Sri Lanka stutter in warm up games but may still provide some fireworks. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) Sri Lanka made an inauspicious start to the World Cup losing both warm-up games to Bangladesh and Afghanistan and the writing on the wall about their chances of success seems dismal to say the least. Just recently they overcame both these teams in the Asia Cup before making the final against India. But the preparation since has see both Asian neighbours step up their campaigns while Sri Lanka’s course appears at this stage to be heading backwards. Both losses were convincing, by seven wickets to Bangladesh and six wickets to Afghanistan, and throws up concerns about the composition of the team that has failed to deliver with and without Skipper Dasun Shanaka who seems to be the focus of attention rather than the team’s overall performance. Apart from ...
Blog Archives
ICC World Cup squads announced Source:Dailynews The ten countries have finalised their squads for the ICC Cricket World Cup on Thursday (28). The matches will commence from October 5. India team led by Rohit Sharma will be looking to become the fourth consecutive host nation to win the tournament, a run which began when they lifted the trophy themselves in 2011. Defending champions England, welcome back Ben Stokes, who has come out of ODI retirement as his side look to retain the trophy, while Kane Williamson will be hoping to win his fitness battle having been named to lead 2019 runners-up New Zealand. Last edition’s runner-ups, New Zealand will meet England in the opening game at Ahmedabad on October 5 and the final will be played at the same venue on November 19. Each team will play nine group stage matches before the semi-finals and all teams are expected to ...
SL Cricketers in Hara-Kiri vs Pakistan …… Nearly !@! – By Michael Roberts Source : thuppahis Madushka Balasuriya, in ESPNcricinfo, 14 September 2023, where the title of the report reaeds thus “Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis shine in chaotic finish as Sri Lanka make Asia Cup final” Hosts won final-ball thriller while chasing 252 in 42 overs, as Mohammad Rizwan’s 86* went in vain for Pakistan ………….Sri Lanka 252 for 8 (Mendis 91, Asalanka 49*, Ifthikar 3-50) beat Pakistan 252 for 7 (Rizwan 86*, Shafique 52, Pathirana 3-65) by two wickets via DLS method In a game of multiple compelling storylines, it was Charith Asalanka who stood tall in the end as Sri Lanka edged Pakistan out by two wickets in final-ball thriller in Colombo. With it, Sri Lanka made it to their 11th Asia Cup final, where they will face India on Sunday. Asalanka remained unbeaten on 49 off 47 balls to see home a nervy chase, but it ...
Asalanka and Mendis lead Sri Lanka charge to Asia Cup final after heart stopper against Pakistan. – By TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.(Elanka Sports Editor) Charith Asalanka provided heroics that will be long remembered as Sri Lanka scrambled into the Asia Cup final after a heart stopping last ball victory over Pakistan in Colombo. The plucky allrounder set Sri Lankan hearts ablazing when he smashed a four and two in the last two balls when all seemed lost, and the country erupted in wild celebration as they beat fancied Pakistan and the odds pre tournament. Asalanka was 49 not out after edging the last two balls past the wicket keeper for four and to midwicket for two to clinch a place for his country in the final. Earlier, Pakistan’s batters negotiated the the Sri Lanka quicks with caution. They were in a perilous 130 for 5 in the 28th over. But ...
Dinuth Wellelage announces his entry to the big time in fruitless performance against India – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports Editor) Cricketing prodigy Dinuth Wellelage was a Lone Ranger in Sri Lanka’s fruitless effort to upset economic heroes India, as the home team showed spark with the ball, then slumped to a competitive 41- run defeat in Colombo. The Lankans first loss, after a record breaking 13 consecutive wins, clouded what could have been a memorable upset if the batsmen acknowledged a stirling performance by an undermanned Sri Lanka attack who found two unlikely heroes. Dinuth Wellelage and Charith Asalanka combined to bamboozle a strong Indian batting line-up restrict them to 213 all our in 49.1 overs. That was another unusual record the Lankans established in 14 games, bowling the opposition out in this format. But it was Wellelage who announced himself to the big time, grabbing 5 ...
