Vaas, Malinga on bodyline course
A major rift is growing between the current Sri Lanka fast bowling coach Chaminda Vaas and Limited Overs specialist fast bowler, slinger Lasith Malinga, according to cricket insiders. The Sunday Times learns that differences between the two Lankan champion bowlers have reached a crisis point and the sparks are penetrating right into the dressing room. [...]
Did you hear the Flower rendition of ‘My way?’
They say that former Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene’s favourite song was ‘My way’. This song which is sung or hummed by a majority of successful males in the world was written by Canadian singer-songwriter Paul Anka, but was made a branded signature piece by that great American balladeer Frank Sinatra. Similarly, Andy Flower who [...]
New raincoats
New raincoats Now that the rains have set in the demand is high for those who cover the pitches. These pitch coverers have now been given new raincoats to do their jobs and the sponsors name has been highlighted prominently on these raincoats. Though the cost for the organisers is not too much in this [...]
Sunday Sports Guide
Local CRICKET: Sri Lanka v South Africa at Pallekele, 4th ODI SLC Under-23 Division I Tamil Union vs CCC at P. Sara Oval Colts vs Army at Colts NCC vs Navy at NCC Moors vs Leos at Moors Air Force vs Bloomfield at Rifle Greens Ragama CC vs Moratuwa SC at Bloomfield Division II Kandy [...]
Tennis franchises and tournaments
ATP the men’s and the WTA women’s Annual Tournament Calendar has no new slots available for tournaments. It has scheduled over eighty tournaments in over sixty venues worldwide. It is full. The existing franchise holders have to come up with big prize money, to retain their slots. This year’s Wimbledon gave away 10 million pound [...]
Gratiaen Cup played with a touch of grace
On Thursday the 25th the Gratiaen Cup Rugby encounter was revived at Havelock Park after a lapse of almost 30 years. This game, played under floodlights, doubled for the selection of the Under 19 team that is to play in the Asian Junior Championship, which begins on August 11 in Chinese Taipei. The Gratiaen Cup [...]
India ‘vindicated’ on DRS disdain after Test howlers
Derided for its stubborn opposition to cricket’s Decision Review System, the game’s superpower India, now feels vindicated over its stance after watching a series of controversies mar the first two Tests of the Ashes series in England. India’s influence over the Asian cricket nations has been the stumbling block for the mandatory adoption of DRS [...]
Air Force down Matara SC by nine wickets
Sri Lanka Air Force’s B team annihilated Matara Sports Club by nine wickets in their women’s division II cricket tournament being conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket. The match which was played at the Uyanwatta Stadium yesterday (24th) commenced at 1.15PM due to the soggy condition of the out field and was reduced to 19 overs [...]
Carlin Isles dubbed the fastest impress on day one
The Carlton Sevens International First Leg got under way at the picturesque Galle International Cricket Grounds yesterday. Western Warriors took on Southern Sharks on a good looking green pitch overlooked by the Galle Fort. Power House Fijian Skipper Nemani Nagusa opened scoring of the tournament with a try scored for Southern Sharks while Yoshitha Rajapakse [...]
Old Bens BC in cliffhanger win over Wattala BC
Old Bens Basketball Club posted a cliffhanger 73 to 72 point win over Wattala BC in an ‘A’ division cager fixture conducted by the Colombo District Basketball Association at Nugegoda recently. At half time Old Bens BC held a slender 31 to 29 point lead. Clinton Stallone led the way for the Old Bens with [...]
A glittering night in the offing
In five more days a galaxy of future cricketing stars of Sri Lanka cricket will converge at the BMICH for the Bata-Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year awards presentation 2013. Remember, Friday, August 2, at the BMICH. Former President, Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, Ana Punchihewa will be the chief guest. [...]
Sarathchandra 150 n.o. puts Tamil Union on top
With the prevailing rainy weather conditions curtailing play on the first day’s play on Friday, the SLC Inter-Club Under-23 Division I cricket tournament matches got off at four venues on time while the game at Bloomfield ground started after lunch yesterday. The personal best by left-arm orthodox spinner Thenuka Dhananjaya of Leos SC Ambalangoda was [...]
India – Sri Lanka second Youth Test begins tomorrow
After salvaging a draw against India in their first Test at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium, the Sri Lanka Under 19 team will once again be in action in another four-day encounter, set to commence tomorrow at the Welagedara Stadium in Kurunegala. This will be the first time in four years that Kurunegala will be hosting [...]
