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Wellalage thrives after being thrown into the deep end

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Dunith Wellalage.

In a campaign where Sri Lanka have been forced to reshuffle their deck more often than they would have liked, Dunith Wellalage has found himself tossed the new ball during the Power Play and the young all-rounder has swum rather than sunk.

With Matheesha Pathirana, Wanindu Hasaranga and Eshan Malinga all ruled out by injury during the 20-nation showpiece, the former champions have had to plug gaps on the run. Wellalage, who may well have been watching from the sidelines had the cupboard been full, has instead been handed a front-row seat and he has made it count.

“It was a challenge bowling during the Power Plays and the key was for me to deny the batsmen boundaries,” Wellalage told reporters on the eve of Sri Lanka’s crunch Super Eight clash against New Zealand at the R. Premadasa Stadium. “I had to be clever with my lengths and when I did that the batters had to take a few chances. I relished the new challenge.”

Called upon to operate inside the first six overs against England when field restrictions were on, a phase usually reserved for the more experienced bowlers, the left-arm spinner rolled his arm over with maturity beyond his 23 years. He finished with three wickets, varying his pace and length like a seasoned campaigner.

With seven scalps from five outings, Wellalage is Sri Lanka’s second highest wicket-taker in the tournament behind Maheesh Theekshana’s eight. Not bad for a man who began the competition as a supporting act.

But it is not just with the ball that the former Under-19 captain has been asked to come forward. Sri Lanka’s think tank has nudged him up the batting order, promoting him from his usual berth at seven or eight, a move that has drawn praise from Batting Coach Vikram Rathour.

“I usually bat at number seven or eight, but I have been told to be ready to go up at number five if the situation arises,” Wellalage explained. “My role is to get some quick runs. The coaches have been very supportive and I enjoy the challenge.”

It is a role that demands clear thinking and brave stroke-play, the art of finding gaps rather than swinging blindly for the ropes. In a side that has at times been guilty of losing wickets in clusters, Wellalage’s calm head has offered stability.

Wednesday’s contest in Colombo is a must-win for Sri Lanka, who were handed a sobering 51-run defeat by England in their Super Eight opener. Another slip and the equation becomes steep; win, and the semi-final dream remains alive.

“We have got to now win both these games,” Wellalage said. “We have played New Zealand a lot in recent years and we know that we can beat them in these conditions. We are still in with a chance to make it to the semis and winning tomorrow will be important.”

Sri Lanka’s struggles in global tournaments since lifting the T20 crown in 2014 have been well documented. They have had to navigate qualifying routes and even missed out on the 2024 Champions Trophy, the first Men’s ICC event they failed to feature in since making their World Cup debut in 1975.

Yet Wellalage believes the tide is slowly turning.

“We know how important a home World Cup is. The fans have turned up in numbers and we have always believed that we can make it to the semi-finals,” he said. “The last two games haven’t gone to our plan but we are looking forward to the must-win clash tomorrow.”

Sri Lanka boast a healthy record at the RPS, where the surface often demands application over audacity. It is not a venue for reckless slogging but for bowlers who hit their straps and batters willing to graft before they unfurl.

“We have a good record at this ground and our winning percentage here has been good. All players are looking forward to doing well tomorrow,” Wellalage added.

by Rex Clementine



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Woods charged with driving under influence after crash

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iger Woods was fortunate to escape with his life from this 2021 crash near Los Angeles [BBC]

Tiger Woods has been charged with driving under the influence after rolling his car in a crash in Florida, police have confirmed.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said the 15-time major champion was also charged with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

Woods, 50, rolled his Land Rover after clipping a pressure cleaner truck while trying to overtake it at “a high rate of speed”, according to Sheriff John Budensiek.

The golfer, who had to crawl out of the passenger door of his vehicle, passed a breathalyser test after the crash but refused a urine test.

No-one sustained any injuries in the incident which took place on Beach Road in Jupiter Island just before 14:00 local time on Friday (about 19:00 GMT).

Sheriff Budensiek told a news conference: “The DUI investigators came to the scene and Mr Woods did exemplify signs of impairment.

“They did several tests on him. He did explain the injuries and surgeries that he’s had and we did take that into account, but they did some in-depth roadside tests.

“When it was determined, he was placed under arrest and taken to the Martin County jail.

“At the Martin County jail, and even on scene, we were really not suspicious of alcohol being involved in this case and that proved to be true.

“Mr Woods did a breathalyser test with triple zeros, but when it came time for us to ask for a urinary analysis test, he refused.”

Budensiek also said Woods had been “co-operative but was trying not to incriminate himself”.

“He has a right to refuse that test,” added the sheriff. “There is a statute which he will be charged with for refusing to take that test, but we will never get definitive results as to what he was impaired on at the time of the crash.”

