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After five consecutive losses, Sri Lanka is back to winning ways at Netball World Cup

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The Asian Champions, Sri Lanka finally earned their first win at the ongoing Netball World Cup when they edge a strong Barbados outfit on Thursday in Cape Town, South Africa.

Coming into the match Sri Lanka was desperately looking for a win after 5 consecutive defeats while their opponents who have already secured their spot in the 13th/14th playoff looked to continue their domination in the tournament.

However coming into the match, Barbodas lasses were seen not playing with the same intensity they showed in their last outings but managed to put up a good fight to end the first break on 15-15.

Into the second quarter, Sri Lanka changed gears and played switched to aggressive mode as they started the second quarter with scoring 5 back-to-back goals to put pressure on the opponents.

Sri Lanka’s dominance in the second quarter forced Barbados’s coach to introduce their experience Sasha Corbin at wing attack and the move of her sister, Kadeen, who previously won Commonwealth Games gold with England, from goal, shooter to goal attack for Barbados.

But their tactics didn’t favour them as they remained four goals behind at halftime.

Into the second half, Barbados finally found their rhythm and scored a few back-to-back goals to narrow the deficit and surged ahead to win the third quarter by 22 goals to 12.

Heading into the all-important fourth and final quarter, Sri Lanka showed they never give up attitude and out on an improved performance in the dying moments to stage a comeback and claim a memorable 60-56 win.

The win also re-wrote history as Sri Lanka’s first time in 20 years that the Sri Lankans have beaten anyone other than Singapore at the Netball World Cup.

Despite the only victory, overall Sri Lanka had a poor outing in this year’s championship which they lost all their previous (5) matches including the game against their Asian counterparts Singapore.

Interestingly this year’s Netball world cup will mark the tallest netballer in the world and Sri Lanka’s netball backbone, Tharjini Sivalingam’s last appearance on an international stage where she is set to retire from the game following the world cup which is yet to announce officially.

*Sri Lanka’s performance so far in the tournament *

JAMAICA 105-25 SRI LANKA

Jamaica got their tournament off to a storming start, notching up a formidable 105-point total in their opening Group C match against Sri Lanka.

SOUTH AFRICA 87-32 SRI LANKA

Ruthless host South Africa romp to a commanding win over Sri Lanka to make it two-in-two at the Netball World in their second game of Pool C encounter.

WALES 68-52 SRI LANKA

Into the third game though Asian Champions Sri Lanka put on an improved performance but ended in the losing side against Wales.

SINGAPORE 55-52 SRI LANKA

A disciplined Singapore side defeated their Asian rivals Sri Lanka 52-55 to make matters worse for the Lankans.

ZIMBABWE 71-36 SRI LANKA

Zimbabwe had no problem in sweeping past Sri Lanka in a Group E match.

Cricket

Hasini’s Half-Century Powers Sri Lanka Women to Historic Series Win in the Caribbean

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Sri Lanka women’s national cricket team scripted history on Tuesday night by clinching their first-ever T20 series win in the Caribbean, sealing the three-match series 2-0 with a commanding nine-wicket victory over West Indies women’s national cricket team at St. George’s.

After the opening match was washed out, Sri Lanka seized control by winning the second T20. Their emphatic performance in the decider capped off a memorable tour, having already secured the ODI series 2-1.

Disciplined Bowling Effort

Batting first, West Indies Women posted 119/5 in their 20 overs. A fluent 32 off 15 balls from Chinelle Henry provided early momentum, while Deandra Dottin (28) and Stafanie Taylor (24) attempted to stabilise the innings.

However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers maintained tight control. Inoka Ranaweera was outstanding with figures of 2/16, while Sugandika Kumari supported with two wickets. Kavisha Dilhari also chipped in with a tidy spell.

Composed Chase Seals the Series

Chasing 120, Sri Lanka’s batting unit delivered with confidence and composure. Captain Chamari Athapaththu set the tone with a brisk 32 off 22 balls, striking five boundaries to put the visitors ahead of the required rate.

Following her dismissal, Hasini Perera anchored the innings superbly, crafting an unbeaten 52 from 59 deliveries. She was well supported by Imesha Dulani, who struck an aggressive 34 off 25 balls, guiding Sri Lanka to 121/1 in 17.4 overs.

The victory marks a significant milestone for Sri Lanka Women, underlining their growing confidence and consistency on the international stage.

Brief Scores

West Indies Women – 119/5 (20 overs)
Chinelle Henry 32* (15), Deandra Dottin 28 (39), Stafanie Taylor 24 (39)
Inoka Ranaweera 2/16, Sugandika Kumari 2/32, Kavisha Dilhari 1/13

Sri Lanka Women – 121/1 (17.4 overs)
Hasini Perera 52* (59), Imesha Dulani 34* (25), Chamari Athapaththu 32 (22)
Afy Fletcher 1/14

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Cricket

Rising Middle East Tensions Cast Doubt on Sri Lanka–Afghanistan Series in UAE

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Sri Lanka’s upcoming white-ball series against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates is facing uncertainty amid escalating tensions in parts of the Middle East.

The tour, scheduled from March 13 to 25, includes three T20 Internationals in Sharjah and three One Day Internationals in Dubai. However, growing regional instability has raised concerns over security, travel logistics, and overall feasibility.

Recent developments in the region have prompted several airlines to suspend or adjust services near key transport corridors, creating additional challenges for team travel and operational planning.

Sri Lanka Cricket is understood to be closely monitoring the evolving situation, with player and staff safety remaining the top priority. Should conditions fail to stabilize, the board may be compelled to reconsider or postpone the tour. Afghanistan could also encounter logistical difficulties under the current circumstances.

The series was viewed as important preparation for both teams ahead of a demanding international schedule. Sri Lanka were expected to assess emerging talent in white-ball formats, while Afghanistan aimed to consolidate momentum from recent performances.

With regional tensions continuing to unfold, a final decision regarding the series is anticipated in the coming days. Until then, the tour remains uncertain, highlighting how external factors can impact the international cricket calendar.

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Jonathan Trott to replace Sanath Jayasuriya as Sri Lanka Head Coach?

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Jonathan Trott, the former England batter who recently concluded his tenure as Afghanistan’s head coach, has emerged as the leading contender to succeed Sanath Jayasuriya as Sri Lanka’s national head coach, it is learnt.

Jayasuriya had earlier indicated his intention to step down, prompting Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to initiate the process of identifying a successor. However, an official announcement regarding the transition has yet to be made.

Trott’s name has quickly moved to the forefront of discussions, with his recent international coaching experience viewed as a valuable asset during what is expected to be a rebuilding phase for Sri Lanka. In the interim, SLC is considering appointing a temporary coach to oversee the upcoming Afghanistan series while deliberations continue.

The push for change follows Sri Lanka’s disappointing campaign at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted with India, where the team failed to secure a win in the Super 8 stage. The result has intensified calls for structural and strategic adjustments within both the playing group and support staff.

Despite the anticipated changes in the coaching setup, selectors are expected to retain Dasun Shanaka as T20 captain, indicating continued confidence in his leadership moving forward.

While no formal decision has been confirmed, Trott’s emergence as the frontrunner signals that Sri Lanka Cricket may be preparing for a new direction as the national team looks to regroup and rebuild.

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