Rejuvenated Sri Lanka eye semis; potential change in top order
Sri Lanka could consider a change for their sixth World Cup group fixture against Afghanistan tomorrow as they continue the hunt for a reliable opening partnership. Pathum Nissanka, with four consecutive half centuries, has shown strong defiance with the bat but his senior partner Kusal Janith Perera has failed to live up to the billing, [...]
Australia edge New Zealand by five runs in World Cup epic
DHARAMSALA, India, Oct 28, 2023 (AFP): Five-time champions Australia edged out gallant New Zealand by just five runs in a high-scoring World Cup thriller on Saturday. Australia piled up 388 all out as Travis Head top scored with 109 and fellow opener David Warner made 81. New Zealand battled hard with Rachin Ravindra making 116, [...]
First unofficial Test match fizzles out to a draw
The first unofficial Test match between Sri Lanka Emerging XI and the visiting Bangladesh Emerging XI concluded at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium in a tame draw yesterday, after much of play was interrupted by rain. Sri Lanka Emerging XI, set to chase a massive target of 351 runs for victory, was struggling on 69 for [...]
Edwards leads Netherlands’ rout of Bangladesh
KOLKATA, Oct 28, 2023 (AFP): Netherlands captain Scott Edwards led from the front as his side enjoyed another World Cup success with an 87-run hammering of Bangladesh. Saturday’s victory in Kolkata followed the non-Test side’s shock defeat of South Africa earlier in the tournament. The Netherlands, as was the case against South Africa, were indebted [...]
Sri Lanka minister slams cricket board as traitors
COLOMBO, Oct 28, 2023 (AFP): Sri Lanka’s sports minister accused the country’s top cricket administrators of being ‘traitorous and corrupt’ Saturday, escalating a bitter row between the government and officials running the island’s most popular sport. Minister Roshan Ranasinghe and the national cricket board — the richest sporting body in the country — have been [...]
England haven’t ‘lost faith’ as India challenge looms at World Cup
LUCKNOW, India, Oct 28, 2023 (AFP): Defending champions England are feeling the heat of a lacklustre World Cup campaign but assistant coach Marcus Trescothick insisted Saturday that they haven’t ‘lost faith’ in the under-pressure 50-over format. England face unbeaten hosts India in Lucknow on Sunday, coming into the contest with four defeats from five matches [...]
Sadeera – on a path of creating his own identity
It was a small chase. A target of 157 off 300 balls seemed a walk in the park for the Sri Lankans under excellent batting conditions. But two quick wickets ignited a glimmer of hope for England who had been looking for some redemption after a horrendous display with the bat. Then Sadeera Samarawickrema and [...]
6th ‘Race The Pearl’ flags off
The 24-hour international cycling challenge – Race The Pearl – is back with a collective of riders from the USA, UK, Australia, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, India and Sri Lanka. Among them are Tour De France stage winner and yellow jersey holder of during 2013 Stages 2 and 3, Belgian Jan Bakelants, UCI Pro Race [...]
50 years of WTA management
Today, on October 29, WTA’s Top 8 will play for yearend WTA title in Singles and Doubles in Mexico. Certainly, a treat to Mexicans and to the global TV audience. Positions 9 and 10 in the current WTA ranking are Maria Sakkari and Karolina Muchova. They will be on call should slots fall vacant. The [...]
England hold on to edge Argentina in World Cup third place playoff
PARIS, Oct 28, 2023 (AFP): Captain Owen Farrell kicked 16 points for England as they clung on to beat Argentina 26-23 on Friday to claim third place in the Rugby World Cup. Farrell’s contribution helped 2003 winners England finish third in the tournament for the first time, with champions South Africa facing New Zealand in [...]
Niloufer Philips-Arasakumar – an allrounder of many facets
The passing away of Niloufer Philips-Arasakumar at the age of 64 came as sad news to me, as she had a long battle with cancer. Niloufer was well known for her battles on the squash court where she battled many times at the squash national finals against her arch rival the late Padmini Samarasinghe. So [...]
Junior sailing team leaves for IODA International Championship
Sri Lanka’s junior national sailing team left for the IODA Asian and Oceanian Championship yesterday, where the team of seven boys and three girls, all under the age of 15, will represent the country in Abu Dhabi in the coming week. The week-long event, an international regatta in the Optimist class, will be held begin [...]
The journey of Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa
In the world of golf, talents often emerge from the most unexpected places, and one such remarkable story is that of Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force. While his military career soars to great heights, Air Marshal Rajapaksa has also made a name for himself on the golf course, [...]
Sri Lankan Schools excel at Varsity Boat Races in Malaysia
A group of 15 athletes from Colombo schools took part in the Varsity Boat Races in Putrajaya, held from October 3 to 8, which is an annual event organised by the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia. The event had a participation of around 400 students from universities and schools across Asia. Over 12 schools [...]
Curtin Colombo’s Anusara earns hat-trick of gold medals at APIIT Extravaganza 2023
In a remarkable display of talent and dedication, the Curtin Colombo swimming team delivered an outstanding performance at the APIIT Extravaganza 2023 sports tournament, further emphasising their collective achievement. Among the standout stars was Anusara Abeygoonawardane, a Year 1 engineering student, who secured first place in all three swimming events, showcasing both his individual prowess [...]
Eastern Provincial Championship won by Batticaloa Paddiruppu Zone
The Batticaloa Paddiruppu Zone won the Eastern Provincial Championship of the CBL Samaposha Provincial Schools Games 2023, held at the Leelaratne Stadium in Kantale. Coming in as runners-up were the Akkaraipattu and Kalmunai zones, who finished closely behind the winners as another phase of the CBL Samaposha Provincial School Games 2023 was organised with the [...]
Sri Lankan U-15 badminton players shine at Bahrain Junior International Series
The Bahrain Junior International Series 2023, held in Manama, witnessed a notable display of talent and skill of rising stars of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Under-15 contingent delivered a stellar performance, making their mark and earning well-deserved recognition by clinching two podium spots. The Sri Lankan duo of Isuri Attanayaka and Sithumi de Silva [...]