News
New Zealand Thrash Sri Lanka to level series 1-1
Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand (Second T20)
Adam Milne’s five-wicket haul and Tim Seifert’s unbeaten 79 helped New Zealand register a thumping nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second Twenty20 International on Wednesday. The win also saw New Zealand level the series 1-all.
Seifert was the hero in the chase smashing six sixes in his 43-ball blitz as New Zealand reached the target with 5.2 overs to spare.
Earlier, Milne ripped through Sri Lanka’s batting lineup with a career-best 5-26 to help bowl out the Lankans for below par score of 141 in 19 overs on a pitch known as a batting paradise.
Sri Lanka was off to a sloppy start losing their openers cheaply. Sri Lanka was in some sort of trouble in the early stages of the innings Kusal Perera (35), Dhananjaya de Silva (37) and Charith Asalanka (24) shored them up and the wheels came off their innings in the second half.
At one stage it looked like Sri Lanka could post a competitive total of 180-200 without any hindrance but another middle-order collapse saw they were skittled out for 141 runs.
In reply, New Zealand’s chase got off to a blazing start with Chad Bowes laying the perfect foundation by scoring boundaries all over the park for his 16 balls and 31 runs.
New Zealand at a decent position of 40-1 at the end of the 4th over, Sri Lanka was eventually rewarded with the wicket of set batter Chad Bowes when he was caught deep off Kasun Rajitha’s bowling.
Despite a fierce start to their innings, Seifert continued their domination smashing the Sri Lankan bowlers with no respite to help set up New Zealand’s victory with back-to-back sixes.
Sri Lankan bowlers had a tough day at the office, all being hit for cleaners.
Also, Sri Lanka’s fielding was not up to the mark as their sloppy catching did not help their cause either as they dropped both Seifert and home captain Tom Latham, who remained unbeaten on 20.
Meanwhile, another highlight of the match was Auckland-born Cotton became the first female umpire to stand in a men’s international match between two International Cricket Council full-member countries.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 146/1 in 14.4 overs (Seifert 79*, Bowes 31) beat Sri Lanka 141 in 20 overs (De Silva 37, Perera 35, Milne 5-26) by nine wickets
නවසීලන්තය ශ්රී ලංකාව පරදවා තරගාවලිය 1-1ක් ලෙස සම කරයි
ශ්රී ලංකා නවසීලන්ත සංචාරය (දෙවන T20)
Adam Milne ගේ කඩුලු 5 සහ Tim Seifertගේ නොදැවී ලකුණු 79 හේතුවෙන් බදාදා පැවති දෙවන විස්සයි 20 ජාත්යන්තර තරඟයෙන් නවසීලන්තය ශ්රී ලංකාවට එරෙහිව කඩුලු 9 ක විශිෂ්ට ජයක් වාර්තා කිරීමට සමත් විය. මෙම ජයග්රහණයත් සමඟින් නවසීලන්තය තරගාවලිය 1-1 ලෙස සම කිරීමට ද සමත් විය.
නවසීලන්තය පන්දුවාර 5.2ක් ඉතිරිව තිබියදී එම ඉලක්කය සපුරාගත් සීෆර්ට් පන්දු 43කදී හයේ පහර 6ක් එල්ල කරමින් හඹායාමේ වීරයා විය.
මීට පෙර, මිල්න් ශ්රී ලංකා පිතිකරණ ලැයිස්තුව බිඳ දැමුවේ, පිතිකරණ පාරාදීසයක් ලෙස හැඳින්වෙන තණතීරුවකදී ඕවර 19 කදී ලකුණු 141 ට වඩා අඩු ලකුණු සංඛ්යාවකට ලංකා ක්රීඩකයින් දවාලීමට උපකාර කිරීම සඳහා 5-26ක් ලෙසින් ශ්රී ලංකා පිලේ හොඳම පන්දු යැවීමයි.
