Sports

The return of the prodigal son

Published

3 years ago

2022/11/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

Kusal Mendis

Rex Clementine in Sydney

It’s unlikely that we will see another like Sanga in our lifetime. His was not a case of extraordinary talent, but an insane work ethic. There was this Test match at the Basin Reserve in New Zealand, where he fell for a low score. He didn’t walk back to the comforts of the dressing room. Instead, there was a sign for the coach to turn up at the practice nets and throw downs would go on till lunch time.

Fresh from a triple hundred in Bangladesh, the team landed in Colombo on a Saturday and Sanga was back in the nets at his beloved NCC on a Sunday. He was addicted to nets like some of us are for Harry J’s Extra Special.

His work ethic was insane. His captaincy was a nightmare for the press, because the press conferences never started on time. Nobody could fault him either as if it was a rule those days that Sanga had to come out of the nets last.

That insatiable appetite for success saw him reign as world’s number one ranked batsman for a couple of years and there were hundreds not only on the docile tracks of Asia but the quick ones in South Africa, seaming tracks of England and bouncy wickets of Australia. Moral of the story is if there’s a will, there’s a way. But, that doesn’t mean every good cricketer can end up as President of MCC.

Sanga may have the numbers but for sheer domination of attacks and treating them with scant respect, Aravinda gets the nod any day.

The fact that he was part of a side that was still finding its feet at the big stage and that he proved his worth from the little opportunities he had got make his feats truly remarkable.

As Aravinda’s dashing career that lasted for 19 years ended, Sanga took on the baton and had a tremendous run for a decade and a half. But since then, the team has struggled to find a mainstay in their batting; a man whom they can rely on to bail them out time and again.

In recent months, Kusal Mendis has shown signs of getting ready to fill those big boots. He is currently the second highest run getter in this World Cup and has a chance to finish top of the ladder with another good show in Sri Lanka’s last clash against England in Sydney.

After an impressive debut year in 2016, where his efforts enabled Sri Lanka to whitewash Aussies 3-0, Mendis never really got going. There were the occasional spark, like in Port Elizabeth, where he made Dale Steyn look a pale shadow of his former self, but consistency was lacking. Then off the field distractions saw him getting suspended. You aren’t sure whether he’s settled down as yet, but one thing is for sure, he has shown consistency and of course application. Here’s why.

It was a smart move by the selectors to hand him the keeping gloves. Firstly, it enabled them to balance the side by playing an additional bowler and secondly, Mendis took things up a bit more seriously. Not only did he have to keep wickets, he had to open batting as well and which meant that he had to work harder on his fitness. That he has done and his keeping has been flawless. Naturally, when you keep wickets, your eye is in and you have a feel as to how the ball behaves and that’s helped his batting too.

Mendis has been one hell of a talent and when he’s on song there aren’t many better scenes in cricket. His causal approach and soft dismissals have often infuriated fans. But he seems to have turned a corner. Those shoes of Sanga’s and Aravinda’s are too large to fill, but if there’s one who can at least give it a try, that’s got to be Mendis. When the prodigal son returns, you are reminded to welcome him with open arms for there’s no saint without a past and no sinner without a future.

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Sri Lanka Under 19s pull off two wickets win against Afghanistan

Published

14 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka Under 19s scored back to back victories as Mahanama College batsman Chamika Heenatigala anchored the tail with an unbeaten half century to seal two wickets victory over Afghanistan U19s in their second group match of the Under 19 Asia Cup in Dubai on Monday.

‎Chasing 236 runs to win Sri Lanka U19s were eight wickets down for 217 runs in the 48th over but Heenatigala with Rasith Nimsara kept their cool to seal the victory with four balls to spare.

‎In their chase, Viran Chamuditha top scored with 62 runs and put on a first wicket stand of 55 runs with Dimantha Mahavithana (27).

‎While Kavija Gamage (34) and Dulnith Sigera (22) made vital contributions with the bat, Sethmika Senevirathne and Sigera took three wickets each.

‎It was Sri Lanka Youth team’s second consecutive win in the tournament after registering their first win against Nepal.

Sports

Dasun Shanaka’s all-round effort can not hold Vipers

Published

14 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sam Curran bagged two wickets before scoring an unbeaten fifty. (ILT20)

Dasun Shanaka scored an unbeaten 29 and took two wickets but that could not hold Desert Vipers becoming the first team to seal a playoffs spot as they made it six wins out of six on Sunday (December 14) halfway through the league stage of the ILT20 2025-26.

