Sports
Bridge: Connecting people, challenging minds
The sport of Bridge arrived in Sri Lanka during the period of British colonial rule. It quickly spread amongst the elite society of Colombo and amongst the rich planters in the upcountry regions. The sport continues to immerse many intellectuals and professionals today. However, few are aware of the virtues that have propelled the game to be recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a sport. Although assisted by a pack of cards Bridge is by no means a mere card game. ‘’It is more similar to the game of chess,’’ says Rex Perera who runs a Bridge Center in Colombo. Chess is more linear, Bridge on the other hand, maneuvers one’s mind in many directions and provides a well-rounded experience, he adds.
In recent years, Bridge has resurfaced into prominence, amongst players the world over. The game requires intellectual acumen, strategic thinking, and precision in execution enabling the sharpening of players’ minds. The International Mind Sports Association is currently trying to elevate Bridge to the status of a medal event in the Olympics.
“It is time that we in our small nation also rise and join this movement,’’ says Rex Perera, a ‘Grand Master’ in bridge. A few years ago, his passion for the sport led Perera to establish the Vajira Bridge Centre for the sole purpose of teaching and conducting tournaments for bridge players. Situated in a peaceful setting at no. 141 Vajira Road, Colombo 5, the Centre is easily accessible via private or public transport and has ample parking space. ‘’We have an open space and welcome both old and young people players including those who would like to learn the sport’’.
Benefits for the young
“At present the education system in Sri Lanka is mostly insular and is slow to promote free thinking. This mind sport on the other hand encourages a young mind to think logically, analytically and most importantly make educated well thought out conclusions in a short time period,” says Perera.
It also improves the arithmetic knowledge, of the competitor, who is compelled to calculate the points each player around the playing table holds in his /her hand whilst the game is in progress. Another benefit is that it encourages social interaction, respect and tolerance towards the opponents and partner, a good discipline that the player can take forth into his or her community.
Bridge is a partnership game and is played by four participants. The persons on ones right and left are the opponents. The aim is to gain the optimum number of tricks using tact and manipulation. This sport is affiliated and categorized as a mind game and tournaments are conducted internationally. There is no age limit or category, all ages are eligible for participation.
This mind game is a good opportunity for parents who are looking to further the experience of their children, as this avenue has been relatively obscure to young ones, and not many youngsters are involved in the game. “This is an opportunity to encourage children so that they too can represent the country in Bridge, and let the lion flag unfurl in lands far ashore, says Rex Perera.
Benefits for the elderly
As people age, a fair amount of the population tends to become lethargic in brain activity. Their analytical prowess and memory decline mainly due to the lack of metal stimulation after retirement. Recent findings have indicated that Bridge can help fight illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, thus benefitting older players. Bridge is therefore a very good buddy to keep the brain cells ticking.
“In our own experience, we have found some daily participants at the centre who have been diagnosed with early stages of dementia but have found themselves much improved after a couple of months play,” says Rex Perera.
Ready to bridge
The Vajira Bridge Centre is well equipped and can accommodate over 40 players at a time. The facilities meet high standards with the availability of online result sheets, the latest computer software and equipment, as well as cutting edge teaching. It currently has over 100 members. The center is open every day and tournaments are conducted on Saturdays. It also serves as a gathering place and social center for the bridge playing community. Members have bridge excursions, around the country, at least once every few months, enabling members to spend time together and bond.
You can learn more about the Vajira Bridge Centre on their website: www.bridgewebs.com/vajira.
Details about activities and tournament results are posted every playing day on the website. Online tournaments are conducted on Bridge Base Online (BBO) on an American platform; every evening at 6.30pm, under the name Big Rexy.
Gamini Kannangara
The first truly heavyweight clash of this expanded T20 World Cup format comes freighted with both history and subplots. A rematch of the 2010 World T20 final at Kensington Oval, the match pits Jos Buttler’s defending champions – who are aiming to become the first team to retain the trophy – against the Australian winning machine, victors at the 2021 edition and current world title-holders in Test and ODI cricket. And that’s before you throw in the Ashes for afters.
Already there is added pressure on England, after the rain in Bridgetown led to a share of the points in their opener against Scotland (and that having conceded 90 runs from 10 overs without taking a wicket in a tepid bowling display). Lose to their oldest rivals and it will leave their Super 8 prospects open to being waylaid by the perils of net run-rate calculations, or worse.
The Scotland match was the third abandonment in five suffered by England, after a rain-affected home series against Pakistan, which has clearly hampered their readiness for this campaign after almost six months without playing T20 together. It does not take much for a side to click in this format – and England looked in decent shape when they did get on the field against Pakistan – but Buttler will be anxious for things to go their way on Saturday, if only to avoid further questions referencing the team’s disastrous ODI World Cup defence last year.
Australia, under the laidback leadership of Mitchell Marsh would love nothing more than to add to the English sense of jeopardy – having helped bundle them out of the tournament in India on the way to taking the crown. Their head to head record is less impressive in T20 however, with England having won six of the last seven completed encounters, as well as that 2010 final.
