Sports

Time to tip the hat to NSL’s top guns

Published

8 months ago

2025/05/4

All-rounder Dunith Wellalage had an impression NSL coming up with match winning performances both with the bat and ball.

Sri Lanka’s First-Class cricket has long cried out for reform, and finally, some bold strokes are being played. The playing field has been trimmed down in recent seasons – deadwood cleared to raise the stakes. But the googly of the season was the axing of SSC, the grand old club with a trophy cabinet full of stars. It raised eyebrows, but the message from the top was loud and clear – no room for reputation alone. The long-term plan? Slim the domestic First-Class circuit to a lean, mean ten-team league. That’s a shot well worth taking.

Towering above the club scene is the National Super League (NSL), now firmly established as the litmus test for national selection. This year’s edition went down to the wire, with Galle emerging champions on a first-innings lead over Dambulla in a rain-hit final at SSC – a draw on the scorecard, but a win on the balance sheet.

One man who set the NSL ablaze was Ravindu Rasantha de Silva. The former Sri Lanka U-19 and S. Thomas’ College opener piled on the runs like a man on a mission – 563 runs at a Bradmanesque average of 93, with three centuries and a mammoth 206 not out, the tournament’s highest score. He didn’t just knock on the selectors’ door – he’s banging it down.

Another comeback kid was Pathum Nissanka, who had been on a bit of a lean patch in both Test and First Class cricket. But he cashed in with a double ton that may have just saved his Test spot ahead of the Bangladesh series.

Oshada Fernando and Avishka Fernando, old boys of St. Sebastian’s College, also came to the party, finding form at just the right time. The two Fernandos were among the few batters who batted with intent and purpose – a welcome sign with a new Test cycle on the horizon.

But if there was one player who bowled his heart out, it was Akila Dananjaya. The off-spinner spun a web around batsmen, grabbing 37 wickets – a staggering stat considering the next best tally was a mere 15. Akila’s showing could tempt selectors into throwing him a red-ball lifeline, but caution must be the watchword. His history with suspect actions is no secret. Unless his remodelled action is rock solid, the call-up could backfire.

One of the most heartening takeaways from this year’s NSL was seeing players traditionally pigeonholed as white-ball specialists embracing the grind of the longer format. Charith Asalanka skippered Colombo and anchored the innings when it mattered, while Dunith Wellalage was the real revelation – batting like a top-six player and bowling with the guile of a veteran. With a batting average of 39 and bowling average of 19, the all-rounder ticked every box. He may not earn a Test cap just yet, but he’s definitely warming up in the nets for future call-ups.

The story doesn’t end at home. Several NSL stars carried their form overseas, donning Sri Lanka ‘A’ colours in the UAE and delivering the goods. Against Afghanistan ‘A’, the likes of Lahiru Udara and Sonal Dinusha struck hundreds in the first innings, while Nuwanindu Fernando, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, and Pavan Ratnayake joined the party with second-innings tons.

On the bowling front, Isitha Wijesundara stole the spotlight with a ten-wicket match bag – a performance worthy of a standing ovation.

With Dimuth Karunaratne’s retirement and four consecutive Test defeats hanging over the national team like a dark cloud, there’s no time for sentiment. The selectors need to pad up and make bold calls. The new World Test Championship cycle kicks off in June, and if ever there was a time to blood fresh talent, it’s now.

by Rex Clementine

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Sports

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

Published

18 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

18 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)