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Seifert’s blitz helped New Zealand clinch the series 2-1

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3 years ago

April 9, 2023

Editor

Tim Seifert’s brilliant 88 helped New Zealand edge Sri Lanka by four wickets in their thrilling third and final Twenty20 international in Queenstown on Saturday to complete a 2-1 series victory.

Put into bat first Sri Lanka posted 182 runs and in reply, New Zealand took 19.5 overs to achieve the target.

Openers Pathum Nissanka (25) and Kusal Mendis (73) laid a solid platform for their innings with a 76-run partnership until Pathum Nissanka bit the dust when he was caught at the boundary line off Ish Sodhi’s bowling.

His partner Mendis who was dropped on 10 by Mitchell at slip, punished New Zealand with 48-ball 73 runs that contained six fours and five sixes as the 28-year-old reached his 12th half-century in the company of Kusal Perera (33).

Dhananjaya de Silva and skipper Dasun Shanaka both made good starts after the pair departed but the tourists could not lay the final touches as they could score just 3 runs in the 19th and fell short of a match-winning total.

In reply Seifert led the run chase with outstanding innings, scoring 88 off just 48 deliveries,
which propelled the Black Caps to 183-6 in 19.5 overs.

The opener struck 10 fours and three sixes in an inning that bore many of the hallmarks of his unbeaten 79 when New Zealand levelled the series at Dunedin on Wednesday.

Captain Tom Latham provided the only meaningful support with 31 off 23 and New Zealand’s middle order nearly conspired to lose the game after Seifert departed with four overs remaining.

Needing to score at little more than a run-a-ball at that stage, the Black Caps stuttered.

Needing 10 runs to win off the final over bowled by Lahiru Kumara (3-38), Mark Chapman struck a six off the first ball before he was the first of three New Zealand wickets to fall.

With two still needed off the last two deliveries, Rachin Ravindra held his nerve to find a gap in the outfield and secure the 2-1 series win.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 182/6 in 20 overs (Kusal Mendis 73, Kusal Perera 33; Ben Lister 2-37) lost to New Zealand 183/6 in 19.5 overs (Tim Seifert 88, Tom Latham 31; Lahiru Kumara 3-38) by 4 wickets

Seifert ගේ Blitz නවසීලන්තයට තරඟාවලිය 2-1 ක් ලෙස ජය ගැනීමට උපකාරී විය

ටිම් සෙයිෆර්ට්ගේ විශිෂ්ට ලකුණු 88 හේතුවෙන් නවසීලන්තය සෙනසුරාදා ක්වීන්ස්ටවුන් හි පැවති තෙවැනි සහ අවසන් විස්සයි20 ජාත්‍යන්තර තරගයෙන් කඩුලු 4 ක ජයක් අත්කර ගනිමින් ශ්‍රී ලංකාව 2-1 ක් ලෙස තරගාවලියේ ජයග්‍රහණය සම්පූර්ණ කළේය.

පළමුවෙන් පන්දුවට පහරදුන් ශ්‍රී ලංකාව ලකුණු 182ක් රැස්කළ අතර පිළිතුරු ලෙස නවසීලන්තයට එම ඉලක්කය සපුරා ගැනීමට පන්දුවාර 19.5ක් වැය විය.

ආරම්භක පිතිකරුවන් වන පැතුම් නිශ්ශංක (25) සහ කුසල් මෙන්ඩිස් (73) ලකුණු 76 ක සම්බන්ධතාවක් පවත්වමින් ඔවුන්ගේ ඉනිමට ශක්තිමත් වේදිකාවක් සකසා දුන් අතර, පැතුම් නිශ්ශංක ඉෂ් සෝදිගේ පන්දුවක් හමුවේ හතරේ සීමාවේ දී දැවී ගියේය.

28 හැවිරිදි කුසල් පෙරේරා (33) සමගින් සිය 12 වැනි අර්ධ ශතකය වාර්තා කරද්දී ඔහුගේ සහකරු මෙන්ඩිස් ලකුණු 10කට මිචෙල් අතට උඩ පන්දුවක් දෙමින් නවසීලන්තයට දඬුවම් කළේ පන්දු 48කදී හතරේ පහර 6ක් සහ හයේ පහර 5ක් සමඟින් ලකුණු 73ක් රැස්කරමිනි. )

ධනංජය ද සිල්වා සහ නායක දසුන් ශානක දෙදෙනාම දෙදෙනාම ඉවත්වීමෙන් පසු හොඳ ආරම්භයක් ලබා ගත් නමුත් 19 වැනි තරගයේදී ලකුණු 3ක් පමණක් ලබාගෙන තරගයේ ජයග්‍රාහී ලකුණු සංඛ්‍යාවට වඩා අඩුවෙන් දැවී ගිය නිසා සංචාරකයන්ට අවසන් කටයුතු සිදු කිරීමට නොහැකි විය.

