News
St. Joseph beat St. Peter by 5 wickets to regain the Rev.Fr Peter Pillai Memorial shield
49th ‘Battle of the Saints’ limited over the encounter
An all-round performance helped St. Joseph’s College register a 5-wicket win over St. Peter’s College in the 49th ‘Battle of the Saints’ limited over the encounter and regain Rev.Fr Peter Pillai Memorial shield worked off at SSC grounds, Colombo on Sunday.
Batting first, the boys from Bambalapitya were bundled out for 156 runs despite Nathen David’s lone cameo, and in reply, the Josephian’s achieved the target in just 40.2 overs.
Oween Salgado and Nathen David walked out to open the innings for Peterites, but their partnership was short-lived, with Oween’s being the first wicket to fall for just 4 runs.
In came one down batter Nimuthu Gunawardene. He too failed to hang on as he was caught behind Avintha de Alwis’ bowing to make things worse for S. Peters.
With the scoreboard reading 42-2, Rusanda Gamage joined Nathen David in the middle and the duo revived the innings to a certain extent with a 57-run partnership for the third wicket.
The duo smashed the opposition bowlers all over the park, where at one stage it looked like they would single-handedly bat the allotted 50 overs and take their team to a total of at least 250.
However, things changed quickly as Josephian’s had the last laugh when rising star Shevon Daniel got the breakthrough to send Rusanda (32) back to the pavilion when he was caught at the boundary in the 26th over, and St. Joseph’s gained back the momentum.
After the breakthrough, St. Joseph’s bowlers didn’t allow any breathing space for the opposition to settle down, as they continued bowling good lines and lengths to put constant pressure. Nathen David was the only batter to trouble the bowling attack, and apart from him none of the other batters posed a threat to the Josephian’s.
Nathen went on to score a fighting 79 ball 53 runs including 4 boundaries before they were bowled out for a below-par score of 156 runs inside 41.5 overs.
In reply, it was a walk in the park for the Joesphian’s as they achieved the target in just 41.5 overs.
Hirun Matheesha was the architect of the chase top with a blistering 50 runs off 59 deliveries including 5 boundaries and a six, while Sadeesh Jayawardana (27) and Hiran Jaysundara (30) contributed with useful knocks to take their team home comfortably.
Earlier, the 89th Annual ‘Battle of the Saints’ ended in a draw on 29 April at the SSC Colombo due to bad weather.
Brief scores:
St. Peters: 156 (41.5) (Nathen David 53, Rusanda Gamage 32, Avintha de Alwis 3-27, Lahiru Amarasekara 2-37, Yenula Dewthusa 2-18, Shevon Daniel 2-33)
St. Joseph’s: 158-5 (40.2) (Hirun Matheesha 50, Hiran Jaysundara 30, Vishen Helambage 2-25)
ශාන්ත ජෝශප් පිල කඩුලු 5කින් ශාන්ත පීතර පිල පරදවා ගරු පීටර් පිල්ලේ අනුස්මරණ පලිහ යළි හිමිකර ගත්තේය.
49 වැනි ‘සාන්තුවරයන්ගේ සටන’ හමුවීම සීමා විය
තුන් ඉරියව් දස්කම් හේතුවෙන් ශාන්ත ජෝසප් විද්යාලය 49 වැනි ‘සාන්තුවරයන්ගේ සටන’ සීමාසහිත ශාන්ත පීතර විද්යාලයට එරෙහිව කඩුලු 5 ක ජයක් වාර්තා කිරීමට සමත් වූ අතර කොළඹ SSC ක්රීඩාංගණයේ දී වැඩ කරන ලද ගරු පීටර් පීටර් පිල්ලෙයි අනුස්මරණ පලිහ නැවත ලබා ගැනීමට සමත් විය. ඉරිදා.
පළමුවෙන් පන්දුවට පහර දුන් බම්බලපිටියේ ක්රීඩකයෝ නේතන් ඩේවිඩ්ගේ හුදකලා ආරාධිතයා නොතකා ලකුණු 156කට දැවී ගිය අතර පිළිතුරු ලෙස ජෝසප් ක්රීඩකයෝ ඕවර 40.2කදී එම ඉලක්කය සපුරා ගත්හ.
Peterites සඳහා ඉනිම ආරම්භ කිරීමට Oween Salgado සහ Nathen David ඉවත්ව ගිය නමුත් ඔවුන්ගේ සබඳතාව කෙටිකාලීන වූ අතර Oween ගේ පළමු කඩුල්ල ලකුණු 4කට පමණක් දැවී ගියේය.
