Trevine Rodrigo

Nathan Lyon grabs the headlines with his 500th and Australia grab the first Test. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) Australia’s bowlers were clinical in their demolition job, ripping apart any hope of a Pakistan revival as they thumped the visitors by 361 runs on a treacherous Perth wicket. But the day’s play belonged to Nathan Lyon Australia’s off spinning GOAT who went on to claim his 500th Test wicket and writing his name in the record books as the third Australian to achieve this remarkable feat. The stadium erupted as he claimed the scalp of Faheem Ashraff and all of Australia would undoubtedly have acknowledged the tireless spinner’s fantastic milestone. He joins Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath in the elite company. The comprehensive thrashing was fashioned on the lead of 450 runs as Australia’s batters accelerated to 233 for 5 on a wicket that was deteriorating ...

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Pakistan show defiance as Aussie bowlers toil. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) Pakistan bounced back defiantly chasing a colossal Australian target, but the game still leans in Australia’s favour as it goes into day thre and a tense battle to decide which way the cards fall. Much against all expectations, the Pakistanis fought back to keep Australia under 500, then they implemented an unexpected strategy of restraint and controlled approach to chase a mountainous task ahead, and right now seem intent on taking it up to the Aussies. Pakistan debutante Aaner Jamal marked his entry to the big time with a memorable performance with the ball. The new fast man in the squad bowled brilliantly to grab 6 for 111 and was primarily responsible for restricting Australia from a mammoth total. The bouncy Perth wicket appeared to suggest Australian dominance against a team that has had ...

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David Warner smashes brilliant century in build-up to his Swansong. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) David Warner smashed his way to a memorable 164 as he planned to make his retirement etched with lingering memories of a glittering career for Australia.  The dashing left hander was all class and composure as he crafted a important start to the Summer which put Australia in the box seat at the end of day one with an imposing 346 for 5 wickets and a huge psychological advantage over Pakistan on a challenging Perth track. Pat Cummins won the important toss and elected to bat in what could well be decisive to Australia’s fortunes.  Warner and Usman Khawaja played the track to near perfection while surviving a few scares as Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi, khurram Shahzad and Aamer Jamal  troubled Australia’s openers but let them off the hook with dropped ...

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Christmas party at the Walawwa with Noeline Honter and Sohan Weerasinghe from Sri Lanka with Andrea Marr and popular band Ebony – by Trevine Rodrigo (eLanka)   As the important day of the Christian calendar fast approaches, joyful parties to are taking place all around Australia. Esric Jackson and Shehan Wijewardena of the Walawwa organised a sellout Christmas party with Noeline Honter and Sohan Weerasinghe from Sri Lanka with Andrea Marr and popular band Ebony. Esric Jackson himself added more flavour to the event with his own vocal renditions to further liven up a great afternoon. Apart from a lively crowd of afternoon revellers, a wide attendance of musicians gathered to take in a wonderful show. Ash and Allison Jayasinha, Gwenie Khel, Cherrie Chamari, and a host of others were among those who showed up to take in the performance of two proven entertainers over the decades. And they were ...

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Chamari Athapaththu named BBL Player of the tournament confounding Australian non-believers. Sri Lanka skipper does her country proud. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports editor). There have been many adages about never giving up if you want to succeed, but Chamari Athapaththu took it a step further by not just proving the experts wrong. She rubbed it in to the non-believers with a magnificent BBL campaign and claimed the tournaments biggest honour.  Sri Lanka’s Superstar,  who has time and again ripped apart the best bowling attacks in the world, was in breathtaking form in Australia’s premier competition for Sydney Thunder earning the award as the WBBL/09 Player of the tournament.  Her consistency with bat and ball made her a standout shading even Australia’s best including the likes of Elyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Ashley Gardner and the rest which included some of the best exponents from around the world.  ...

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Australia produce the unthinkable to stun India in the World Cup final.  Bowlers do a superb demolition job on star studded Indian batters.  – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor). The cricket God’s said India at home,  but the God that matters said otherwise as Australia defied all odds to win an unprecedented sixth Cricket World Cup.  Ahamedabad was renowned to be a slow track  but Australia challenged the myth to run down India and break the hearts of a fanatical nation at home to reverse what happened in 2011.  The shock win with seven overs to spare proved the validity of self belief which Australia are renowned for.  Travis Head 137 off 120 with 4 sixers and 15 fours, and Marnus Labuschagne a sedate 58 off 110, saw Australia stave off an Indian challenge at 47 fo 3 adding 192 for the fourth wicket. India went into ...

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Australia scamper into another World Cup final after South African scare.  Indian juggernaut looms for Australia’s next challenge.  – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports editor). © ICC 2023 : Photo Courtesy of ICC   Australia continued to stifle South Africa’s aspirations to progress beyond a semi -final of a World Cup as they scampered into another final against a dominant India.  South Africa harbours bitter memories of  being eliminated before the big dance on several occasions, and Australia has been their biggest stumbling block. They just exerted more pain on a hapless nemesis.  They did not go without a fight though sending shock waves through the Australian camp when they grabbed 5 for 137 before Steve Smith,  Josh Inglis and later skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc steadied the ship to see Australia home.  But it was Travis Head who set the pace for Australia’s win with an ...

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Sri Lanka becomes a cricketing tragedy. Suspension adds insult to injury in its worst World Cup – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor) The saying, “when it rains, it pours”, got true relevance if you look at the current plight of Sri Lanka cricket. Quadruple setbacks from just one outing at the World Cup appears at this stage just the tip of the iceberg, with a rash of more repercussions on its way to the beleaguered nation. They first endured the Matthews controversy, suffered the worst campaign at a World Cup, then got suspended by the ICC and now have been eliminated from the forthcoming Champions Trophy. While reeling from those setbacks, there’s a legal stoush looming over matters relating to the World Cup as legal experts try to decipher appropriate battle plans with the country’s cricket administration. They also have to figure out how to deal with ...

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