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Royal dominate day one thanks to Manchanayake, Ramiru centuries

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Centuries from skipper Dasis Manchanayake and Ramiru Perera helped Royal College, Colombo dominate the opening day against arch-rivals S. Thomas’ College at stumps on day one of the 144th ‘Battle of the Blues’ which commenced at SSC Cricket Grounds, Colombo today.

Put into bat first on a green deck on an overcast morning, Royal was off to a poor start losing 4 wickets for just 63 runs.

Despite a shaky start Royal College rebuild their innings thanks to a record-breaking 229-run partnership between skipper Dasis Manchanayake and Ramiru Perera for the fifth wicket to revive their innings and slowly crawl their way back into the game

The 229-run partnership also re-wrote history as the highest partnership for the 5th wicket in the history of the ‘Battle of the Blues’.

Skipper Dasis Manchanayake led from the front, top scoring with a brilliant 137 runs off 150 deliveries including 17 boundaries while Ramiru Perera also played a similar inning as he scored 15 fours and 2 sixes during his 186-ball 128 to help their team go past the 300-run mark.

The duo batted cautiously to take Royal to a decent position until Royal’s skipper was bamboozled by a peach of a delivery from Kavindu Dias, to once again give the advantage to the Thomians.

With the scoreboard reading at 5-292, a desperate effort to score some quick runs towards the end proved fatal as Royal lost a few quick wickets that set batter Ramiru Perera to end day one on 326-8 after 74 overs.

Savindu Seneratharachchi (8) and Bulan Weeratunga (2) were at the crease when umpires called for stumps.

Besides Ramiru’s and Dasis Manchanayake’s knocks, Royal College’s scorecard was not that impressive as none of the other batters was able to pose a threat to the Thomian bowlers.

Right-arm medium pacer Akash Fernando shone with the ball claiming 4-55, while Kavindu Dias bagged 3 wickets.

The match will continue tomorrow for day 2.

මංචනායක, රමිරු ශතකවලට පින්සිදු වන්නට රාජකීය ආධිපත්‍ය දිනය පළමු දිනය

කොළඹ SSC ක්‍රිකට් පිටියේ අද ආරම්භ වූ 144 වැනි ‘බ්ලූස් සටනේ’ පළමු දිනය වූ අද තරගය නතර කරන විට නායක දාසිස් මංචනායකගේ සහ රමිරු පෙරේරාගේ ශතක හේතුවෙන් කොළඹ රාජකීය විද්‍යාලය පළමු දිනයේදී පරම ප්‍රතිවාදී S. තෝමස් විද්‍යාලයට එරෙහිව සිය ආධිපත්‍යය දැරීමට සමත් විය.

වලාකුළු සහිත උදෑසනක හරිත තට්ටුවේ පළමුවෙන් පන්දුවට පහර දුන් රාජකීයයන් ලකුණු 63 කට කඩුලු 4 ක් දැවී දුර්වල ආරම්භයක් ලබා ගත්තේය.

ආරම්භය බිඳවැටුණද රාජකීය විද්‍යාලය සිය ඉනිම යළි ගොඩනැංවූයේ නායක දාසිස් මංචනායක සහ රමිරු පෙරේරා පස්වැනි කඩුල්ලට ගොඩනැගූ වාර්තාගත ලකුණු 229ක සබඳතාවයට ස්තුතිවන්ත වන්නටය.

ලකුණු 229ක සබඳතාව ‘Battle of the Blues’ ඉතිහාසයේ 5 වැනි කඩුල්ල වෙනුවෙන් ගොඩනැගුණු ඉහළම සබඳතාව ලෙස ඉතිහාසය යළිත් ලියැවීය.

