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Chamari led Sri Lanka creates history in South Africa

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Sri Lanka Women’s tour of South Africa 2024 (Third T20I)

Sri Lanka Women’s team made history by defeating South Africa Women’s by four wickets and winning the three-match T20I series 2-1 at Buffalo Park in East London on Wednesday (3).

The win also marked as the the first time that Sri Lanka have beaten South Africa in a limited over series.

The home team batted first and scored 155 for six, but the visitors successfully chased down the target by finishing on 156 for six, marking the highest successful run chase in a T20I at Buffalo Park.

Chamari Athapathtu, the captain of Sri Lanka, was the top-scorer with 73 runs. Her partnership of 97 runs for the second wicket with Harshita Samarawickrama set the stage for the victory.

Earlier Sri Lanka were off to a shaky, following Nonkululeko Mlaba’s early breakthrough in the second over, as Wolvaardt executed a running catch to dismiss inform Vishmi Gunaratne for one (3b).

Following a early set back Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama then stabilized the innings, scoring briskly in an effort to achieve the highest successful run chase in a T20I at Buffalo Park.

Their 50-run partnership (35 balls) was reached in the seventh over. In the process Athapaththu reached her ninth T20I half-century, her third against South Africa, with a massive six in the tenth over.

The second wicket partnership (97 runs) was eventually broken at 102 when Marizanne Kapp bowled Athapathtu for 73 off just 46 deliveries (7×4, 5×6). Sri Lanka suffered their third wicket loss ten runs later as Kavisha Dilhari was dismissed for one, caught by De Klerk off the bowling of Eliz-Mari Marx. With five overs remaining, Sri Lanka needed 35 runs to secure victory.

Hasini Perera (10) was dismissed by Tumi Sekhukhune, claiming the fourth Sri Lankan wicket to reduce the visitors for 136-4.

With 19 runs required in the last two overs, Sri Lanka were struck with another wicket when Nilakshika Silva (12) was bowled by De Klerk. To make things worse for the Lankans De Klerk uprooted the wickets of Anuskhka Sanjeewani in the very next ball to keep the game wide open.

However despite a late drama experienced campaigner Harahitha Samarawickrama stood firm and make sure no further hiccups as she took her team over the line with 5 balls to spare.

Samarawickrama remained unbeaten on 54 runs off 43 balls, including 4 boundaries and 1 six.

Earlier batting first, South Africa had a decent start with a partnership of 37 runs for the first wicket between Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits.

Brits was dismissed by Sugandika Kumari after scoring 7 runs off 9 balls with 1 boundary. The Proteas lost their second wicket at a score of 51 when Kapp was caught and bowled by Udeshika Prabodhani, scoring 8 runs off 5 balls with 2 boundaries.

Following the breakthrough South Africa witnessed a middle order collapse as they lost wickets in crucial juncture of the game.

However, a quick fire of 25 ball 44 runs from the bat of Nadine de Klerk steadied South Africa innings as they reached fighting 155-6 in their allotted 20 Overs.

Laura Wolvaardt smashed a blistering 50 runs off 53 deliveries from top of the order to strengthen South Africa Chances to a series win.

Following the conclusion of the T20I series the two sides will move to the ODI’s scheduled to begin on Tuesday 9 April at Buffalo Park.

Football

Uzbekistan Dominate Sri Lanka 10-0 in AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers

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Colombo, June 29 – The Sri Lanka Women’s National Football Team suffered a crushing 10-0 defeat at the hands of Uzbekistan in their opening fixture of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, exposing not only the performance gap on the field but also the deep-rooted structural failures off it.

From kickoff, Uzbekistan showcased their superiority with relentless attacking football, scoring five goals in each half. The match statistics tell a story of complete dominance:

  • Shots on Target: 14 (Uzbekistan) vs 0 (Sri Lanka)
  • Possession: 70% (Uzbekistan) vs 30% (Sri Lanka)
  • Dangerous Attacks: 137 (Uzbekistan) vs 28 (Sri Lanka)

Sri Lanka managed only two shots in the entire match—none of which tested the opposition goalkeeper—while spending most of the game pinned back in defense.

However, beyond the scoreboard, this defeat highlights a more alarming truth: the lack of commitment to women’s football by local authorities. The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has failed to organize a single women’s tournament domestically in recent years, and the squad selected for this major continental qualifier was chosen solely through a limited trial. There was no competitive platform or league for players to develop or prove themselves ahead of international duty.

