Sports
Sri Lankan brand of cricket is back
Rex Clementine in Dambulla
Following the World Cup flop, there were concerns in which direction Sri Lankan cricket would go, but four series wins inside two months have calmed those fears. More importantly the fans are back at the grounds. There was a gradual increase during the ODIs at Pallekele culminating with over 14,000 fans turning up for the final ODI. Then for the first T-20 at Dambulla, tickets were sold out more than 48 hours before the game. These are very good signs indeed.
Some can argue that this is only Afghanistan and Zimbabwe and bigger challenges will come when Sri Lanka play India later this year or travel to England in August. That may be true, but the Afghan side has made huge strides in recent years. They made three former World Champions eat humble pie during the recent World Cup beating Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka. If not for that Glenn Maxwell drop catch in Bombay, it would have been match over for Australia.
The key for Sri Lanka’s success has been that they have got their combination right – six batters, one all-rounder and four genuine bowlers.
Time was when they played three all-rounders and at times even four all-rounders in their ODI setup. There were games when Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne and Dunith Wellalage were all featured in the same team.
However much the issue was highlighted, the selectors and all-powerful Consultant Coach turned a blind eye and did not abandon the idea despite horrendous results. Thankfully, the new selectors have reverted back to a more balanced combination.
The other key aspect has been playing games on good surfaces. The former selectors made a hue and cry when Sri Lanka won an ODI series against Australia on doctored pitches at home. But when it came to the World Cup, Australia went on to win the championship and Sri Lanka finished a disappointing ninth. As a result, the team was knocked out of the Champions Trophy. None were held accountable.
Playing on good surfaces gives batters confidence and more importantly, gives bowlers an idea of what needs to be done to control the run flow. They have got to earn their wickets playing on flat wickets. Wellalage for example was unplayable in some of those home series prior to the World Cup but his limitations were exposed during the World Cup. All ICC events are played on good wickets and unless we replicate those conditions in home games, the team is like a sitting duck while playing in those tournaments
Fans certainly enjoyed the direct hit in the third ODI that helped Sri Lanka to dismiss the dangerous Ibrahim Zadran. It’s been a while since Sri Lanka effected a run out with a direct hit and of all people, it was Avishka Fernando, one of the slow fielders in the side.
Sri Lanka looked sharp on the field whereas they were sloppy during the World Cup as showcased by the 16 dropped catches during the event. A lot of credit should go to former Test cricketer Upul Chandana and he should be drafted in as Fielding Coach on a long-term basis.
The team’s approach has changed too adopting the tried and tested attacking form of cricket. The batters have gone about their business with a positive mindset putting the pressure back on the bowlers. The bowlers have looked to take wickets rather than containing teams.All three encounters were won by Sri Lanka by big margins and moving forward it augurs well for the game.
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)
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.
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;
Milan Rathnayake stars in HNB A’s 41 run win:
HNB ‘A’ 262/10 in 50 overs
[Janishka Perera 43, Anjala Bandara 54, Milan Rathnayake 71; Gimhan Mendis 2-43, Latheendra Akash 2-28, Himaru Deshan 2-42]
SLC Youth 221/10 in 44 overs [Rehan Peiris 77, Kithma Widnapathirana 53; Duvindu Ranathunga 2-40, Milan Rathnayake 3-24, Chamindu Wijesinghe 2-18]
Ronaldo apologizes for Portugal walkout; says Jesus broke promise
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Fuel crunch looms
Gnansara Thera to be assigned to prison printing section: Officials
Speaker rejects Ajith Perera’s privilege complaint
OIC of FCID summoned before Maligakanda Magistrate
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