Angelo Matthews, Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne lead Sri Lanka cricket revival. Experienced trio save Sri Lanka some blushes against Afghanistan – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor) Afganistan showed the cricketing world that their lack of Test cricket experience will not be a long term deterrent as they made Sri Lanka sweat before recording a ten wicket win in Colombo. The plucky Afgans looked done and dusted when they folded for 198 in a sorry first innings effort. But they fought back with bat and ball after Sri Lanka’s batters galloped to a 241- run first innings lead. Their batters then hit their straps to give Sri Lanka some anxious moments overhauling the deficit without any discomfort against an attack that destroyed them in the first innings. Sr Lanka’s pacemen found their early success hard to replicate as the wicket appeared to flatten out to batter friendly conditions ...
Trevine Rodrigo
Audrey’s 100th birthday – by Trevine Rodrigo (eLanka – Melbourne) A memorable afternoon at the Village Green hotel in Glen Waverley celebrating aunty Audrey’s 100th birthday. An appreciative crowd of around 100 family and close friends gathered to celebrate this remarkable lady’s magical milestone at a well coordinated party. She looked radiant and as switched on as any of us, taking in the atmosphere well within her stride. Aunty Audrey is my late dad Justin Rodrigo’s cousin, and her longevity has everything to to with a positive mindset and attitude, combined with a strong belief in God. She also possesses a sharp mind that brings success in all she undertakes. She has been a livewire in the fields of management and other projects both here in Australia and in her native country, Sri Lanka. She lived most of her life in the hilly climes of Nuwara Eliya, Nawalapitiya and Kandy. ...
Sri Lanka’s bowlers put Afghanistan to the sword in Colombo and in command to win Test – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor) Sri Lanka’s bowlers wreaked havoc on Afghanistan, bowling them out for 198, and then raced to 80 fo no loss on day one of the only Test at the SSC stadium in Colombo. It was a day out for the fast men as Vishwa Fernando and Asitha Fernando combined with spinner Prabath Jayasuriya to unravel a potent Afghanistan batting line-up in just over half a day to set up what appears a historic first Test win against the visitors. The Afgans were all at sea on a seaming wicket which was exploited by a resurgent Sri Lanka side that has been reshuffled to include some veterans who were overlooked for a while. Only Rahmat Shah who smacked 91 off 139 balls with 13 fours had ...
Sr Lanka’s pride and joy Chamari Athapaththu picked to lead the world’s best – Also named Women’s player-of -the -year – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) If there’s a lesson to be learned by anyone knocked back and written off, Chamari Athapaththu has shown that performance and dedication is all it takes to make a mockery of expert perception. The Sri Lanka skipper and magnificent all-rounder made consistency a sure way to prove a point and her stellar year was rewarded by being named one day and T20 skipper of the year. She was also named player of the year after stellar performances against England South Africa and New Zealand making her the envy of the Women’s game. Her performances in franchise cricket here in Australia and recently in New Zealand added more credence to her CV. Athapaththu has continued to be unruffled by being overlooked by ...
Shamar Joseph the new whizzkid in world cricket – Heroic return despite injury has unearthed a superstar who single handedly destroyed Australia – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor) Heroism doesn’t come better than West Indies whizkid Shamar Josep, the 24- year -old on debut, who turned a Test that looked done and dusted, to a nail biter where the cocky touring upstarts pulled off a sensational 8-run victory over Australia at the Gabba much against the odds. The electrifying end to a magnificent Test, saw Australia crumble ending hopes of a clean sweep, as the tourists produced the unthinkable and turned the tables on the back of a sensational hero to a 1-1 series decider. Shamar Joseph, visibly hobbling and on pain killers, turned in a fantastic performance with the ball knocking over Australia’s famed batting line-up to claim an unforgettable 7 for 68 off 11.5 ...
Embarrassed Sri Lanka answers critics in merciless fashion- Hasarsnga and Matthews lead Zimbabwe rout in decider- BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor) Sri Lanka responded like a team stung by embarrassment smashing Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the T20 decider in Colombo. After two nail biters in the first two encounters, Sri Lanka hit their straps to set the record straight humiliating the Zimbabwean’s in a one-sided game that didn’t go the distance anticipated. New skipper Wannindu Hasarsnga De Silva underlined his liking to the new role leading from the front with a bamboozling performance with the ball to reduce Zimbabwe to rubble making Sri Lanka’s batting woes with less pressure to deal with. Hasarsnga mesmerised Zimbabwe’s batters to claim 4 fir 15 off 4 overs, Matthews 2 for 15and Maheesh Theeksheena 2 fir14 to destroy Zimbabwe to 82 all out. Angelo Matthews rectified his bowling embarrassment in ...
Australia’s bowlers stifle West Indies challenge to a record an easy 10 wicket win – Travis Head century makes the difference after bowlers exploit windies vulnerability against pace – By TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) Australia killed off any aspirations of a contest from a disappointing West Indies needing just over two days to complete a demolition job by ten wickets. But the win came at a cost when Usman Khawaja was shaken up by a Shamar Joseph bouncer which richoceted off his shoulder to his jaw through the grill in his helmet. Khawaja was cleared of concussion but needs scanning on his jaw and concerns about the impact on his mental clearance. He may miss the second Test according to all indications. After the Windies restricted Australia to a 95 -run lead, the tourists were never able to capitalise on a lion-hearted bowling effort led by batting ...
Windies crumble to pace but strike back to grab two – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor) West Indies struck back to grab two wickets by the close, but it was a day dominated by Australia’s bowlers who laid the platform for an early end to the first Test in Adelaide. The Summer of cricket appears bleak and boring as the under strength West Indies crashed to a predictable 188 all out to put Australia in the driving seat for a early finish to the first Test in Adelaide. Footy fans will undoubtedly be counting the days for the start of the AFL season with little expectation of a West Indian challenge unlike the Pakistan series that had plenty of interest. There is much speculation in cricketing circles about the West Indies thinking and why they would plan a tour against the World’s best with a side had ...
Zimbabwe expose Sri Lanka’s inconsistency to level T20 series – Matthews goes from hero to villain in dramatic loss – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor) Zimbabwe’s tail wagged vigorously as they bounced back to smash Sri Lanka by four wickets in game two of the three match T20 series at the R. Premadasa stadium in Colombo. Chasing what seemed like a par total of 173, Craig Ervine, 70 off 54 with 2 sixers and 6 fours, and later tail enders Luke Jongwe 25 off 12 with 2 sixers and 2 fours, and Clive Madande 15 off 5 balls wit 2 sixers ripped Sri Lanka’s attack to shreds to motor to what appeared an unlikely win with a ball to spare. Jongwe’s last over heroics earned him the Player-of-the-match. Angelo Matthews who earlier made a significant unbeaten 66 run contribution to Sri Lanka’s total, was at the receiving ...
Sri Lanka scramble home in a nail biter – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE – (eLanka Sports editor) Sri Lanka took a 1-0 lead in the T20 series against Zimbabwe, but the win was an unconvincing last ball thriller despite chasing a mediocre target. Adding to the drama was the questionable Angelo Matthews player- of- the match award for his face saving 46, despite a great allround performance from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza that should have been rewarded despite being at the losing end. Razar smashed 62 off 42 balls with 2 sixers and 5 fours and then had Sri Lanka in a twist grabbing 3 for 13 off 4 overs to nearly win the game single-handedly. There must have been a few heads scratching at the decision. Sri Lanka managed to stave off defeat thanks to Angelo Matthews (46), and former skipper Dasun Shanaka 26 off 18 balls), who ...
