News
Asalanka’s brilliance help Sri Lanka take unassailable 2-0 lead
Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka 2024
In the second One-Day International on Sunday, Sri Lanka achieved a resounding 155-run victory over Afghanistan, solidifying their unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series worked off at Pallekele international cricket stadium, Kandy.
Despite being set a target of 309 to level the series, Afghanistan faltered and was bowled out for 153 in just 34 overs, with leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga shining with four wickets.
At one stage, Afghanistan seemed well-positioned at 128 for one in their pursuit of the target, thanks to Rahmat Shah’s 54 and Ibrahim Zadran’s 63.
However, once these two batsmen were perished, the rest of the Afghan batters offered little resistance.
The partnership between Rahmat and Ibrahim had added 97 runs for the second wicket, but Asitha Fernando, playing his first ODI in 15 months, got the breakthrough by dismissing Ibrahim caught behind.
Hasaranga then made his magic work as he took two wickets in one over, trapping Rahmat leg-before-wicket and bowling captain Hashmatullah Shahidi.
The seamers also contributed, with impressive Dilshan Madushanka taking two wickets in an over and Fernando ending with two wickets as well.
Sri Lanka’s dominance was evident as Afghanistan collapsed, losing eight wickets for just 10 runs, all under the lights.
Earlier electing to bat first, Sri Lanka had a poor start, losing the openers early on.
However following the early set back, Captain Kusal Mendis (61) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (52) contributed with half-centuries, but both fell to poor strokes.
Following wickets at regular intervals put Sri Lanka on the back foot however vice captain Charith Asalanka along with Janith Liyanage (50) revived Sri Lanka’s innings with a 111 runs partnership for the fifth wicket.
Asalanka also batted until the death overs which in the process he also engaged in a 50 run partnership for the sixth with his school buddy Wanindu Hasaranga (14).
Asalanka’s impressive performance in the last 10 overs saw him score 62 runs in just 35 balls, finishing with a score of unbeaten 97 off 74 balls to make sure Sri Lanka reach a decent total of 308-6 in their alotted 50 overs.
Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai was the standout bowler, taking three wickets.
The two sides will next meet in the third and final ODI on Wednesday at the same venue.
Sri Lanka had previously won the sole Test of the tour by 10 wickets. Following the ODI series, the two sides will travel to Dambulla for three T20 matches.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 309/6 in 50 overs (Charith Asalanka 97*, Kusal Mendis 61, Sadeera Samarawickrama 52; Azmatullah Omarzai 3-56) beat Afghanistan 153 in 33.5 overs (Rahmat Shah 63, Ibrahim Zadran 54; Wanindu Hasaranga 4-27) by 155 runs.
Football
Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2024: Super Eight Round Concludes – Semifinalists Confirmed!
The Super Eight Round of the Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2024 (Under 20 Division 1 Boys Football Tournament) has ended on a high note, producing four standout teams that will battle for a place in the final. Below is a comprehensive look at the match results, final points tables, and key highlights from the tournament so far.
Match Results Overview
- St. Joseph’s College 4-0 Darussalam College
- Kalutara Muslim Central 2-3 Alighar National School
- Hameed Al Husseine College 1-0 Al Falah College
- Zahira College 4-0 St. Patrick’s College
- St. Joseph’s College 1-1 Alighar National School
- Darussalam College 7-0 Kalutara Muslim Central
- Al Falah College 0-3 Zahira College
- St. Patrick’s College 0-4 Hameed Al Husseine College
- Alighar National School 5-1 Darussalam College
- St. Joseph’s College 1-0 Kalutara Muslim Central
- Zahira College 2-0 Hameed Al Husseine College
- Al Falah College 3-2 St. Patrick’s College
Group A Standings
| Rank | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alighar National School | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 7 |
| 2 | St. Joseph’s College | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 7 |
| 3 | Darussalam College | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | Kalutara Muslim Central College | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 0 |
Top Two (Advancing to Semifinals):
- Alighar National School
- St. Joseph’s College
Group B Standings
| Rank | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zahira College | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | +9 | 9 |
| 2 | Hameed Al Husseine College | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 6 |
| 3 | Al Falah College | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 3 |
| 4 | St. Patrick’s College | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 0 |
Top Two (Advancing to Semifinals):
- Zahira College
- Hameed Al Husseine College
Summary & Semi-Final Preview
- Alighar National School and St. Joseph’s College finished level on points at the top of Group A. Their draw against each other kept the race tight, but both teams delivered strong performances in the remaining matches to secure 7 points each.