ශ්රී ලංකාව ඔවුන්ගේ ආරම්භක පිතිකරුවන් ලාභදායි ලෙස අහිමි කර ගනිමින් ආරම්භය මන්දගාමී විය. ශ්රී ලංකා ඉනිමේ මුල් අදියරේ දී කුසල් පෙරේරා (35), ධනංජය ද සිල්වා (37) සහ චරිත් අසලංක (24) ඔවුන්ව ගොඩට ගෙන ගිය අතර දෙවැනි භාගයේ දී ශ්රී ලංකා ඉනිමේ රෝද ගැලවී ගියේය.
ශ්රී ලංකා පිලට කිසිදු බාධාවකින් තොරව ලකුණු 180-200ක තරගකාරී මුළු ලකුණු සංඛ්යාවක් ලබා ගත හැකි බව එක් අවස්ථාවක පෙනුනද තවත් මැදපෙළ කඩා වැටීමක් හේතුවෙන් ඔවුන් ලකුණු 141කට දැවී ගියේය.
පිළිතුරු ලෙස නවසීලන්ත හඹායාම උණුසුම් ආරම්භයක් ලබා ගත්තේ චැඩ් බෝව්ස් ඔහුගේ පන්දු 16ක් සහ ලකුණු 31ක් සඳහා උද්යානය පුරා හතරේ පහරක් එල්ල කරමින් පරිපූර්ණ අඩිතාලම දැමීමත් සමඟය.
4 වැනි ඕවරය අවසානයේ ලකුණු 40-1ක් ලෙස හොඳ තත්ත්වයක සිටි නවසීලන්ත පිල අවසානයේ කසුන් රාජිතගේ පන්දුවකට උඩපන්දුවක් දෙමින් දැවී ගිය ශ්රී ලංකාවට පිතිකරු චැඩ් බෝව්ස්ගේ කඩුල්ල හිමිවිය.
ඔවුන්ගේ ඉනිමේ දරුණු ආරම්භයක් තිබියදීත්, සීෆර්ට් ඔවුන්ගේ ආධිපත්යය දිගටම කරගෙන ගියේ ශ්රී ලංකා පන්දු යවන්නන් දවාලීමට කිසිදු විවේකයක් නොමැතිව නවසීලන්ත ජයග්රහණයට පිට පිට හයේ පහරවල් එල්ල කරමිනි.
ශ්රී ලංකා පන්දු යවන්නන් කාර්යාලයේ දුෂ්කර දවසක් ගත කළ අතර, සියල්ල පිරිසිදු කරන්නන් සඳහා පහර වැදී ඇත.
එසේම, ශ්රී ලංකා පිලේ පන්දු රැකීම ලකුණු මට්ටමට නොපැමිණියේ ඔවුන්ගේ අලස උඩපන්දුව ඔවුන්ගේ ජයග්රහණයට උදව් නොකළ නිසා ඔවුන් සීෆර්ට් සහ නොදැවී ලකුණු 20 ක් ලබා සිටි ගෘහස්ථ නායක ටොම් ලැතම් යන දෙදෙනාම දැවී ගිය බැවිනි.
මේ අතර, තරගයේ තවත් විශේෂත්වයක් වූයේ ඕක්ලන්ඩ්හි උපන් කපු ජාත්යන්තර ක්රිකට් කවුන්සිලයේ පූර්ණ සාමාජික රටවල් දෙකක් අතර පිරිමි ජාත්යන්තර තරගයකට පෙනී සිටි පළමු කාන්තා විනිසුරුවරිය වීමය.
කෙටි ලකුණු:
නවසීලන්තය ඕවර 14.4කදී 146/1 (සෙයිෆර්ට් 79*, බෝව්ස් 31) ශ්රී ලංකාව ඕවර 20කදී 141 (ද සිල්වා 37, පෙරේරා 35, මිල්නේ 5-26) විකට් 9කින්
நியூசிலாந்து அணி இலங்கையை வீழ்த்தி தொடரை 1-1 என சமன் செய்தது
இலங்கை நியூசிலாந்து சுற்றுப்பயணம் (இரண்டாவது டி20)
ஆடம் மில்னேவின் ஐந்து விக்கெட்டுக்கள் மற்றும் டிம் சீஃபர்ட்டின் ஆட்டமிழக்காமல் 79 ரன்களுக்கு உதவியது, புதன்கிழமையன்று நடந்த இரண்டாவது இருபதுக்கு 20 சர்வதேச போட்டியில் நியூசிலாந்து இலங்கைக்கு எதிராக ஒன்பது விக்கெட் வித்தியாசத்தில் அபார வெற்றியைப் பதிவு செய்தது. இந்த வெற்றியின் மூலம் நியூசிலாந்து தொடரை 1-ஆல் சமன் செய்தது.
