Sri Lanka’s women’s cricket team skipper, Chamari Athapaththu has hinted at her possible retirement from the sport of cricket. Speaking to the media in South Africa, Athapaththu revealed she believes her retirement is ‘very soon’. She, however, stopped short of mentioning details of her retirement, stating that she could not mention the exact dates. The Sri Lanka women’s cricket team skipper went on to heap praise on her young team. Chamari Athapaththu said she hopes to see her young team win the women’s World Cup one day. (Newswire) The post Chamari speaks about International Retirement appeared first on NewsWire. | ↑ |
The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that ICC cricket rights in Sri Lanka up until the end of 2025 have been awarded to MTV Channel (Private) Limited. MTV will exploit the broadcast rights via their free-to-air channels, TV1, Shakthi TV and Sirasa TV. The digital rights will be exploited via www.sirasatv.lk and by icc.tv enabling more fans to watch ICC world events over the next two years. The MTV network covers a large proportion of the Sri Lankan population with channels covering the main three languages in the country and a dedicated sports channel carrying live broadcasting of all major sporting events. The events covered in the deal are the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025, ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 and ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. ICC Chief Executive, Geoff Allardice said “We are delighted to be partnering with MTV which is an exciting addition to our suite of broadcast partners. Sri Lanka has such a rich history of cricket and this partnership is a fantastic opportunity to create more fans who can enjoy the sport.” Chevaan Daniel, Group Director- Capital Maharaja Group (CMG), which owns and operates MTV said: “We are delighted that MTV has successfully secured the exclusive broadcasting rights for world cricket in Sri Lanka for the next two years especially considering CMG’s close association with cricket in Sri Lanka since over many decades. This exciting development marks a significant stride in our commitment to delivering premium sports content to our viewers. Cricket holds a special place in the hearts of Sri Lankans, and we are thrilled to bring the exhilarating action of world cricket to screens across the nation, as we aim to elevate the cricket viewing experience for fans.” (ICC) The post ICC announces Sri Lanka TV & online partners until end of 2025 appeared first on NewsWire. | ↑ |
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the 15-member national women’s squad that will participate in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier 2024. According to the SLC, the tournament will take place from April 25 to May 07, 2024, in Abu Dhabi. The Sri Lanka team will reach Abu Dhabi directly from South Africa, where the team is currently engaged in a whiteball tour. Meanwhile, 15-year-old left-arm wrist spinner Shashini Gimhani is set to make her international debut for the Sri Lanka Women’s team at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier in Abu Dhabi. Shashini has been impressive in the recent Women’s Under-19 Tri-Nation Series against England and Australia, taking 7 wickets. (Newswire)
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Sri Lanka all-rounder Kamindu Mendis and former captain Angelo Mathews have progressed in the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings after contributing to their team’s 192-run victory in Chattogram that helped complete a 2-0 win in the ICC World Test Championship series against Bangladesh. Kamindu Mendis’s scores of 92 not out and nine have lifted him 18 places to 46th position in the batters’ list while his three-wicket haul in the second innings sees him gain 46 slots and reach 117th position among bowlers. Mathews, who enjoyed a career-high third rank in August 2014, has inched up two places to 25th after scores of 23 and 56. In what is another notable movement for a Sri Lankan batter, Kusal Mendis has progressed three places to 52nd after scoring 93 in the first innings. In the bowling rankings, Asitha Fernando has moved up seven places to 27th position after a four-wicket haul in the first innings, Vishwa Fernando is up from 43rd to 41st with three wickets in the match and Lahiru Kumara has gone from 46th to 44th after finishing with six wickets in Chattogram. Bangladesh opener Zakir Hasan, who scored 54 and 19, has gone up three places to 75th position in the Test batting rankings while Mehidy Hasan Miraz is up from 99th to 88th after a valiant 81 not out in the second innings. Mominul Haque has gained four slots and is in 46th position after scoring 83 runs in his two innings. Debutant fast bowler Hasan Mahmud has entered the Test bowling rankings in 95th position after grabbing six wickets in the match. For more about the ICC Rankings, please click here. For more on the ICC World Test Championship click here. (ICC) The post New Test rankings : Kamindu Mendis passes Kusal Mendis appeared first on NewsWire. | ↑ |
Sri Lanka rising star Chamodi Praboda has helped Sri Lanka Under-19 emerge victorious against England. The 14-year-old destroyed England’s innings by taking 5 for 42. The feat was achieved in the ongoing Under-19 Tri-Series. (Newswire)
