 18 points and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Chenura De Alwis added 17 points to the tally, while Shehan Udayanga posted a valiant 22 points for Fairfirst. Dimitri Grebe anchored Akbar Brothers with strong leadership, with Hiran Wijesooriya captaining Fairfirst.

Earlier in the tournament Akbar Brothers beat Sampath Bank (82-71), Seylan Bank (91-68) David Pieris (110-78) and Seylan Bank in the semi final (83-60)

The final, held at the Royal College Indoor Sports Complex, saw a vibrant turnout of supporters as Akbar Brothers proved their championship mettle with teamwork, resilience, and clinical execution.

Akbar Brothers – Dimitri Grebe (Captain), Dasun Mendis, Chenura De Alwis, Randil Henry, Taher Akbarally, Selvam Savarimuttu, Franklyn Morais, Sanketha Jayarathne, Jeewan Priyankera , Praneeth Udumalagala, Ajith Kuruppu (Coach), Adrian Gabriel (Asst. Coach)

Fairfirst Insurance – Hiran Wijesooriya (Captain), Shehan Udayanga , Lakshan Kulathunga, Roshan Randima, Arnold Brent, Isuru Perera, Denzil Nicholas, Nimesh Fernando, Keshawa Perera, Charaka Anuhas, Asanga Perera (Coach)