நியூசிலாந்து 5.2 ஓவர்கள் மீதமிருக்க, வெற்றி இலக்கை எட்டியபோது, தனது 43 பந்துகளில் 6 சிக்ஸர்களை அடித்து சேஸிங்கில் நாயகனாக இருந்தார் சீஃபர்ட்.
முன்னதாக, பேட்டிங் சொர்க்கம் என்று அழைக்கப்படும் ஒரு ஆடுகளத்தில் 19 ஓவர்களில் 141 ரன்களுக்கு குறைவான ஸ்கோருக்கு இலங்கை வீரர்களை அவுட்டாக்க மில்னே 5-26 என்ற கணக்கில் இலங்கையின் பேட்டிங் வரிசையை முறியடித்தார்.
தொடக்க ஆட்டக்காரர்களை மலிவாக இழந்த இலங்கை ஆரம்பமானது. குசல் பெரேரா (35), தனஞ்சய டி சில்வா (37), சரித் அசலங்கா (24) ஆகியோர் இன்னிங்ஸின் ஆரம்ப கட்டத்தில் ஒருவித சிக்கலில் இருந்த இலங்கை, இரண்டாவது பாதியில் அவர்களின் இன்னிங்ஸில் சக்கரங்கள் வெளியேறின.
ஒரு கட்டத்தில் இலங்கை 180-200 என்ற போட்டித் தொகையை எந்தத் தடையும் இல்லாமல் பதிவு செய்யலாம் என்று தோன்றியது, ஆனால் மற்றொரு மிடில் ஆர்டர் சரிவில் அவர்கள் 141 ரன்களுக்கு ஆட்டமிழந்தனர்.
பதிலுக்கு, நியூசிலாந்தின் துரத்தல் ஒரு பிரகாசமான தொடக்கத்தை பெற்றது, சாட் போவ்ஸ் தனது 16 பந்துகள் மற்றும் 31 ரன்களுக்கு பார்க் முழுவதும் பவுண்டரிகளை அடித்ததன் மூலம் சரியான அடித்தளத்தை அமைத்தார்.
4வது ஓவரின் முடிவில் 40-1 என்ற நல்ல நிலையில் இருந்த நியூசிலாந்து, இறுதியில் கசுன் ராஜிதவின் பந்துவீச்சில் டீப் கேட்ச் ஆனபோது, செட் பேட்டர் சாட் போவ்ஸின் விக்கெட்டை இலங்கைக்கு பரிசாக அளித்தது.
அவர்களின் இன்னிங்ஸுக்கு கடுமையான தொடக்கம் இருந்தபோதிலும், சீஃபர்ட் அவர்களின் ஆதிக்கத்தைத் தொடர்ந்தார், இலங்கை பந்துவீச்சாளர்களை எந்த ஓய்வும் இல்லாமல் அடித்து நொறுக்கினார்.
இலங்கை பந்துவீச்சாளர்கள் அலுவலகத்தில் ஒரு கடினமான நாள், அனைத்து துப்புரவு பணியாளர்கள் தாக்கப்பட்டது.
மேலும், இலங்கையின் பீல்டிங்கும் குறிக்கு ஏற்றதாக இருக்கவில்லை, ஏனெனில் அவர்களின் ஸ்லோபி கேட்ச்சிங் அவர்களின் காரணத்திற்கு உதவவில்லை, ஏனெனில் அவர்கள் 20 ரன்களுடன் ஆட்டமிழக்காமல் இருந்த சீஃபர்ட் மற்றும் ஹோம் கேப்டன் டாம் லாதம் இருவரையும் வீழ்த்தினர்.
