News
Sri Lanka Clinch ODI Series Against West Indies with a Game to Spare
Sri Lanka secured a convincing 2-0 series victory against the West Indies in the second ODI at Pallekele, clinching the three-match series with one game left. Skipper Charith Asalanka led the charge with an unbeaten 62*, guiding Sri Lanka to a five-wicket win in a rain-shortened match, with 44 balls to spare.
Match Overview
- Sri Lanka: 190/5 in 36.4 overs
- West Indies: 189 all out in 36 overs
- Result: Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets (DLS Method)
The match, initially set for 50 overs per side, was reduced to 44 overs due to rain. West Indies, sent in to bat, struggled early, losing wickets rapidly to be 58 for 8, before a resilient stand between Shefarne Rutherford (80) and Gudakesh Motie (50*) revived their innings.
West Indies Innings
- Shefarne Rutherford: 80 (98 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes)
- Gudakesh Motie: 50* (67 balls, 4 fours)
- Ninth-wicket partnership: 119 runs
- Best Sri Lankan bowler: Dushmantha Chameera – 3/25 in 7 overs
- Notable bowling performances: Maheesh Theekshana and Dilshan Madushanka picked up two wickets each as Sri Lanka dismantled the Windies’ top order. West Indies were bowled out for 189 in 36 overs.
Despite the ninth-wicket partnership, the total was below par, as Sri Lankan bowlers dominated the early stages, exploiting the seam-friendly conditions in Pallekele.
Sri Lanka’s Chase
Sri Lanka’s chase wasn’t smooth, as they lost opener Avishka Fernando early for 12, followed by Kusal Mendis (14) as Alzarri Joseph and Romario Shepherd kept the pressure on.
- Nishan Madushka: 38 (53 balls, 3 fours)
- Sadeera Samarawickrama: 38 (47 balls, 4 fours)
- Third-wicket partnership: 62 runs
- Charith Asalanka: 62* (48 balls, 5 fours, 1 six)
- Janith Liyanage: 24 (28 balls)
After a 62-run stand between Madushka and Samarawickrama, Asalanka steadied the innings and built another key partnership with Janith Liyanage (24) to ensure Sri Lanka crossed the target comfortably.
Asalanka’s form continues to impress as he followed up his 77 in the first ODI with a match-winning knock in the second.
Key Statistics:
- Charith Asalanka’s Series Performance: 139 runs in 2 ODIs, averaging 139.00 with a strike rate of 92.66.
- Sri Lanka Bowling Attack: Chameera has taken 5 wickets in 2 matches, averaging 12.80 with an economy rate of 4.71.
- Shefarne Rutherford’s Impact: The top scorer for the West Indies with 121 runs in 2 innings, averaging 60.50.
- Ninth-Wicket Partnership Record: The 119-run stand between Rutherford and Motie is one of the highest ninth-wicket partnerships for the West Indies in ODIs.
Conclusion
With this win, Sri Lanka sealed the ODI series 2-0, leaving the third and final game as a formality. The team’s dominance, particularly with both ball and bat in the middle overs, highlights their improving performance heading into future challenges. The West Indies, meanwhile, will look to salvage some pride in the final game after back-to-back losses.
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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