Three replacements for Sri Lanka Asia Cup squad-by Dhammika Ratnaweera Source:Dailynews Three replacements have been named in the 20-man cricket squad for the six nation Asia Cup T20 cricket tournament which will commence on August 27 in Dubai. The selection committee headed by Pramodya Wickramasinghe has picked a 20-member squad (17-player squad and three stand-by players) and Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has given his approval to this squad. Two players who were originally named pacemen Binura Fernando and Kasun Rajitha got injured during the recently concluded SLC Invitational T20 League tournament while Sri Lankan white ball format main strike bowler Dushmantha Chameera who was rested for the T20 invitational tournament once again got injured last Friday during the training and selectors named three replacements for Binura Fernando, Kasun Rajitha and Dushmantha Chameera. The selectors earlier named two replacements pace bowlers Asitha Fernando who was the best player of the recently ...

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Sri Lanka wins first ODI series over Australia since 2010 Image source:onlanka.com Source:dailymirror.lk Sri Lanka edged Australia by four runs in the fourth ODI to seal an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series in Colombo on Tuesday. Sri Lanka’s triumph marked its first ODI series win over Australia since 2010, when it beat the Aussies 2-1 Down Under. Batting first, the Dasun Shanaka-led side rode on Charith Asalanka’s maiden ODI century (110) to post 258 on the board. In reply, Australia lost skipper Aaron Finch for a duck before fellow opener David Warner led the chase with a half-century. However, Warner was stumped on 99 off Dhananjaya de Silva’s bowling in a decisive moment in the chase. With minimal contributions coming from the middle-order, Australia was eventually restricted to 254 after Pat Cummins (35) was trapped lbw in the penultimate over. The win also marked Sri Lanka’s first home ...

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Shanaka’s thunderbolts slam Aussies off the rails   Source:sundayobserver.lk Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka came like a bolt from the blues hammering an unbeaten 54 in just 25 balls as he helped his team chase down a 177-taget to win the third and final T20 International against Australia at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy yesterday. Shanaka was at the crease when all seemed lost for Sri Lanka at 108 for 6 in the 16th over and Australia sensing victory. But then came what Shanaka is capable of doing as he struck the best bowler in the series Josh Hazlewood for two sixes and two fours in the 18th over to turn the match on its head and take Sri Lanka to victory that was brought up with a last ball wide from Jhye Richardson. Shanaka in all struck five fours and four sixes that hit the Aussies off the rails. ...

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Australia, India cricket series and Asia Cup will go on as scheduled, says Mohan-by Dhammika Ratnweera Source:Dailynews Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is expected to conduct Australia, India cricket series and Asia Cup as scheduled while the discussion between Asian cricket board heads and Australia Cricket chiefs during the recently concluded ICC meeting in Dubai was very successful in holding forthcoming international tournaments said SLC Secretary Mohan de Silva. After six years Australia cricket team is scheduled to come here for the full cricket series (test, ODI and T-20) Australian cricket officials are very keen to be ready for this tour which consists of two Test matches, three T-20’s and 5 ODI’s while Indians are also expected to tour end of next August and all these series give much-needed income for Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Australian officials are already here to look into their tour plan and the security conditions before the ...

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Death of a legend and Mahanama’s rise to stardom-by BY DINESH WEERAWANSA Roshan Mahanama when he first won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer title in 1983-Roshan Mahanama at his recent book launch Source:Sundayobserver When I was writing my weekly column on the Observer-SLT School Cricketers, there came the shocking news – the death of a sports news legend. It was saddening to learn of the death of former Deputy Editor and long-standing Sports Editor of the Sunday Observer A. C. De Silva, a well-known Thomian and former water polo referee. He was the Sports Editor of the Sunday Observer even at the time I began my journalistic career exactly 35 years on April 16, 1987. He passed away on Thursday at the age of 80. He played a leading role in the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer since its inception in1979. His remains lie at AF Raymond Funeral parlour from this evening and ...

