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Sri Lanka edge Bangladesh in thriller

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Sri Lanka tour of Bangladesh (First T20I)

Sri Lanka clinched a thrilling victory over Bangladesh in the opening match of the Twenty20 series on Monday, triumphing by a margin of three runs. The credit goes to Dasun Shanaka’s remarkable display in the final over, complemented by the impressive fifties from Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama earlier in the innings.

Sri Lanka set a commendable total of 206-3, with Sadeera Samarawickrama’s unbeaten 61 off 48 balls and Kusal Mendis’ 36-ball 59 leading the charge. Stand-in captain Charith Asalanka also played a crucial role, smashing a 21-ball 44 not out with six sixes to propel the team past the 200-run mark. Despite debutant Jaker Ali’s valiant effort for Bangladesh, scoring 68 runs, he fell in the tense last over with 10 runs needed and three balls remaining. Ultimately, Bangladesh fell short at 203-8, leaving Sri Lanka victorious.

During the chase Angelo Mathews gabe the perfect start when he took two wickets to put Bangladesh in a precarious position at 30-3 in the fifth over.

Their situation worsened when captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who had scored 20 off 22, was dismissed by fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, leaving them at 68-4.

However when the chips were down, veteran Mahmudullah, who was playing his first T20 in two years, launched a counterattack to revive Bangladesh’s chances. He partnered with Jaker to add 47 runs for the fifth wicket. With things looking good for Bangladesh, Maheesh Theekshana delivered with a breakthrough to dismiss Mahmudullah after he had scored 54 off 31, including two fours and four sixes.

With Bangladesh hopes almost done and dusted thier debutant Jaker step up to occasion who initially struggled, then took charge and played a crucial role in leading the team towards victory.

With four fours and six sixes, he brought Bangladesh to the brink of success, but ultimately, Shanaka’s brilliance denied them the win.

The second match of the three-match series is scheduled for Wednesday.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 206/3 (Sadeera Samarawickrama 61, Kusal Mendis 59, Charith Asalanka 44; Rishad 1-32) beat Bangladesh 203/8 (Jaker Ali 68, Mahmudullah 54; Angelo Mathews 2-17) by 3 runs.

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Shammi Silva Re-Elected as Sri Lanka Cricket President for Fourth Consecutive Term

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Shammi Silva has been re-elected as the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president for the 2025-27 term, marking his fourth consecutive tenure at the helm of the nation’s cricket governing body. Silva secured the position uncontested at the 64th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Colombo on Monday.

A Controversial Yet Dominant Tenure

Silva’s leadership has not been without controversy. His previous term saw a high-profile clash with former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe in 2023, which led to an interim committee being appointed after Sri Lanka’s poor performance in the ICC ODI World Cup. This move resulted in ICC suspending SLC, which led to Sri Lanka losing the hosting rights for the U19 Men’s World Cup, which was later held in South Africa.

Despite these setbacks, Silva regained control after a court ruling reinstated his administration, and he was later appointed as the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in December 2023, replacing Jay Shah.

Challenges & Future Outlook

Sri Lanka Cricket has long been seen as a powerful and influential body, with internal politics often shaping its leadership. With financial mismanagement concerns highlighted in the Auditor General’s report, Silva’s administration faces the challenge of restoring credibility and ensuring better governance.

With the ICC ban lifted, Sri Lanka looks to rebuild its cricketing structure and improve performance on the international stage. The focus now shifts to upcoming bilateral series, the Asia Cup, and preparations for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Stay tuned for more updates on Sri Lanka Cricket and the latest in the world of sports!

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Stephen Fleming Defends MS Dhoni’s Batting Position Amid Criticism

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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming has defended MS Dhoni’s late entry in the batting order, stating that the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman cannot play an extended innings at full intensity due to lingering knee concerns.

The 43-year-old Dhoni faced criticism after coming in at No. 9 during CSK’s 50-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chepauk. In the next match against Rajasthan Royals on March 30, 2025, he batted at No. 7 when CSK required 54 off 25 balls but managed just 16 off 11 as his team fell short by six runs.

Fleming’s Explanation on Dhoni’s Role

Fleming emphasized that Dhoni carefully assesses the match situation before deciding when to bat.

“It’s all about timing. MS judges his body and situation. His knees aren’t what they used to be, so he can’t bat for 10 overs at full intensity. He will step in based on the game’s demands,” Fleming explained at the post-match press conference.

The CSK coach reiterated that Dhoni remains too valuable to the team for his leadership and wicketkeeping and that sending him in too early could be a strategic misstep.

“From around the 13th or 14th over, he assesses the situation and decides. He trusts other batters early on but steps up when needed.”

CSK’s Struggles in the Powerplay Cost Them the Match

Fleming also pinpointed CSK’s poor powerplay performance as a key reason for their loss against Rajasthan Royals. While RR blasted 79/1 in the powerplay, CSK only managed 42/1,

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Inaugural ‘Battle of Green’ Set to Ignite a New School Cricket Rivalry

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Cricket enthusiasts in Mirigama and Giriulla are in for an exciting showdown as D.S. Senanayake College, Mirigama, and Wickramshila National School, Giriulla, prepare to launch their first-ever “Battle of Green” big match.

This historic encounter will take place at the Mirigama Public Grounds, marking the beginning of a thrilling annual rivalry between the two schools. Fans from both towns are expected to gather in large numbers, adding to the electric atmosphere of this inaugural clash.

The introduction of the Battle of Green is a significant milestone for school cricket in the region, providing a platform for young cricketers to showcase their talent while fostering sportsmanship and competitive spirit.

Stay tuned for match updates, player insights, and exclusive coverage on Sri Lankan Sports TV.

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