Sri Lanka Squad – Test Series against New Zealand Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Oshada Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake   Click here to receive your free copy of the eLanka Newsletter twice a week delivered directly to your inbox!   ...

Read More →

Introducing the Premier League in Sri Lanka, 2024 Series ESPN Summary Preview …. at …. https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/lanka-premier-league-2024-1421415/teams Source:Thuppahis photo of 2023 winners Kandy Falcons Squad size: 22 (six overseas) Players bought: Pre-signings and retentions: Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews, Dushmantha Chameera, Kamindu Mendis, Andre Fletcher and Kyle Mayers Auction signings: Ashen Bandara (US $20,000), Dinesh Chandimal (US $40,000), Dasun Shanaka (US $85,000), Ramesh Mendis (US $10,000), Dimuth Karunaratne (US $10,000), Mohammed Hasnain (US $30,000), Chaturanga de Silva (US $30,000), Lakshan Sandakan (US $20,000), Azam Khan (US $50,000), Salman Ali Agha (US $10,000), Mohammed Ali (US $10,000), Kasun Rajitha (US $26,000), Pawan Rathnayake (US $5000) Chamath Gomez, (US $5000), Kavindu Pathirathne (US $5000) and Sammu Ashan (US $5000) Hits: All the work was done by Kandy prior to the auction proper. Retaining Hasaranga and Kamindu was vital, as was having the experience of Mathews. That apart, the signings of Fletcher, Mayers and Chameera have bolstered the spine of the side considerably. Misses: Kandy might ...

Read More →

  SRI LANKA CRICKET NEWS (MAY  2024) Compiled by Victor Melder   SLC intends to put more focus on Test cricket and boost the interest and commitment of players with the increment of match fees In a bold move aimed at reinvigorating the spirit of Test cricket, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced a substantial increase in match fees for players participating in the longer format of the game.  The decision, which sees match fees for winning matches soar from US$7,500 to US$15,000, represents a 100 percent increase of the compensation currently received by players. With a clear intent to incentivise involvement in Test cricket, SLC has also raised match fees for draws to US$12,500 and for defeats to US$10,000. The moves comes at a critical juncture for Test cricket, which has been facing mounting challenges to its relevance and popularity in the wake of the rapid rise of T20 ...

Read More →

A Crackerjack Cricket Match at Kandy: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis While, alas, I dot watch the 50-Over ODI match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan played a t the PKalleklley Stadium in Kandy on Friday 10th February, it is  crystal-clear tdhat it was a crackerjack game marked by (A) huge totals and (B) a number of exceptional performances on both sides. Pathum Nissanka soaks in the applause  •  AFP/Getty Images While opening batsman Pathum Nissanka deservedly secured the Player of the Match for his 203 runs in 139 balls at a rate of ….,  a close contender  for this award in my book was the oldish Afghan warhorse, Mohammad Nabi,  for a bowling spell  that reads 10-4-44-1 at 4.40 (easily the most economical Afghanistan bowler) and then a batting effort that saw him accumulate 136 runs in 130 balls  –– this score in the position No 7 in the batting order after Afghanistan was five wkts ...

Read More →

Two New Cricket Captains for Sri Lanka-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Item in The Island, 31 December 2023 ….. with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi Dasun Shanaka’s reign as Sri Lanka’s white-ball captain has come to an end as Sri Lanka’s new selection committee appointed Kusal Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga to lead the ODI and T20I sides, respectively. With Dimuth Karunaratne currently leading the Test side, this is the first time Sri Lanka have three different captains in the three formats. Shanaka first captained Sri Lanka in 2019, on the team’s first tour to Pakistan since the 2009 Lahore attack, but it was not until 2021 that he became their regular captain. Under him, Sri Lanka won 23 out of 41 ODIs and 22 out of 48 T20Is. The highlight of his tenure was the 2022 T20 Asia Cup victory in the UAE where Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in the final. Also notable were ODI series wins against South ...

Read More →

SRI LANKA CRICKET NEWS (OCTOBER  2023) Compiled by Victor Melder   Bangladesh best Sri Lanka by 7 wickets in the ICC World Cup Warm-Up Match, played at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. Scores: Sri Lanka – 263 in 49.1 Overs (Nissanka 68, de Silva 55, Perera 34, Hasan 3/36) Bangladesh – 264/3 in 42 Overs (Hasan 84, Miraz 67no, Das 61, Rahim 35no, Kumara 1/30 Sri Lanka Skipper Dasun Shanaka will not take part in today’s warm-up game against Afghanistan, as the all-rounder is recovering from a ‘strain’ he experienced on his left elbow following the earlier game against Bangladesh. Shanaka is under medical treatment and is in the process of recovery. Meanwhile, Kusal Janith Perera, who experienced pain on his ‘right shoulder’, during Sri Lanka’s warm-up game against Bangladesh, is currently under medical treatment and is in the process of recovery. In addition, Maheesh Theekshana, who did not travel with ...

Read More →

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 ...

Read More →

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. ...

Read More →

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 ...

Read More →

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. ...

Read More →