Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva had outlasted three Executive Presidents – Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe – and looked set to see off the new ball from Anura Kumara Dissanayake as well. For a while, it seemed like he had the measure of every spell thrown at him. But this time, the batter has edged one and walked.

The new government, elected on a platform of transparency and good governance, had been accused of shadow batting when it came to cleaning up cricket. There were murmurs in the stands, and not without reason. Eyebrows were raised when political heavyweights like Wasantha Samarasinghe – who wouldn’t know a short leg from a fine leg – were regulars at SLC gatherings. It gave the impression that the field placements hadn’t changed.

But in the end, President Dissanayake played it late and played it well. Timing, as they say in cricket, is everything and this was a shot straight out of the middle.

The Island learns that the government had been itching to make a move earlier, but were wary of playing a false stroke. With Shammi’s close links to ICC chair Jay Shah, there was a genuine fear of another suspension – a scenario Sri Lanka had already endured two years ago when Shammi was removed. Rather than charge down the track, the government chose to bide its time, build its case and wait for the right delivery.

When the moment arrived, they didn’t swing wildly. Instead, they tossed the ball back into Shammi’s court and invited him to take the honourable route. He did and like a collapsing batting order, the rest of the committee followed him back to the pavilion.

Crucially, Sri Lanka Cricket avoids the follow-on of an ICC suspension. This was a resignation, not a dismissal, a technicality that could prove decisive. Shammi, who had just one year left in his term, was reportedly exploring ways to extend his stay at the crease. With some of the country’s top legal minds at his disposal, tweaking the playing conditions was child’s play for him.

Now the spotlight shifts to the government. They must make a watertight case to justify extending the three-month window for fresh elections. Others have trodden this path before, South Africa managed it successfully and Bangladesh are currently following suit with ICC backing.

If handled well, it could buy Sri Lanka the time needed to bring long-pending reforms into play notably the recommendations of the Justice Chithrasiri report, which has been gathering dust.

Attention is already turning to the next innings. Former cricketer and ex-parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne has emerged as the frontrunner to head the interim committee, especially after former NOC boss Suresh Subramaniam opted out due to health concerns.

Another name doing the rounds is Kushil Gunasekara, a respected figure in international cricketing circles. A former Ananda College cricketer, Gunasekara played a key role as head of the organising committee for the 2000 Under-19 World Cup and he is no stranger at ICC. His off-field work, particularly in his native Seenigama, has earned widespread admiration, including honorary life membership at Marylebone Cricket Club.

For now, though, the headline belongs to AKD. After a long watch and a patient build-up, he has finally broken through, a wicket that had been a long time coming. This is a big fish indeed.

by Rex Clementine

St. Joseph’s College produced a spirited recovery after an early batting collapse to reach 226 for four at stumps against Royal College on a rain-curtailed opening day of the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket final played at the P. Sara Oval on Tuesday.

‎Having elected to bat first, the Josephians were rocked in the early exchanges as they slumped to 11 for three within the space of just three overs. Royal’s pace spearhead Mahiru Kodituwakku did the early damage, striking twice in a fiery opening spell to put Joes under severe pressure.

‎However, the innings was revived in emphatic fashion by a crucial fourth wicket partnership between Senuja Wakunegoda and skipper Rishma Amarasinghe. The duo combined resilience with positive stroke play to add a match-defining 179 runs, occupying the crease for 44 overs and steadily shifting the momentum.

‎Batting through testing phases before and after lunch, the pair frustrated the Royal bowling attack with disciplined shot selection and composure. Amarasinghe, leading from the front, compiled a fluent 73 off 120 deliveries, striking nine fours and two sixes before being dismissed. He was eventually separated from his partner by Dushen Udawela.

‎Wakunegoda, who anchored the innings superbly, remained unbeaten on 118 at tea after which there was no resumption of play due to a drizzle and lightning.

‎His knock came off 178 balls and included 12 boundaries and two sixes, highlighting both patience and authority. He found support towards the end from Chethina Kavinda, who was unbeaten on 15 as Joes finished the day in a relatively better position than what was expected after early collapse.

‎After a disastrous start, St. Joseph’s will take plenty of confidence from their recovery, while Royal will look to strike early on the second day to claw their way back into the contest.

Scores: ‎St. Joseph’s College –

226/4 in 61 overs (Senuja Wakunegoda 118*; Rishma Amarasinghe 73; Mahiru Kodituwakku 2/64) (RF)

15TH STAFFORD MOTORS – MCA G DIVISION T20 LEAGUE CRICKET TOURNAMENT

Maliban Biscuits ‘B’ and Mobitel Pvt Limited completed the league stage of the Stafford Motors sponsored MCA G division T20 cricket tournament undefeated.

On Sunday Maliban Biscuits ‘B’ overcame CDB ‘B’ by four wickets to top group A undefeated while Mobitel Pvt Limited beat Union Bank by 58 runs to top group E with six wins in six outings.

In the other games played on Sunday, Hayleys Group ‘C’, Wiley Global, VS Information systems, Sri Lanka Telecom, and DSI Group registered wins.