වන් ඩවුන් පිතිකරු නිමුතු ගුණවර්ධන පැමිණියේය. එස් පීටර්ස්ගේ තත්ත්වය තවත් නරක අතට හැරීම සඳහා අවින්ද ද අල්විස්ගේ දණ නමා පිටුපසට හසුවීම නිසා ඔහුද එල්ලී සිටීමට අසමත් විය.
ලකුණු පුවරුව 42-2ක් ලෙස සටහන් වෙද්දී නේතන් ඩේවිඩ් සමගින් එක්ව සිටි රුසඳ ගමගේ තෙවැනි කඩුල්ලට ලකුණු 57ක සබඳතාවයක් ගොඩනැගූ අතර ඔවුන් දෙදෙනාම යම් දුරකට ඉනිමට පණ දුන්හ.
ඔවුන් දෙදෙනා උද්යානය පුරා ප්රතිවාදී පන්දු යවන්නන් බිඳ දැමූ අතර, එක් අවස්ථාවකදී ඔවුන් නියමිත පන්දුවාර 50 තනි අතින් පන්දුවට පහර දී තම කණ්ඩායම අවම වශයෙන් ලකුණු 250 දක්වා ගෙන යනු ඇති බවක් පෙනෙන්නට තිබුණි.
කෙසේ වෙතත්, 26 වැනි ඕවරයේදී හතරේ සීමාවේදී දැවී ගිය රුසැන්ඩා (32) නැවත මණ්ඩපයට යැවීමට නැගී එන ක්රීඩක ෂෙවෝන් ඩැනියෙල්ගේ පෙරළිය ජොසපියන්ස් පිලට ලැබුණු විට අවසන් සිනහව ඇති වූ විට සියල්ල ඉක්මනින් වෙනස් වූ අතර සාන්ත ජෝසප් ක්රීඩකයෝ නැවතත් වේගවත් වූහ.
ප්රගතියෙන් පසුව, ශාන්ත ජෝසප් පන්දු යවන්නන් ප්රතිවාදීන්ට කිසිදු හුස්ම ගැනීමේ ඉඩක් ලබා දුන්නේ නැත, ඔවුන් නිරන්තර පීඩනයක් ඇති කිරීම සඳහා හොඳ රේඛා සහ දිග දිගේ පන්දු යවමින් සිටියහ. පන්දු යැවීමේ ප්රහාරයට බාධා කළ එකම පිතිකරුවා වූයේ නේතන් ඩේවිඩ් වන අතර ඔහු හැර සෙසු පිතිකරුවන් කිසිවෙක් ජෝසප් පිතිකරුවන්ට තර්ජනයක් වූයේ නැත.
පන්දු 79කදී හතරේ පහර 4ක් සමඟින් ලකුණු 53ක් ලබා ගත් නේතන් ඕවර 41.5ක් ඇතුළත ලකුණු 156කට අඩුවෙන් දැවී ගියේය.
පිළිතුරු ලෙස ජෝස්පියන් ක්රීඩකයින් පන්දුවාර 41.5කදී එම ඉලක්කය සපුරා ගත් අතර එය උද්යානයේ ඇවිදීමකි.
පන්දු 59කදී හතරේ පහර 5ක් සහ හයේ පහරක් සමඟින් ලකුණු 50ක් රැස්කළ හිරුන් මතීෂ ලකුණු 50ක් ලබා ගත් අතර සදීෂ් ජයවර්ධන (27) සහ හිරාන් ජයසුන්දර (30) ප්රයෝජනවත් දස්කම් දක්වමින් තම කණ්ඩායම සුවපහසු ලෙස ගෙදර ගෙන යාමට දායක වූහ.
මීට පෙර, අයහපත් කාලගුණය හේතුවෙන් 89 වැනි වාර්ෂික ‘සාන්තුවරයන්ගේ සටන’ අප්රේල් 29 වන දින කොළඹ SSC හිදී ජය පරාජයෙන් තොරව අවසන් විය.
කෙටි ලකුණු:
සාන්ත පීතර: 156 (41.5) (නාදන් ඩේවිඩ් 53, රුසඳ ගමගේ 32, අවින්ත ද අල්විස් 3-27, ලහිරු අමරසේකර 2-37, යෙනුල දෙව්තුසා 2-18, ෂෙවෝන් ඩැනියෙල් 2-33)
ශාන්ත ජෝශප්: 158-5 (40.2) (හිරුන් මතීෂ 50, හිරාන් ජයසුන්දර 30, විශේන් හැලඹගේ 2-25)
புனித ஜோசப், செயின்ட் பீட்டரை 5 விக்கெட் வித்தியாசத்தில் தோற்கடித்து, திருத்தந்தை பீட்டர் பிள்ளை நினைவுக் கேடயத்தை மீட்டார்.
