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Orla Prendergast’s ton overpowers Vishmi’s century as Ireland secure easy win

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10 months ago

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Sri Lanka Women’s tour of Ireland (First ODI)

Orla Prendergast’s remarkable unbeaten score of 122 eclipsed Vishmi Gunaratne’s 101, leading host Ireland to a straightforward victory by three wickets against Sri Lanka in the opening match of the three-match ODI series held in Belfast on Friday.

Sri Lanka, batting first, set a respectable total of 260-8, bolstered by Gunaratne’s century. In response, Ireland successfully chased down the target in 49.2 overs, thanks to Prendergast’s outstanding unbeaten innings of 122.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, 18-year-old Vishmi Gunaratne rose to the occasion following the dismissal of her captain, Chamari Athapaththu, who was out for a first-ball duck, marking an early challenge for Sri Lanka.

With Harshitha Madavi also departing within the first eight overs, Sri Lanka required a solid partnership. Gunaratne provided that alongside Hasini Perera. The young opener played aggressively, hitting three sixes during her innings before achieving her maiden century.

She became only the second Sri Lankan batter, after Athapaththu, to reach this milestone. Had she continued her innings, Sri Lanka might have aimed for a total closer to 300. However, her dismissal with nearly 20 overs remaining allowed Ireland to capitalize on the situation, taking wickets at regular intervals.

Orla Prendergast added two more wickets to her tally towards the end, restricting Sri Lanka to 260/8. The 22-year-old all-rounder Orla Prendergast also excelled with the ball, achieving a career-best performance of three wickets for 25 runs in eight overs.

In the course of the chase, Ireland experienced a familiar beginning, encountering an early challenge as stand-in captain Gaby Lewis was dismissed for nine runs in the eighth over.

However, fellow opener Sarah Forbes, who scored 30 runs, along with wicketkeeper-batter Amy Hunter, who contributed 42 runs, played crucial roles in stabilizing the innings, guiding the hosts to a score of 116 for three at the midpoint of their innings.

Despite the consistent wicket-taking efforts of Sri Lankan spinner Kavisha Dilhari, who claimed four wickets for 54 runs, Prendergast maintained Ireland’s momentum with an impressive century, achieved in just 97 balls.

She ultimately led her team to victory by scoring the winning run in the final over.

Prendergast finished with an unbeaten 122 runs off 107 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes, as Ireland successfully chased down their target of 261 runs with four balls to spare.

The second match of the three-match ODI series is scheduled for Sunday, once again at the Stormont Cricket Ground.

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AUS 67/4 at Lunch as South Africa Dominate Early on Day 1 of WTC Final 2025 at Lord’s

Published

2 weeks ago

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June 11, 2025

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June 11, Lord’s – ICC World Test Championship Final

The much-anticipated ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 kicked off at Lord’s with South Africa taking early control by reducing Australia to 67/4 at lunch on Day 1.

After winning the toss and electing to field first under overcast conditions, South Africa’s pace attack made immediate inroads into Australia’s top order. Marco Jansen was the pick of the bowlers in the opening session, claiming 2 wickets for 27 runs in 7.2 overs. Wiaan Mulder offered excellent support, keeping things tight with 3 maidens in his 6-over spell.

Australia Struggle Under Pressure

Veteran batter Steve Smith remained at the crease with a fighting 26 off 51 balls, trying to anchor the innings after early setbacks. He will be joined by Travis Head (11*) as Australia looks to rebuild post-lunch.

Current Score: Australia 67/4 (23.2 overs)

Fall of Wickets: 67/4

Session: Day 1 – Lunch

World Test Championship 2023–25 Standings (Before Final)

PosTeamPldPtsPCT (%)
1South Africa1210069.44
2Australia1915467.54
3India1911450.00
4New Zealand148148.21
5England2211443.18
6Sri Lanka136038.46
7Bangladesh124531.25
8West Indies134428.21
9Pakistan144727.98

Top 2 teams qualify for the final. Teams are ranked by percentage of points won. Points deductions apply for slow over rates.