இதற்கிடையில், போட்டியின் மற்றொரு சிறப்பம்சம், ஆக்லாந்தில் பிறந்த காட்டன், இரண்டு சர்வதேச கிரிக்கெட் கவுன்சில் முழு உறுப்பினர் நாடுகளுக்கு இடையிலான ஆண்கள் சர்வதேச போட்டியில் நின்ற முதல் பெண் நடுவர்.
சுருக்கமான மதிப்பெண்கள்:
நியூசிலாந்து 14.4 ஓவர்களில் 146/1 (சீஃபர்ட் 79*, போவ்ஸ் 31) 20 ஓவர்களில் 141 ரன்களுக்கு இலங்கையை வென்றது (டி சில்வா 37, பெரேரா 35, மில்னே 5-26) ஒன்பது விக்கெட்டுகள்
News
BALL BLASTER 2026: SRI LANKA’S BIGGEST SCHOOL FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT RETURNS BIGGER THAN EVER
24 Schools, 15 Venues and Three National Trophies as Ball Blaster Enters Its Third Year
COLOMBO — Ball Blaster, Sri Lanka’s premier school football tournament, is set to return in 2026 with its biggest edition yet, organized by Aasgard Sports (Private) Limited in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association and the Ministry of Education.
Now entering its third year, Ball Blaster has grown from 2023 with 20 schools into one of the country’s largest youth football events. The 2025 edition featured 16 schools competing across four groups, drawing national broadcast attention through Sri Lankan Sports TV and PEO TV. For 2026, the tournament expands significantly, with 24 schools set to compete across 15 venues nationwide, in a season spanning six weeks and 84 matches.
A NEW FORMAT: THREE TROPHIES, THREE CHAMPIONS
The standout feature of Ball Blaster 2026 is a new three-tier trophy format. Schools will be drawn into four groups of six, playing a round-robin group stage before advancing into one of three parallel championships based on their group finish: the Cup Trophy for group winners, the Bowl Trophy for runners-up, and the Plate Trophy for second runners-up. The format ensures every participating school remains in contention for a national title deep into the tournament.
All three championships will reach their conclusion on the same finals weekend, with third-place playoffs and grand finals for the Cup, Bowl and Plate trophies all being played at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.
“Ball Blaster has always been about giving young footballers a stage,” said a spokesperson for Aasgard Sports. “This year, we’re expanding that stage to every corner of the island, and making sure every school that takes part has something real to play for, right to the final whistle.”
BUILDING ON A STRONG 2025
Ball Blaster’s growth has been underpinned by strong sponsor support. The 2025 edition was backed by Lifebuoy as Title Sponsor, alongside Lemonade as Refreshing Partner and Sky Market Travels as Travelling Partner. Organizers say conversations are already underway with returning and new sponsors ahead of the 2026 season, as the tournament’s expanded scale — nationwide venues, a longer season and three separate finals — offers significantly greater visibility for partners.
BROADCAST AND COVERAGE
As in previous years, Ball Blaster 2026 will be broadcast live via Sri Lankan Sports TV and PEO Sports, with matches also available on YouTube and across Sri Lankan Sports TV’s digital platforms.
For sponsorship and partnership enquiries, contact: Pasindu Mihiranga Sri Lankan Sports TV | Aasgard Sports (Private) Limited 0726 85 18 18 marketing@srilankansportstv.com
www.srilankansportstv.com
Football
Jaswar Umar Hails FIFA Series as Turning Point for Sri Lankan Football
Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar has described the inaugural FIFA Series in Colombo as a major milestone for the country’s football development, saying the tournament has given Sri Lanka renewed confidence and a stronger connection with the international game.
Umar, who has been involved in efforts to strengthen Sri Lankan football administration and development, said hosting the tournament demonstrated that developing football nations could compete on the global stage when given meaningful opportunities.