පිළිතුරු ඉනිම ක්‍රීඩා කළ සීෆර්ට් ලකුණු 88ක් ලබා ගත්තේ පන්දු 48කදී ලකුණු 88ක් ලබා ගනිමින්.
එය ඕවර 19.5කදී බ්ලැක් කැප්ස් පිල ලකුණු 183-6කට තල්ලු කළේය.

බදාදා නවසීලන්තය ඩුනෙඩින් හිදී තරඟාවලිය සම කරන විට ආරම්භක පිතිකරු ඉනිමක හතරේ පහර 10 ක් සහ හයේ පහර 3 ක් එල්ල කළ අතර එය ඔහුගේ නොදැවී ලකුණු 79 හි බොහෝ සලකුණු දරයි.

නායක ටොම් ලේතම් ලකුණු 23කින් ලකුණු 31ක් ලබා ගනිමින් එකම අර්ථාන්විත සහය ලබා දුන් අතර නවසීලන්ත මැදපෙළ ඕවර 4ක් ඉතිරිව තිබියදී සීෆර්ට් පිටත්ව ගිය පසු තරගය පරාජයට පත්වීමට බොහෝ දුරට කුමන්ත්‍රණය කළේය.

එම අදියරේ දී පන්දුවට ලකුණකට වඩා මඳක් වැඩි ලකුණු ප්‍රමාණයක් ලබා ගැනීමට අවශ්‍ය වූ අතර, කළු කැප්ස් ගොත ගැසීය.

ලහිරු කුමාර යැවූ අවසන් ඕවරයේදී ජයග්‍රහණය සඳහා ලකුණු 10ක් අවශ්‍යව තිබියදී (3-38) පළමු පන්දුවේදීම හයේ පහරක් එල්ල කළ මාර්ක් චැප්මන් නවසීලන්ත කඩුලු තුනෙන් පළමුවැන්නා විය.

අවසන් පන්දු දෙකේදී තවත් දෙකක් අවශ්‍යව තිබියදී, රචින් රවීන්ද්‍ර පිටියේ හිඩැසක් සොයා ගැනීමට සහ 2-1 තරගාවලියේ ජයග්‍රහණය තහවුරු කර ගැනීමට ඔහුගේ ශක්තිය රඳවා ගත්තේය.

සංක්ෂිප්ත ලකුණු: ශ්‍රී ලංකාව ඕවර 20 කදී 182/6 (කුසල් මෙන්ඩිස් 73, කුසල් පෙරේරා 33; බෙන් ලිස්ටර් 2-37) නවසීලන්තයට ඕවර 19.5 කදී 183/6 පරාජය (tim Seifert 88, Tom Latham 31; Lahiru Kumara 3-38 ) විකට් 4 කින්

Seifert அதிரடி ஆட்டத்தால் நியூசிலாந்து தொடரை 2-1 என கைப்பற்றியது

Tim Seifert இன் அற்புதமான 88 ரன்களுக்கு நியூசிலாந்து குயின்ஸ்டவுனில் சனிக்கிழமையன்று நடந்த மூன்றாவது மற்றும் கடைசி இருபதுக்கு 20 சர்வதேச போட்டியில் 4 விக்கெட்டுகள் வித்தியாசத்தில் இலங்கையை வீழ்த்தி தொடரை 2-1 என்ற கணக்கில் கைப்பற்றியது.

முதலில் துடுப்பெடுத்தாடிய இலங்கை அணி 182 ஓட்டங்களை பெற்று பதிலுக்கு துடுப்பெடுத்தாடிய நியூசிலாந்து அணி 19.5 ஓவர்களில் வெற்றி இலக்கை எட்டியது.

தொடக்க ஆட்டக்காரர்களான பாத்தும் நிசாங்க (25) மற்றும் குசல் மெண்டிஸ் (73) ஆகியோர் இஷ் சோதியின் பந்துவீச்சில் பவுண்டரி லைனில் கேட்ச் ஆகி 76 ரன்கள் பார்ட்னர்ஷிப்பில் தங்கள் இன்னிங்ஸுக்கு உறுதியான தளத்தை அமைத்தனர்.

28 வயதான குசல் பெரேரா (33) ஜோடியில் தனது 12வது அரைசதத்தை எட்டியபோது, 28 வயதான அவர், 48 பந்துகளில் 6 பவுண்டரிகள் மற்றும் 5 சிக்ஸர்களுடன் 73 ரன்கள் எடுத்து நியூசிலாந்தை 10 ரன்களில் மிட்செல் வீழ்த்தினார். )

தனஞ்சய டி சில்வா மற்றும் அணித்தலைவர் தசுன் ஷனக இருவரும் இந்த ஜோடி வெளியேறிய பின்னர் நல்ல தொடக்கத்தை வழங்கினர், ஆனால் சுற்றுலாப் பயணிகளால் 19வது ரன்னில் வெறும் 3 ரன்கள் மட்டுமே எடுக்க முடிந்தது மற்றும் போட்டியில் வெற்றிபெறும் ஸ்கோரை விட குறைவாக வீழ்ந்தது.