Top Performers This Cycle

Batting Leaders:

  • Joe Root (ENG) – 1,968 runs | Avg: 54.66 (40 innings)
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal (IND) – 1,798 runs | Avg: 52.88 (36 innings)
  • Ben Duckett (ENG) – [Stats not fully available]

Bowling Leaders:

  • Jasprit Bumrah (IND) – 77 wickets | Avg: 15.09 (28 innings)
  • Pat Cummins (AUS) – 73 wickets | Avg: 24.54 (33 innings)
  • Mitchell Starc (AUS) – 72 wickets | Avg: 27.27 (35 innings)

Sri Lanka’s Position

Sri Lanka sits at 6th on the table with 60 points from 13 matches and a 38.46% win rate. With one more cycle ahead before the next WTC final in 2027, the Lions have plenty to play for as they look to rise up the rankings.

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KSCA Officials Resign Over Chinnaswamy Stampede; RCB Faces FIR in Tragic Victory Celebration Fallout

Published

2 weeks ago

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June 7, 2025

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In a tragic turn of events following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic IPL 2025 title win, a deadly stampede at the celebratory event held at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and injured several others. The aftermath has sparked controversy and accountability issues, leading to major resignations and legal action.

Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary A Shankar and treasurer ES Jairam resigned on Friday, citing “moral responsibility” for the incident. Their resignations were submitted to KSCA president Raghuram Bhat, as questions mount over mismanagement and negligence at the overcrowded venue.

The Bengaluru Police have filed an FIR listing RCB, DNA Entertainment (event partner), and KSCA as accused parties. Police confirmed that the event had not been granted official permission. In a swift move, Nikhil Sosale, RCB’s head of marketing and revenue, was arrested—raising further scrutiny over organizational lapses.

KSCA has filed a writ petition calling the FIR a “knee-jerk” reaction under political pressure. They argued that crowd control and gate management were the responsibilities of RCB and the event organizers, not KSCA.

RCB has announced INR 10 lakh compensation for each victim and committed to covering all medical expenses of the injured. However, the franchise has yet to make a comprehensive public statement.

This incident raises serious concerns about sports event management and safety standards, casting a shadow over what was supposed to be a moment of celebration in Indian cricket

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Sachithra Senanayake Indicted in Landmark Match-Fixing Case Under Sri Lanka’s Anti-Corruption Law

Published

3 weeks ago

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June 5, 2025

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Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sachithra Senanayake has been formally indicted before the Hambantota High Court, marking a historic first in Sri Lanka’s efforts to criminalize corruption in sports. The charges stem from an alleged match-fixing attempt during the 2020 Lanka Premier League (LPL), making Senanayake the first player to face prosecution under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Offences Related to Sports Act No. 24 of 2019.

Senanayake, currently out on bail, is accused of attempting to influence Colombo Kings player Tharindu Ratnayake to underperform during the tournament. The incident reportedly occurred via a WhatsApp message, which was later flagged by a local anti-corruption officer, prompting an official investigation in 2020.

The case falls under the landmark legislation introduced in 2019 by then Sports Minister Harin Fernando, which criminalizes match-fixing and related offenses in the country. If convicted, Senanayake could face a prison term of up to 10 years, a fine reaching Rs. 100 million, or both.

The indictment signals a serious shift in Sri Lanka’s approach to tackling corruption in sports. Authorities hope this high-profile case will serve as a strong deterrent against similar offenses in the future.

Senanayake, once a celebrated off-spinner and a member of Sri Lanka’s victorious 2014 ICC T20 World Cup squad, now faces the grim prospect of being remembered not for his achievements on the field, but for his role in one of Sri Lanka’s most significant match-fixing scandals.

As the case unfolds, it casts a spotlight on the broader issue of corruption in sports and reinforces the urgent need for integrity, vigilance, and transparent governance across all levels of competition in Sri Lanka

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