Sports

Sri Lanka urge Mendis to turn blazing starts into big knocks

Published

1 year ago

2025/07/8

Sri Lanka’s Batting Coach Thilina Kandamby urged Kusal Mendis to convert starts into match winning hundreds.

Sri Lanka batting coach Thilina Kandamby has called on Kusal Mendis to cash in on his form and convert flying starts into match-winning hundreds, ahead of the decisive third ODI against Bangladesh in Pallekele on Tuesday.

Mendis lit up the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday night with a whirlwind half-century, racing to the milestone off just 20 deliveries — the fastest fifty ever recorded at the venue, eclipsing Thisara Perera’s 23-ball blitz against England in 2014.

The right-hander was in sublime touch, cutting and pulling with authority while driving with finesse. At the time he reached fifty, 46 of his runs had come in boundaries — ten fours and a six — and Sri Lanka looked well on course to wrap up the 249-run chase inside 30 overs.

But once Mendis perished, the innings unravelled like a house of cards. The pitch, which had seemed a batting paradise moments earlier, suddenly appeared treacherous as Sri Lanka stumbled to a dramatic 16-run defeat. Mendis, known for making batting looks like a walk in the park, once again flattered to deceive.

“He gave us a cracking start, but he’s an experienced player and needs to understand the value of batting through the innings,” Kandamby told reporters ahead of the series decider. “If he gets a hundred, we win 90 to 95 percent of the time. When you’re in that kind of nick, it’s almost a crime to throw your wicket away. He could’ve gone on to make 150 or even 200.”

Sri Lanka had cruised to 75 for two inside ten overs, before the middle order lost its bearings against some crafty spin. Janith Liyanage’s late fireworks gave the home side a glimmer of hope, but it was too little, too late.

“Our middle order especially Charith and Kamindu got stuck in a shell,” Kandamby admitted. “You’ve got to give credit where it’s due. Their three spinners bowled tight lines and didn’t give much away. We’ve got plans in place and we’ll iron out those wrinkles at training.”

The batting coach also pointed out a lack of soft hands and sweep shots that cost them on a turning surface.

“You need to work the angles and rotate strike. Even when nudging to the leg-side, you’ve got to play with soft hands. On a pitch like that, the sweep and paddle sweep should’ve been part of the arsenal.”

Pallekele, traditionally a batsman’s paradise, is expected to dish out a belter of a surface for Tuesday’s finale. With both teams locked at one-all, there’s everything to play for.

Sri Lanka, still smarting from the disappointment of finishing ninth in the 2023 World Cup, have turned a corner since then. They have won six of their last eight ODI series and climbed to fourth in the ICC rankings. However, Kandamby insisted that the focus remains on performance rather than pressure.

“We’re not putting ourselves under the pump thinking about the series win,” he said. “We’re sticking to our processes. We know we’re a quality side. If we execute our plans, I don’t think the opposition can match us.”

Rex Clementine at Pallekele

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Ronaldo apologizes for Portugal walkout; says Jesus broke promise

Published

37 mins ago

2026/10/7

Priyan

Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal's leading scorer (Aljazeera)

Cristiano Ronaldo has accused Portugal ‌coach Jorge Jesus of twice breaking his word, saying a failed agreement to publicly ⁠explain his omission ⁠against Norway drove him out of the camp, but insisting he remained available after any punishment.

In a lengthy statement, the 41-year-old gave his account of the dispute ⁠that prompted his departure from Copenhagen before Portugal’s Nations League match versus Denmark last week.

Ronaldo said Jesus had agreed a plan under which the forward would miss the Norway and Denmark ⁠matches to manage his fitness. However, on the day of the Norway game, the coach told him he would play for 30 minutes.

“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from halftime onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said.

“The manager had broken his word to me.”

Portugal’s ‌captain and all-time leading scorer said a subsequent meeting with Jesus, attended by his club side Al Nassr’s sporting director Simao Coutinho, produced an agreement for the coach to clarify events at his next news conference.

According to Ronaldo, an eight-point document was prepared saying he had never demanded playing time, had respected Jesus’s decisions and that the coach asking him to warm up without bringing him on had been a mistake.

Ronaldo said the agreed notes did ⁠not require Jesus to apologise to him but said the coach’s ⁠public remarks bore no resemblance to their private discussion.

“It was the second time he had broken his word to me,” Ronaldo said. “I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.”

The statement provided Ronaldo’s account⁠, but on Sunday, after Portugal’s win over Norway, Jesus denied he had made any agreement with the player, nevertheless leaving the door open ⁠for his return.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) did not immediately respond ⁠to a request for comment about Ronaldo’s statement.

