Sports
Madushani produces season’s best but quarter-century old record stays put
Junior National Athletics Championships 2023
by Reemus Fernando
National Junior long jump record holder Madushani Herath shrugged off her early season disappointments with a notable performance in the Under 20 girls’ long jump as she came almost close to breaking a 25-year-old meet record on day three of the Junior National Athletics Championships at Diyagama on Tuesday.
The Nannapurawa MV, Bibila athlete missed the opportunity of representing Sri Lanka at the forthcoming Asian Junior Athletics Championships as she could not reach her usual form at the selection trial held in March. ‘She was struggling with her run-up then’ and could not go beyond the 5.70 metres mark in March. But yesterday she made jumps of over 5.80 metres on all her six attempts and delivered her season’s best of 6.06 metres with the support of a tailwind of +2.6.
Even her second-best jump (5.96) was good enough to put her in contention for the best athlete title of the meet in her age category by the end of the third day. The wind gauge reading of 2.6 prevented her from equaling the 25-year-old meet record of Anoma Sooriyarachchi (6.06).
She was expected to break the meet record from the time she cleared a National Junior Record distance of 6.09 metres at the same venue as a youth athlete last year.
The penultimate day of the meet was also notable for two record-breaking performances in the hammer throw. Nithinsa Mandani of Yatiyana MV, Matara threw the hammer to a distance of 40 metres to break the Under 23 women’s record established by A.W.A.S.M. Amarasinghe (2013).
In the Under 18 girls’ hammer throw Yuthara Linduli Jayaweera of Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda cleared a distance of 36.79 metres to create a new record.
The organisers were continuing the day’s event late into the evening after heavy rain hampered the afternoon session. Results of some of the events held in the evening were not available when this edition went to press.
Results
Under 20 Men’s 10000m
1. Suman Keeran of Mulankavil National School, Kilinochchi 35:35.92
2. M Dinushan of Saraswathy Central College, Nuwaraeliya 35:42.31
3. KK Lakindu Nirman of Ananda Sastralaya Mathugama 37:19.81
Under 23 Men’s 10000m
1. MSA Fernando of Colombo DAA 33:29.62
2. RMDP Rathnayaka of Sri Lanka Army 33:45.25
3. NBACP Madhubhashana of Yahala Arawa MV, Welimada 33:48.30
Under 23 Women’s 10000m
1. Nayana Sewwandi of Kalutara DAA 45:25.87
2. TV Hashini Lakshani of Pitadeniya Maha Vidyalaya, Galle 47:01.80
3. PGSS Wimalasooriya of Kandy DAA 47:06.46
Under 20 Women’s Long Jump
1. Madushani Herath of Nannapurawa MV, Bibila 6.06 (+2.6)
2. L Prasadi Anuradha Fernando of Newstead Girls’ College, Negombo 5.85
3. Dananjana Sithmini Ranasgalla of Lyceum International School, Gampaha 5.53
Under 16 Girls Hammer Throw
1. Ranudi Weerawardhane of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo 23.39
2. Dasini Vihangana of Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya, Nugegoda 21.69
3. Imalsha Dhananjani of Welagedara Maha Vidyalaya 21.23
Under 18 Girls Hammer Throw
1. Yuthara Linduli Jayaweera of Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda 36.79m * NMR
2. Selvakumar Sevvanam of Polikandy Hindu Tamil Mixed School, Valvettithurai 30.76
3. BAK Kumari of Sumana Balika Vidyalaya, Rathnapura 24.36
Under 16 Boys’ Javelin Throw
1. Pawan Induwara of St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa 52.43
2. Shenal Weerakoon of St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa 52.33
3. TMD Induranga of Kuliyapitiya Central College, Kuliyapitiya 51.27
Under 23 Women’s Long Jump
1. Thanishia Joanna 5.43
2. Neha Hettiarachchi of Holy Cross College, Gampaha 5.36
3. GIS Lankathilaka of Sri Lanka Air Force 5.29 –
Under 23 Men’s Hammer Throw
1. Suseenthi Kumar Mithunraj of Hartley College, Jaffna 38.91
2. Guvidu Punyajith Welikaka of Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya 34.11
3. Isuru Dilhara Perera of Track Masters Sports Club 32.03
Under 18 Men’s Javelin Throw
1. Sadeepa Irosh of St. Joseph Vaz’s College, Wennappuwa 56
2. Dinethra Shakya of St. Joseph Vaz’s College, Wennappuwa 54.63
3. ESH Epasingha of Royal College, Horana 53.41
Under 23 Women’s 400m
1. Kavindi Edirisinghe of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo 57.65
2. KHAD Kaushalaya of Sri Lanka Air Force 58.76
3. UKSCP Bandara of Kegalle DAA 1:00.38
Under 23 Men’s Javelin Throw
1. Rumesh Tharanga of Kalutara DAA 67.50
2. Deshith Bhagya of Sri Lanka Air Force 53.12
3. Chamod Rashmika of Boy’s Model School, Malabe 50.20
Under 20 Men’s Long Jump
1. Hasitha Kavinda Dissanayake of Lyceum International, Gampaha 6.97
2. Razwin Careem of Lyceum International School, Panadura 6.89
3. Vidusha Siriwardhana of Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte 6.77
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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