With only three more league stage games to be completed, MAS Active Kreeda, Star Garments, Amana Bank, VS Information Systems and Brandix Apparel lead their respective groups.

At Darley Road

Gihan and Adeesha power Hayleys Group ’C’ to a 49 run win

Hayleys Group ‘C’

196/4 in 20 overs [Gihan Gunatilake 92, Adeesha Jayarathne 52, Omath Gallage 11, Dilan Suraweera 16*; Tharindu Almeida 2-26, Wageesha Balagama 1-43, Ashan Wijerathne 1-36]

Jetwing Travels

147/6 in 20 overs[Edirige Sam 15, Budhdhika Chathuranga 10, Satheesh Sasu 26, Ashan Wijerathne 23, Wageesha Balagama 35, Tharuka Peiris 25*, Chandika Jayarathna 13*; Lasantha Prabath 2-16, Deemantha Weerakoon 3-35, Pasindu Adithya 1-21]

At MCA grounds

Mobitel Pvt Ltd beat Union Banka by 58 runs

Mobitel Pvt Ltd

211/3 in 20 overs [Krishan Santhusha 78, Dasun Bandara 24, Sachin Indrarathna 26, Sachin Bulathsinghala 11, Sandeepa Halangoda 65*; Kasun Dilshan 1-45, Gavin Fernando 1-21, Ayeshan Perera 1-34]

Union Bank

153/7 in 20 overs [Gavin Fernando 26, Nishan Maduranga 48, Ayeshan Perera 17, George Banushanth 21, Isanka Rathnayake 16*; Sachin Indrarathne 1-25, Lakmal Siriwardena 1-25, Dinidu Samodana 3-16, Dasun Bandara 1-08, Indushan Basnayake 1-07]

Wiley Global beat Acuity Analytics by 27 runs

Wiley Global

161/8 in 20 overs [Gawesha Basnayake 14, Lilan Kularathne 50, Omal Bhagya 14, Sayuru Wanasinghe 38, Panitha Dangalle 10; Prabath de Silva 2-32, Mihindu Samarasinghe 3-32, Sudaraka Keshara 2-22, Pranavan Premarajah 1-22]

Acuity Analytics

134/8 in 20 overs [Prabath de Silva 24, Mihindu Samarasinghe 28, Suhail Salman 36*, Hamdhan Othman 18, Navodha de Silva 10; Sayuru Wanasinghe 1-26, Lilan Kularathna 1-16, Panitha Dangalla 1-19, Pradeep Sanjeewa 3-21, Thushara Peiris 1-23]

At Thurstan College grounds

Bowlers power VS Information Systems to a 69 run win

VS Information Sytems

156/10 in 20 overs [Shamika Wickremathilake 39, Kisal Ranathunga 14, Chamath Chamupathi 38, Shan Aniketh 11, Ishara Sandaruwan 19, Ayesh Lakmal 10*; Sanura Dias 2-40, Thiwanka Ginige 2-21, Malith Fernando1-32, Suranga Gamage 1-22, Reshan Basnayake 1-20]

Home Lands Group

87/9 in 20 overs [Suranga Gamage 17, Thevindu Senarathne 31; Adeesha Bandaranayake 2-30, Shan Aniketh 2-24, Nimnada Kirindage 4-07]

Maliban Biscuits ‘B’ overcome CDB ‘B’ by 4 wickets to lead group A

CDB ‘B’

94/10 in 19.2 overs [Chathuranga Dikkumbura 18, Savin Gunasekera 21, Dasun Senevirathne 26; Tharindu Siriwardena 2-15, Dilan Alwis 1-10, Chamara Rathnayake 3-19,Chathuranga Dewapriya 3-17]

Maliban Biscuits ‘B’

95/6 in 17.1 overs [Gihan Ranasinghe 10, Mohammed Shilmi 38, Sameera Lakmal 21; Vishwa Danajaya 3-20, Praveen Abeysinghe 2-11]

At Nalanda College grounds,

Rasika’s five fer helps Sri Lanka Telecom to a 9 wicket win

Regnis Appliances

89/10 in 19.3 overs [Imalka Fernando 12, Asela Sanjeewa 34; Sudam Jayawardena 2-16, Rasika Damith 5-11, Sandun Wijayarathne 1-14, Sandakelum Fernando 1-10]

Sri Lanka Telecom

90/1 in 7.1 overs [Namal Dissanayake 45*, Asela Ekanayake 10, Thaveesha Gunawardena 28*]

At Royal College grounds,

DSI Group won by 84 runs

DSI Group

202/8 in 20 overs [Ochintha Nadeeshan 12, Yasas Weerasekera 65, Nilinda Maddumage 37, Udith Indunil 20, Pradeep Kumaranayake 10, Thilina Danushka 18*; Thilanka Sachin 2-37, Subash Mendis 1-42, Dasun Gunathilake 2-42, Damian Shehan 1-32, Praveen Chandrasekera 1-27]

Transco

118/7 in 20 overs [Subash Mendis 19, Sachin Silva 32, Thilanka Sachin 30; Pradeep Kumaranayake 1-29, Udith Indunil 2-10, Asitha Wijesekera 1-18]