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Fixtures have been announced for the 2024 Lanka Premier League (LPL), which is the fifth edition of the Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament in Sri Lanka. According to Sri Lanka Cricket, the 2024 LPL will be played in three venues, which are Colombo, Dambulla, and Kandy. The 2024 Lanka Premier League will kick off on July 01, 2024, with the final scheduled for July 21. (Newswire)
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Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis has beat off competition for Ireland pacer Mark Adair and New Zealand speedster Matt Henry to win the ICC Men’s Player of the Month Award for March 2024. Mendis became the third Sri Lankan after Prabath Jayasuriya and Wanindu Hasaranga to win the Men’s prize. The batter sees this award as a source of inspiration for his future in international cricket. “I am extremely happy to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month, which I consider an inspiration for my international career,” Mendis expressed. “A recognition such as this motivates and makes us as players work more and more to deliver in the middle for the team, country, and fans. “I also wish the very best for the other two players who were nominated along with me, Mark Adair and Matt Henry, whom I consider excellent players and good competitors.” It has been a return to remember for the 25-year-old, who came back to the Sri Lanka setup for the first time since 2022. Mendis started the month with 68 runs in the three-match series against Bangladesh, of which 37 came in the second T20I off 27 balls. He outshone himself in the longer format, delivering an exceptional performance by scoring centuries in both innings of the first Test against the same opponents. Walking into bat when Sri Lanka was in big trouble at 57/5, he stitched a massive 202-run stand with Dhananjaya de Silva to take the team to a respectable total of 280. Both the batters got to a century, with Mendis scoring 102. After skittling out Bangladesh for 188, the duo once again rescued the visitors and cemented their dominance over Bangladesh with individual centuries. Mendis, batting at No.8 with the score at 126/6, crafted a career-best 164 runs adorned with 16 fours and 6 sixes. In doing so, Mendis become the first player batting at number seven or lower to hit two centuries in a single Test. Sri Lanka posted 418 and bowled Bangladesh out for 182, winning the match by a massive margin of 328 runs. (ICC) The post Sri Lanka’s Kamindu named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March 2024 appeared first on NewsWire. | ↑ |
Cricket West Indies (CWI) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Head Coach for the West Indies (WI) Men’s Academy, marking a pivotal step in advancing the organisation’s commitment to excellence in cricket development. Following an extensive and meticulous selection process Ramesh Subasinghe has emerged as the ideal candidate to lead the WI Academy into a new era of performance and growth. Before his appointment to CWI, Subasinghe, a former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer, served as the Head Coach of the New Zealand Cricket Men’s Development Programme and the Otago Cricket Associations Pathways Head Coach and Talent Development Manager. He holds an ICC Global Level 3 coaching qualification and is a qualified Coach Development with New Zealand Cricket. Besides his qualifications, Subasinghe has exhibited significant expertise in critical areas including developing and implementing high-performance systems, technical remediations and sports bio-mechanics, team and individual holistic skills development, injury prevention and bowling loads management. The recruitment process for the Head Coach of the West Indies Men’s Academy attracted significant global interest, with 53 applicants vying for the position. Through a stringent vetting process, 12 candidates were shortlisted, representing diverse cricketing backgrounds and expertise. Ultimately, 6 individuals hailing from Guyana, Jamaica, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Sri Lanka were identified as finalists, reflecting CWI’s dedication to inclusivity and global talent scouting. Enoch Lewis, CWI Board Director and Chair of Cricket Development & Performance Committee, Miles Bascombe, Director of Cricket, Graeme West, High-Performance Manager and Oneka Martin-Bird, HR Manager, were all part of the selection process and all contributed to a comprehensive assessment of each candidate’s qualifications, experience, and vision for cricket development in our region. Reflecting on the selection process, Miles Bascombe remarked, “It was a rigorous and transparent exercise, ensuring that only the most qualified and capable candidates were considered for this position. We were given a clear mandate to choose the best talent at our disposal and we’re confident the most suitable candidate was identified.” The unanimous decision of the interview panel, endorsed by the Board of Directors and HR Committee, underscores Ramesh Subasinghe’s exceptional qualifications and suitability for the role of Head Coach of the