Sports
You need to enjoy fielding – Chandana
Sri Lanka’s resurgence in white-ball cricket has owed much to sharper fielding and at the heart of the transformation is former leg-spinning all-rounder Upul Chandana, now the national team’s fielding coach.
A long-serving figure in Sri Lanka Cricket’s developmental ranks, Chandana was handed the senior role after the team’s dismal ninth-place finish at the 2023 World Cup in India, a tournament where dropped catches and sloppy ground work cost them dearly.
“Post-World Cup, we knew we had to pull our socks up,” Chandana told reporters ahead of the second T20 International against Bangladesh in Dambulla. “Fitness was the first area we tackled. Then we doubled down on our fielding — where we earlier spent 20 minutes per session, now we dedicate nearly 40.”
Chandana said the most pleasing aspect has been the commitment of the players, especially the fast bowlers, who are generally known as slow movers.
“The quicks have really put in the hard yards,” he noted. “They’re throwing themselves around, backing up, hitting the stumps. It’s a total attitude shift and that’s half the battle.”
“Fielding is the one area where everyone can chip in. A bowler might go for runs, a batter may fall cheaply — but in the field, everyone has a role. You’ve got to treat it as a challenge to be enjoyed.”
Sri Lanka’s new energy in the field was on full display during the opening ODI at RPS, where Milan Rathnayake’s run out of Najmul Hossain Shanto and Janith Liyanage’s stunning catch to dismiss Tanzid Hasan proved to be huge moments in the game.
“That run-out turned the tide,” Chandana said. “And Janith’s catch, you don’t pull off something like that without hard work and belief. These aren’t flashes in the pan, they’re products of effort and mindset.”
Chandana also credited the team environment, highlighting the support from skipper Charith Asalanka, Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya and Fielding Coach Manoj Abeywickrama.
“If our fielding unit looks sharp, it’s not just me — the captain’s backing, the coach’s emphasis and Manoj stepping in when I’m away have all helped shape this culture. It’s a team effort.”
Rex Clementine in Dambulla ✍️
Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele were on target as France surged past Morocco 2-0 to book their place in the World Cup semifinals.
Mbappe curled in his eighth goal of the tournament on 60 minutes on Thursday before Dembele doubled Les Bleus’ lead six minutes later to settle a clinical victory at the Gillette Stadium outside Boston.
The win sends the 2018 champions into a last-four showdown against either Spain or Belgium in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday.
African champions Morocco had been tipped to pose a serious threat to France’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final.
But Didier Deschamps’ men were always in control against a limited Morocco side who failed to register a single shot on goal until an 83rd-minute free-kick by Azzedine Ounahi was parried away by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
France, though, struggled to find a breakthrough, and missed the opportunity to take the lead on 28 minutes when Mbappe saw a penalty saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Mbappe had won the penalty after being brought down by Noussair Mazraoui but was forced to wait several minutes before being allowed to take the kick after a protracted VAR check.
Morocco managed to hold out to half-time, but it was always only a matter of time before France’s relentless pressure paid off.
The breakthrough came on the hour mark, with Mbappe bending a brilliant right-foot shot past Bounou from the edge of the area.
Paris Saint-Germain star Dembele made the game safe in the 66th minute, striding forward menacingly from midfield before steering a low finish into the bottom corner.
France now await the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal in Los Angeles between European champions Spain and Belgium.
[Aljazeera]
111th Vision Care Colombo Championship
Aahil Kaleel of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and Akesha Silva of Newstead College, Negombo emerged as the boys’ and girls’ Under-18 singles champions respectively at the 111th Vision Care Colombo Championship, played on Sri Lanka Tennis Association’s clay courts.
Aahil staged a remarkable comeback in the boys’ Under-18 final to defeat Rehan Gunawardhane 1-6, 6-4, 10-5 after dropping the opening set. The S. Thomas’ player enjoyed an impressive run to the title, overpowering Dehan Wickramasinghe 6-1, 6-1 in the quarter-finals before edging Mayooran Kubheran in a thrilling semi-final 4-6, 7-5, 10-7.
In the girls’ Under-18 final, Akesha Silva was crowned champion after Sahansa Damsiluni retired while trailing 1-0. Akesha booked her place in the final with a convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory over Gethmi Fernando in the semi-finals. Her toughest challenge came in the quarter-finals, where she outlasted Sandithi Usgodaarachchi 6-3, 6-7(4), 14-12 in a marathon encounter.
Akesha Silva
In the boys’ Under-18 doubles semi-finals, Mayooran Kubheran and Ashlin de Silva defeated Ranida Ranaweera and Ashmal Mohamed 5-4, 4-1, while Methika Wickramasinghe and Jayin de Seram overcame Jamal Sabry and Lithum Jayabandu 4-1, 2-4, 10-2 to set up the championship final.
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