නායක දසිස් මංචනායක පන්දු 150කදී හතරේ පහර 17ක් සමඟින් විශිෂ්ට ලකුණු 137ක් ලබා ගනිමින් පෙරමුණේ සිට ඉහළම ලකුණු ලාභියා වූ අතර රමිරු පෙරේරා ද එවැනිම ඉනිමක් ක්‍රීඩා කරමින් පන්දු 186කදී හතරේ පහර 15ක් සහ හයේ පහර 2ක් සමඟින් ලකුණු 128ක් රැස්කරමින් තම කණ්ඩායම පසුකර ගියේය. ලකුණු 300 ලකුණ.

කවිඳු ඩයස්ගේ පන්දුවකට පීච් පහරකින් රාජකීය නායකයා දැවී යන තුරුම ඔවුන් දෙදෙනා ප්‍රවේශමෙන් පන්දුවට පහර දුන්නේ තෝමියානුවන්ට වාසියක් ලබා දෙමිනි.

ලකුණු පුවරුව 5-292 ක් වන විට, අවසානය දක්වා වේගවත් ලකුණු කිහිපයක් ලබා ගැනීමට මංමුලා සහගත උත්සාහයක් මාරාන්තික බව ඔප්පු වූ අතර, රාජකීය විදුහලට ඉක්මන් කඩුලු කිහිපයක් අහිමි වූ අතර එමඟින් පිතිකරු රමිරු පෙරේරා පළමු දිනය නිමා කිරීමට ඕවර 74 කින් ලකුණු 326-8 ක් ලබා ගත්තේය.

විනිසුරුවන් කඩුල්ලට කැඳවන විට සවිඳු සෙනරආරච්චි (8) සහ බුලාන් වීරතුංග (2) ක්‍රීඩාගාරයේ සිටියහ.

රමිරුගේ සහ දසිස් මංචනායකගේ දස්කම් හැරුණු විට රාජකීය විදුහලේ ලකුණු පුවරුව එතරම් ආකර්ෂණීය නොවූයේ සෙසු පිතිකරුවන් කිසිවකුට තෝමියන් පන්දු යවන්නන්ට තර්ජනයක් එල්ල කිරීමට නොහැකි වූ බැවිනි.

දකුණත් මධ්‍යම වේග පන්දු යවන ක්‍රීඩක ආකාෂ් ප්‍රනාන්දු ලකුණු 4-55ක් ලෙසින් පන්දුවෙන් දස්කම් දැක්වූ අතර කවිඳු ඩයස් කඩුලු 3ක් දවා ගත්තේය.

තරගය අද 2 වැනි දිනටත් පැවැත්වේ.

மஞ்சநாயகி, ராமிரு நூற்றாண்டுகளுக்கு ராயல் டாமினியன் நாள் முதல் நன்றி

இன்று கொழும்பு SSC கிரிக்கெட் மைதானத்தில் ஆரம்பமான 144வது ‘Battle of the Blues’ போட்டியின் முதல் நாள் ஆட்டம் முடிவடையும் போது, அணித்தலைவர் தாசிஸ் மஞ்சநாயக்க மற்றும் ரமிரு பெரேராவின் சதங்கள், கொழும்பு ரோயல் கல்லூரிக்கு எதிரான ஆரம்ப நாள் ஆட்டத்தின் போது பரம எதிரிகளான S. Thomas’ கல்லூரிக்கு எதிராக ஆதிக்கம் செலுத்த உதவியது.

ஒரு மேகமூட்டமான காலையில் பச்சை டெக்கில் முதலில் பேட் செய்த ராயல் வெறும் 63 ரன்களுக்கு 4 விக்கெட்டுகளை இழந்து மோசமான தொடக்கத்தைத் தந்தது.

ஆட்டமிழந்த ஆரம்பம் இருந்தபோதிலும், ஐந்தாவது விக்கெட்டுக்காக அணித்தலைவர் தாசிஸ் மஞ்சநாயக்க மற்றும் ரமிரு பெரேரா ஆகியோர் இணைந்து 229 ஓட்டங்களை இணைத்ததன் மூலம் றோயல் கல்லூரி மீண்டும் இன்னிங்ஸைக் கட்டியெழுப்பியது.