WI Men’s Academy. Bascombe affirmed the appointment, stating, “We are continuously striving to elevate standards at CWI, and I am confident that Ramesh Subasinghe embodies the expertise and leadership necessary to drive our cricket development initiatives forward.” On becoming the new Men’s Academy Head Coach, Ramesh Subasinghe stated, “Joining CWI presents an incredible opportunity for me to contribute to the organisation’s new strategic vision and build on their existing High-Performance programmes, working with their best young cricketers. I look forward to collaborating with the exciting natural talent and the passionate cricketing communities in the West Indies.” Subasinghe’s appointment represents a significant investment in the future of West Indian cricket, as he brings a wealth of technical knowledge, strategic insight, and a passion for player development to the role. His leadership will be instrumental in shaping the next generation of cricketing talent in the region. Subasinghe will start his role on 1 May 2024 and will be based full-time at the CWI Headquarters at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. (WI Cricket) The post Former Sri Lanka first-class cricketer appointed West Indies Men’s Academy Coach appeared first on NewsWire. | ↑ |
The International Cricket Council (ICC) today revealed the shortlist of candidates in contention to scoop the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards for performances in March. The ICC Player of the Month awards highlight the outstanding individual performers on the international cricket stage, and the names shortlisted for March span a range of formats. The ICC Men’s Player of the Month shortlist includes Sri Lanka batter Kamindu Mendis, nominated for his memorable batting feats as Sri Lanka overcame Bangladesh in the longest format. Mark Adair has his maiden nomination for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award after spearheading Ireland’s Test win over Afghanistan as well as contributing in the shorter formats. New Zealand’s Matt Henry enjoyed a successful month with the ball also, taking regular wickets in his side’s World Test Championship series against Australia. The lineup is completed by Sri Lanka batter Kamindu Mendis, nominated for his memorable batting feats as Sri Lanka overcame Bangladesh in the longest format. The women’s shortlist celebrates both shorter formats, with the nominees consisting of an explosive young English batter, and iconic all-rounders from Australia and New Zealand. England’s Maia Bouchier blasted her way to the top of the run-scoring charts in her side’s victorious T20I series away in New Zealand, for which she is handed her maiden nomination. Ashleigh Gardner is a four-time former winner of the ICC Women’s Player of the Month and features once more after starring in Australia’s ODI series win against Bangladesh. New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr may have been on the losing end of the England series, yet she provided strong resistance as the White Ferns’ leading run-scorer and wicket-taker in March’s contests. An independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world will now be invited to cast their votes to decide the winners, which will be announced next week. Fans will be able to vote for their favourite performers at icc-cricket.com/awards. ICC Men’s Player of the Month Nominees for March: Mark Adair (IRE) The Irish pacer featured in all three formats in March, making strong contributions in all. However, it was in the longest format where Adair made his biggest impact, spearheading Ireland to their first ever men’s Test victory with their win over Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi. Adair bowled superbly to take five for 39 in the first innings, and followed up with three for 56 in the second, which included the prized wickets of skipper Hashmat Shahidi and Ibrahim Zadran. This Player of the Match performance preceded more wickets in the subsequent ODI and T20I series, and Adair finished the month with 16 wickets across all three formats. Matt Henry (NZ) Despite their ICC World Test Championship series against Australia ending in defeat, the New Zealand seamer was a shining light for the Blackcaps during March. Henry was the primary threat with the ball in the first innings of the first Test in Wellington, dismissing both Australian openers in a fiery spell that heralded five wickets. The first innings of the second Test also saw Henry at his best – the 32-year old blitzing the middle order to take seven wickets for 67. With 17 wickets across his two Tests at an average of 15.70, the 32-year-old demonstrated trademark consistency and accuracy throughout, capping his performances with the Player of the Series accolade. Kamindu Mendis (SL) The 25-year-old batter registered modest scores in Sri Lanka’s T20I series against Bangladesh at the start of the month, but followed with a memorable record-breaking performance in the first Test in Sylhet. Striding to the crease at 57 for five, Mendis partnered with Dhananjaya de Silva to rescue the Sri Lanka innings, striking 102 as they eventually posted a respectable score of 280. Facing similar troubles in the second innings at 126 for six, Mendis alongside