News

Nuwan Thushara’s hat-trick highlights Sri Lanka’s Thumping win over Bangladesh

Published

2 years ago

March 9, 2024

Editor

Sri Lanka tour of Bangladesh (Third T20I)

Sri Lanka emerged victorious in the third and deciding match of the three-match T20 series against Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. The star of the match was pace bowler Nuwan Thushara, who delivered a sensational hat-trick that left the Bangladesh top order in disarray.

Chasing a target of 175, Bangladesh found themselves in trouble early on, losing five wickets within the first four overs. Thushara’s fiery spell accounted for three of those wickets, including the seasoned Mahmudullah. It was a remarkable performance by Thushara, who was playing only his eighth T20 match.

Prior to Thushara’s heroics, Dhananjaya de Silva had taken the first wicket by dismissing opener Liton Das. Bangladesh’s batting lineup struggled to recover from the early setbacks and eventually succumbed to a heavy defeat.

Towards the end of the innings, Rishad Hossain and Mahedi Hasan provided some consolation to the home crowd as they contributed 44 runs in the seventh wicket partnership.

However, the task of chasing the massive target had already become extremely difficult by then. Rishad displayed his power-hitting skills by hitting back-to-back sixes in the 11th over bowled by Hasaranga and again in the next over bowled by Maheesh Theekshana.

Mahedi Hasan fell victim to a tossed up delivery from Hasaranga, leaving Bangladesh at 76 for 7 in the fourteenth over. Despite Mahedi’s departure, Rishad continued to showcase his batting prowess by smashing three massive sixes over cow corner in the fifteenth over bowled by Theekshana, bringing up Bangladesh’s total to 100.

Rishad reached his fifty by launching another massive six over deep square leg in the sixteenth over bowled by Fernando. However, his sensational cameo of 53 runs off 30 balls came to an end in the seventeenth over, bowled by Theekshana, leaving Bangladesh at 117 for eight. Rishad’s innings included 7 sixes, the highest by any Bangladeshi batter in a T20 match.

In the eighth wicket partnership, Rishad and Taskin added 41 runs from 21 balls. Taskin also played a valuable cameo, scoring 31 runs off 21 balls before getting out in the last over. Despite the top order batters’ disappointing performance, Rishad and Taskin displayed determination and resilience, reducing the margin of defeat for Bangladesh.

Earlier after invited to bat first, Sri Lanka recorded a total of 174 for 7 in their innings, with opener Kusal Mendis playing an outstanding knock of 86 runs.

Taskin Ahmed provided Bangladesh with their first breakthrough in the fourth over, dismissing Dhananjaya de Silva for 8 runs. Sri Lanka managed to score 41 runs for the loss of 1 wicket during the powerplay. In the eighth over, Kamindu Mendis was caught by Shoriful off a delivery by Rishad Hossain, leaving Sri Lanka at 54 for 2. Wanindu Hasaranga joined Kusal Mendis in the middle and the two built a partnership of 59 runs off 31 balls. Mustafizur Rahman broke the partnership by dismissing Hasaranga. Shoriful took the wicket of Asalanka, but Kusal Mendis continued to score boundaries, posing a threat to the hosts. Taskin Ahmed once again played a crucial role in getting rid of Kusal Mendis, who was caught by Soumya Sarkar. Mendis scored 86 runs off 55 balls, including 6 boundaries and an equal number of sixes.

From their onwards Sri Lanka batters looked uncomfortable in the middle and finding it difficult to middle the ball.

However a quick fire of 8-ball 18 runs from Dasun Shanaka helped Sri Lanka reach the 170 run mark at the end of their allotted 20 overs.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka 174 for 7 (Kusal Mendis 86, Taskin Ahmed 2-25, Rishad 2-35)

Bangladesh 146 all out (Rishad 53, Taskin Ahmed 31, Nuwan Thushara 5-20, Wanindu Hasaranga 2-32)

Athletics

Pathirage Rewrites Record Books with Historic 92.62m Throw in Rome

Published

10 hours ago

June 5, 2026

Editor

Sri Lankan javelin sensation Rumesh Pathirage produced the performance of a lifetime at the Rome Diamond League, launching the spear an astonishing 92.62 metres to become the second-best javelin thrower in Asian history and move to eighth place on the world all-time rankings.