Sri Lanka scramble into Asia Cup super fours but skipper Shanaka’s form slump is concerning. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (Elanka Sports Editor) Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka finds himself in a serious predicament unless he is able to extricate himself from a form slump that questions his place in the team, albeit in winning form. Shanaka’s return from the last few games have been mediocre to say the least, but his leadership qualities appear to have saved him so far. How long that prevails will be dependant on the next games in the Asia Cup. His axing at this stage, with the World Cup in India just around the corner, will not be an ideal scenario. Whether the team will gel under a different leader in the World Cup will be closely scrutinised by the country’s cricket administrators. Either way he can take the pressure off himself with ...
Sadeera, Matheesha and Asalanka star in big win-by Rex Clementine at Pallekele Matheesha Pathirana finished with four wickets as Sri Lanka bowled out Bangladesh for 164 at Pallekele yesterday. Source:Island There were doubts about how Sri Lanka’s depleted bowling attack will go about things in the Asia Cup, but the backup bowlers came up with a splendid performance in their opening encounter yesterday at Pallekele helping Sri Lanka to a seven wicket win over Bangladesh. Hometown boy Matheesha Pathirana was sensational finishing with four wickets providing early breakthroughs and then coming back for a last spell to destroy the tail as Bangladesh were bowled out for 164 runs with five overs to spare. Sadeera Samarawickrama then smashed a half-century to help Sri Lanka to a comfortable win with 11 overs to spare. He was joined by Charith Asalanka, who posted an unbeaten 62. ...
Pathirana and Theeksheena lay the platform for a sensational Sri Lanka triumph over Bangladesh – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (Elanka Sports Editor) If early indications count for anything, Sri Lanka showed pride and poise of it’s symbolic Lion as they cruised past Bangladesh with a clinical five- wicket victory at Pallekelle. Hamstrung with a number of injuries, and perhaps resting some players for the upcoming World Cup, Sri Lanka showed some promise with available stocks, particularly Matheesha Pathirana who teamed up with Maheesh Theeksheena to rip through a respected Bangladesh batting line-up and bowl them out for 164 in 42.4 overs making the task for the batters a relatively easy task . Sri Lanka strolled to the target in 39 overs losing five wickets thanks to fighting knocks from Sadeera Samarawickrema 54 off 77 balls, and Charith Asalanka 62 off 92 balls after a top order stutter. Sri Lanka’s ...
Sri Lanka Squad – Asia Cup 2023 Dasun Shanaka (c) Pathum Nissanaka Dimuth Karunaratne Kusal Janith Perera Kusal Mendis (VC) Charith Asalanka Dhananjaya de Silva Sadeera Samarawickrama Maheesh Theekshana Dunith Wellalage Matheesha Pathirana Kasun Rajitha Dushan Hemantha Binura Fernando Pramod Madushan. ...
13 SL cricketers picked for ILT20 league – by Sunil Thenabadu Source : info-rain Eight more Sri Lankan cricketers have been signed for the UAE’s International League T20 (ILT20), ahead of the second edition which is set to begin on 13th January 2024. Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka, Nuwan Thushara, and Sadheera Samarawickrama have been signed by Dubai Capitals. Kusal Perera and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth have been signed by MI Emirates. Sri Lankan cricketers Dilshan Madushanka, Kusal Mendis, and Maheesh Theekshana have been signed by Sharjah Warriors. Earlier, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Chandimal and Matheesha Pathirana had been retained by Desert Vipers. Charith Asalanka was retained by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while Dushmantha Chameera was pre-signed by Dubai Capitals. All together, 13 Sri Lankan cricketers are set to feature in the UAE’s ILT20 which will kick off in January next year. (NewsWire) ...
