Sports

Where Sri Lanka tripped in the WTC race

Published

1 year ago

2025/01/19

Kamindu Mendis has been a godsend for Sri Lanka holding the innings together and scripting many famous wins. He’s the main reason why Sri Lanka had a good run in the World Test Championship.

by Rex Clementine

As the World Test Championship (WTC) inches toward its climax with South Africa and Australia locking horns in the finals, it’s time for Sri Lanka to rummage through the wreckage and figure out where the wheels came off. This was no ordinary campaign – it was a rollercoaster ride with breathtaking highs and gut-wrenching lows. A series win against the Aussies would crown Sri Lanka’s effort with a third-place finish, leaving fans asking themselves, “What if?” But as the old adage goes, there’s no use crying over spilt milk – especially when the cow’s long gone.

Sri Lanka’s troubles started right at the launch pad, losing 2-0 at home to Pakistan. The team seemed adrift, moving like a ship without a rudder. Planning was so poor like successive governments that are simply unable to take on Dudley Sirisena, who dictates the price of rice in this country.

And Pakistan? They didn’t exactly set the world on fire – they just capitalized on Sri Lanka’s comedy of errors. Sloppy fielding gave the visitors one lifeline too many, while the batting unit collapsed faster than a house of cards in a hurricane. It was a sorry spectacle, to put it mildly.

If poor fielding and batting weren’t enough, the selectors added to the circus. The decision to persist with Dimuth Karunaratne as captain – despite his clear intention to step down – was baffling. Dhananjaya de Silva should have taken the reins before the new cycle. Instead, the selectors played musical chairs with leadership, leaving the team in limbo. But as they say, too many cooks spoil the soup – and the selectors seemed to be stirring the pot with a blindfold on.

To make matters worse, Kamindu Mendis, one of the most promising talents, was left cooling his heels on the sidelines. It was like leaving a star chef in the kitchen while serving microwave meals. Anyway the batting was not covering itself in glory and there was a perfect opportunity for Kamindu to be drafted in.

Sri Lanka started 2024 on the basement of the table and what they achieved since is outstanding.

The turnaround, when it came, was remarkable. The appointment of Upul Tharanga as head of selectors brought accountability and transparency—a breath of fresh air in a stuffy room. Enter Sanath Jayasuriya as head coach, whose hands-on approach injected energy and purpose into the squad. Together, they engineered a stunning revival, guiding Sri Lanka to three overseas Test wins – a rarity that had fans pinching themselves.

Then came the infamous hour of madness at Old Trafford. After winning the toss, Sri Lanka inexplicably chose to bat first in overcast conditions. What followed was a car crash of a session, with the team stumbling to 96 for six. While they fought valiantly to claw their way back, 50 extra runs could have turned the tide, boosting their chances for a spot in the finals and a historic series win in England. But alas, hindsight, like a rearview mirror, always shows the clearest picture.

One of the bright sparks in Sri Lanka’s campaign has been Kamindu Mendis. The man is a glue stick in human form – holding the innings together when wickets tumble like autumn leaves. Sure, Sri Lanka still has its share of batting collapses, but Kamindu’s knack for stitching partnerships with the tail has been a game-changer. His resilience has ensured the bowlers always have something to defend, however modest.

On the bowling front, Prabath Jayasuriya has been a revelation, weaving his web of spin to capture 49 wickets in the cycle – a number that could swell further against Australia. Meanwhile, seamers Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara have risen to the occasion, delivering performances that Sri Lankan fast bowlers aren’t usually associated with. Asitha’s 34 wickets at an average of 28 and Kumara’s 30 scalps at 23 have added much-needed bite to the attack.

On the flip side, Dimuth Karunaratne has been a shadow of his former self, managing just four half-centuries in 11 Tests. For a player of his caliber, these numbers are as underwhelming as a flat soda. It’s hard to see him continuing into the next cycle, especially with younger players knocking on the door. He maybe not the only ex-captain on the way out.

This was Sri Lanka’s third WTC cycle and their closest brush with the finals. They’ve proven they have the mettle to compete with the big boys, but the Achilles’ heel remains their tendency to crumble under pressure. If they can plug the leaks – particularly the batting collapses – there’s no reason they can’t make a serious dent in the next cycle.

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England to bowl first in Pallekelle

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/1

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Englang to bowl first in 2nd T29I at Pallekelke.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Eshan Malinga, Matheesha Pathirana

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Sports

Ireland thump Thailand to qualify for 2026 women’s T20 World Cup

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/1

Priyan

Ireland have become the third team to make the cut for the 2026 women’s T20 World Cup from the qualifier in Nepal, joining Bangladesh and Netherlands in the marquee event to be played in England and Wales in June-July. One of Scotland and USA, who are playing the last game of the qualifying competition, will join them at the World Cup to complete the line-up of 12 teams.

Playing Thailand on the last day of the qualifiers, Ireland batted first and scored 121 for 8. Not a massive total, but Thailand had topped the mark only twice before in the tournament. Sunday wasn’t going to be the third time. In fact, Thailand had their worst day out with the bat in the tournament, collapsing for just 59 in 16.1 overs, giving Ireland a 62-run win.

After Gaby Lewis won the toss and batted, the Ireland top three of Amy Hunter (24 in 15 balls), Lewis (25 in 30), and Orla Prendergast (24 in 22) all got starts and Ireland were at a solid 71 by the end of the tenth over. But by the 12th over, all three experienced batters were gone, and Ireland had only two other batters getting into double-digits – Louise Little, who scored 14 in 18 balls from No. 7, and Jane Maguire, who got 15 not out in 12 balls from No. 9.

