News
Sampath, Sujith and Kishan steers Lanka Cavaliers to a comfortable 93 run win against Thomian Masters.
M.H.Yakeem
Sampath Wickramarachchi, Sujith Perera scoring half centuries and a fine bowling spell by Kishan Dharmasena with a 5 wicket haul including a hat trick steered Lanka Cavaliers to a comfortable 93 run against Thomian Masters in a Masters 25 overs Cricket encounter played at the Colombo Colts Cricket ground, Colombo- 05 on the 27th of January 2024.
Lanka Cavaliers won the toss and took the opportunity to bat first, openers Varuna Waragoda and Sujith Perera got to a solid start with a 64 runs partnership for the opening stand, with the dismissal of Varuna Waragoda scoring 33 runs in 28 balls including 4 fours and the 2nd wicket falling at 67 runs on board, Thusitha Karunaratne joining the other opener Sujith Perera, the pair together steadied the innings and with the dismissal of Thusitha Karunaratne scoring 47 runs in 34 balls including 7 fours and Sujith Perera playng a magnificent innings scoring a well compiled 75 runs in 62 balls including 8 fours opted to retire. Sampath Wickramarachchi coming as the 3 down batter and a hurricane knock scoring 53 runs not out in 17 balls including 8 fours and 2 sixes and his half century coming in 15 balls along with 4 down batter Chaminda Rajapakse, the pair together took them past the 200 plus mark to see them to a commanding position in their 25th over.
Anura Bulankulame, Ranil Peiris and Ruwan Sirisrena with a wicket each was the pick of the bowlers for the Thomian Masters.
Thomian Masters in reply, opener Johann Peiris scoring a fluent 55 runs in 32 balls including 5 fours was associated in a 4th wicket partnership of 74 runs with Ranil Peiris, who scored 40 runs in 35 balls including 2 fours and 2 sixes, the duo’s contributions was the highlight of the Thomian innings, as the other batters dismissals fell at regular intervals, Thomian Masters were all out for a mere 129 runs in the 23rd over with Kishan Dharmasena capturing the last 3 wickets ( Hat trick ). Chaminda Rajapakse with 2 wickets, Renuka Nonis, Ravi Subasinghe, Varuna Waragoda capturing a wicket apiece were the other bowlers who excelled for Lanka Cavaliers.
Lanka Cavaliers – 222/3 in 25 overs
Varuna Waragoda 33, Sujith Perera 75 retired, Thusitha Karunaratne 47, Sampath Wickramarachchi 53 not out.
Thomian Masters – 129 all out in 23.4 overs
Johann Peiris 55, Ranil Peiris 40, Kishan Dharmasena 5/20, Chaminda Rajapakse 2/21
Football
Sri Lanka Shocks 166th-Ranked Chinese Taipei with 3-1 Victory in AFC Asian Cup 2026 Qualifier
Date: June 10, 2025
Venue: Race Course, Colombo
Tournament: AFC Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers – Group D
Final Score: Sri Lanka 3 – 1 Chinese Taipei
FIFA Rankings: Chinese Taipei – 166 | Sri Lanka – 200
In a stunning upset, Sri Lanka’s national football team defeated Chinese Taipei 3-1 in their AFC Asian Cup 2026 Group D qualifier held on June 10. The performance not only earned Sri Lanka three crucial points but also reaffirmed their ability to compete with higher-ranked opponents on the international stage.
Goal-Scorers:
- Adhavan Rajamohan – 48’
- Dillon De Silva – 52’
- Waseem Razeek – 57’
After a goalless first half, Sri Lanka came out with renewed energy and dominated early in the second half, scoring three goals within just 10 minutes, completely overturning the momentum.
🔍 Ranking Impact:
- Sri Lanka: 200th → +0.97 points
- Chinese Taipei: 166th → –10.71 points
The win came despite a major ranking gap, showcasing Sri Lanka’s growing confidence and improved tactical discipline under pressure.
🏆 Match Summary:
| Minute | Scorer | Team | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48’ | Adhavan Rajamohan | Sri Lanka | Open Play |
| 52’ | Dillon De Silva | Sri Lanka | Counter Attack |
| 57’ | Waseem Razeek | Sri Lanka | Set Piece |
| 69′ | Chinese Taipei | 1 Goal | (Details TBD) |
Sri Lanka’s national football team returns to action today in a much-anticipated clash against Chinese Taipei in an international friendly that has all the makings of a tense tactical battle. With a strong recent run, bolstered by foreign-based Sri Lankan-origin players, the Lions are beginning to roar again on the international stage.
Head-to-Head Record
Sri Lanka remains unbeaten against Chinese Taipei in previous AFC competitions:
- 2009 AFC Challenge Cup: Sri Lanka 2 – 1 Chinese Taipei
- 2008 AFC Challenge Cup: Sri Lanka 2 – 2 Chinese Taipei
Despite the long gap since their last encounter, these results offer Sri Lanka a psychological edge heading into today’s game.