‎Sam Curran produced an all-round effort as Vipers chased down Dubai Capitals’ 166/4 with five wickets in hand and a ball to spare.

‎Asked to bat, Capitals lost Shayan Jahangir to Naseem Shah in the third over and were kept on a tight leash by the Vipers pacers in the powerplay, reaching 35/1. Gulbadin Naib and Leus du Plooy then added 39 at close to a run-a-ball before Noor Ahmad removed his Afghanistan teammate. Capitals were 68/2 at the halfway mark and in need of momentum through the second half of the innings.

‎Du Plooy injected some urgency with two fours off Lockie Ferguson in an over, followed by a six off Naseem Shah to bring up a 38-ball fifty. But Curran turned the innings again with a double-wicket over, dismissing du Plooy and Rovman Powell off successive deliveries. Jordan Cox and Dasun Shanaka, however, ensured a strong finish, striking six fours and three sixes in an unbroken 72-run stand off 40 balls.

‎Max Holden set the tone in the chase, accounting for six of the seven fours Vipers struck in the powerplay. Fakhar Zaman fell to Mustafizur Rahman in the fifth over but Vipers still reached 50 in six overs. Holden was dismissed for 34 by Haider Ali while attempting a slog sweep, and although Hasan Nawaz struck three sixes, he fell to Waqar Salamkheil to leave Vipers at 88/3 after 10 overs.

‎Dan Lawrence and Curran steadied the chase with a 32-run stand before Lawrence was dismissed by Shanaka for 20 in the 14th over. In the same over, Shimron Hetmyer struck a four and a six and was later reprieved by Shanaka. A couple of tight overs followed, but Vipers remained in control, needing 31 from the final four overs.

‎Curran took them closer with two fours off David Willey and a six off Muhammad Jawadullah. With three required in the final over, Hetmyer fell to Shanaka, but Curran finished the chase with a six off the fourth ball, completing a 33-ball fifty to cap a fine all-round performance.

‎‎Brief scores:

‎Dubai Capitals 166/4 in 20 overs (Leus du Plooy 54, Jordan Cox 49*; Sam Curran 2-17)

‎Desert Vipers

171/5 in 19.4 overs (Sam Curran 52*, Max Holden 34; Dasun Shanaka 2-19)

Sports

Akbar Brothers crowned MBSA A-Division champions

Published

1 day ago

2025/12/15

Priyan

Akbar Brothers Ltd delivered a commanding all-round performance to clinch the ‘A’ Division title at the 33rd MSBA League Basketball Tournament, defeating defending champions Fairfirst Insurance 70–60 in a thrilling final held recently.

Despite a group stage loss to Fairfirst, a revitalized Akbar Brothers team returned for the final with renewed focus, executing a strategic and disciplined game plan with some excellent passing and defense. Akbar Brothers came in with all guns blazing right from the outset. The first quarter was all Akbar’s that stacked up a 13 to 4 lead. Fairfirst mounted a strong challenge in the second quarter, narrowing the margin, but Akbar’s momentum secured a 35–28 lead at halftime, a margin they maintained with composure through to the final whistle.

Dasun Mendis led the charge for Akbar Brothers with 18 points and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Chenura De Alwis added 17 points to the tally, while Shehan Udayanga posted a valiant 22 points for Fairfirst. Dimitri Grebe anchored Akbar Brothers with strong leadership, with Hiran Wijesooriya captaining Fairfirst.

Earlier in the tournament Akbar Brothers beat Sampath Bank (82-71), Seylan Bank (91-68) David Pieris (110-78) and Seylan Bank in the semi final (83-60)

The final, held at the Royal College Indoor Sports Complex, saw a vibrant turnout of supporters as Akbar Brothers proved their championship mettle with teamwork, resilience, and clinical execution.

Akbar Brothers – Dimitri Grebe (Captain), Dasun Mendis, Chenura De Alwis, Randil Henry, Taher Akbarally, Selvam Savarimuttu, Franklyn Morais, Sanketha Jayarathne, Jeewan Priyankera , Praneeth Udumalagala, Ajith Kuruppu (Coach), Adrian Gabriel (Asst. Coach)

Fairfirst Insurance – Hiran Wijesooriya (Captain), Shehan Udayanga , Lakshan Kulathunga, Roshan Randima, Arnold Brent, Isuru Perera, Denzil Nicholas, Nimesh Fernando, Keshawa Perera, Charaka Anuhas, Asanga Perera (Coach)