Sri Lanka batters squander chances of a winning start against Pakistan in T20 World Cup opener. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor) Sri Lanka’s women made a inauspicious start to their T20 World Cup campaign as their batting failed handing Pakistan a 31 run victory in Sharjah. Touted a challenger to the top runners to win the tournament but drawn to play in the “Group of death”, Chamari Athapaththu’s Asia Cup champions made a spirited start by dismissing Pakistan for 116. But their batters, including skipper Athapaththu folded in inexplicable fashion to lose 9 for 85 on a slow tricky wicket, ending with a disappointing result. Athapaththu’s failure triggered a procession as regular contributors Vishmi Gunaratne 20, Harshita Samarawickrema and Kavisha Dilhari fell cheaply. Only two batters made double figures. Image Source : wikimedia After success in England, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, and clinching the Asia ...

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‘Be fearless, don’t play safe’ – Ratnayake spells out SL’s mantra-by Shashank Kishore Source:Espncricinfo Sri Lanka have been on an unprecedented high. The team hasn’t looked in a better shape than they are currently, having come off a historic first-ever series win in England followed by the Asia Cup triumph. There’s boisterous energy around the group that stems from “having walked the talk” in the words of Rumesh Ratnayake, their head coach, ahead of their women’s T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan in Sharjah. In February 2023, weeks before the previous T20 World Cup in South Africa, Ratnayake was summoned from the academy to steer a team that appeared to have been stuck in a rut of insipid results and lack of direction within the leadership. Ratnayake wasn’t sure if he’d continue for long, but a week of being with the team convinced him there was enough to work with. Sri ...

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A Rollicking Return to ODI Cricket by Vandersay-by Andrew Fidel Fernando Source:Thuppahis Andrew Fidel Fernando in ESPNcricinfo, 5 August 2024 –– where the title is “Vandersay brings the vibes back for Sri Lanka” ….  with highlighting imposed by The editor, Thuppahi The legspinner  Vandersay has had a stop-start international career but produced a remarkable performance. It didn’t take much to win them over. It was only five nights ago that Sri Lanka’s batters tanked what seemed to be an untankable T20I, the middle order collapsing with such seismic ferocity even the batting in the Super Over was shaken. Spectators were incensed, and let the team know it. Hundreds in Pallekele gathered on the edge of the grass banks closest to the presentation ceremony and demanded answers from Charith Asalanka, the only player who emerged from the dressing room. Sticking around until well after the last wicket fell to scream their frustrations. This was after midnight on a weekday – ...

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Can Sri Lanka erase the nightmares of the past? India will look to inflict more pain. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports Editor) After a colourful and successful completion of the Lanka Premier League, (LPL), battle lines are drawn for the much anticipated T20 and One-dayers against the might of India which is being staged in Sri Lanka.  The Indians arrived in the Island hot favourites to repeat the humiliation they inflicted over the hosts when they last met. But there is growing belief among the  beleaguered Lankans that they are up to the fight this time around.  A reshuffled Lankan team under the captaincy of Charith Asalanka and a new directional input from new administrators under former Sri Lanka opening batter Upul Tharanga ushers in with it, optimism and a hope of a turnaround of their dwindling fortunes.  The resignation of English coach Chris Silverwood after a ...

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SRI LANKA CRICKET NEWS (JUNE  2024) Compiled by Victor Melder Sri Lanka beat Ireland by 41 runs, in the T20 World-Cup, Warm-Up Match 4, played at Lauderhill, Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, Turf Grounds, Florida. Scores: Sri Lanka – 163/8 in 20 Overs (Mathews 32, Hasaranga 26, Shanaka 23, Nissanka 22, McCarthy 2/31, Little 2/45) Ireland – 122 in 18.2 Overs (Campher 26, Stirling 21, Shanaka 4/23, Theekshana 2/41, Hasaranga 2/40) South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets, in the 4th Match, Group D, T20 World Cup played at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York. Scores: Sri Lanka – 77 in 19.1 Overs (Mendis 19, Mathews 16, Nortje 4/7, Rabada 2/21, Maharaj 2/22) South Africa – 80/4 in 16.2 Overs ( de Kok 20, Klaasen 19, Stubbs 13, Hasaranga 2/22) Player of the Match: Annich Nortje (South Africa) Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by 2 wickets, to win the ...

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West Indian Women Cricketers trounced by the Sri Lanka Women’s Squad-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis While most cricketing fans may be focusing on the T20 World Cup matches in the Caribbean and USA, the female West Indian cricketers have been ‘holidaying’ in Sri Lanka. Or rather, thus far, they have faced the mighty Sri Lankan ladies in three 50-over matches in the south-eastern corner of the island: at the grounds in Hambantota abutting the wild life park at Yala and a vibrant coastline. Kavisha Dilhari Sachini Nishansala Whether the latter distractions proved to be debilitating, I cannot say. But they have been well and truly ‘distracted’ and rolled over by the Sri Lankan ladies. The summary scorelines of the three matches played thus far are as follows ODI ONE:  SL women won …. after Windies [asked to bat] totalled 193 runs, a target which the hosts secured in 35 overs for the loss of 4 wkts. ...

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Sri Lanka women surge to series triumph in ‘Calypso ‘ style. Surge in the women’s game has given something for fans to cheer.- BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.(eLanka Sports Editor) Chamari Athapaththu’s gladiators set a new standard for Sri Lanka’s women’s cricket with another thrashing of the West Indies in game two while ending a 16 year drought against the Caribbean team.  The unassailable series 2-0 lead gives Sri Lanka’s women another scalp over one of the best in their march to the top tier of their world commitments. It also added another series success against a team they have not dominated before.  While their success is stunning and shapes as a difference from the men’s team who were humbled in the T20 World Cup, fans are hoping for continued success that would make them a drawcard and a refreshingly new following in future battles.  Rumesh Ratnayake and his team ...

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Sri Lanka women stamp their authority in Windies rout. – By TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports Editor) Sri Lanka’s women restored some national pride with a dominant victory over the West Indies in the first one-dayer in Hambantota.  Chamari Athapaththu’s rising stars continued their climb in the world game while taking the heat off their male counterparts who are heading home after achieving the worst World Cup appearance in their history.  Sri Lanka’s women have shown a sharp spike in their progress as they now pose a threat to the heavyweights, with wins over England  New Zealand and South Africa away which is the best by any team in their short history.  Winning the toss and putting the Windies in, Chamari Athapaththu’s team went to work on containing the scoreboard, and they did this to perfection.  Improved fielding backed a accurate pace/ spin attack  had the West Indies in ...

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Unbeaten Australia secure spot in T20 World Cup second round, proving too strong for Namibia Source : icc-cricket.   Click here to receive your free copy of the eLanka Newsletter twice a week delivered directly to your inbox!   ...

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Unbeaten Australia secure spot in T20 World Cup second round, proving too strong for Namibia source: Copyright (c) icc-cricket.com (media approved partner – Trevine Rodrigo – eLanka) ( https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/t20cricketworldcup/news/live-aussie-bowlers-commence-warm-up-as-marsh-opts-to-send-in-namibia )   Click here to receive your free copy of the eLanka Newsletter twice a week delivered directly to your inbox! ...

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