Sri Lanka’s Recent Form – Powered by Diaspora Talent
| Date | Opponent | Result | HT Score | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/06/05 | Brunei Darussalam | 1 – 0 W | 0 – 0 | Disciplined effort |
| 2025/03/25 | Thailand | 0 – 1 L | 0 – 1 | Strong resistance |
| 2025/03/20 | Laos | 2 – 1 W | 1 – 0 | Clinical finish |
| 2024/11/19 | Yemen | 0 – 2 L | 0 – 1 | Struggled |
| 2024/11/16 | Yemen | 1 – 0 W | 0 – 0 | Compact & patient |
Wins: 3 | ❌ Losses: 2
Goals Scored: 4 | ❌ Goals Conceded: 4
Clean Sheets: 2
Foreign-Based Talent Changing the Game
Sri Lanka’s improvement is largely attributed to the inclusion of Sri Lankan-origin players based overseas, with 10 out of 11 starters in recent matches hailing from professional leagues abroad – particularly from Europe and Australia. These players have brought:
- Higher tactical intelligence
- Greater fitness and pace
- Improved defensive structure
Their presence has elevated the team’s gameplay from regional underdogs to serious competitors. Players like Dilon De Silva, Claudio Mathias, and Oliver kellart have been instrumental in controlling midfield and backline transitions.
Chinese Taipei’s Recent Form
| Date | Opponent | Result | HT Score | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/03/25 | Turkmenistan | 1 – 2 L | 0 – 0 | Lost rhythm late |
| 2024/12/14 | Hong Kong | 1 – 2 L | 1 – 1 | Leaky defense |
| 2024/12/11 | Mongolia | 4 – 0 W | 1 – 0 | Dominant display |
| 2024/11/18 | Singapore | 3 – 2 W | 1 – 0 | Free-flowing attack |
| 2024/10/11 | Cambodia | 2 – 3 L | 1 – 0 | Defensive collapse |
Wins: 2 | ❌ Losses: 3
Goals Scored: 11 | ❌ Goals Conceded: 9
While Taipei have been prolific going forward, their defense has consistently crumbled under pressure — something Sri Lanka’s high-press strategy may exploit.
FIFA Rankings Snapshot (April 2025)
| Rank | Team | Points | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 166 | Chinese Taipei | 979.85 | ▼ -10.71 |
| 200 | Sri Lanka | 833.77 | ▲ +0.97 |
Although ranked 34 places lower, Sri Lanka is the side on the rise. The current trend suggests a closing gap between the two nations.
Match Insights
- Form Turnaround: Sri Lanka has won 3 of its last 5, thanks to overseas reinforcements.
- Taipei’s Vulnerability: Conceded 9 goals in 5 games – major defensive frailty.
- Diaspora Impact: Sri Lanka fielded 10/11 foreign-based players in their latest win.
- Slow First Halves: Both teams often start slow – expect a tactical first half.
Prediction & Final Word
With the quality injected by Sri Lankan-origin professionals and tactical cohesion developing, Sri Lanka appears poised to maintain its unbeaten record against Chinese Taipei.
Prediction: Sri Lanka 2 – 1 Chinese Taipei
Man to Watch: Dilon De Silva – winger brings flair, speed, and vision to Sri Lanka’s left flank.
📺 Catch all the action, post-match reactions, and behind-the-scenes content exclusively on Sri Lankan Sports TV.
Cricket
KSCA Officials Resign Over Chinnaswamy Stampede; RCB Faces FIR in Tragic Victory Celebration Fallout
In a tragic turn of events following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic IPL 2025 title win, a deadly stampede at the celebratory event held at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and injured several others. The aftermath has sparked controversy and accountability issues, leading to major resignations and legal action.
Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary A Shankar and treasurer ES Jairam resigned on Friday, citing “moral responsibility” for the incident. Their resignations were submitted to KSCA president Raghuram Bhat, as questions mount over mismanagement and negligence at the overcrowded venue.
The Bengaluru Police have filed an FIR listing RCB, DNA Entertainment (event partner), and KSCA as accused parties. Police confirmed that the event had not been granted official permission. In a swift move, Nikhil Sosale, RCB’s head of marketing and revenue, was arrested—raising further scrutiny over organizational lapses.
KSCA has filed a writ petition calling the FIR a “knee-jerk” reaction under political pressure. They argued that crowd control and gate management were the responsibilities of RCB and the event organizers, not KSCA.
RCB has announced INR 10 lakh compensation for each victim and committed to covering all medical expenses of the injured. However, the franchise has yet to make a comprehensive public statement.
This incident raises serious concerns about sports event management and safety standards, casting a shadow over what was supposed to be a moment of celebration in Indian cricket
Sri Lanka Shocks 166th-Ranked Chinese Taipei with 3-1 Victory in AFC Asian Cup 2026 Qualifier
Match Preview: Reinforced Sri Lanka Take On Chinese Taipei in AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers
KSCA Officials Resign Over Chinnaswamy Stampede; RCB Faces FIR in Tragic Victory Celebration Fallout
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