Expo Lanka bags ‘G’ division title
Expo Lanka Group bagged their first Mercantile Cricket title when they scored a comfortable 5-wicket win over debutants, Mast Far East in the 3rd Stafford-Honda MCA Division ‘G’ 25-over league tournament final, concluded at the MCA ground yesterday. Allrounder Nishan Dilip who picked two wickets and returned to hammer an unbeaten 57, won the man-of-the-match [...]
Merc rugby on Aug 10 and 11
The 43rd Mercantile Rugby Football Sevens 2013 sponsored by Dialog has been cut short by a day according to its organisers, the Mercantile Rugby Football Association. The much awaited annual Sevens tournament to be held in Sri Lanka, was earlier scheduled to be held on August 9, 10 and 11 at the CR&FC grounds in [...]
Onus on Mathews and his men
One day they are on top of the world and the next they are at rock bottom. Sri Lanka is leading the five-match One Day International series 2-1 heading into fourth ODI against South Africa, to be played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium today. But the same team, who scored a mammoth 320 in the [...]
SLC to conduct another T-20 tournament
Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, Nishantha Ranatunga, says that they are not inclined to drop the SLPL T-20 tournament, though there was a major hiccup that led to the cancellation of this year’s edition. He said, “At the moment our legal team is looking at the possibilities of reviving the tournament on a future date.” [...]
Asanka emerge champion for the seventh time
Asanka Sanjeewa of Arugam Bay Surf Club emerged the Arugam Bay Surf Classic champion for the seventh time as he outclassed his team mates P. Kavindra and Praneeth Sandaruwan in the final to secure the first slot which was held at the picturesque world renowned Arugam Bay beach yesterday. Asanka was way ahead in the [...]
Gandara MV the only school girl football team in Matara
Gandara MV — the only school that fields a female football team in the Matara district have proved their prowess by qualifying to play in the all island under 17 tournament since 2009. They qualified for the quarter-finals of the tournament in 2011.The girl of Gandara MV took to football in 2008 after coach Sarath [...]
Old Anandians trounce Gymkhana HC 4-0
Old Anandians trounced Gymkhana Hockey Club by four goals to nil in an Andriesz Shield hockey fixture at the Astro turf recently. At the short whistle Old Anandians led 2-0. In the 5th minute of play, centre forward U. Anurdha opened the scoring with a field goal to put Old Anandians one up and two [...]
The Lanka Cavaliers vs MCA
The Lanka Cavaliers vs MCA will field formidable sides for the ‘Tyrone de Silva Challenge Trophy’ when they take on each other in the 10th Annual Over-40 Cricket Encounter, hosted by MCA on Sunday, July 28 at the MCA grounds, commencing 10.00am. This encounter has been going on continuously since 2004, with MCA leading the [...]
Let’s play imagine today
Just imagine if the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union has 4.5 billion rupees in total net assets in the bank. Or imagine if we had an elite training academy looking after a number of medal sports at the Olympics, that it was given 5.2 billion rupees as an annual subvention from the government. This is [...]
A deputy skipper of a cricket team
I wish to write about being deputy skipper of a cricket team since I was deputy in the Sinhalese Sports Club P. Saravanamuttu Trophy Team at the age of 23. The task of captaining came on my shoulders at the time since the captain was injured very early in the tournament, and I had to [...]
No changes on top
Blue Star remains sharp as the leader of Group ‘A’ while Solid Sports Club looks firm from Group ‘B’ as the Dialog Champions League 2013 football tournament completed its 12th week. Blue Star, who took the reign a fortnight ago last Sunday, settled to a nil-all draw against bottom seed Negombo Youth but a win [...]
It was not gross – it was Ross at his best
The International Stadium at Pallekele has been the venue for quite a few ODIs. There have been close finishes, intense battles and feats of exciting batsmanship. However, for excitement pure and simple, the batting of the New Zealanders, in particular that of the since-deposed Ross Taylor, in the 2011 World Cup group match against the [...]
Over 5000 athletes in the fray
A total of over 5000 athletes from 412 schools will flock to the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Diyagama, Homagama with intention of claiming fame, joy and honour at the 44th Sir John Tarbet Junior Athletics Championship 2013. The competition which is sponsored by Ritzbury, will be held from August 5 to 8. Defending champions Maris [...]
Junior tennis 10s serves up top talent
Liyara Weerawanse, Sanudaya Bandara, Dinethya Dharmaratne, Venuka Kithnula, Neyara Weerawanse and Nelaka Dissanayake came on top at the Tennis 10s Junior Championship, which ended at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) courts at Green Path, Colombo recently. Liyara Weerawanse won the Girls’ Red Ball category beating Binudi Wijayawardane in the final and Sanudara Bandara beat [...]
