Sports
St. Sebastian’s favourites against Cambrians
by Reemus Fernando
Deserving finalists of the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ tournament, St. Sebastian’s College will enter the landmark Battle of the Golds Big Match as favourites. The historic encounter against arch rivals Prince of Wales will commence at the De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa today as a three-day encounter.
The Sebs captained by Ryan Dissanayake recorded outright victories against Royal, Maris Stella and Maliyadewa in the tournament proper to reach the knockout stage where they beat St. Anthony’s Katugastota by four wickets and St. Joseph’s on first innings to book final berth. St. Sebastian’s have also registered an outright victory against St. Sylvester’s as well in a traditional encounter.
The Sebs are armed with the tournament’s highest wicket taker Malintha Silva in the spin department. Dissanayake has many bowling options in his armoury with Adesh Almeida, Shenas Hashen and Koshendra Fernando adding variety.
St. Sebastian’s College Team Seated from left: Kelum Perera (Physical trainer), Pasan Wanasinghe (Head Coach), Ryan Dissanayake (Captain), Rev.Fr. Daya Dharshana (Rector), Adesh Almeida (V. Capt.), Rev. Fr. Dilusha Chamara (Prefect of the Games), Kanishka Perera (Master in Charge), Sandaru Perera (Master in Charge), Mohamed Azhar (Asst. Coach). Standing from left: Sendinu Peiris, Ushen Silva, Navod Fernando, Adeesha Lakshan, Kaveesha Perera, Koshendra Fernando, Risinu Prabesh, Shenan De Silva, Akash Dissanayake, Shefan Fernando, Lashen Fernando, Malintha Silva, Meshone Ferdinando, Shenas Hashein.
Their strong batting lineup includes Ushen Silva, Kaveesha Perera, Dissanayake, Almeida, Lashen Fernando, Navod Fernando and Koshendra Fernando.
Cambrians skippered by Rivith Jayasuriya are a strong team though they have not celebrated much during the tournament proper.
They are likely to open their attack with Prasanna Lakmina and Naveen Fernando. In the spin department skipper Jayasuriya, Rusandu Silva, Prince Fernando and Nethul Anuhas will share most of the duties.
The Cambrians will rely on Jayasuriya and Palingu Perera to provide them with a strong start in the batting department. Suwahas Fernando, Nethul Anuhas and wicketkeeper batsman Deneth Sithumina have given them runs in the top order. Jayasooriya and Suwahas contributed with centuries during the league tournament.
With two strong team meeting, the 75th edition is set to produce a thrilling contest.
St. Sebastian’s who won their fourth Big Match last year trail 4-6.
by Rex Clementine
India are closing in on a big win at SSC after Sri Lanka slumped to 229 for six at stumps on day four of the second Test having been forced to follow on yesterday.
Sri Lanka lead by just 16 runs with four wickets in hand and with three sessions remaining, the tourists will be looking to wrap up victory and complete a 2-0 series sweep. India won the first Test in Galle by 165 runs.
Sonal Dinusha, who batted superbly for a hundred in the first innings, was unbeaten on seven when rain brought play to a premature end. With Sri Lanka now into the tail, Dinusha has his work cut out. He has been the hosts’ standout performer in the series, having also made 100 and 84 in Galle.
Sri Lanka resumed the day on 265 for eight, still needing 39 runs to avoid the follow on, but were bowled out for 290 and asked to bat again.
Although they lost both openers early, Kamindu Mendis and Pasindu Sooriyabandara gave Sri Lanka hope with a 115 run stand for the third wicket.
Sooriyabandara, who had made 80 in the first innings, once again played spin superbly, using clever footwork, while Mendis took on the fast bowlers.
But India had plenty of runs on the board and persisted with the short ball against Mendis, stationing three fielders on the boundary. Eventually, the plan paid off. Mendis took on Mohammed Siraj and perished for 55, with captain Shubman Gill running in from square leg to complete a fine catch.
That was the breakthrough India desperately wanted and the spinners quickly turned the screws. Three wickets fell for just nine runs as Sri Lanka surrendered the initiative and India regained control.
Sooriyabandara missed out on a well deserved hundred when he charged Manav Suthar. The left-arm spinner cleverly fired the ball wide, leaving the batter stranded as Rishabh Pant whipped off the bails in a flash. Sooriyabandara’s 92 came off 173 balls and contained ten fours and a six.
Having spent considerable time in the field, India’s bowlers were beginning to tire, evident from the number of loose deliveries they sent down. But Sri Lanka’s batters lacked the patience to drive home the advantage, with several throwing away their wickets just when the hosts appeared to be clawing their way back into the contest.
Sri Lanka Air Force emerged Overall Champions in both the Men’s and Women’s categories at the 14th Defence Services Badminton Championship concluded successfully on 21 August 2026 at the Sri Lanka Army Indoor Sports Complex, Panagoda.
The SLAF Men’s Team secured the Open Men’s Doubles and Men’s Team Championships, while the Women’s Team excelled by winning the Open Women’s Singles, Open Women’s Doubles and Women’s Team Championships.
In the Open Men’s Doubles, Leading Aircraftman Lochana De Silva and Aircraftman Achintha Imeshaqe secured the championship, while Aircraftwoman Praveena Wijesundara and Aircraftwoman Anurangi Masakorala claimed the Open Women’s Doubles title with Aircraftwoman Praveena Wijesundara winning the Open Women’s Singles Championship.
Major General Mohan Premaratne, President of the Sri Lanka Army Badminton Federation, was the Chief Guest at the awards ceremony while SLAF’s Director Sports Air Commodore Prabath Dissanayake, former Chairman Badminton Sri Lanka Air Force Air Commodore Poojana Gunathilake, Secretary Air Force Sports Council Group Captain Eranda Geeganage and Secretary Badminton Sri Lanka Air Force Wing Commander Thushara Wijeratne. were also present.
Malki Madara and Shashini Fernando shared nine wickets between them to help Sri Lanka Air Force Women beat Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women by 169 runs and propel their team to the semi finals of the Major Club Womens Limited Over cricket tournament conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket.
In the game played at their home ground in Katunayake on Monday [24], Sri Lanka Air Force posted 276 runs for the loss of eight wickets with Ashani Kaushalya topping the score card with 57 runs off 81 balls with ten hits to the ropes.Sasini Alwis and Wethumya Wijesuriya captured three wickets each.
Chasing 277 to win Shashini Fernando captured five wickets while Malki Madara captured four wickets to restrict the Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women to 107. Skipper Sanduni Nisansala scored 38 off 61 balls with four boundaries and a six.
Sri Lankan Air Force Women will meet Panadura Sports Club Women for the semi-final at the LRDC ground on Friday (28)
Scores:
Sri Lanka Air Force Women 276/8 in 50 overs [Ashani Kawshalya 57, Malsha Shehani 32, Savindi Cooray 34*; Sasini Alwis 2-48, Wethumya Wijesuriya 2-67]
Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women 107/10 in 43.5 overs [Sanduni Nisansala 38; Malki Madara 4-14, Shashini Fernando 5-09]
Showers above 50 mm are likely in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts
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