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Sri Lanka complete white wash thanks to Pathum’s century

Published

1 year ago

on

Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka completed a clean sweep of the series against Afghanistan in the third ODI, thanks to Pathum Nissanka’s century and Avishka Fernando’s impressive 91 in the third and final ODI worked off at Pallekelle international stadium, Kandy on Wednesday (14).

Afghanistan chose to bat first and managed to post a respectable total of 266 runs before being bowled out in the penultimate over.

The opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran got off to a fiery start, scoring 39 runs in just 4.3 overs. However, Zadran was dismissed by a direct hit from Avishka Fernando after contributing 13 runs off 10 deliveries. Gurbaz then formed a solid partnership with Rahmat Shah, adding 47 runs before Rahmat was bowled by Akila Dananjaya in the 18th over, falling just two runs short of his half-century.

Despite losing their captain Hashmatullah Shahidi early on, Rahmat continued to anchor the innings and built a crucial partnership of 58 runs with Azmatullah Omarzai for the fourth wicket. Rahmat was eventually dismissed in the 30th over, but he top-scored for Afghanistan with 65 runs off 77 balls, including seven boundaries and a six.

Omarzai then assumed control of Afghanistan’s batting charge and formed a crucial partnership with Ibrahim Alikhil. Their partnership for the fifth wicket resulted in 57 runs before both players were dismissed in quick succession. Omarzai scored 54 runs off 59 deliveries, including four boundaries, while Alikhil contributed 32 runs in 38 deliveries. The dismissal of both players back-to-back triggered a collapse in the lower order, causing Afghanistan to lose their remaining five wickets for just 29 runs, resulting in a final score of 266.

Pramod Madushan led the bowling attack with figures of 3/45, followed by Asitha Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, and Dhananjaya, who each picked up two wickets.

During the chase, Sri Lanka successfully reached the target in a mere 35.2 overs.

Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando laid a strong foundation for the home team, forming an impressive partnership of 173 runs for the opening wicket.

Avishka Fernando played exceptionally well, scoring 91 runs off 66 balls, including 10 boundaries and 5 sixes while Pathum Nissanka continued his outstanding performance by scoring his second century of the series, accumulating 118 runs with 16 boundaries and 2 sixes.

Kusal Mendis also made a valuable contribution, scoring a quick 40 runs.

Brief Scores: Afghanistan 266 in 48.2 overs (Rahmat Shah 65, Azmatullah Omarzai 54; Pramod Madushan 3-45, Dunith Wellalage 2-38) lost to Sri Lanka 267/2 in 35.2 overs (Pathum Nissanka 118*, Avishka Fernando 91) by 8 wickets.

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Trinity College Storms to Victory Over Thurstan in Dialog Schools Rugby League Week 3

Published

3 days ago

on

June 20, 2025

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Colombo, June 19 – Trinity College, Kandy delivered a commanding performance to defeat Thurstan College, Colombo by 48-19 in a high-energy Week 3 clash of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024, played at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

Trinity dominated throughout the match, crossing the try line eight times and securing four conversions. Their relentless attack and solid defensive play left little room for Thurstan to recover.

🏆 Match Summary – Trinity 48 (8T, 4C) vs Thurstan 19 (3T, 2C)

  • Trinity College Scorers:
    🔹 8 Tries
    🔹 4 Conversions
  • Thurstan College Scorers:
    🔹 3 Tries
    🔹 2 Conversions

The game showcased Trinity’s physical strength, quick ball movement, and tactical excellence. Even as Thurstan fought back with three well-earned tries, the gap was too wide to close.

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News

Royal College Stays Undefeated with Convincing Win Over St. Joseph’s in Dialog Schools Rugby League Week 3

Published

3 days ago

on

June 20, 2025

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Colombo, June 19 – Royal College, Colombo extended their unbeaten run in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024, defeating St. Joseph’s College, Maradana by 33-14 in a thrilling Week 3 encounter held at the Royal College Sports Complex.

Royal dominated both halves of the game, entering halftime with a 19-7 lead and continuing their momentum in the second half to seal a well-earned victory.

🏆 Match Summary – Royal 33 (5T, 4C) vs St. Joseph’s 14 (2T, 2C)

  • Royal College Scorers:
    🔹 5 Tries
    🔹 4 Conversions
  • St. Joseph’s Scorers:
    🔹 2 Tries
    🔹 2 Conversions

The Royalists maintained control throughout the game with solid offensive and defensive phases, capitalizing on their physical dominance and tactical superiority. The win cements their position as one of the favourites in this year’s league, showcasing a balanced squad with depth and experience.

Matchday Atmosphere

A packed crowd at the Royal Sports Complex witnessed high-intensity school rugby action with passionate support for both sides. The game lived up to its billing with fast-paced attacking plays and fierce defensive stands.

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Football

Mohamed Sahi Transfer Dispute Deepens: Two Clubs, Two Contracts – One Confusing Reality

Published

5 days ago

on

June 18, 2025

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Fresh details reveal dual agreements, silent acceptance, and a looming registration problem ahead of the Champions League

Colombo – June 17, 2025:
The player registration controversy surrounding Mohamed Sahi has intensified, as newly uncovered information confirms the existence of two separate agreements signed by the player — one with New Star SC and another with Crystal Palace FC Gampola, both for the 2025/26 season.

The Timeline of Conflict

  • On January 15, 2025, Mohamed Sahi received a release from his former club Eravur YSS, stating that he would be joining Crystal Palace FC.
  • This release letter was shared via WhatsApp with Crystal Palace, but the original document was handed over to New Star SC, who then registered the player for the 2025/26 season based on a contract signed on January 16 for LKR 85,000.
  • Later in February, Sahi went on to sign another contract — this time with Crystal Palace FC, reportedly for LKR 215,000, including two advance payments: LKR 35,000 and LKR 45,000 to his father’s account.

This sequence raises serious concerns about whether the player fully understood his obligations or whether both clubs failed to clarify the status of the original registration.

Crystal Palace Questions: Silence from New Star

Despite publicly announcing the signing of Mohamed Sahi on social media in February, New Star SC remained silent. No objections were raised until the issue surfaced during I League scrutiny.

This inaction has sparked public questions:

  • Why didn’t New Star respond immediately if the player was already under contract with them?
  • Was there an oversight, or did they expect the issue to resolve quietly?

I League vs Champions League Impact

While the situation has had no direct impact on the I League, given that New Star SC registered the player first and the I League is an invitational tournament not governed by the FFSL, Sahi only featured under New Star during the competition. However, the matter gains greater significance in the lead-up to the Sri Lanka Champions League, where both New Star SC and Crystal Palace FC are reported to have submitted player registrations for Mohamed Sahi, potentially triggering a registration conflict.

This raises the risk of:

  • Duplicate entries under the same player ID
  • Last-minute disqualifications or disputes
  • Administrative confusion for tournament organizers

A Potential Settlement?

In an attempt to ease tensions, sources close to New Star SC have confirmed that Mohamed Sahi is willing to return the advance payment made by Crystal Palace FC to resolve the financial element of the issue amicably.

Final Word

While this incident is unlikely to influence the I League outcome, it exposes a flaw in inter-club communication and registration coordination. With the Champions League approaching, resolving these overlaps is essential to avoid technical complications or eligibility issues.

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