49வது ‘புனிதர்களின் போர்’ என்கவுண்டரில் மட்டுப்படுத்தப்பட்டது
ஆல்ரவுண்ட் ஆட்டத்தால் புனித ஜோசப் கல்லூரி 49வது ‘புனிதர்களின் போரில்’ செயின்ட் பீட்டர்ஸ் கல்லூரிக்கு எதிராக 5 விக்கெட் வித்தியாசத்தில் வெற்றி பெற்றது மற்றும் கொழும்பு SSC மைதானத்தில் பணிபுரிந்த புனிதர் பீட்டர் பிள்ளை நினைவுக் கேடயத்தை மீட்டெடுத்தது. ஞாயிறு அன்று.
முதலில் துடுப்பெடுத்தாடிய பம்பலப்பிட்டியைச் சேர்ந்த சிறுவர்கள் நேதன் டேவிட் தனித்து விளையாடினாலும் 156 ஓட்டங்களுக்கு ஆட்டமிழந்தனர், பதிலுக்கு ஜோசபியன் அணி 40.2 ஓவர்களில் இலக்கை எட்டியது.
ஓவீன் சல்கடோ மற்றும் நேதன் டேவிட் ஆகியோர் பீட்டரைட்டுக்காக இன்னிங்ஸைத் தொடங்க வெளியேறினர், ஆனால் அவர்களது பார்ட்னர்ஷிப் குறுகிய காலமே நீடித்தது, ஓவின் 4 ரன்களுக்கு முதல் விக்கெட்டை வீழ்த்தினார்.
ஒன் டவுன் பேட்டர் நிமுத்து குணவர்தன வந்தார். அவிந்த டி அல்விஸின் குனிந்து S. பீட்டர்ஸை மோசமாக்குவதற்குப் பின்னால் பிடிபட்டதால் அவரும் தொங்கத் தவறிவிட்டார்.
ஸ்கோர்போர்டு 42-2 ஆக இருந்த நிலையில், நடுவில் நாதன் டேவிட்டுடன் ருசண்டா கமகே இணைந்தார், இருவரும் மூன்றாவது விக்கெட்டுக்கு 57 ரன்கள் கூட்டாண்மை மூலம் இன்னிங்ஸை ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட அளவிற்கு மீட்டெடுத்தனர்.
இருவரும் பார்க் முழுவதும் எதிரணி பந்துவீச்சாளர்களை அடித்து நொறுக்கினர், அங்கு ஒரு கட்டத்தில் அவர்கள் தனித்தனியாக நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்ட 50 ஓவர்களை பேட் செய்து தங்கள் அணியை குறைந்தபட்சம் 250 ரன்களுக்கு கொண்டு செல்வார்கள் என்று தோன்றியது.
எவ்வாறாயினும், 26வது ஓவரில் பவுண்டரியில் கேட்ச் ஆனபோது, ருசாண்டாவை (32) பெவிலியனுக்கு அனுப்ப, எழுச்சி நட்சத்திரம் ஷெவோன் டேனியல் திருப்புமுனையைப் பெற்றபோது ஜோசபியன் கடைசியாகச் சிரித்ததால் விஷயங்கள் விரைவாக மாறியது, மேலும் செயின்ட் ஜோசப்ஸ் மீண்டும் வேகத்தைப் பெற்றது.
திருப்புமுனைக்குப் பிறகு, செயின்ட் ஜோசப் பந்துவீச்சாளர்கள் எதிரணியை நிலைநிறுத்த எந்த சுவாச இடத்தையும் அனுமதிக்கவில்லை, ஏனெனில் அவர்கள் தொடர்ந்து நல்ல லைன்கள் மற்றும் லென்த்களை தொடர்ந்து அழுத்தம் கொடுத்து பந்துவீசினர். நேதன் டேவிட் மட்டுமே பந்துவீச்சைத் தொந்தரவு செய்த ஒரே வீரர், அவரைத் தவிர மற்ற பேட்டர்கள் எவரும் ஜோசபியன்களுக்கு அச்சுறுத்தலாக இருக்கவில்லை.
நேதன் 79 பந்துகளில் 4 பவுண்டரிகள் உட்பட 53 ரன்கள் எடுத்து 41.5 ஓவர்களில் 156 ரன்களுக்கு குறைவான ஸ்கோரில் ஆட்டமிழந்தார்.
