Cricket
Sri Lanka Masters Stay in Contention as India Masters Dominate IML T20 2025
The International Masters League (IML) T20 2025 continues to thrill cricket fans, with India Masters securing their third consecutive victory by defeating South Africa Masters by eight wickets. The match, played at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on March 1, saw a dominant display by the Sachin Tendulkar-led side. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Masters remain in strong contention, sitting at second place in the standings.
India Masters Extend Winning Streak; Sri Lanka Masters in Pursuit
India Masters won the toss and opted to bowl first, making full use of the spin-friendly conditions. South Africa Masters started well with a 35-run opening partnership between Hashim Amla and Henry Davids, but Rahul Sharma’s sensational hat-trick—dismissing Amla, Jacques Kallis, and Jacques Rudolph—turned the game on its head. Pawan Negi and Yuvraj Singh continued the onslaught, while Stuart Binny wrapped up the innings, restricting South Africa Masters to just 85 runs in under 14 overs.
India Masters chased the modest target with ease, thanks to a steady innings by Ambati Rayudu (41*), sealing the win with nine overs to spare. This victory solidifies their place at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Masters, led by a strong squad, remain in contention with two wins in three matches and will be looking to close the gap.
IML T20 2025 Updated Standings
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India Masters | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3.156 |
| Sri Lanka Masters | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.677 |
| West Indies Masters | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.469 |
| Australia Masters | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.606 |
| England Masters | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.278 |
| South Africa Masters | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.975 |
Sri Lankan Stars Shining in IML T20 2025
- Upul Tharanga (Sri Lanka Masters) – 141 runs in 3 innings, Avg 47.00, SR 162.07, 15 fours, 6 sixes.
- Asela Gunaratne (Sri Lanka Masters) – 100 runs in 3 innings, Avg 50.00, SR 158.73, 12 fours, 2 sixes.
- Lahiru Thirimanne (Sri Lanka Masters) – 90 runs in 3 innings, Avg 30.00, SR 147.54, 11 fours, 2 sixes.
Sri Lankan Bowlers Making an Impact
- Chaturanga de Silva (Sri Lanka Masters) – 4 wickets in 10 overs, Avg 24.50, Econ 9.80.
- Isuru Udana (Sri Lanka Masters) – 4 wickets in 12 overs, Avg 37.00, Econ 12.33.
With Sri Lanka Masters in second place, the upcoming matches will be crucial in their chase for the title. The team has shown resilience, with Upul Tharanga leading the batting charts and bowlers like Chaturanga de Silva playing a key role. Fans can expect an exciting battle as the tournament progresses, with Sri Lanka Masters aiming to close in on the top spot. Stay tuned for more updates on IML T20 2025, as our Sri Lankan stars look to bring glory to their team!
Cricket
Online Abuse Targets Sri Lanka A Cricketer After Match Incident
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.
Cricket
Sri Lanka A prevail in Super Over thriller as tempers flare after dramatic finish
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.
Cricket
West Indies edge Sri Lanka to clinch series
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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