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
Jaiswal, Sooryavanshi blitz helps Royals continue winning streak
A breathtaking opening assault from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi powered Rajasthan Royals to their third consecutive victory in the Indian Premier League 2026, as they defeated Mumbai Indians by 27 runs in a high-octane 11-over contest in Guwahati.
After being asked to bat, Rajasthan came out firing on all cylinders. Jaiswal was at his explosive best, smashing 77 off just 32 balls, peppered with 10 fours and four sixes. He found an able partner in Sooryavanshi, who produced a stunning cameo of 39 from only 14 deliveries, including five towering sixes. The duo stitched together a rapid 80-run opening stand in under five overs, setting the tone for a massive total.
Despite a brief slowdown following a couple of wickets from AM Ghazanfar, contributions from skipper Riyan Parag ensured the Royals finished strongly at 150/3.
Chasing 151 in a shortened game, Mumbai never truly recovered from early setbacks. Jofra Archer and Sandeep Sharma struck crucial blows upfront, removing key batters including Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav cheaply.
A late flourish from Sherfane Rutherford, who hammered 25 off just eight balls, briefly raised hopes, but disciplined bowling from Ravi Bishnoi and Nandre Burger kept things in control.
Mumbai Indians eventually finished at 123/9, falling well short.
Cricket
Sri Lanka Women’s U-19s Secure Easy Win
Sri Lanka Under-19 Women produced an impressive all-round performance to register a comfortable 52-run victory over England Under-19 Women in their second match of the Tri-Series played in Australia today.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a competitive total of 170 in 42.4 overs. The innings was anchored by a composed half-century from Limansa Thilakarathne, who led the batting effort with confidence and maturity. Despite a few setbacks in the middle order, Sri Lanka managed to build useful partnerships to reach a challenging total.
In response, England Under-19 Women struggled to gain momentum against a disciplined Sri Lankan bowling attack and were bowled out for 118 in 42.1 overs. B. Gillgrass top-scored with 35 off 60 balls, while B. Willis remained unbeaten on 20, but lacked support from the rest of the batting line-up.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers delivered a clinical performance, with A. Thalagune leading the charge with an outstanding spell of 3 for 11. C. Praboda also impressed, claiming 3 for 13 to seal the victory.
Cricket
SLC Sets the Record Straight on Player Fitness Reports Amid Controversy
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has moved swiftly to counter widespread reports alleging that 19 national cricketers failed a recent Physical Performance Test, labeling the claims as misleading and unfounded. The governing body stressed that the narrative circulating in the media does not reflect the true outcome of its ongoing player evaluation process.
In a strongly worded clarification, SLC stated that the report, which emerged on April 3, lacked proper verification and has caused unnecessary concern among fans while potentially damaging the credibility of the national setup. The board reaffirmed its commitment to accuracy and professionalism in all aspects of team management.
As part of its routine quarterly review conducted between February and April 2026, SLC confirmed that several prominent players have successfully met the required fitness standards. Among them are Dinesh Chandimal, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Lahiru Udara, and Prabath Jayasuriya.
At the same time, SLC clarified that a group of players has not yet completed the test due to legitimate circumstances. Fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana and all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga are among those undergoing rehabilitation, alongside Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Binura Fernando, and Lahiru Kumara, whose testing has been deferred accordingly.
The cricket board emphasized that fitness benchmarks remain an essential part of maintaining international standards, but assessments are handled with consideration for player health and recovery. Officials also called for responsible journalism, urging media platforms to verify facts before publication to prevent confusion and protect the integrity of the sport.
With preparations ongoing for upcoming international fixtures, SLC’s clarification aims to restore confidence and shift focus back to performance and development within the national team.
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