பதிலுக்கு சீஃபர்ட் 48 பந்துகளில் 88 ரன்கள் எடுத்து சிறப்பான இன்னிங்ஸ் மூலம் ரன் வேட்டைக்கு தலைமை தாங்கினார்.
இது பிளாக் கேப்ஸை 19.5 ஓவர்களில் 183-6 ரன்களுக்குத் தள்ளியது.

தொடக்க ஆட்டக்காரர் ஒரு இன்னிங்ஸில் 10 பவுண்டரிகள் மற்றும் மூன்று சிக்ஸர்களை அடித்தார், இது புதன்கிழமை டுனெடினில் நியூசிலாந்து தொடரை சமன் செய்தபோது அவர் ஆட்டமிழக்காமல் 79 ரன்கள் எடுத்ததன் பல அடையாளங்களைத் தாங்கினார்.

கேப்டன் டாம் லாதம் 23 பந்தில் 31 ரன்களுடன் ஒரே அர்த்தமுள்ள ஆதரவை வழங்கினார் மற்றும் நியூசிலாந்தின் மிடில் ஆர்டர் நான்கு ஓவர்கள் மீதமுள்ள நிலையில் சீஃபர்ட் வெளியேறிய பிறகு ஆட்டத்தை இழக்க சதி செய்தார்.

அந்த கட்டத்தில் ஒரு ரன்-எ-பந்தை விட சற்று அதிகமாக ஸ்கோர் செய்ய வேண்டியிருந்தது, பிளாக் கேப்ஸ் தடுமாறியது.

லஹிரு குமார (3-38) வீசிய இறுதி ஓவரில் வெற்றிக்கு 10 ரன்கள் தேவை என்ற நிலையில், மார்க் சாப்மேன் முதல் பந்தில் சிக்ஸர் அடித்து நியூசிலாந்து 3 விக்கெட்டுகளை வீழ்த்தினார்.

கடைசி இரண்டு பந்துகளில் இன்னும் இரண்டு ரன்கள் தேவைப்பட்ட நிலையில், ரச்சின் ரவீந்திரன் அவுட்ஃபீல்டில் ஒரு இடைவெளியைக் கண்டுபிடித்து 2-1 என்ற கணக்கில் தொடரைக் கைப்பற்றினார்.

சுருக்கமான ஸ்கோர்கள்: இலங்கை 20 ஓவரில் 182/6 (குசல் மெண்டிஸ் 73, குசல் பெரேரா 33; பென் லிஸ்டர் 2-37) நியூசிலாந்திடம் 19.5 ஓவரில் 183/6 (டிம் சீஃபர்ட் 88, டாம் லதம் 31; லஹிரு குமார 3-38) தோல்வியடைந்தது. ) 4 விக்கெட்டுகள்

News

BALL BLASTER 2026: SRI LANKA’S BIGGEST SCHOOL FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT RETURNS BIGGER THAN EVER

Published

2 days ago

September 17, 2026

Editor

24 Schools, 15 Venues and Three National Trophies as Ball Blaster Enters Its Third Year

COLOMBO — Ball Blaster, Sri Lanka’s premier school football tournament, is set to return in 2026 with its biggest edition yet, organized by Aasgard Sports (Private) Limited in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association and the Ministry of Education.

Now entering its third year, Ball Blaster has grown from 2023 with 20 schools into one of the country’s largest youth football events. The 2025 edition featured 16 schools competing across four groups, drawing national broadcast attention through Sri Lankan Sports TV and PEO TV. For 2026, the tournament expands significantly, with 24 schools set to compete across 15 venues nationwide, in a season spanning six weeks and 84 matches.

A NEW FORMAT: THREE TROPHIES, THREE CHAMPIONS

The standout feature of Ball Blaster 2026 is a new three-tier trophy format. Schools will be drawn into four groups of six, playing a round-robin group stage before advancing into one of three parallel championships based on their group finish: the Cup Trophy for group winners, the Bowl Trophy for runners-up, and the Plate Trophy for second runners-up. The format ensures every participating school remains in contention for a national title deep into the tournament.

All three championships will reach their conclusion on the same finals weekend, with third-place playoffs and grand finals for the Cup, Bowl and Plate trophies all being played at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.

“Ball Blaster has always been about giving young footballers a stage,” said a spokesperson for Aasgard Sports. “This year, we’re expanding that stage to every corner of the island, and making sure every school that takes part has something real to play for, right to the final whistle.”