229 ரன் பார்ட்னர்ஷிப், ‘பேட்டில் ஆஃப் தி ப்ளூஸ்’ வரலாற்றில் 5வது விக்கெட்டுக்கு அதிகபட்ச பார்ட்னர்ஷிப்பாகவும் வரலாற்றை மீண்டும் எழுதியது.

அணித்தலைவர் தாசிஸ் மஞ்சநாயக்க முன்னணியில் இருந்து 150 பந்துகளில் 17 பவுண்டரிகள் அடங்கலாக 137 ஓட்டங்களைப் பெற்று சிறந்த ஸ்கோரைப் பெற்றுக் கொண்டார், அதேபோன்று ரமிரு பெரேராவும் இதேபோன்ற இன்னிங்ஸை விளையாடினார், அவர் தனது 186 பந்துகளில் 128 ஓட்டங்களைப் பெற்று 186 பந்துகளில் 128 ஓட்டங்களைப் பெற்றார். 300 ரன் மார்க்.

கவிந்து டயஸின் பந்து வீச்சில் ராயல் கேப்டன் மூங்கில் விழுந்து, தோமியன்களுக்கு மீண்டும் சாதகமாக அமையும் வரை, இருவரும் கவனமாக துடுப்பெடுத்தாடி றோயலை ஒரு நல்ல நிலைக்கு கொண்டு சென்றனர்.

ஸ்கோர்போர்டு ரீடிங் 5-292 என்ற நிலையில், இறுதியில் சில விரைவான ரன்களை எடுப்பதற்கான அவநம்பிக்கையான முயற்சி ஆபத்தானது, ஏனெனில் ராயல் சில விரைவான விக்கெட்டுகளை இழந்தார், இதனால் பேட்டர் ரமிரு பெரேரா முதல் நாள் முடிவில் 74 ஓவர்களில் 326-8 ரன்களை எடுத்தார்.

நடுவர்கள் ஸ்டம்புகளுக்கு அழைப்பு விடுத்தபோது சவிந்து செனரதாராச்சி (8) மற்றும் புலன் வீரதுங்க (2) ஆகியோர் கிரீஸில் இருந்தனர்.

ரமிரு மற்றும் தாசிஸ் மஞ்சநாயக்கவின் ஆட்டமிழக்க, ரோயல் கல்லூரியின் ஸ்கோர் கார்டு அவ்வளவு சுவாரஸ்யமாக இருக்கவில்லை, ஏனெனில் மற்ற துடுப்பாட்ட வீரர்கள் எவரும் தோமியன் பந்துவீச்சாளர்களுக்கு அச்சுறுத்தலாக இருக்க முடியவில்லை.

பந்து வீச்சில் வலது கை நடுத்தர வேகப்பந்து வீச்சாளர் ஆகாஷ் பெர்னாண்டோ 4-55 என பிரகாசிக்க, கவிந்து டயஸ் 3 விக்கெட்டுகளை கைப்பற்றினார்.

இன்று 2-வது நாளாக ஆட்டம் தொடரும்.

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The race for qualification in Group B of the Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025 Schools Football Tournament is heating up, with three top schools still in contention for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Royal College Leads the Pack

Royal College, Colombo currently sits on top of Group B after an impressive 5-0 victory, showcasing both dominance and attacking flair. With two crucial matches left, Royal remains the favorite to finish as group leaders — but the battle is far from over.

Aligar Central’s Mixed Fortunes

Aligar Central College, last year’s runners-up and inaugural Ball Blaster champions, have had a mixed campaign so far. After one win and one narrow loss — the latter coming from an unfortunate own goal — the team still remains firmly in the race for qualification.

Kalutara Muslim Still in the Hunt

Kalutara Muslim Central College, one of the most competitive sides in this year’s tournament, has only played one game so far — securing a 1-0 win. With two matches still to play, they remain a real threat to the current table leaders.

