Sports
Sri Lanka riding high on an impressive run
Rex Clementine at Pallekele
Sri Lanka’s national cricket team is on a roll, hitting its stride since the new management and selection panel took the reins in January. The team has chalked up victories in 11 out of 14 series across formats in 2024, with their home record being particularly stellar—bagging nine wins out of ten series.
After pulling off a remarkable come-from-behind victory over the third-ranked West Indies at Dambulla in T20s, Sri Lanka sealed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series at Pallekele on Wednesday, rendering Saturday’s third game a mere formality.
Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was the toast of the day, spinning his magic with a four-wicket haul.
“We were over the moon to beat India earlier this year — it had been far too long since we had managed that. Consistency has been the name of the game for us this year, and that’s a great sign,” Hasaranga told reporters. “Looking ahead, we’ve got both a T20 and a 50-over World Cup in the next three years, and it’s exciting times ahead. Most of the guys in the squad now will be key players in those events.”
The only fly in the ointment during Wednesday’s match was a couple of dropped catches. Sri Lanka had the West Indies on the ropes at 58 for eight, but two fielding lapses allowed Sherfane Rutherford and Gudakesh Motie to mount a spirited comeback, stitching together a record-breaking 119-run partnership for the ninth wicket.
“We spilled two catches, which was disappointing. These things happen, but if it becomes a habit, we’ll have to nip it in the bud. I’m confident the boys will bounce back and put on a good show in the next game,” Hasaranga said.
Hasaranga’s return to the side marks his comeback from injury, having missed the ODI leg of the Indian series due to a nagging hamstring issue.
“You’ve got to stay on top of your fitness because we’re constantly playing white-ball cricket. This is my sixth hamstring injury, so I’m working closely with the trainer and physio to ensure it doesn’t rear its ugly head again,” Hasaranga added.
Despite the team’s recent purple patch, it’s been a mixed bag for Hasaranga personally. His short-lived tenure as Sri Lanka’s T20 captain came to an end after just five months, with Charith Asalanka taking over the reins. He also found himself dropping down the batting order, from a regular number seven to occasionally floating at four or five, and now finding himself at number nine. Nevertheless, he’s more than willing to roll with the punches for the sake of the team.
“That’s a decision made by the coach and captain when the team was picked. My job is to give my all, regardless of where I bat,” Hasaranga said.
Speaking about Asalanka, Hasaranga couldn’t hide his admiration. “I’ve known Charith as captain since our school days, from Under-13 to Under-19. He’s a smart skipper and a true leader of men. The whole team stands firmly behind him.”
[Cricbuzz]
Former Sri Lanka head coach Mickey Arthur has voiced disappointment over remarks made by Chairman of Selectors Pramodya Wickramasinghe, who last week claimed that Arthur was reluctant to include a young Pathum Nissanka during Sri Lanka’s tour of the Caribbean in 2021.
In his first media briefing, Wickramasinghe said it was he who pushed for Nissanka’s inclusion despite Arthur’s reservations. The former coach has flatly denied the allegation, calling it wide of the mark.
“I am very disappointed with Pramodya’s comments,” Arthur told Telecom Asia Sport. “The right people know exactly how I felt about Pathum. There was never any doubt that he was our future. I don’t want any credit for Pathum’s success. That belongs entirely to his hard work. I simply gave him an opportunity because the talent was impossible to ignore.”
Arthur said Nissanka’s domestic form had left little room for debate. “He was scoring runs for fun and the sheer weight of them made it impossible not to take a look. Once he joined the squad on tour, his attitude and work ethic were truly remarkable. From that moment, there was no doubt this bloke was going places,” Arthur added.
Even before Nissanka’s elevation to the senior side, Arthur had publicly spoken of his admiration for young prospects such as Nissanka and Charith Asalanka, stressing the importance of giving emerging players a long rope. His view was simple: once talent is identified and the attitude checks out, selectors and team management must back those players through thick and thin.
Arthur arrived in Sri Lanka with a formidable résumé, having coached South Africa, Australia and Pakistan. He placed a premium on fitness and fielding and under his watch a team in transition began to show signs of turning the corner. At the end of his tenure, Arthur opted not to renew his contract and instead took up a stint in English county cricket with Derbyshire.
As for Nissanka, he has scarcely put a foot wrong since breaking into the side. There was a Test hundred on debut in the West Indies, followed last year by a match-winning unbeaten century against England at The Oval on a lively seaming pitch. In between, he made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan to score a double hundred in ODIs. Last week, he was snapped up by Delhi Capitals at the IPL auction.
Nissanka is currently ranked third in T20 internationals and is knocking on the door of the top ten in both Tests and ODIs.
73rd National Badminton Championship
Defending champions Viren Nettasinghe and Ranithma Liyanage made a fitting end to their campaigns of the 2025 season, by defending the Men’s and Women’s Open Singles titles as Varangana Jayawardana and Rashmi Mudalige clinched the Women’s Open Doubles title at the 73rd National Badminton Championship, concluded at the S. Thomas’ College Indoor Sports Complex, Mount Lavinia on Wednesday (24).
Viren clinically overcame each of his opponents from the Round of 32, all in straight sets, to reach the final. The country’s top Men’s Singles shuttler continued his form against Rasindu Hendahewa in the final, winning in straight sets to defend the title. Viren defeated Rasindu 21-10 and 21-14 to win his second national title in style.
Ranithma aptly defended her Women’s Open Singles title by recording a comfortable straight sets win against Rashmi Mudalige in an absorbing final that lasted nearly 45 minutes. Though the title decider stretched way longer than anticipated, Ranithma managed to seal the victory by recording set wins of 21-12 and 21-18 to claim the national title for the second year running.
Fourth seed pair Sanuda Ariyasinghe and Thisath Rupathunga created an upset by toppling top seeds Oshamika Karunarathne and Thulith Palliyaguru in a lengthy final that went down to the wire in the Men’s Open Doubles. Sanuda and Thisath won the first set 21-15, but the top pair bounced back to level the game one-all with a 21-18 win. But the gritty pair of Sanuda and Thisath maintained their composure to overcome the favourites 21-15 in the decider and claim the Men’s Open Doubles title.
Varangana Jayawardana and Rashmi Mudalige completed a successful campaign to defend the Women’s Open Doubles title from last year, this time overcoming the aspiring pair of Dilni Ambalangodage and Ranumi Manage in straight sets. Varangana and Rashmi remained unbeaten throughout, as they ended the unblemished run of Dilni and Ranumi with set wins of 21-13 and 21-18.
The Mixed Open Doubles title was claimed by Thulith Palliyaguru and Panchali Adhikari, who battled for 45 minutes to overcome Aashinsa Herath and Rashmi Mudalige 2-1 in the final. After conceding the first set by 12-21, Thulith and Panchali regrouped to claim the next two sets 21-18 and 21-15.
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