News
Maheesh Theekshana admits thier batting cost them a spot in Super 8
Maheesh Theekshana has asserted that Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign has been a complete disaster, as they are on the verge of elimination without even reaching the Super 8 stages. Despite being former champions, they were placed in Group D alongside South Africa and Bangladesh, and unfortunately lost to both teams in crucial matches. To make things worse, on June 12, their game against Nepal was abandoned due to rain without a single ball being bowled.
During the press conference held on Wednesday, Theekshana honestly evaluated the team’s performance, acknowledging that their batting was subpar and they failed to properly assess the playing conditions. The spinner emphasized that their defeats against South Africa and Bangladesh clearly demonstrated that Sri Lanka did not deserve a spot in the Super 8.
“This year, everything went awry. Our batting was lackluster, and we failed to accurately gauge the conditions and execute our plans. As a team, we are currently facing a challenging situation for the upcoming match. Looking back at the last two games, it is evident that we did not showcase our best cricket. Therefore, I believe we did not earn the Super 8 spot based on our performance in the initial matches. However, we still have one game remaining, and we will strive to give our utmost,” expressed Theekshana.
Theekshana further expressed disappointment, stating that they had high expectations for the tournament and entered the World Cup in a favorable position. However, he admitted that the team made numerous mistakes.
“Not at all. We had great aspirations for this World Cup. I am dissatisfied with our team’s performance. We had a positive mindset, and both our bowlers and batsmen had prepared well in the previous tournament. We were in a promising position when we entered this competition. Unfortunately, as a team, we made several errors, which prevented us from progressing to the Super 8,” Theekshana remarked.
Sri Lanka’s final match will be against Netherlands on June 17.
Cricket
Sanga’s Royals win the last-over thriller to register back-to-back victory
Rajasthan Royals held their nerve in a high-scoring contest to edge past Gujarat Titans by six runs, successfully defending 210 in a last-over thriller.
Batting first, Rajasthan posted an imposing 210/6, powered by a superb knock from Dhruv Jurel, who smashed 75 off 42 balls. He was well supported by Yashasvi Jaiswal (55 off 36) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (31 off 18), as the Royals maintained a strong run rate throughout the innings. Late cameos from Shimron Hetmyer and others ensured a challenging total. For Gujarat, Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets.
In reply, Gujarat Titans mounted a spirited chase led by Sai Sudharsan, who scored a fluent 73 off 44 balls. Contributions from Jos Buttler and Rashid Khan kept the chase alive, while a late flourish from Rabada brought the equation down to the wire.
However, the turning point came through Ravi Bishnoi, who delivered a match-winning spell of 4/41, derailing the middle order at a crucial stage. Despite needing just a handful in the final over, Rajasthan held their composure to restrict Gujarat to 204/8.
Football
St. Mary’s Crown Cup Champions
A dramatic penalty shootout decided the fate of the Cup final as St. Mary’s SC overcame Saunders SC 3-1 after a 1-1 deadlock under lights at the Race Course grounds on Saturday.
The match sprang to life in the opening minutes, with St. Mary’s drawing first blood. Danjuma Gumbari struck in the third minute, finishing off a swift attacking move to hand his side an early lead.
Saunders SC wasted no time in responding, leveling the score just two minutes later. Clauvice Franck found the net in the fifth minute, taking advantage of space in the box to restore parity and set up an evenly balanced contest.
Following the early exchange, both teams settled into a competitive rhythm, battling for control in midfield while probing for openings. St. Mary’s looked composed in possession, whereas Saunders relied on quick counterattacks to trouble the opposition defense. Despite their efforts, neither side managed to break the deadlock during regulation time.
With the scoreline unchanged, the final moved into a penalty shootout. St. Mary’s SC kept their composure from the spot, with Danjuma Gumbari, S. Aarinkan, and John Lawani all converting successfully.
Saunders SC, however, faltered under pressure. Mohamed Zaid was the only scorer for his side, while two other attempts missed the target, ultimately sealing their defeat.
Cricket
Pathum, Rizvi Shine as Delhi Capitals Outshine Mumbai Indians
Delhi Capitals secured their second win of the IPL 2026 with a commanding 6-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium today. The highlight of the chase was the brilliant partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Sameer Rizvi, who tore through the Mumbai bowling attack with fearless stroke play.
Electing to bat first, Mumbai Indians managed a modest total of 162/6 in their 20 overs. Suryakumar Yadav top-scored with a fluent 51 off 36 balls, while Rohit Sharma contributed a brisk 35. Early wickets fell to Delhi bowlers, with Mukesh Kumar claiming two key scalps and Lungi Ngidi, Axar Patel, and Vipraj Nigam chipping in with one each. Extras also played a role, adding five to the total.
In response, Delhi Capitals faced early setbacks as KL Rahul and Nitish Rana fell cheaply. However, Pathum Nissanka counter-attacked with 44 off 30 deliveries, forming a match-turning 78-run partnership with Sameer Rizvi, who finished unbeaten on 90 from 51 balls with seven towering sixes. David Miller provided late support, ensuring Delhi chased down the target in 18.1 overs.
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