Maris Stella Struggling for Form

Maris Stella College, on the other hand, has had a tough run, losing both their opening fixtures and conceding nine goals in the process. They will now look to finish strong and disrupt the group standings in the remaining matches.

With the Group B stage still wide open, the coming matchdays promise thrilling encounters as Royal, Aligar, and Kalutara fight for the top two quarterfinal spots in the Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025.

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Sri Lanka Climbs FIFA Rankings — But Can “Origin-Only” Strategy Deliver Long-Term Success?

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Sri Lanka’s national football team has achieved a notable improvement in the latest FIFA World Rankings, marking a rare moment of positivity for the sport in the country. The team, now sitting at 193rd, has shown visible progress — yet, this rise raises important questions about the long-term future of Sri Lankan football.

Origin Players Driving Success

Out of the starting 11 players, 10 are foreign-born origin players, with only the goalkeeper captain being Sri Lankan-born. While this approach has strengthened the squad and delivered quick international results, it highlights a deeper issue — the lack of local football development and competitive tournaments at home.

In the absence of consistent domestic competitions, Sri Lanka’s international performances are being carried by overseas talent. This has sparked debate within the football community: is the FFSL relying too heavily on short-term solutions rather than investing in sustainable growth?

Absence of Local Structure

For the past few years, no major national tournaments have been held at the senior level. The lack of a structured league and proper youth pathway continues to limit opportunities for local players. Without regular match experience and grassroots exposure, emerging talent struggles to reach the international stage.

Glimpses of Hope – Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025 & Grassroots Push

However, there are signs of renewal. Across the country, small-scale academies tournaments are taking shape — often organized with assistance from the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL).

Among the most significant initiatives is the Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025 Schools Football Tournament, organised in collaboration with Sri Lankan Sports TV and the School Football Association. Although it faced early administrative hurdles with FFSL, the event was successfully negotiated and is now underway as planned, providing a crucial platform for school-level footballers to showcase their potential.

This partnership-driven approach reflects a growing understanding that grassroots and school tournaments are the foundation for long-term success. If nurtured properly, they could help produce the next generation of Sri Lankan-born football stars — reducing the dependency on foreign-origin players in the future.

The Way Forward

While the ranking rise brings optimism, experts caution that sustainable progress will only come through systematic development, transparent governance, and strong youth structures. The FFSL must focus on building a local ecosystem that nurtures homegrown talent, ensuring that the future of Sri Lankan football is not built solely on temporary fixes but on lasting foundations.

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Zahira College Colombo Dominate Group A — Gampola Zahira and Darussalam Battle for Second Spot

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The Group A stage of the Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025 Schools Football Championship is heating up, with Zahira College Colombo emerging as the clear frontrunner after an unbeaten run in their first two matches. With six points and an impressive 8–2 goal difference, Zahira are well on course to top the group and secure a direct berth to the quarterfinals.

Zahira’s attacking flair and tactical balance have made them one of the most complete teams in this year’s tournament. Their consistent performances have set the tone in Group A, making them strong contenders for the overall title.

Behind them, the battle for the second qualifying spot is intensifying between Darussalam College and Gampola Zahira College. Both teams currently sit on three points each, but Darussalam have played one match more, leaving Gampola Zahira with a crucial game in hand.

Kingswood College, despite showing moments of promise, have struggled to convert opportunities into results and remain winless after three outings.

With two group matches remaining, the race for quarterfinal qualification is expected to go down to the wire. Zahira Colombo, the current Group A leader, will likely face Vaddakkachchi Central College (D2) from Group D in the knockout stage, while the second-placed team will meet Hameed Al Husseinie College (D1) — setting up thrilling contests ahead.

SchoolMWLDGSGAGDPoints
Zahira College, Colombo220082+66
Gampola Zahira College110031+23
Darussalam College21105503
Kingswood College3030513-80

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