- Zahira College dominated Group B with three consecutive wins, scoring 9 goals and conceding none. Hameed Al Husseine College followed suit, showcasing solid defense and earning 6 points to claim the second semi-final berth.
- Darussalam College, Kalutara Muslim Central, Al Falah College, and St. Patrick’s College showed fighting spirit but fell short in the quest for the knockout stage.
Semi Finals
- Alighar National School will face Hameed Al Husseine College in the Semi Finals
- Zahira College will face St. Joseph’s College in the Semi Finals
The semi-finals promise high-octane clashes as the top contenders face off. Stay tuned to Sri Lankan Sports TV for exclusive match previews, live coverage, and post-match analysis as we approach the grand finale of the Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2025.
World Rugby has extended Sri Lanka Rugby’s (SLR) deadline until June 15, 2025, to address its governance issues, warning that failure to comply will result in immediate sanctions, including a possible ban from international competitions.
Acknowledging the persistent efforts of Sri Lanka’s Competent Authority and Director General of Sports, Professor (Rear Admiral) Shemal Fernando, World Rugby remains firm on its conditions. SLR must implement a revised constitution and conduct elections within the next four months to meet international standards.
To oversee these reforms, a Working Taskforce has been formed, featuring representatives from World Rugby, Asia Rugby, the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, and the Sri Lankan government. Led by Asia Rugby, this task force is responsible for guiding SLR through the required changes.
The reform process consists of two key phases. The initial phase focuses on reviewing voting eligibility, finalizing constitutional amendments, and organizing a Special General Meeting (SGM). The next phase involves adopting the new constitution at the SGM, followed by elections monitored by World Rugby, Asia Rugby, and local sports authorities.
SLR has faced repeated scrutiny over governance failures, prompting multiple interventions from international rugby bodies. With this deadline set, Sri Lanka Rugby has one final opportunity to align with global governance standards and secure its future in international rugby.
Sky Market Travels, a leading travel agency, has partnered with Sri Lanka Schools’ Football to contribute to the development of school football in the country.
As a first step, Sky Market Travels (Pvt) Ltd has joined as a sponsor for the Sri Lanka Schools’ National Championship 2024 Under-20 Division One tournament, organized by the Sri Lanka Schools’ Football Association.
This prestigious tournament, featuring 20 of Sri Lanka’s top school teams, has long been a vital platform for young players to showcase their talent at the national level. By stepping in as a sponsor, Sky Market Travels is playing a key role in supporting the future of Sri Lankan school football.
The event was attended by the President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka, Jaswar Umar, the Head of the Coach Education Department and former National Team Captain, Sampath Perera, Elite Youth Manager Dudley Steinwal, Members of Schools’ Football Association, and the Managing Director of Sky Market Travels (Pvt) ltd Mohamed Faroos, the President of the Negombo Poruthota Soccer Fans Rizwan, and its Manager Nufri.
With this partnership, Sky Market Travels has taken a significant step in uplifting school football and providing aspiring young footballers with better opportunities to excel at the national level.
Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2024: Super Eight Round Concludes – Semifinalists Confirmed!
World Rugby Sets Final Deadline for Sri Lanka Rugby Governance Reforms
Sky Market Travels Joins Hands with Sri Lanka Schools’ Football
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