Despite a wobble with the bat, Australia avoided mishap against Oman earlier in the week, the experience of David Warner and Marcus Stoinis shining through in difficult batting conditions. Surfaces in the Caribbean – not to mention those games staged in the USA – have already had teams scratching their heads; rather than the “slug-fest” England had prepared for, following a high-scoring tour of the Caribbean in December, it looks as if boxing smart may be the way to go.
Speaking of Warner, this could be the last time he faces up against England in national colours – and another match-winning contribution would likely reduce the chances of them meeting again in the knockouts. On the other side of the card is Jofra Archer, fresh from an emotional maiden outing at Kensington Oval and ready to take on Australia for the first time in any format since 2020. Can Mark Wood fire up England’s campaign, as he did during last summer’s Ashes? Will Pat Cummins be back to harass the old enemy once again? Seconds out, it’s almost time to rumble.
Cummins is set to return after being rested for the Oman game, which saw Mitchell Starc leave the field with cramp. Starc is understood to be fine and could keep his place – which would likely see Nathan Ellis miss out. Marsh is still not fit to bowl, with Australia likely to continue with the allrounder combination of Stoinis and Maxwell to give them cover.
Australia (probable XI): David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (capt), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis/Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
The one change England may consider is Reece Topley coming in for Wood, with the expectation that there will be some rotation among the seamers through the course of the tournament.
England (probable XI): Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (capt & wk), Will Jacks, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley/Mark Wood
[Cricinfo]
Once is coincidence, twice is a clue, and three times is proof.
To paraphrase Agatha Christie, that is the narrative around South Africa’s meeting with Netherlands at this T20 World Cup.
The Dutch beat South Africa at the 2022 tournament and ended their semi-final hopes in a match where South Africa appeared to be sleep walking, and then beat them again at the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they exposed South Africa’s vulnerability in the chase. If they to do the treble, not only will Netherlands take the lead in Group D, but they will offer conclusive evidence of the threat they pose to Full Members, especially South Africa.
Of course, it will take some doing after South Africa’s opening performance against Sri Lanka, where they reduced their opposition to their lowest T20I total and chased it down in fairly straightforward fashion thanks to the most stable middle-order of their white-ball era. In Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller, South Africa have bankers and big-hitters and, for this match, they also have the advantage of experience. They’ve already played at Eisenhower Park, and have first-hand knowledge that run-scoring doesn’t come easily;Klassen said they are prepared to use their “cricket brains” and play “smarter cricket”.
But the conditions could be good news for Netherlands, who are not naturally a line-up of big hitters and build their innings on a foundation of turning ones into twos. In other words, they tend to take a slightly more conservative approach to batting, which may work well here, but they’ll be wary of the uneven bounce of the surface and will have to come up with plans to counterattack especially against South Africa’s seamers. Their own bowlers were exemplary in Dallas and will look to build on that performance against a line-up that will likely be more proactive than Nepal’s, but who they have managed to keep quiet not once, but twice in the past. Third time’s the charm, they say.
Anrich Nortje’s stunning return to form against Sri Lanka means South Africa may not have to tinker with the bowling combination, and Gerald Coetzee and Tabraiz Shamsi may have to wait their turns to get a game. The batting line-up should be unchanged, with no space for Ryan Rickelton yet.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markam, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Ottneil Baartman, Anrich Nortje
Conditions in New York may tempt Netherlands to include an extra seamer and they have Kyle Klein in their squad. But it could come at the expense of a shortened batting line-up and they may not want to risk that.
Netherlands: Michael Levitt, Max O’Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Scott Edwards (capt, wk), Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Logan van Beek, Tim Pringle, Paul van Meekeren, Vivian Kingma
[Cricinfo]
Nuwan Thushara’s last over brought Sri Lanka screaming back into the match,as he first bowled Rishad Hossain, and then nailed Taskin Ahmed in front of the stumps with a pinpoint swinging yorker. This left Bangladesh eight wickets down, with 12 runs still to get.
However, the experienced Mahmudullah was at the crease for Bangladesh, and despite some further nervy moments, pushed Bangladesh across the line off the last ball of the 19th over.
But this was a match chiefly decided by Bangladesh’s own outstanding bowling. Mustafizur Rahman was the best among them, using shorter lengths and his cutters efficiently, to claim figures of 3 for 17. Rishad Hossain’s three-for through the middle overs also kept Sri Lanka quiet.
Mustafizur was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s downward spiral through the middle overs, which culminated in a crash-and-burn end. Ultimately, their inability to find boundaries, or even rotate strike against good Bangladesh bowling resulted in their downfall. A score of 125 for 9 always seemed poor on a decent pitch, even if their bowlers made a match of it in the end.
Brief scores:
Bangladesh 125 for 8 in 19 overs (Towhid Hridoy 40, Litton Das 36; Dhanajaya de Silva 1-11, Nuwan Thushara 4-18, Wanidu Hasaranga 2-32, Matheesha Pathirana 1-27) beat Sri Lanka124 for 9 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 47, Dhananjaya de Silva 21; Tanzim Hasan Sakib 1-24, Taskin Ahmed 2-25, Mustafizur Rahman 3-17, Rishad Hossain 3-22) by two wickets
[Cricinfo]
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