Sports

Sri Lanka on course for consolation win

Published

4 years ago

2021/07/24

Avishka Fernando anchored the Sri Lankan innings after the hosts were set a target of 227 to win the third and final ODI against India at RPS yesterday.

By Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka looked on course for a consolation win the third and final ODI against India at RPS yesterday as they reached 92 for one at the end of 15 overs chasing a target of 227. Avishka Fernando gave the hosts a solid start in the dead rubber and was unbeaten on 46 when this edition went to print.

Fernando played some exciting strokes and his pulled six off Navdeep Saini was the shot of the day. It reminded of the power hitting of another Moratuwaite – L.R.D. Mendis.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa was unbeaten on 28.

Spinner Praveen Jayawickrama and Akila Dananjaya came up with outstanding performances picking six wickets between them as India were bowled out for 225 after being 157 for three at one stage.

Sri Lanka did three changes to the side that lost the second ODI while India came in with six changes handing debuts for five players, virtually playing a third string team.

Sri Lanka’s fielding that was a huge let down during the previous game showed some improvement as they backed up the bowlers to reduce India to 225 in 43.1 overs.

Dananjaya started off poorly conceding three boundaries in his first three balls on his return to limited overs cricket and exhausted a review too in his very first over. Sri Lanka had indicated that they were going to consider the off-spinner only for T-20 cricket but were forced to bring him back following injury to Wanindu Hasaranga.

Jayawickrama, who had claimed 11 wickets on his Test debut against Bangladesh in May, bowled superbly as he claimed the wickets of three middle order batsmen in his second ODI. With the left-arm spinner striking at regular intervals, India never got any momentum in their innings.

Dananjaya dismissed Suryakumar Yadav when he trapped him leg before wicket and claimed two more wickets towards the tail end of the Indian innings.

Skipper Dasun Shanaka, who had got his act woefully wrong in the previous game, had things very much under control yesterday with some clever bowling changes. He himself sent down eight overs and claimed the key wicket of Prithvi Shaw for 49.

Rain had stopped play for 100 minutes during the Indian innings and the game was reduced to 47 overs.

A win is crucial for Sri Lanka as they would gain ten points in the ICC World Cup Super League.

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Vijayakanth Viyaskanth added to Sri Lanka squad for tri-series

Published

7 hours ago

2025/11/18

Priyan

Sri Lanka have added Vijayakanth Viyaskanth to their T20I squad ahead of the tri-series against Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

Viyaskanth is currently in Doha and is a part of Lanka ‘A’ team in the ongoing ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 and was to fly to Pakistan from Qatar to join the senior national team for the tri-series.

Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga

Tri-series schedule:

November 18: Pakistan v Zimbabwe

November 20: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

November 22: Pakistan v Sri Lanka

November 23: Pakistan v Zimbabwe

November 25: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

November 27: Pakistan v Sri Lanka

November 29: Final

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‘Heartbroken’ Alcaraz pulls out of Davis Cup Finals

Published

8 hours ago

2025/11/18

Priyan

Carlos Alcaraz ends the year top of the rankings for the second time in his career, having become the first teenager to achieve the feat in 2022 [BBC]

Carlos Alcaraz says he is “heartbroken” after withdrawing from Spain’s Davis Cup Finals team because of injury.

World number one Alcaraz, 22, who was beaten by Jannik Sinner at the ATP Finals on Sunday, says he has been advised not to compete because of swelling in his right hamstring.

Spain face the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Bologna, Italy on Thursday.

Spaniard Alcaraz, who won the French and US Open titles this year to take his career Grand Slam tally to six, wrote on Instagram external that playing for his country was the “greatest thing there is”, adding: “I’m going home heartbroken…”

World number two Sinner – the four-time Slam winner – and team-mate Lorenzo Musetti are both missing from Italy’s team, leaving Germany’s Alexander Zverev, the world number three, as the only top-10 ranked player at the eight-team finals.

The Spanish tennis federation said Alcaraz felt “physical discomfort” in the back of his thigh during the first set of his 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 final defeat in Turin by 24-year-old Sinner.

Alcaraz travelled to Spain’s training camp on Monday but medical tests revealed “significant muscle strain with marked oedema” in his hamstring.

He secured the year end world number one ranking last week after reaching the knockout stages of the ATP Finals with three straight wins.

[BBC]

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Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League 2025 from tomorrow

Published

19 hours ago

2025/11/18

Priyan

[pic by PRIYAN DE SILVA]

For the 18th consecutive year, Ceylon Agro Industries Ltd (Prima Group Sri Lanka) has partnered with Sri Lanka Cricket to sponsor the Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League (SLYL) 2025.

The sponsorship presentation was held at the auditorium of the Singhaleses Sports Club on Monday evening.

SLYL is organized under the National Pathway Program of Sri Lanka Cricket, and the tournament provides players a national-level platform to perform and elevate to the next level in a bid to reach the national stage.

The 50-over tournament consisting of five Super Provincial Teams namely, Colombo North, Colombo South, Dambulla, Galle, and Kandy, will be played across five grounds in Colombo from 19th to 28th November 2025. The semi-finals will take place on the 26th of November and the finals on the 28th of November at the Thurstan College Cricket Ground.

Sri Lanka has seen several youth players emerge through the Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League and go on to represent the country as national players. Since 2007, Prima Group Sri Lanka has proudly served as the official sponsor of the Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League.

Speaking at the event, Sajith Gunaratne, General Manager of Ceylon Agro Industries, Prima Group Sri Lanka said “The Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League reflects our enduring commitment to nurturing grassroots cricket in the country. For nearly two decades, we have worked closely with Sri Lanka Cricket to create opportunities for young players to discover their potential. Observing many of them ascend through the ranks to represent the nation brings immense satisfaction”.

In a video clip aired at the launch captain of the National White Ball Team Charith Asalanka said “I had the privilege of taking part in the 2011-2012 editions of the Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League, and it was a great opportunity for us at the time, and I believe it will be the same for the young players participating this year,” .

Kamindu Mendis, who took part in the 2012 and 2013 editions of the tournament, noted that the tournament played a vital role in shaping his early cricketing journey.

Sri Lanka’s opening batsman Pathum Nissanka, recalling his memories of playing in the tournament in the 2013 edition, expressed his confidence that the tournament will continue to serve as a valuable platform for young players to showcase their skills.

The Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League 2025 remains one of the most anticipated youth cricket events in the country, providing a valuable platform for young players to showcase their talent and gain recognition.