Sports
West Indies campaign in disarray after back to back defeats
Rex Clementine in Dubai
Lack of genuine pace in their bowling department hurt defending champions West Indies as they suffered a heavy eight wicket defeat at the hands of South Africa in the ICC T-20 World Cup in Dubai yesterday.
The Windies may have lot of experience at their disposal possessing plenty of globetrotters who play franchise cricket but their bowling lacked penetration and a target of 144 proved to be too little to defend as South Africa won with ten deliveries to spare.
Both teams had lost their opening encounters earlier in the competition and badly needed a win and South Africa will be pleased with their effort. As for West Indies, two time World Champions, a semi-final spot seems to be slipping away from them. But you cannot completely write off the Caribbean kings, who have a remarkable record in the shortest format of the game. For that to happen, their batting needs to fire.
Batting was a flop yesterday as they managed only 143 runs and looked to be some 20 runs short.
Opening batsman Evin Lewis laid the foundation for West Indies top scoring with 56 off 35 balls with three fours and six sixes. West Indies had got off to a good start with Lewis and Lendl Simmons adding 73 runs for the first wicket.
Despite possessing some of the finest big hitters in the game, West Indies innings did not get the impetus it needed during the death overs and 143 did not look a safe score.
Anrich Nortje showed why pace matters finishing with figures of one for 14 in his four overs and was named Man of the Match.
During the run chase, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma tested Andre Russell’s arm hurrying for a quick single having pushed one to mid-on and was run out.
Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen then added 60 runs for the second wicket to set the platform for the run chase. After Hendricks was well caught by Shimron Hetmyer in the deep, Aiden Markram joined van der Dussen and sealed the deal for South Africa.
South Africa’s number three van der Dussen looked to be playing through the innings while Markram was the aggressor finishing with 51 off 26 deliveries with two fours and four sixes while van der Dussen needed 51 deliveries for his 43.
Markram brought up his half-century by pulling Andre Russell for six and in the next ball brought up South Africa’s victory with a single to mid-wicket.
Under 19 Cricket
Off-spinner Lahiru Amarasekara produced a five-wicket haul as St. Joseph’s restricted Mahinda to 127 runs on day one of the Under 19 traditional cricket encounter at Galle on Monday.
Amarasekara was ably supported by spinner Yenula Dewthusa and Muditha Dissanayake who shared the other five wickets.
With wickets falling at regular intervals, batting opener Ranmina Hettiarachchi anchored the top order with a knock of 33 runs. Chandupa de Silva with 29 runs, Tharusha Dilshan (15) and Hiruna Gallalge (17) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.
In their essay St. Joseph’s were comfortably placed at 132 for two wickets but back-to-back wickets in the last two overs placed them at 132 for four wickets at stumps.
At Welisara, Dinuka Tennakoon took five wickets but Maris Stella managed to post 268 runs as Shean Adithya top-scored with 83 runs. In reply Trinity were nine without loss.
Vihanga Nimsara and Rasindu Ilukshana were the heroes for Moratu Vidyalaya as their half-centuries helped them score 249 runs against St. Sylvester’s at Boyagane.
Match Details
At Galle: Mahinda 127, St. Joseph’s 132/4
Scores:
Mahinda
127 all out in 57 overs (Ranmina Hettiarachchi 33, Chandupa de Silva 29; Lahiru Amarasekara 5/34, Muditha Dissanayaka 2/23, Yenula Dewtusa 3/32)
St. Joseph’s
132 for 4 in 42.1 overs (Sadeesh Jayawardena 53, Naren Muralidaran 41; Shehan Hasaranga 2/39)
At Welisara: Maris Stella 268, Trinity 9/0
Scores:
Maris Stella
268 all out in 93.5 overs (Kaveen Fernando 26, Shean Adithya 83, Anshen de Silva 28, Ramith Bandara 33, Nethum Basnayake 26, Levin Fernando 22; Jayavi Liyanagama 2/40, Dinuka Tennakoon 5/74)
Trinity 9 for no loss in 4 overs
At Boyagane: Moratu Vidyalaya 249, St. Sylvester’s 5/1
Scores:
Moratu Vidyalaya
249 all out in 93.1 overs (Vihanga Nimsara 82, Rasindu Ilukshana 54; Isuru Gunasekara 2/28, Pansilu Bandara 2/50, Akila Wickramasinghe 3/48, Khanka Wickramasinghe 2/31)
St. Sylvester’s
5 for 1 in 4 overs.
Northern Badminton Championship 2023
T. Silvijan Dalima was crowned men’s singles champion while S. Sowmiya clinched a triple crown at the Northern Badminton Championship 2023 in Kilinochchi during the weekend.
At the Provincial Indoor Stadium in Kilinochchi, Silvijan met K Thusan in the final clash in which the latter retired in the second set with scores reading 21-14, 16-11 in favour of the champion. L Hentry and K Kajan were the losing semi-finalists.
Meanwhile, S. Sowmiya won all three of her open events, the women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles with respective partners.
Sowmiya clinched the women’s singles crown with a 21-15, 21-13 win over R. Ragavi in the final following her doubles title win with B. Oliviya. Sowmiya and Oliviya overcame Athmika and M. Kavinaya 21-9, 21-15 to seal the women’s doubles crown.
Earlier, Sowmiya and Silvijan, the best singles duo in the tournament, also won the mixed doubles title by defeating R. Sulacsan and S . Thanojana 21-12, 21-16 in the final.
The men’s doubles final was won by L. R. Reminsan and T. Thusyanthan who beat G. Thanukanth and R. Yuthakaran with a 21-13, 21-9 score line.
The tournament, organised by the Northern Province Badminton Association, was conducted under the guidance of Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB). SLB President Rohan de Silva and a host of top officials were among the special guests at the presentation ceremony.
St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya teamed up with isotonic sports drink manufacturer Yeti, who will meet the hydration needs of the school tennis team during their upcoming Inter-School tournaments.
Yeti will provide the St. Peter’s Tennis Team with isotonic sports drinks to meet their hydration needs and as part of the partnership, the players will also have access to the elite Yeti portfolio of sports isotonic products.
This year, St. Peter’s will have a busy schedule as they are set to participate in several age group championships including the Inter-Schools Tennis Tournament, Inter-Schools Nationals and the Arjan Perera Tennis Tournament.
The Peterites had mixed fortunes last year as they emerged overall runners-up in the Inter-Schools Tournament and their Under-17 and Under-19 Teams reached the semi-finals of the Inter-Schools National Championships.
This time the Peterites are hoping for an improved performance with five coloursmen in the Under-20 side and four coloursmen in the Under-17 team.
Yeti isotonic fluid has been specially formulated to provide superior rehydration and provide the body the necessary water, minerals and energy lost during exercise.
Scientists discover water inside tiny beads of glass on moon
Three children, three adults killed in Nashville school shooting
Showers in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Uva and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle, Matara and Mannar districts during the afternoon or night.
-
Features4 days agoHappy Birthday dearest Mrs. Peries !
-
News3 days ago
Mano says LG and PC elections equally important
-
News5 days ago
Decorated gunship pilot blacklisted for appearing on political stage
-
Midweek Review6 days ago
Growing foreign dependency and India’s USD 4 bn lifeline
-
News5 days ago
No more selling of Hajj visas, assures Minister
-
Breaking News6 days ago
Property tax to be replaced with Wealth Tax, Gift Tax and Estate Tax – President
-
Editorial6 days ago
Celebration of debt
-
Sports5 days ago
Sri Lanka’s flawed ODI strategies