The FIFA Series, held in Colombo in March 2024, brought Sri Lanka together with Bhutan, Papua New Guinea and the Central African Republic. The four participating nations represented three different confederations, giving Sri Lanka an unusual opportunity to face teams with different playing styles.
Sri Lanka completed its campaign unbeaten, drawing 0-0 against Papua New Guinea and defeating Bhutan 2-0. Umar said the matches provided valuable experience for the national team and helped players adapt to different forms of international competition.

He stressed that the benefits extended beyond the football field. Sri Lankan officials involved in administration, technical operations, media, medical services and event management gained practical experience in organising matches to international standards.
The Racecourse Ground also received an important upgrade through assistance from FIFA’s Forward Programme. The renovation enabled the historic Colombo venue to host international football and created improved facilities for future events.
Umar said one of the most important achievements was bringing international football closer to Sri Lankan supporters. Young fans were able to watch national players compete against foreign opposition in their own city, helping to inspire a new generation.
He thanked FIFA and its President Gianni Infantino for supporting developing football nations.
According to Umar, the FIFA Series has left Sri Lanka with more than match results. It has provided international experience, stronger administrative capabilities, improved infrastructure and, most importantly, renewed belief in the future of Sri Lankan football.
Cricket
Dulani’s sparkling century powers Sri Lanka to thrilling victory
Imesha Dulani stole the spotlight with a sensational unbeaten century as Sri Lanka Women chased down a formidable target of 177 to register a convincing six-wicket victory over Pakistan Women in the first T20I worked off at Dambulla international Stadium.
Pakistan looked set for victory after posting a competitive 176 for 7 in their 20 overs. Captain Muneeba Ali gave the innings early momentum with a fluent 42 off 24 balls, while Shawaal Zulfiqar anchored the innings superbly with a brilliant 63 from 41 deliveries, striking 10 fours and a six. Eman Naseer added a valuable 21, while Ayesha Zafar and Saira Jabeen played aggressive cameos in the closing overs to push Pakistan to an above-par total.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Kavisha Dilhari leading the way with two dismissals. Chamudi Praboda, Sugandika Kumari and Kawya Kavindi chipped in with one wicket apiece, while disciplined fielding produced two crucial run-outs.
The chase belonged entirely to Dulani, who delivered the innings of the match. Displaying confidence, composure and a wide range of attacking strokes, she remained unbeaten on 101 from just 64 balls, smashing 17 boundaries and a six. Her innings combined elegance with controlled aggression, ensuring Sri Lanka stayed ahead of the required rate throughout the chase.
Captain Chamari Athapaththu provided the ideal platform with a sparkling 39 off 22 balls, adding 78 for the opening wicket before Nashra Sandhu broke the partnership. Although Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals in the middle overs, Dulani remained firmly in control, rotating the strike effectively before accelerating when it mattered most.
Kavisha Dilhari contributed 11 valuable runs, while Nilakshika Silva remained unbeaten on nine as Sri Lanka reached 177 for 4 in 19 overs, sealing victory with six balls to spare.
Pakistan spinner Nashra Sandhu finished with two wickets, but she could do little to halt Dulani’s memorable knock.
-
Football2 years agoSri Lanka Schools National Championship 2025: Super 8 Fixtures and Grouping
-
Cricket2 years agoSri Lanka’s Greatest Cricketers: Top Batters and Bowlers of All Time
-
News2 years ago2025 Schools Rugby Season Set to Thrill Fans with Knockout and League Action
-
Cricket1 year agoNuwan Thushara Shines as RCB Storms into IPL 2025 Final
-
Live5 years agoLive Broadcast of Syria vs Sri Lanka | AFC U23 Asian Championship Qualification
-
News1 year agoMajor Shake-Up in Sports Governance: New 2025 Regulations Reform National Sports Bodies in Sri Lanka
-
Football2 years agoFFSL Rebrands Division-1 as ‘League-One’ with a Bold New Vision
-
Cricket6 months agoChamindu Wickramasinghe’s bowling action under scrutiny?