This performance is not just a reflection of the players’ inexperience—it’s a direct consequence of administrative negligence. FFSL must take full responsibility for this embarrassing result, as it continues to send underprepared teams to international tournaments merely to safeguard its position, rather than genuinely investing in the development of Sri Lankan football.

Even more concerning is the silence from the Ministry of Sports. Despite the humiliating performances of the Under-20 team in the recent SAFF Championship and now the senior women’s team in the AFC qualifiers, no action has been taken, and no accountability has been demanded. The ministry’s indifference to these repeated failures raises serious questions about its role in ensuring sports governance and development in Sri Lanka.

As Sri Lankan football continues to struggle, it is clear that without structural change, genuine investment, and accountability, results like these will only continue.

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Dialog Schools Rugby League Week 4: Powerhouses Dominate as Rivalries Intensify

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The fourth week of the 2025 Dialog Schools Rugby League brought high-octane action across Colombo and Kandy, as traditional rugby giants asserted dominance while title ambitions sharpened. Here’s a round-up of the top matches that defined the week:

Trinity Outmuscles St. Joseph’s at CR & FC

Trinity College, Kandy, continued their unbeaten streak with a commanding 29-07 win over St. Joseph’s College, Maradana at the CR & FC grounds in Colombo. Trinity crossed the whitewash five times with 5 tries and 2 conversions, displaying explosive forward play and well-structured phases.

St. Joseph’s struggled to match Trinity’s physicality but managed a consolation try and conversion. At halftime, Trinity led 22-0, setting the tone early and maintaining control throughout.

Wesley Tames St. Peter’s in Tight Clash

At Havelock Park, Wesley College recorded a gritty 23-05 victory over St. Peter’s College. The Wesleyites scored 3 tries, 1 conversion, and added 2 penalties, proving their clinical edge under pressure.

St. Peter’s could only respond with a single try and failed to find rhythm. Wesley led 8-0 at the break and controlled territory effectively in the second half.

Isipathana Outguns Zahira in a High-Scoring Thriller

In one of the most entertaining matches of the weekend, Isipathana College edged out Zahira College 38-27 at Zahira Grounds. Isipathana scored 6 tries and 4 conversions, showcasing pace and creativity in attack.

Zahira fought back gallantly with 4 tries, 2 conversions, and a penalty, pushing the defending champions to the limit. At halftime, Isipathana led 26-8, and though Zahira launched a strong second-half rally, the Green Machine held on.

Royal Routs Vidyartha in Dominant Display

Royal College, Colombo, was at their clinical best as they overcame Vidyartha College, Kandy, 29-07 at the Royal Complex. The home side dotted down 5 tries and 2 conversions, demonstrating power rugby and slick handling.

Vidyartha managed a single converted try but struggled to contain Royal’s powerful forwards and rolling mauls. Royal led 12-7 at halftime before pulling away in the second half.

Looking Ahead

With teams like Trinity, Isipathana, and Royal continuing to impress, the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025 is shaping up for a thrilling finish. Fans can expect tighter games and fierce battles as title dreams grow stronger.

Stay tuned with Sri Lankan Sports TV for full match reports, results, and exclusive school rugby coverage!

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Athletics

Sri Lanka Shines at Thailand Open 2025 with 11-Medal Haul

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The Sri Lankan athletics team wrapped up a remarkable campaign at the Thailand Open Athletics Championship 2025, securing an impressive 11 medals, including 6 golds, during the competition held from June 21 to 25 in Bangkok.

The Sri Lankan squad, made up of eight athletes—four men and four women—delivered standout performances across track and field events, making the nation proud on the international stage.

Leading the charge was Rusiru Chathuranga, who clinched double gold in the Men’s 800m and 1500m events. Vicknaraj Vakshan added to the tally with a gold in the 5000m and a silver in the 1500m, while W.K.L.A. Nimali matched that feat by claiming gold in the Women’s 800m and silver in the 1500m.

Madushani Herath showed her dominance in the field events, capturing gold in both the long jump and triple jump. Ayomal Akalanka earned silver in the Men’s 400m hurdles, and Wathsala Hapuarachchi took silver in the Women’s 100m hurdles. Safreen Ahmed contributed a bronze medal in the Men’s triple jump.

While seven out of eight athletes reached the podium, Amasha de Silva narrowly missed out, finishing fourth in the Women’s 100m final, showcasing a commendable performance.

The full team is expected to return to Sri Lanka today after a tour that highlights the depth of talent in local athletics and signals strong potential ahead of upcoming regional events

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