Sports
Pradeeptha, Inuka dazzle
Under 19 Division I Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Centuries by Thamindu Pradeeptha and Diniru Abeywickramasinghe and a seven wicket haul by Inuka Karannagoda helped their respective schools do well against their opponents in the Under 19 Division I cricket encounters on Tuesday.
An unbeaten century by Thamindu Pradeeptha helped Richmond change the day one script at Mount Lavinia as they posted 249 runs against S. Thomas’ in their encounter. The teams bating first at Mount Lavinia had collapsed to low scores this season but the dogged 258 ball knock by Pradeeptha and a valuable half century by Malsha Tharupathi prevented Richmond from being bowled out for a low score. Pradeeptha’s knock contained 13 fours and a six (in 258 balls).
Abeywickramasinghe’s 116 runs helped St. Servatius’ score a first innings win over Moratu Vidyalaya at Uyanwatta. The visitors however managed to compensate for their dismal first innings performance as Deneth Sithumina top scored with 88 runs for them to post 207 for five wickets at stumps in the second innings.
At Katunayake, left-arm spinner Inuka Karannagoda took seven wickets (24.3-1-49-7) to lead Mahanama to a thrilling first innings win over St. Joseph’s.
Match Results
Inuka takes seven wickets for Mahanama to take first innings
points at Katunayake
Scores:
Mahanama
215 all out in 91.1 overs (Sachira Weliwatta 55, Viranga Yeshan 44, Rashmika Perera 43; Yenula Dewthusa 6/57, Muditha Dissanayaka 2/28) and 136 for 2 in 27 overs (Anjala Bandara 53n.o., Duvindu Ranathunga 38n.o., Sachira Weliwatta 28)
St. Joseph’s
12 for no loss overnight 175 all out in 73.3 overs (Muditha Dissanayake 59, Hirun Kapurubandara 41n.o., Sadeesh Jayawardana 20, Abishek Jayaweera 20; Inuka Karannagoda 7/49, Koojana Perera 2/24)
St. Servatius’ dominate
at Uyanwatta
Scores:
Moratu MV
111 all out in 45.1 overs (Isuru Nidarshana 20, Sukitha Devthilina 32; Viran Chamuditha 3/10, Chiran Neththaru 5/23) and 207 for 5 in 84 overs (Hashen Isuru 32, Thushan Ferdinando 25, Deneth Sithumina 88)
St. Servatius’
180 for 3 overnight 294 for 7 decl. in 76 overs (Denuwan Pramod 63, Chiran Neththaru 60n.o., Diniru Abeywickramasinghe 116; Kaviska Oshan 2/39, Thushan Ferdinando 2/30)
Thurstan on first innings
at Campbell Place
Scores:
Nalanda
218 all out in 61.2 overs (Yasiru Samarakoon 28, Senesh Wijesinghe 65, Sajitha Vithanage 48, Thisara Dewdunu 26; Thenuka Dewapriya 3/34, Vihas Thewmika 3/32) and 189 for 4 in 54 overs (Rusiru Vilochana 41, Sadew Samarasinghe 45, Kushmitha Silva 45, Eranga Jayakody 54)
Thurstan
146 for 2 overnight 272 all out in 83.3 overs (Ramika Sonal 22, Shanikya Deshapriya 75, Thenuka Dewapriya 71, Navindu Fernando 29, Vihas Thewmika 30; Azeem Mohomad 27; Sajitha Vithanage 5/93, Minod Caldera 4/56)
DSS post 227, St. Sebastian’s 24 for no loss at DSS ground
Scores:
DSS
227 all out in 73.1 overs (Senura Silva 58, Malitha Perera 32, Sahan Yapa 29, Chenul Pinsara 33; Sandeesh Fernando 4/59, Manuja Chanthuka 2/39, Ryan Dissanayaka 2/17)
St. Sebastian’s
24 for no loss in 3 overs (Ryan Dissanayaka 22n.o.)
Thamindu anchors Richmond
at Mount Lavinia
Scores:
Richmond
249 all out in 84.1 overs (Thamindu Pradeeptha 114 n.o., Malsha Tharupathi 59; Nathan Caldera 2/47, Kavindu Dias 6/76)
S. Thomas’
15 for 1 in 5 overs
St. Joseph Vaz’s 220, De Mazenod 94/4 at Kandana
Scores:
St. Joseph Vaz’s
220 all out in 66.3 overs (Rishith Menusha 41, Dasun Perera 64, Tharindu Eshan 50; Kavindu Kaushalya 3/38, Sithum Fernando 2/65, Thareen Sanketh 2/64)
De Mazenod
94 for 4 in 31 overs (Hasith Silva 47, Maleesha Mihishan 25n.o.)
Dimath, Gayana restrict Gurukula to 214 runs at Kurunegala
Scores:
Gurukula
214 all out in 52.3 overs (Thathsara Eshan 80, Denura Dimansith 31, Janith Mihiranga 23, Tharusha Dilsara 41; Gayana Weerasinghe 3/52, Dimath Abeysinghe 4/64)
Maliyadeva
144 for 5 in 45 overs (Jayamin Muthukumarana 33, Pasindu Menaka 24, Chandupa Abeysinghe 25n.o., Gayana Weerasinghe 34; Mohomad Mursad 3/34)
St. Anne’s amass 300 for nine
wickets at Kurunegala
Scores:
St. Anne’s
300 for 9 decl. in 93 overs (Kevin Shewantha 31, Mahima Kotuwila 34, Manaan Muzammil 58, Yomesh Subasinghe 45, Kalindu Wijesinghe 36; Bhanuka Insamal 2/47, Navija de Seram 2/68, Senura Perera 3/55)
St. Thomas’
no runs for 1 wicket in 0.5 overs
Mahinda take upper hand against
St. Aloysius’ at Galle
Scores:
St. Aloysius’
114 all out in 36.2 overs (Induwara Udena 20, Kalana Pathum 26n.o.; Shehan Hasaranga 4/35, Dinura Kalupahana 3/23, Dhanuja Induwara 3/17)
Mahinda
162 for 3 in 51 overs (Dinura Kalupahana 41, Savidya Ranmina 38n.o., Tharusha Dilshan 48n.o.; Vidura Lakshan 2/27)
St. Peter’s 252, Dharmaraja 94/5
at Bambalapitiya
Scores:
St. Peter’s
252 all out in 60.2 overs (Vishen Halambage 70, Rusanda Gamage 52, Nimuthu Gunawardena 50, Lakindu Samarajeewa 21, Sean Roberts 16n.o.; Thisaru Wanninayake 3/77, Kalana Herath 2/14, Dulara Bandulasena 2/37, Nisala Abeyratne 2/44)
Dharmaraja
94 for 5 in 39 overs (Pulindu Perera 27, Isuru Pannala 34n.o.; Shennon Rodrigo 4/07)
Sports
England face Australia in the battle of champions
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]
Sports
South Africa up against their bogey team in batter-unfriendly New York
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]
Latest News
Mustafizur, Rishad, Hridoy dazzle in Bangladesh’s tight two-wicket win over Sri Lanka
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]