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Sri Lanka leave for World Cup hoping to reverse losing trend

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by Rex Clementine

One of the most consistent teams at ICC events, there’s been never so much of uncertainty surrounding a Sri Lankan cricket team in the last 30 years.

In those three decades, when Sri Lanka left for a global event, they fancied their chances of making it to the semi-finals irrespective of form and all the internal squabbles. But this time, we live in hope that the team will qualify in the first place.

That they will do. Two wins over three up and coming teams should not be too much of a worry. However our planning could have been much better.

When a half a dozen seniors were benched from white ball cricket, the selectors were going to build the team on Danushka Gunatilleke, Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella. Once those three were kicked out on disciplinary grounds, it’s a dangerous ploy to scratch the barrel. But by then the selectors had burned bridges. Thisara Perera had retired and the team’s most experienced player Angelo Mathews made himself unavailable; basically telling the selectors to go and fly a kite.

The only one who seemed to be interested was Dinesh Chandimal. He was axed despite having scored a half-century in his last T20 innings in the Caribbean. When he returned, he wasn’t made a permanent fixture in the side but was made to carry water. Thankfully, he’s managed to get into the final squad and should keep wickets.

Sri Lanka first head to Oman, where they will play two T20 Internationals. They were expected to leave yesterday evening but the departure was delayed as Oman was experiencing turbulent weather. After the Oman leg, the team will travel to Abu Dhabi where two more warm-up games against Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea await Dasun Shanaka’s side. Then the tournament gets underway. Sri Lanka will play Namibia, Ireland and Netherlands and need to win two games to go through.

Kusal Janith Perera, who was nursing a hamstring injury is recovering and he’s expected to be fully fit by the time the qualifying round gets underway. A team that lacks experience and big hitting depend a lot on KJP. When fully fit, KJP looks to be in a different league altogether.



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Nissanka’s masterclass powers Sri Lanka fightback in Galle Test

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Pathum Nissanka posted a career best 187 and his first century at home as Sri Lanka came up with a strong reply on day three of the first Test against Bangladesh in Galle yesterday

Pathum Nissanka produced a career-best 187 to anchor Sri Lanka’s spirited reply on day three of the first Test against Bangladesh in Galle on Thursday, guiding the hosts to a commanding 368 for four at stumps.

Sri Lanka still trail by 127 runs, but with wickets in hand and a placid pitch beneath their feet, the momentum appears to be tilting in the hosts’ favour.

On a surface that has offered little to the bowlers, Nissanka made hay while the sun shone, unleashing an array of strokes that left the Bangladesh attack chasing leather. The right-hander peppered the off-side with exquisite drives and was equally adept square of the wicket, cutting and pulling with authority to force the field back.

The 27-year-old had been under the pump coming into the match, having managed just one half-century in nine innings since his heroic ton at The Oval last year against England. But there was no stopping him this time, as he cashed in on a batter-friendly deck to silence critics and steady Sri Lanka’s ship.

Having first made waves with a century on debut in the Caribbean four years ago, Nissanka’s red-ball career has been sporadic, punctuated by injuries. But since August last year, he has carved out a regular spot in the Test side, though recurring back niggles have occasionally sidelined him.

Nissanka was cruising towards a maiden double hundred when he was castled by Hasan Mahmud with the second new ball — bowled through the gate in classic fashion. His knock, laced with 23 fours and a six, was a timely reminder of his pedigree and poise at the crease.

He put on 47 for the opening wicket with debutant Lahiru Udara, before adding a crucial 157 runs with Dinesh Chandimal for the second wicket. Chandimal, who looked set for a big score, fell against the run of play, flicking one to leg slip to give Bangladesh a much-needed breakthrough.

Angelo Mathews, walking out to bat in his farewell Test amidst a guard of honour from the opposition, joined Nissanka in a stand worth 89. The veteran looked composed until he feathered a catch behind off part-time spinner Mominul Haque for 39.

Though Nissanka stole the limelight, the most assured batter at the crease by day’s end was Kamindu Mendis. The left-hander was a picture of composure, using his feet to good effect against the spinners and rotating strike with ease. He remained unbeaten on 37, with skipper Dhananjaya de Silva on 17, as Sri Lanka ended the day with plenty still in the tank.

Earlier in the morning, Bangladesh added just nine runs to their overnight total before being dismissed for 495. Asitha Fernando mopped up the tail, finishing with four wickets as the tourists lost their last six wickets for just 37 runs — a collapse that handed Sri Lanka the opening to claw back into the contest.

Rex Clementine ✍️
in Galle

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Seven cueists to compete for Sri Lanka at Asian 6 Red & Team Snooker Championship

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Sri Lanka will field seven cueists including champions Irshath Thaha and Susantha Boteju when the country hosts the Asian 6 Red and Team Snooker Championship 2025 at the Moors Sports Club billiards table in Colombo from June 22.

The seven-day championship is hosted by Billiard and Snooker Association of Sri Lanka (BSASL) under the auspices of the Asian Confederations of Billiard Sports (ACBS).

Irshath Thaha and Susantha Boteju are joined by Mohamed Rikaz, Dhanushka Puwakgolla, Mohamed Musharaff, Mohamed Mubeen, and Thiyagarajah Thanji to vie for honours

The seven day championship due to end on June 28 will see the participation of 17 countries namely Kuwait, Hong Kong China, China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Oman, UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Cambodia, Macau, Qatar, Singapore, Iraq and host Sri Lanka.

The regional event will see the participation of over 50 cueists and will showcase the action of past and present world champions giving the snooker fans a rare opportunity to witness the top notch players in action. The championship will be played over six tables and action will begin for the day from 10.00 a.m. each day with five sessions planned to be conducted.

The players will clash for two titles the Asian 6 Red which is an individual event and the Team championship that will be contested between two players from each country.

At the last edition of the tournament which was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last year, Awais Muneer of Pakistan clinched the men’s singles 6 Red event and Team Thailand emerged the team champions. They will be looking to retain the titles.

The tournament will give the emerging and established players the much needed exposure and gain valuable international experience and an opportunity to showcase their talent.

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Sri Lanka book final berth against Turkmenistan

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Sri Lanka did well to reach the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup Asia Oceania Group III tournament as the hosts recorded a 3-0 win over Nepal at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts on Thursday.

Sri Lanka are set to meet Turkmenistan in the final today, after the latter beat Pakistan in their encounter.

In the first singels match Akeesha Silva beat Shivali Gurung 7-7, 7-6 before Dinara de Silva beat Abhllasha Bista 6-4, 6-2.

Inuki Jayaweera and Tuwini de Alwis made it three wins in a row by beating Shivali Gurung and Abhilasha Bista 6-4, 1-6,  10-5.

The winners of today’s final will be promoted to Group II.

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