US president Donald Trump was asked about the crash on Friday, saying: “I feel so badly. [Woods has] got some difficulty. There was an accident. That’s all I know.

“He’s a very close friend of mine, he’s an amazing person, an amazing man.”

Sheriff Budensiek said Woods would remain in jail for eight hours then be released on bond. The charges are misdemeanours, not felonies.

The BBC has contacted the golfer’s representatives for comment.

This is not the first time Woods has been involved in a car accident – he has played a limited schedule since the serious crash in 2021 that left him with extensive injuries and fortunate to be alive.

In 2017 police officers also found him slumped at the wheel of his parked Mercedes-Benz not far from his Florida home.

A toxicology report found Woods had several legal medications in his system and marijuana’s active ingredient, and he was sentenced to a year’s probation after pleading guilty to reckless driving.

In 2009 Woods hit a fire hydrant, a tree, and several hedges in a bizarre collision outside his home.

The incident sparked accusations of extramarital affairs which led to the end of his seven-year marriage and the loss of lucrative sponsorship deals.

[BBC]

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Sri Sumangala cruise to semis after Kumarasiri heroics

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Sri Sumangala College, Panadura secured a convincing five-wicket victory over Sri Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya in their Under-19 Division I Tier ‘B’ cricket quarter-final at Kuruvita on Friday, sealing a place in the semi-finals with two sessions to spare.

‎All-rounder Mevindu Kumarasiri played a decisive role in the win, following up his outstanding bowling performance with a vital knock of 44 runs to guide his team to the target of 157.

‎Sri Sumangala’s run chase was anchored by Kumarasiri and Neksha Iddamalgoda, who shared a crucial 85-run partnership for the fourth wicket after the early setbacks. The stand effectively put the Panadura side on course for victory.

‎Kumarasiri’s brisk 44 came at just under a run-a-ball and included five boundaries, while Iddamalgoda top-scored with 49, striking seven fours in a fluent innings. Although both batsmen were dismissed before the target was reached, their partnership had already taken the sting out of the chase.

‎Bihanga Silva and Sadika Damyuru then completed the formalities, steering Sri Sumangala past the target to wrap up an impressive victory.

‎The win was particularly remarkable considering Sri Sumangala had been bowled out for 144 in their first innings. However, Kumarasiri turned the game dramatically in their favour with a superb six-wicket haul that dismantled Sri Dharmaloka for just 89 in the second innings.

‎His match-winning all-round performance proved to be the turning point as Sri

Sumangala capitalised on the opportunity to book their place in the tournament’s semi-finals.

‎Scores

‎Sri Dharmaloka 211 all out in 76.3 overs

(Kaveen Deneth 106, Senuka Pehesara 29, Koshitha Adithya 19; Mevindu Kumarasiri 5/82) and 89 all out in 35 overs (Tharusha Mihiranga 24; Mevindu Kumarasiri 6/41, Methum Fernando 4/42)

‎Sri Sumangala 144 all out in 48.4 overs

(Neksha Iddamalgoda 47, Bihanga Silva 36, Mavindu Kumarasiri 21; Tishan Nipun 4/43, Sathindu Prabhoda 3/44, Koshitha Adithya 2/27) and 160 for 5 in 34.3 overs (Vidura Basuru 33, Sandeep Wijerathna 19, Neksha Iddamalgoda 49, Mevindu Kumarasiri 44; Koshitha Adithya 4/64) (RF)

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PSL 2026: Teams allowed to submit two XIs and pick one after toss

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Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne warms up [PSL]

Shaheen Shah Afridi and Marnus Labuschagne, captains of Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen, walked out with two team sheets each for the toss ahead of the opening matchof PSL 2026 and selected their final XIs based on which way the coin fell.

This was in accordance with a new regulation in the PSL playing conditions, which permits the captains to submit two team sheets to the match referee before the toss and finalise one of the submitted line-ups after the toss.

The clause 1.2.1 in the “Nomination and Replacement of Players” section reads: “Before the toss, each captain may submit two (2) different XI lineups in writing to the PSL Match Referee. Each lineup must include 11 players and a maximum of 4 substitute fielders (subject to Clause 1.2.5). After the toss, each captain must finalise one of the two submitted lineups by signing the selected team sheet. Once the final lineup has been nominated, no player listed in the selected playing eleven may be changed before the start of the match without the consent of the opposing captain.”

Tosses can play a significant role in this part of the world in night matches as a result of dew. The ball often gets wet and difficult to grip for the spinners, making them ineffective in the second innings. This change in the playing conditions is expected to provide a level playing field – a team batting first can add a fast bowler instead of a spinner while a team batting second can look to add depth to their batting.

There were no signs of dew in the first match of the season however because of the wind throughout the day and cloud cover.

[Cricinfo]

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