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

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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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Online Abuse Targets Sri Lanka A Cricketer After Match Incident

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Sri Lanka A player Vishen Halambage has reportedly become the latest victim of online harassment after a match-related confrontation with India A batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi sparked widespread discussion on social media.

The incident occurred during Sri Lanka A’s dramatic Super Over triumph over India A in the Tri-Nation Series on Monday. Footage showing a tense exchange between the two young cricketers quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing significant attention from cricket fans.

Following the match, Halambage’s Instagram account was flooded with critical and abusive messages, with many comments reportedly originating from social media users reacting to the on-field altercation. Unverified reports also suggested that individuals connected to the player were subjected to online harassment.

By Tuesday, Halambage’s Instagram profile appeared to be inaccessible. While some reports indicated that the account may have been blocked or restricted after receiving numerous complaints, the exact reason remains unclear. Neither the player nor Instagram has publicly commented on the matter.

The episode has once again brought attention to the growing issue of online abuse in sport, where athletes particularly younger players can face intense backlash following high-profile incidents. Sports analysts and observers have repeatedly called for greater efforts to curb harassment on digital platforms and promote responsible fan engagement.

The match itself ended in a memorable victory for Sri Lanka A, but the events that followed have shifted attention toward the challenges athletes face beyond the boundary ropes.

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Sri Lanka A prevail in Super Over thriller as tempers flare after dramatic finish

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Sri Lanka A held their nerve to defeat India A in a thrilling Super Over contest in the One-Day Tri-Series in Dambulla, but the dramatic finish was overshadowed by a heated post-match confrontation involving Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Vishen Halambage.

After both teams finished level on 265, Sri Lanka A posted 16 runs in the Super Over through aggressive contributions from Avishka Fernando and captain Sahan Arachchige. India A, chasing 17, were restricted to just nine runs as young pacer Kugathas Mathulan delivered under pressure to seal a memorable victory.

The match had already produced plenty of late drama. India A’s Arshad Khan conceded only four runs in the final over of Sri Lanka’s chase when five were required for victory, forcing the contest into a Super Over as fading light added to the tension. Despite concerns over visibility and a scheduled cut-off time, officials allowed play to continue.


Emotions spilled over moments after the Super Over ended. Visuals showed Sri Lanka’s Vishen Halambage and Wanuja Sahan exchanging words with the departing Indian batters. Suryansh Shedge appeared to point his bat towards Halambage before Sooryavanshi turned back and confronted the Sri Lankan player. The exchange quickly escalated, with the two players shoving each other before wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella stepped in to separate them and calm tempers.

Earlier, India A recovered from 125 for 6 thanks to Suryansh Shedge’s 72 and Vipraj Nigam’s 51 to post 265. Sri Lanka A’s chase was anchored by Sadeera Samarawickrama’s superb 93, which kept them in contention before a dramatic final-over finish and eventual Super Over triumph completed a remarkable contest.

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West Indies edge Sri Lanka to clinch series

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West Indies held their nerve in a tense chase to defeat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the final T20I and seal the series at home on Sunday.

Asked to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 169 all out in their allotted 20 overs after several batsmen made useful contributions. Opener Pathum Nissanka provided an early spark with 26 off 17 balls, while Kamil Mishara added 28 and Kamindu Mendis struck 20.

The innings was anchored by all-rounder Dunith Wellalage, whose aggressive 43 from 28 deliveries, featuring six boundaries and a six, lifted Sri Lanka during the closing stages. Wanindu Hasaranga also chipped in with a brisk 21 off 13 balls.

However, Sri Lanka lost wickets at crucial intervals and were unable to fully capitalize on a promising platform. Fast bowler Shamar Joseph starred for the hosts, claiming 5 for 33 in a match-winning spell. He received solid support from Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein and Roston Chase, who shared the remaining wickets.

Chasing 170, West Indies suffered an early setback when captain Shai Hope fell for a duck. Sri Lanka tightened their grip further by reducing the hosts to 53 for 4, with Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana applying pressure through the middle overs.

Shimron Hetmyer counterattacked with 32 off 19 balls before Rovman Powell contributed a valuable 33. The decisive partnership came through Sherfane Rutherford and Holder.

Rutherford remained unbeaten on 54 from 40 deliveries, striking three fours and four sixes, while Holder blasted an unbeaten 21 from just five balls, including three towering sixes.
West Indies reached 170 for 5 with two balls to spare, completing a memorable victory and securing the series after a hard-fought contest between the two sides.

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