De Silva once more re-asserted control, and the former’s mammoth innings of 164 in 237 balls helped his side to a comfortable victory, and saw him become the first player batting at number seven or lower to hit two centuries in a single Test. ICC Women’s Player of the Month Nominees for March: Maia Bouchier (ENG) With 223 runs coming from her five T20Is in New Zealand at an average of 55.75 and a stunning strike rate of 129.65, Bouchier produced a landmark month in her international career to secure her maiden appearance on the shortlist for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award. She began the series with an unbeaten 43 to see England over the line in the first contest, before hitting a brisk 71 in 47 balls albeit in a losing cause in the third match. Promoted up to open the batting in the subsequent decisive encounter in Wellington, Bouchier proceeded to hit her highest T20I score of 91 in 56 balls, securing the series victory in blistering style as the star player in a 47-run win. Ash Gardner (AUS) Gardner is a four-time former winner of the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award, and her fifth nomination comes thanks to a series of fine performances as Australia secured ODI series victory over Bangladesh last month. The three-match contest saw Australia’s bowlers flourish, dismissing the hosts for under 100 each time. Gardner’s lethal spin was a constant threat, taking three wickets in the first encounter, followed by two wickets in the second and three again in the third. With eight wickets at an average of 8.62 across the three matches in Mirpur, Gardner deservedly claimed the Player of the Series prize. Amelia Kerr (NZ) The New Zealander is also a former winner of the ICC Women’s Player of the Month – claiming the top prize back in February 2022. Her performances in the recent short format series with England provides her latest nomination, where she ended as the White Ferns’ top run-scorer and wicket-taker. Among her notable contributions were 44 runs in 36 balls in a losing effort in the second T20I, and 44 more alongside Sophie Devine as New Zealand won the third encounter in Nelson. 114 runs at 38.00 and six wickets defined the 23-year-old’s prolific month, and also underlined her credentials as one of the outstanding young talents in the global game. The ICC Player of the Month Voting Process: The three nominees for either category are shortlisted based on performances from the first to the last day of each calendar month. The shortlist is then voted on by the independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world. The ICC Voting Academy comprises prominent members of the cricket fraternity including well-known journalists, former players, broadcasters and members of the ICC Hall of Fame. The Voting Academy submit their votes by email and hold a 90 per cent share of the vote. Fans registered with the ICC can vote via the ICC website, accounting for the remaining 10 per cent. Winners are announced every second Monday of the month on ICC’s digital channels. **Voting Academy for ICC Player of the Month: ** Afghanistan: Javed Hamim; Australia: Daniel Cherny and Lisa Sthalekar; Bangladesh: Mazhar Uddin and Md Ariful Islam Roney; England: Chris Stocks and Lydia Greenway; Ireland: Ger Siggins and Clare Shillington; India: S Gomesh and Shivani Gupta; New Zealand: Craig Cumming; Pakistan: Sawera Pasha and Sana Mir; South Africa: Zaahier Adams and Ashwell Prince; Sri Lanka: Azzam Ameen and Farveez Maharoof; West Indies: Daren Ganga and Stacy Ann King; Zimbabwe: Lawrence Trusida and Grant Flower; Others: Darren Allan Kyeyune and Kyle Coetzer. (ICC) The post Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis in ICC contenders for March Player of the Month awards appeared first on NewsWire. | ↑ |
The East Asia-Pacific cricket community is in mourning following the news of the passing of Papua New Guinea international Kaia Arua at just 33. A starring all-rounder for the Lewas, Arua first appeared in national team colours at the East Asia-Pacific Trophy back in 2010, taking on hosts Japan in Sano. Arua became a regular for PNG in various East-Asia Pacific pathway events and Pacific Games cricket, before being named in the team’s squad for the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier. Arua took captaincy of PNG in a match against Ireland at the 2018 T20 World Cup Qualifier and was named in the ICC Women’s Global Development squad in the same year. Arua took the captaincy on a permanent basis at the 2019 East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup Qualifier, helping her side to a tournament win and qualification for both the 2019 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier and the 2021 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournaments. A flowing left-arm wrist spinner and an intelligent stroke player with the bat, Arua led Papua New Guinea in 29 T20Is with official status, winning 29 matches. Her 59 T20I wickets at 10.2 is the most by a PNG women’s international, with her figures of 5/7 (4) against Japan the second-best in her team’s T20I history. In a period of growth in women’s franchise T20 cricket, Arua also featured in Fairbreak tournaments across 2022 and 2023 for the Falcons. (ICC) The post Papua New Guinea all-rounder Kaia Arua dies aged 33 appeared first on NewsWire. | ↑ |