Legspinner Suleepon Laomi took 4 for 24 for Thailand.

The 121 proved well beyond Thailand on the day. It was a series of single-digit scores for them, broken up only by the wicketkeeper-batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai and captain Naruemol Chaiwai, who scored 15 and 22 respectively and added 26 for the third wicket. There was next to nothing before and after them.

Arlene Kwlly’s medium pace earned her 4 for 7 from four overs, while offspinner Lara McBride took 3 for 6, finishing the game in her fourth over.

(Cricinfo)

Sports

West Indies seal consolation win in ten-over shootout

Published

10 hours ago

2026/02/1

Priyan

File photo: Gudakesh Motie claimed three quick wickets [Cricinfo]

West Indies claimed a consolation win in a match reduced to 10 overs a side at the Wanderers, to hand South Africa defeat in their first T20I in pink. With no ODIs scheduled in South Africa this summer, the annual fixture to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer treatment took place in the shortest format, and was made even shorter after prolonged delays for lightning.

Still, the sell-out crowd got their money’s worth in an entertaining encounter as both teams left everything on the field in their final competitive fixture before next month’s T20 World Cup.

With the series already won, South Africa may not be too unhappy with the outcome, especially as their middle order, untested in game one and two, had a hit out while West Indies’ ability to hold their nerve under pressure will stand them in good stead ahead of a major tournament. They secured a narrow win after two heavy defeats to leave South Africa with something to smile about.

West Indies’ innings started 75 minutes later than the scheduled 6pm start time after lightning strikes were spotted by the pilot in the flyover just before play. The match was reduced to 16 overs a side at that stage and West Indies came out swinging.Shai Hope carved the first ball through the covers for four and Johnson Charles also tried to take it on but Aiden Markram put a short over in place and Charles hit Ngidi straight to him for a three-ball duck.

Hope kept driving but it was Shimron Hetmyer, who arrived at the crease with neither a helmet nor a cap, who turned it on. He sent Ngidi into the stands and onto a spectator’s forehead for six (sidenote: the fan received a medical check-up) and then cleared deep backward square for six more. Hope hit Keshav Maharaj’s opening over for 18 but Markram kept faith in spin and brought himself on in the firth over. Hetmyer cut his first ball for four, then sent him over deep square leg for six and then Hope, off the last ball of the over, pulled Markram into the stands.

Linde delivered a tight second over but West Indies were in a strong position on 66 for 1 after six before the players were forced off again, as more lightning was spotted. Another hour’s delay reduced the match to 10 overs a side, which meant West Indies had just four overs left to bat when play resumed.

Corbin Bosch’s death-bowling was on display early with an over of good length deliveries before Hetmyer and Hope took on Maharaj again. His second over cost 20 but had some success when Hope hit him to Bosch at long-off. Rovman Powell sent Kwena Maphaka’s first and fifth ball for six and then gave Brevis a catch at deep cover before Hetmyer finished off. He ended the innings with his sixth six to finish on 48* off 22 balls. West Indies scored 114 for 3 in 10 overs and South Africa’s target was adjusted up to 125.

Quinton de Kock, fresh off of century at SuperSport Park, got South Africa to a perfect start with 19 runs off the opening over but Markram couldn’t get going in the same way. He top-edged Akeal Hosein straight up and Hosein did well to take the catch as Hetmyer ran in from extra cover and the pair were fortunate to avoid a collision. South Africa sent in Dewald Brevis ahead of Ryan Rickelton at No.3, and it was almost an early mistake. Brevis was dropped on 2 by Romario Shepherd at midwicket – making it West Indies’ third big-name drop in as many games (Markram in match one, Rickelton in match two) – and they would have wondered how costly it would be.

At first, they got rewarded at the other end. De Kock could not clear long-off and was caught on the rope by Powell to give Gudakesh Motie his first wicket of the series. Then, Rickelton and Brevis then combined for a 28-run stand off 11 balls, with two sixes each, but neither could sustain the momentum. Rickelton picked out Holder at long-on to become Motie’s second and Brevis, on 17, got a taste of his own medicine when he fell to a relay catch between Powell and Holder in the same over. South Africa were 63 for 4 after six overs, and needed 62 runs to win off the next four.

Jason Smith, picked as a finisher for the T20 World Cup, made his case with 20 off the first seven balls but did not get any strike in the penultimate over. South Africa needed 27 off 12 balls and Tristan Stubbs reduced that to 15 off the last five balls before he gave Smith strike to try and finish off. Shamar Joseph, in his first appearance in this series, was tasked with the final over. He went yorker length and took out Smith’s middle stump with his third ball, to leave South Africa needing nine runs off two balls. Bosch was dropped off the second last ball of the match when he skied Joseph to Powell at long-on and broke his bat in the process. He also didn’t ground the bat as he ran so South Africa were one-short, had to score eight off one and lost by six runs.

Brief scores:
West Indies 114 for 3 in 10 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 48*, Shai Hope 48, Rovman Powell 13; Lungi Ngindi 1-19, Keshav Maharaj 1-38, Kwena Maphaka 1-12) beat South Africa 118 for 6 in 10 overs (Quinton de Kock 28,Dewald Brevis 17, Ryan Rickelton 15, George Linde 17, Jason Smith 26, Tristan Stubbs 10*; Jason Holder 1-30, Akeal Hosein 1-25, Gudakesh Motie 3-17, Shamar Joseph 1-23) by 6 runs – DLS

[Cricinfo]