BUILDING ON A STRONG 2025

Ball Blaster’s growth has been underpinned by strong sponsor support. The 2025 edition was backed by Lifebuoy as Title Sponsor, alongside Lemonade as Refreshing Partner and Sky Market Travels as Travelling Partner. Organizers say conversations are already underway with returning and new sponsors ahead of the 2026 season, as the tournament’s expanded scale — nationwide venues, a longer season and three separate finals — offers significantly greater visibility for partners.

BROADCAST AND COVERAGE

As in previous years, Ball Blaster 2026 will be broadcast live via Sri Lankan Sports TV and PEO Sports, with matches also available on YouTube and across Sri Lankan Sports TV’s digital platforms.

For sponsorship and partnership enquiries, contact: Pasindu Mihiranga Sri Lankan Sports TV | Aasgard Sports (Private) Limited 0726 85 18 18 marketing@srilankansportstv.com

www.srilankansportstv.com

Football

Jaswar Umar Hails FIFA Series as Turning Point for Sri Lankan Football

Published

1 week ago

September 10, 2026

Editor

Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar has described the inaugural FIFA Series in Colombo as a major milestone for the country’s football development, saying the tournament has given Sri Lanka renewed confidence and a stronger connection with the international game.

Umar, who has been involved in efforts to strengthen Sri Lankan football administration and development, said hosting the tournament demonstrated that developing football nations could compete on the global stage when given meaningful opportunities.

The FIFA Series, held in Colombo in March 2024, brought Sri Lanka together with Bhutan, Papua New Guinea and the Central African Republic. The four participating nations represented three different confederations, giving Sri Lanka an unusual opportunity to face teams with different playing styles.

Sri Lanka completed its campaign unbeaten, drawing 0-0 against Papua New Guinea and defeating Bhutan 2-0. Umar said the matches provided valuable experience for the national team and helped players adapt to different forms of international competition.

DOHA, QATAR – DECEMBER 17: FIFA President Gianni Infantino with Football Federation of Sri Lanka President Jaswar Umar during a meeting on December 17, 2024 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Serhat Akin/FIFA)

He stressed that the benefits extended beyond the football field. Sri Lankan officials involved in administration, technical operations, media, medical services and event management gained practical experience in organising matches to international standards.

The Racecourse Ground also received an important upgrade through assistance from FIFA’s Forward Programme. The renovation enabled the historic Colombo venue to host international football and created improved facilities for future events.

Umar said one of the most important achievements was bringing international football closer to Sri Lankan supporters. Young fans were able to watch national players compete against foreign opposition in their own city, helping to inspire a new generation.

He thanked FIFA and its President Gianni Infantino for supporting developing football nations.

According to Umar, the FIFA Series has left Sri Lanka with more than match results. It has provided international experience, stronger administrative capabilities, improved infrastructure and, most importantly, renewed belief in the future of Sri Lankan football.

Cricket

Dulani’s sparkling century powers Sri Lanka to thrilling victory

Published

2 months ago

July 31, 2026

Editor

Imesha Dulani stole the spotlight with a sensational unbeaten century as Sri Lanka Women chased down a formidable target of 177 to register a convincing six-wicket victory over Pakistan Women in the first T20I worked off at Dambulla international Stadium.

Pakistan looked set for victory after posting a competitive 176 for 7 in their 20 overs. Captain Muneeba Ali gave the innings early momentum with a fluent 42 off 24 balls, while Shawaal Zulfiqar anchored the innings superbly with a brilliant 63 from 41 deliveries, striking 10 fours and a six. Eman Naseer added a valuable 21, while Ayesha Zafar and Saira Jabeen played aggressive cameos in the closing overs to push Pakistan to an above-par total.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Kavisha Dilhari leading the way with two dismissals. Chamudi Praboda, Sugandika Kumari and Kawya Kavindi chipped in with one wicket apiece, while disciplined fielding produced two crucial run-outs.

The chase belonged entirely to Dulani, who delivered the innings of the match. Displaying confidence, composure and a wide range of attacking strokes, she remained unbeaten on 101 from just 64 balls, smashing 17 boundaries and a six. Her innings combined elegance with controlled aggression, ensuring Sri Lanka stayed ahead of the required rate throughout the chase.

Captain Chamari Athapaththu provided the ideal platform with a sparkling 39 off 22 balls, adding 78 for the opening wicket before Nashra Sandhu broke the partnership. Although Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals in the middle overs, Dulani remained firmly in control, rotating the strike effectively before accelerating when it mattered most.

Kavisha Dilhari contributed 11 valuable runs, while Nilakshika Silva remained unbeaten on nine as Sri Lanka reached 177 for 4 in 19 overs, sealing victory with six balls to spare.

Pakistan spinner Nashra Sandhu finished with two wickets, but she could do little to halt Dulani’s memorable knock.