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has donated a side practice wicket for Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya in Colombo to commence hardball cricket. According to an SLC statement, the wicket was declared open recently with the school planning to play U15 and U19 cricket. Principal of the school, Dr. J. Sumedha Jayaweera thanked Sri Lanka Cricket for helping the school start playing the sport of cricket. The captain of the school U19 team, Methmi Adithya said they are happy that the school got a practice wicket and will use it to build a good team, and that the girls also aim to represent the national team in the future. School Cricket Coordinator of the SLC, Maurice De Zilva took part in the opening ceremony of the practice wicket. (NewsWire)
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The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has further extended the travel ban imposed on two Indian team managers over match-fixing allegations during the recent 2024 Legends Cricket Trophy in Sri Lanka. According to Lankadeepa Newspaper, Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis on Tuesday further extended the travel ban until June 13, 2024. The Chief Magistrate issued the order after taking up for consideration a request made by the Special Investigations Unit of the Sports Ministry to extend the travel ban for three months as they require more time to conduct their investigations into the allegations. The travel ban that was imposed on Indian manager Yoni Patel and his assistant Pachalodia Akash on March 14, 2024, has thus been extended. An investigation was launched after a retired Sri Lankan cricketer and a New Zealand cricketer had alleged that the two managers had approached them to fix matches during the Legends Cricket Tournament in Kandy. Sri Lanka is the first South Asian nation to criminalize several offences related to match-fixing. Offenders could face up to 10 years in jail and fines of up to $555,000 for match-fixing under laws introduced by Sports Minister Harin Fernando in 2019. (NewsWire) The post Legends Trophy : Travel ban on two Indian team managers extended appeared first on NewsWire. | ↑ |
Former World Cup-winning skipper Arjuna Ranatunga has questioned the involvement of betting in the Legends Cricket Trophy 2024 held in Sri Lanka recently. Speaking to reporters, Ranatunga questioned as to who granted permission to host this cricket tournament in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan cricketing legend also revealed that betting companies had been permitted to advertise during the cricket tournament. “Sri Lanka does not allow betting companies to advertise. However, this cannot be seen by the Sports Minister, President, Prime Minister, or relevant authorities,” he said. The former cricketer said that this was because Sri Lanka has come to a point of betting via sports and that several individuals were providing assistance in this regard. Stating that technology has been moved away from the sport of cricket, he pointed out that this was because the cricket administration and its officials were focused on money. (NewsWire) The post Arjuna questions recently conducted Legends Cricket Tournament appeared first on NewsWire. | ↑ |
A quartet of experienced performers have missed out as Australia announced their list of men’s players to be offered national contracts for 2024-25. Cricket Australia (CA) released the names of the 23 players who have won new contracts on Thursday, with veteran all-rounder Marcus Stoinis the biggest name to miss out on a new deal. Stoinis has battled back injuries in recent times, but was part of Australia’s winning ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup winning squad last year and remains firmly in their selection thoughts for June’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Stoinis is joined by fellow all-rounder Ashton Agar, opening batter Marcus Harris, pacer Michael Neser and recently retired star David Warner as players to miss out on fresh contracts, with CA instead opting to provide deals to a handful of new faces. All-rounders Matt Short and Aaron Hardie win new deals after they were upgraded to the contract list during the summer as does fast bowler Nathan Ellis, while young right-armer Xavier Bartlett also wins a full-time contract after impressing with the ball against the West Indies earlier this year. Cricket Australia selection chair George Bailey is confident that the players with new deals have long international careers ahead of them. “Matt, Aaron and Xavier have been extremely impressive in the early stages of their international careers. Their performances and the way they have embraced the international stage has been exciting to watch,” he said. “The panel believes they have strong futures and are deserved of their contracts as they work towards striving to become regulars in the Australian setup.” Cricket Australia contracted men’s players 2024-25: Sean Abbott, Xavier Barlett, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Jhye Richardson, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa (ICC) The post Big names miss out as Australia announce men’s players to win new contracts appeared first on NewsWire. | ↑ |