Ronaldo apologised for failing to greet supporters after the Norway match and for leaving his teammates, accepting that his captaincy made his conduct more serious.

“The consequences of my actions must be assessed ‌and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation,” he said.

Despite the rupture, Ronaldo said he was not limiting his international ambitions to a farewell appearance.

“If I’m physically fit, playing for my club – scoring ‌goals, ‌I hope – after serving whatever suspension is imposed on me, I’ll be available, as I’ve always been until now, to compete and win for our national team,” he added.

(Aljazeera)

Sports

Nalanda on the cusp of reaching knockout stage as unbeaten run continues

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rusandu Silva has nine wickets against his name after three matches.

by Reemus Fernando

Nalanda College, Colombo continued their unbeaten run to come closer to securing a berth in the knockout stage as they beat Gurukula College by nine wickets in the Under 19 Division I Tier A Limited Overs Tournament match played at Campbell Place on Tuesday.

‎With Rusandu Silva continuing his impressive run in the tournament, Nalanda did well to restrict the team from Kelaniya to just 113 runs (in 35.4 overs).

‎After two outings Rusandu had six wickets against his name coming to this match.‎Rusandu and Methuka Perera claimed three wickets each. ‎Lithum Wijekumara also impressed with two wickets, while Santhul Wijeyarathne took one.

‎Adeepa Pinsara was the only batsman to make a contribution of note as he top-scored with 35 off 49 balls, including four fours and two sixes, while Javindu Madusanka made 20.

‎In their chase Nalanda made light work of the modest target, reaching 114 for one, scoring at a rate of over a run a ball.

‎Nadul Jayalath cracked an unbeaten 62 from just 52 balls. His innings contained four fours and five sixes. He received valuable support from Lithum Wijekumara, who scored 35 off 42 deliveries with six boundaries.

‎Ranmith Senarath completed the successful chase with an unbeaten 10 off seven balls, including two fours.

‎Nalanda lost only one wicket as the opening pair added 89 for the first wicket. Jayalath and Senarath then finished the contest comfortably, securing a convincing nine-wicket victory with many overs to spare.

‎It was Nalanda’s third successive victory in the Tier A tourney after having beaten Thurstan (155) by seven wickets and St. Servatius’ Matara (187) by four wickets in the first two matches.

‎As of now, they are the leading team in Group G where they have only St. Joseph’s Darley Road to meet before the knockout stage.

‎With just two teams advancing to the next stage from each Group Nalanda are almost assured of their place.

Sports

Wins for Hayley’s Group ‘A’ , HNB ‘A’ and CDB on Saturday

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

33RD SINGER – MCA Super PREMIER LEAGUE

Hayley’s Group ‘A’, HNB ‘A’ and CDB registered wins by defeating Colombo Aces, Fairfirst Insurance and SLC Youth in the matches of the Mercantile Cricket Association’s Super Premier League cricket tournament on Sunday (04).

The MCA Super Premier League is sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka for the 33rd consecutive year.

At the Bloomfield Cricket ground, Nishan Madushka, Pulindu Perera and Minod Dhanuka smashed half tons as Hayley’s Group ‘A’ registered their second win of the tournament defeating Colombo Aces by six wickets.

At the Thurstan ground, Nipun Dhananjaya and Muditha Lakshan posted eighty plus scores to help CDB amass 307/8, which the bowlers defended by 71runs.

At the Colts Ground Milan Rathnayake starred with bat and ball [71 and 3-24] to help HNB ‘A’ overcome SLC Youth by 41 runs. Rehan Pieris topped SLC Youth score card with a 108 ball 77 with six fours and a six.

At Bloomfield Ground Colombo:

Hayley’s overcome Colombo Aces by six wickets

Colombo Aces 222/10 in 49 overs

[ Kavin Bandara 62, Dinura Kalupahan 50; Dhanajaya Lakshan 2-14, Ramesh Mendis 4-36]

Hayleys Group A 227/4 in 25.2 overs [Nishan Madushka 61, Pulindu Perera 51, Minod Bhanuka 54; Dinura Kalupahana 2-35]

At Thurstan College Ground:

CDB BY 71 runs

CDB 307/8 in 50 overs

[ Vishsd Randika 53, Nipun Dhananjaya 86, Muditha Lakshan 89; Himesh Ramanayake 3-49, ]

Fairfirst Insurance 236/10 in 46.4 overs

[Sanoj Dharshika 58, Yasiru Rodriga 78; Movin Subasinghe 3-27, Lahiru Madushanka 2-16]

At Colts ground;