The 23-year-old delivered the remarkable throw with his second attempt in the men’s javelin competition, sending shockwaves through the athletics world and cementing his place among the sport’s elite.

Pathirage’s record-breaking effort not only shattered his previous personal best but also established a new Sri Lankan national record and the world-leading mark for the 2026 season.
Adding to the significance of the achievement, the Sri Lankan star eclipsed the long-standing Rome Diamond League meet record of 90.34 metres, which had stood for two decades and was set by Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen.

The historic throw marks a major milestone for Sri Lankan athletics, with Pathirage becoming the first athlete from the island nation to surpass the coveted 90-metre barrier in international competition.

His performance places him among the greatest javelin throwers of all time and further strengthens his credentials as a leading contender for major global championships in the years ahead.

Cricket

All-round Sri Lanka overwhelm West Indies

Published

1 day ago

June 4, 2026

Editor

Sri Lanka produced a clinical display with both bat and ball to defeat West Indies by 41 runs in the first match of the three match ODI series worked off at Kingston on Wednesday.

After being asked to bat, Sri Lanka posted a challenging 303 for 7 from their allotted 50 overs, thanks largely to impressive contributions from Pathum Nissanka and captain Kusal Mendis. Nissanka played the anchor role with a composed 79 off 103 deliveries, striking nine boundaries and a six, while Kusal accelerated the scoring with a fluent 72 from 62 balls, featuring four fours and four sixes.

The pair guided Sri Lanka out of early trouble after Kamindu Mendis fell cheaply. Pavan Rathnayake contributed 24, while Charith Asalanka added a useful 45 to keep the innings on track. Janith Liyanage then provided the finishing touches with a brisk unbeaten 44 from 29 balls as the visitors crossed the 300-run mark. Roston Chase, Matthew Forde and Jayden Seales claimed two wickets each for the hosts.

West Indies made a promising start to their chase, reaching 73 for 2 inside the first 10 overs. Justin Greaves struck 45 and skipper Shai Hope battled for 56, but Sri Lanka’s bowlers repeatedly struck at crucial moments to halt the momentum.

The turning point came through Dushmantha Chameera, whose pace and accuracy troubled the West Indian middle order. The fast bowler claimed four wickets, including the prized scalp of Hope, to finish with 4 for 67. Spinner Maheesh Theekshana played an equally important role, conceding just 26 runs in his ten overs while taking two wickets.

Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed Sherfane Rutherford at a key stage, while Asitha Fernando and Charith Asalanka also entered the wicket column. Despite late resistance from Shamar Joseph, West Indies were bowled out for 262 in 49.2 overs.

Cricket

Sri Lanka Set for Full-Scale New Zealand Tour in Early 2027

Published

2 days ago

June 3, 2026

Editor

Sri Lanka’s National Men’s Cricket Team will undertake a demanding all-format tour of New Zealand in January and February 2027, featuring three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), and two Test matches.

The tour will provide Sri Lanka with a valuable opportunity to compete in New Zealand’s challenging conditions against one of the world’s leading cricketing nations. Matches will be played across several renowned venues throughout the country.

The ODI series will open at McLean Park in Napier on January 16 before moving to Wellington for the second match on January 19. The third and final ODI will be played in Dunedin on January 22.

The teams will then contest a three-match T20I series, beginning in Christchurch on January 26. The remaining two matches will be played in Nelson on January 29 and January 31.

The Test series will commence at Bay Oval in Tauranga from February 4 to 8, with the second and final Test scheduled at Seddon Park in Hamilton from February 12 to 16.
Tour Schedule
•⁠ ⁠January 16, 2027 – First ODI at McLean Park, Napier (04:30)
•⁠ ⁠January 19, 2027 – Second ODI at Basin Reserve, Wellington (04:30)
•⁠ ⁠January 22, 2027 – Third ODI at University of Otago Oval, Dunedin (04:30)
•⁠ ⁠January 26, 2027 – First T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch (11:30)
•⁠ ⁠January 29, 2027 – Second T20I at Saxton Oval, Nelson (09:30)
•⁠ ⁠January 31, 2027 – Third T20I at Saxton Oval, Nelson (06:30)
•⁠ ⁠February 4–8, 2027 – First Test at Bay Oval, Tauranga (04:30)
•⁠ ⁠February 12–16, 2027 – Second Test at Seddon Park, Hamilton (04:30)