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva has been rewarded for his Player of the Match heroics during the first Test against Bangladesh by making giant strides on the latest ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings. The Sri Lanka skipper scored twin tons in Sylhet to help his side register a commanding 328-run victory over their Asian rival and in the process rose to a new career-high rating on the updated rankings for Test batters. De Silva shot up a whopping 15 places to 14th overall following scores of 102 and 108, with the 32-year-old improving to a best-ever figure of 695 rating points to be within just 40 rating points of breaking into the top 10 Test batters in the world. Kamindu Mendis also contributed twin tons during the first Test against Bangladesh and the left-hander re-entered the rankings for Test batters in equal 64th place following an eye-catching performance in what was just his second Test appearance. Veteran left-hander Mominul Haque played a lone hand for Bangladesh with an unbeaten 87* in the second innings in Sylhet and rose eight places to 50th on the list for Test batters as a result. There was more joy for Sri Lanka’s players on the updated rankings for Test bowlers, with right-arm quick Kasun Rajitha among the biggest movers following his five-wicket haul in the second innings against Bangladesh. It helped Rajitha move up six places to 38th overall, while teammates Vishwa Fernando (up seven spots to 43rd) and Lahiru Kumara (up six rungs to equal 46th) also made some ground following impressive performances with the ball. India duo Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin maintain their spots at the head of the Test rankings for all-rounders, with Bangladesh spinner Mehidy Hasan (up one place to 14th) and de Silva (up five spots to equal 25th) the notable movers this week. (ICC) The post DDS jumps 15 spots in latest ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings appeared first on NewsWire. | ↑ |
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has made three new appointments to the High Performance Center. According to an SLC statement, the appointments were approved by its Executive Committee. The three SLC Appointments are as follows;
Anusha Samaranayake, a Level 3 qualified coach, worked as the ‘National Fast Bowling Coach’ of Sri Lanka Cricket from 2008 to 2015. Samaranayake assumed duties on March 6 for a period of two years and will focus on the ‘Fast Bowling’ aspect of all the national teams.
Dr. Hashan Amarathunga, before joining Sri Lanka Cricket as the Sports Performance Nutritionist, was serving as the Senior Registrar in Clinical Nutrition of the National Hospital Colombo. Appointed on February 6th for a period of one year, he will focus on the nutritional aspects of the national teams, starting from the U19 level.
Jonathan Porter, before joining Sri Lanka Cricket, served as the physiotherapist of the Australian Men’s Cricket Team, focusing on its white-ball tours in Australia, India, and South Africa. He assumed duties on March 1 for a two-year stint and will work with all the national-level teams, starting from the U19 level. (NewsWire)
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Sri Lanka’s top-order batsman Pathum Nissanka has broken into the top 10 of the latest ODI Rankings. According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), Pathum Nissanka entered the top 10 at eighth following a three-place rise. The jump in position in the latest ODI rankings for batters follows Sri Lanka’s series against Bangladesh. Pathum Nissanka totalled 151 runs from the series that Bangladesh claimed 2-1. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s middle order batsman Charith Asalanka has improved two spots to 14th in the latest ODI Rankings. Asalanka has jumped two spots in the rankings following his 146 runs from three innings. In the ICC’s latest T20I rankings, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana are among the top five. All-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is placed second in the T20I rankings with 687 ranking points. Spinner Maheesh Theekshana has secured the fifth spot with 659 ranking points. (NewsWire)
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Ashley Nurse’s all-round show and disciplined bowling effort helped Rajasthan Kings register a clinical 20-run win over New York Superstar Strikers in the highly anticipated grand finale at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, March 19, to be crowned the champions of the first-ever 90-ball format, Legends Cricket Trophy 2024. In the 90-ball per side game, Ashley Nurse top-scored 97 for Rajasthan Kings and the West Indies star also picked up a wicket at a crucial juncture and bagged the player of the match award in the final. Chasing a stiff target of 180 set by Rajasthan Kings, New York Superstar Strikers could only reach 159 for 6 in the stipulated 15 overs and lost the game. The Strikers’ opening duo, Chadwick Walton and Alviro Petersen, initiated their chase cautiously in the powerplay for their team. Walton fell victim to Robin Uthappa’s quick glovework, getting