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India -Sri Lanka – by Trevine Rodrigo : Melbourne (eLanka Sports editor)   I predicted a spirited response from Sri Lanka against India, but they proved me so wrong as they stumbled and bumbled to a humiliating innings and 222 run thrashing at the hands of a dominant neighbour.  The wicket at Mohali appeared to be the dream track for batsmen as the Indians, led by swashbuckling Rishabh Pant (96), Hanuma Vihari (58), Virat Kholi (41), lower order batsman Ravindra Jadeja (175 not out) and Ravichandran Ashwin (61) bludgeoned a hapless Sri Lanka attack for over a day and a half  amassing 574 for 8 before letting the exhausted Lankans in to bat. The Lankans in their stint appeared to be clueless, turning what the Indians previously feasted on into an inexplicable minefield, as they hopped, probed and prodded their way to a measly 174 all out. How this game had ...

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Why Sri Lanka will be no push-overs for India – by Trevine Rodrigo (eLanka Sports editor) (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images) Source:theroar.com.au Doomsayers in Sri Lanka are bracing themselves for a whitewash by the Indians in the two-Test series, but I have a gut feeling that the tourists will be no pushovers. Dimuth Karunaratne leads a Sri Lankan outfit unusually sitting at the top of World Test Championship rankings currently in its infancy. The Lankans are a team looking for resurgence and they are stacked with a blend of youth and experience. But expert predictions strongly suggest they will be blown away by the powerful Indians led for the first time by Rohit Sharma. The emotional attachment by Indian fans celebrating former skipper and cult hero Virat Kohi’s 100th Test may lift the home team and fend off any possible challenge. India will be in the process of evolution under ...

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One sided? Doubtful against untested Lankans – by Trevine Rodrigo (eLanka – Sports editor)   Doomsayers in Sri Lanka are bracing themselves for a whitewash by the Indians in the two Test series, but I have a gut feeling that the tourists will be no pushovers.  Dimuth Karunaratne leads a Sri Lankan  outfit unusually sitting at the top of World Test cricket championship rankings currently in it’s infancy.  The Lankans are a team looking for  resurgence and is stacked with a blend of youth and experience. But expert predictions strongly suggest they will be blown away by the powerful Indians led for the first time by Rohit Sharma.  Emotional attachment by Indian fans celebrating former skipper and cult hero Virat Kholi’s 100th Test may lift the home team and fend off any possible challenge.  India will be in the process of evolution under Sharma, axing several seasoned campaigners for new ...

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Ishan, Shreyas fifties set up 62-run win for India Source:dailynews.lk Rohit Sharma-led Indian unit kicked-off the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka with a handsome 62-run win in the series opener in Lucknow. Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were the architect behind India’s big win as the duo dictated the proceedings to help India post 199/2 in 20 overs. In response, Sri Lanka could only muster 137/6 in 20 overs After being invited to bat first Ishan and Rohit Sharma got the hosts off to a brilliant start as the pair added 111 runs for the opening wicket. Rohit was dismissed on 44 (32) by Lahiru Kumara in the final delivery of the 12th over, following which Shreyas Iyer joined Ishan in the middle. Ishan was dismissed on 89 (56) by Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka. Iyer returned unbeaten on 57(28), while Jadeja scored 3 (4). Among the tourists Charith ...

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Sri Lanka T20I squad for India tour announced; Wanindu to miss the series Source:Dailynews Sri Lanka Cricket’s Selection Committee has selected the following T20I squad to take part in the upcoming 03 match T20I series with India. The Minister of Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa approved the below-given squad 1st game of the three match series will take place on February 24 at Lucknow.   T20I Squad Dasun Shanaka – Captain Pathum Nissanka Kusal Mendis Charith Asalanka – Vice-Captain Dinesh Chandimal Danushka Gunathilaka Kamil Mishara Janith Liyanage Wanindu Hasaranga Chamika Karunaratne Dushmantha Chameera Lahiru Kumara Binura Fernando Shiran Fernando Maheesh Theekshana Jeffrey Vandersay Praveen Jayawickrama Ashian Daniel – Subjected to Ministerial approval In the meantime, the below-mentioned players who were in the T20I squad which toured Australia will return to Sri Lanka due to injuries. Avishka Fernando Nuwan Thushara Ramesh Mendis All-rounder and spin sensation Wanidu Hasaranga will miss the upcoming ...

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