Sri Lanka selectors make calculated risk on an improving squad much in line for their unorthodox game plan – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (Elanka Sports Editor) Sanity has finally prevailed as Sri Lanka’s cricket selectors boldly shunned and thumbed their noses at the call for Skipper Dasun Shanaka’s sacking and stuck with a recently proven outfit for the World Cup in India. Yes, ramifications could be diabolical if the plan backfires, but it does make sense to stick with an outfit that has jelled in a way. Fourteen wins from 16 games is no mean feat although expert commentators claim that most of those wins were against ‘minnows ‘. That term has little relevance and no place in cricketing parlance anymore. This World Cup will reveal that. Informed sources say that Shanaka was given the choice of resigning and accepted it. But in true Sri Lankan fashion, a ...
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Asia Cup At Khettarama: Disaster! Comedy! …. Hara-Kiri?-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Given the humid and rainy conditions, why the Sri Lankan management chose to bat on winning the toss is a major issue for deate after the collapse for 5 runs in the face of some excllent seam and swing bowling from Siraj, Bumrah and Pandya. ...
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 dare to dream with comfortable win over Bangladesh – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (Elanka Sports Editor) Sadeera Samarawickrema smashed a whirlwind 93 off 72 balls with 2 sixers and 7 fours to steer Sri Lanka to a 23 run victory over Bangladesh. The rising star in Sri Lanka’s batting line-up looks to be fine tuning his craft in preparation for the Cricket World Cup in India next month. The win gives Sri Lanka vital points before facing Asian giants India and Pakistan and the hope of creating an upset to make it to the final. India and Pakistan have upto now had limited preparation due to inclement weather in Sri Lanka and may just be a little underdone for the crucial final stages of the tournament. Sadeera’s heroics and Kusal Mendis 50 off 73 and and Pathum Nissanka 40 off 50 helped bolster Sri Lanka to a ...
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 ...
Injury ridden Sri Lanka’s gamble on sacrifice in Asia Cup with plans for World Cup is up fordebate? – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (Elanka Sports Editor) Sri Lanka go into today’s Asia Cup game against Bangladesh with no illusions of the task ahead. Understrength in bowling, and the omission of experience, perhaps for long term plans, the Lankans risk of performing well in this tournament seems bleak. It does have some merit though, for uncovering depth from a different perspective for the bigger event, as long as the end result is not disastrous. With the World Cup around the corner, Sri Lanka needs to be aware of the consequences of an overcautious plan that will backfire if they perform poorly in Asia. Momentum counts for everything when the All important World Cup is ahead, so careful strategy will determine whether the Asia Cup and World Cup preparations are on track for ...
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) ...
Sri Lankan Cricketers beat Zimbabwe with Surprising Ease-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis S. Sudharshanan in ESPNcricinfo, 2 July 2023, with the title “Theekshana, Nissanka hand Sri Lanka ODI World Cup ticket” A clinical bowling performance backed by an unbeaten 101 from Pathum Nissanka helped Sri Lanka register a nine-wicket win in the Super Six clash against Zimbabwe and also confirmed their spot at the ODI World Cup in India later this year. The win was set up by the bowlers, as they orchestrated a batting collapse on either side of a 68-run partnership between Sean Williams and Sikander Raza consigning Zimbabwe to their first loss at the 2023 ODI World Cup Qualifier. Sri Lanka’s new-ball bowling against the Zimbabwe top-order was the play of the day in a clash billed to be between the best batting team and the best bowling team of the tournament. Dilshan Madushanka razed through the top order to leave Zimbabwe reeling inside seven overs. The left-arm ...