stumped for 17 off 15 balls after being deceived by Shadab Jakati’s spin. Following Walton’s dismissal at 37 runs in 4.5 overs, the Strikers sought a substantial contribution from Petersen. However, Bipul Sharma dismissed Petersen for just 3 runs added to the team’s tally, ending his innings at a slow 17 off 16 balls. Introduced into the attack in the ninth over, Ashley Nurse claimed the Strikers’ third wicket, dismissing the dangerous Chamara Kapugedera for 30 off 15 balls. The scoreboard reflected 77 for three in 9 overs for the Strikers. Reaching 86/3 in 10 overs, the Strikers faced the challenge of scoring 94 runs from the remaining 30 balls, as the Rajasthan Kings’ bowlers maintained a tight grip on the game. Under mounting pressure, Asela Gunaratne contributed a quickfire 24 off 13 balls before being dismissed by Chaturanga de Silva in the 12th over. Yuvraj Singh, who had remained quiet until the 12th over, unleashed his aggressive intent in the 13th over, smashing three consecutive sixes off Shadab Jakati. Yuvraj continued his onslaught in the 14th over, striking four boundaries and a maximum off Manpreet Gony as the Strikers reached 152 runs. However, with 28 runs required from the final over, Yuvraj’s valiant efforts were not enough to turn the tide. Despite completing his fifty off 20 balls, he was caught by Rajesh Bishnoi on the third ball of the over, dashing the Strikers’ hopes of victory. Ultimately, Rajasthan Kings restricted the Superstar Strikers to 159 for six in the stipulated 90 balls, securing a 20-run victory. Captain Robin Uthappa’s strategic leadership and the collective effort of the Kings’ bowlers played a pivotal role in their triumph. All bowlers from the Rajasthan Kings put up a commendable performance, with five out of six bowlers claiming one wicket each. Former India cricketer Parvinder Awana stood out, conceding only 26 runs, and taking one wicket in his three overs. Earlier in the day, Yuvraj Singh made the winning call at the toss, electing to field first against Robin Uthappa-led side. Despite Uthappa’s early dismissal after a brisk 16 off 7 deliveries by Jerome Taylor, the Rajasthan Kings found their momentum with an impressive partnership between former Zimbabwe batting star Hamilton Masakadza and Ashley Nurse. Together, they amassed a formidable 106-run stand for the second wicket in just 53 balls. Masakadza, opening the innings, showcased his prowess with a rapid-fire 56 off 30 balls, comprising seven boundaries and a couple of sixes. Meanwhile, Nurse fell agonizingly short of a century, dismissed in the final over of the innings for a blistering 97 off only 41 deliveries. The former West Indies cricketer’s innings featured 12 fours and half-a-dozen sixes before he was bowled out. Jerome Taylor emerged as the standout bowler for the New York Superstar Strikers, claiming three crucial wickets for 40 runs. His victims included Uthappa, Masakadza, and Nurse. Nuwan Pradeep also made an impact with the ball for the Strikers, conceding just 20 runs and taking one wicket in his three overs. Rajasthan Kings managed to post a challenging total of 179/4 from the allotted 90 deliveries. Brief Score: Rajasthan Kings – 179/4 (90 balls) – Ashley Nurse 97 (41 balls); Jerome Taylor – 3/40. New York Superstar Strikers: 159/6 (90 balls) – Yuvraj Singh – 54 (22 balls); Parvinder Awana – 1/26. (NewsWire) The post Legends Trophy in Kandy : Rajasthan Kings champions appeared first on NewsWire. | ↑ |
The Afghanistan ‘A’ Team will tour Sri Lanka from April – May 2024 to play five one-day games and one four-day game with the Sri Lanka ‘A’ Team. According to a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) statement, the one-day games will be held in Hambantota. The SLC further said that the four-day game will be played at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo. (NewsWire)
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Bangladesh Head Coach Chandika Hathurusingha has commended his team for strategically facing Sri Lanka, especially star bowler Wanindu Hasaranga, in the first ODI played yesterday. Najmul Hossain Shanto’s career-best unbeaten 122 powered Bangladesh to a six-wicket win in the first ODI in Chattogram. Mushfiqur Rahim struck the boundary that broke the shackles in the 33rd over when he reverse-swept Hasaranga before slog-sweeping him for successive fours. Commending Mahmudullah Riyad’s performance, Coach Chandika Hathurusingha said he was pleased with the way he treated Sri Lanka’s best bowler from the second ball. “What I liked is the way you treat Hasaranga, Sri Lanka’s best bowler, from the second ball. You really put him back in his place. Showing that we are coming with intent. This is the character we want to see. You hit the main guy on the other side. You didn’t allow him to come into the game,” Coach Hathurusingha said. He made the remarks during a chat with the Bangladesh team in the dressing room following the victory against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka will take on Bangladesh in the second match of the three-match series in Chattogram on Friday, March 15, 2024. (NewsWire) The post Hathurusingha applauds batter for putting Hasaranga “back in his place” appeared first on NewsWire. | ↑ |