பதிலுக்கு, 41.5 ஓவர்களில் ஜோஸ்பியன்ஸ் வெற்றி இலக்கை அடைந்தது.
ஹிருன் மதீஷா 59 பந்துகளில் 5 பவுண்டரிகள் மற்றும் ஒரு சிக்ஸர் உள்ளடங்கலாக 50 ஓட்டங்களை விளாசினார், அதே சமயம் சதீஷ் ஜயவர்தன (27) மற்றும் ஹிரன் ஜெயசுந்தரா (30) ஆகியோர் தங்கள் அணியை வசதியாக வீட்டிற்கு அழைத்துச் செல்ல பயனுள்ள ஆட்டங்களால் பங்களித்தனர்.
முன்னதாக, 89வது வருடாந்த ‘புனிதர்களின் போர்’ மோசமான வானிலை காரணமாக கொழும்பு SSC இல் ஏப்ரல் 29 அன்று சமநிலையில் முடிந்தது.
சுருக்கமான மதிப்பெண்கள்:
செயின்ட் பீட்டர்ஸ்: 156 (41.5) (நேதன் டேவிட் 53, ருசன்டா கமகே 32, அவிந்த டி அல்விஸ் 3-27, லஹிரு அமரசேகர 2-37, யெனுலா டெவ்துசா 2-18, ஷெவோன் டேனியல் 2-33)
செயின்ட் ஜோசப்ஸ்: 158-5 (40.2) (ஹிருன் மதீஷா 50, ஹிரன் ஜெயசுந்தர 30, விஷேன் ஹெலம்பகே 2-25)
Cricket
Afghanistan Names New Captains for Sri Lanka Series as Rashid Khan Steps Down
Afghanistan cricket has entered a new phase of leadership as selectors announced sweeping changes ahead of their upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka. Following the team’s early exit from the ICC T20 World Cup, star all-rounder Rashid Khan has been relieved of his captaincy duties. Ibrahim Zadran will now lead the T20 side, while Hashmatullah Shahidi has been entrusted with the ODI captaincy.
Despite losing the armband, Rashid remains a key figure in Afghanistan’s plans, with his name included in both squads. The selectors have opted for a balanced mix of seasoned performers and promising youngsters, signaling a strategy to rebuild while maintaining stability.
The T20 squad features explosive opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, alongside Ibrahim Zadran, who will captain the side. Veteran Mohammad Nabi adds experience, while spin remains Afghanistan’s strongest weapon with Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Sharafuddin Ashraf forming a formidable attack. Young talents like Sediqullah Atal and Darwish Rasooli have also been given opportunities, reflecting the selectors’ intent to groom the next generation.
On the other hand, Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the ODI side, supported by experienced campaigners such as Rahmat Shah and Mohammad Nabi. The batting unit includes Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, while wicketkeeping duties will be shared between Gurbaz and Ikram Alikhil. The bowling attack is spearheaded by Rashid Khan, with support from Zia ur Rahman Sharifi, Farid Ahmad Malik, and Nangyal Kharotai. Reserves include Qais Ahmad, M. Saleem Safi, and Bashir Ahmad, ensuring depth across departments.
Security Concerns Cloud Series
The series, scheduled from March 13 to 25, was to feature three T20Is in Sharjah and three ODIs in Dubai. However, escalating regional tensions—sparked by reports of Iranian strikes and claims surrounding the death of Iran’s supreme leader in alleged U.S.–Israeli attacks—have raised serious doubts about security and travel. Cricket authorities are monitoring the situation closely, with contingency plans under discussion.
ODI Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (WK), Rashid Khan, A.M. Ghazanfar, Zia ur Rahman Sharifi, Farid Ahmad Malik, Nangyal Kharotai, Bila Saim.
Reserves: Qais Ahmad, M. Saleem Safi, Bashir Ahmad.
T20I Squad: Ibrahim Zadran (Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Rahman (WK), Shahidullah Kamal, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zia ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai.
Cricket
Jamie Siddons Appointed Head Coach of Sri Lanka Women’s Team
Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed former Australian cricketer Jamie Siddons as the Head Coach of the Sri Lanka National Women’s Team.

Siddons has served as the head coach of the Bangladesh National Men’s Team from 2007 to
2011, marking his highest level of international coaching experience.
A Level 3 qualified coach, Siddons has also served as Head Coach of the South Australia
Cricket Team (Redbacks) from 2015 to 2020 and Head Coach of the Wellington Firebirds,
New Zealand, from 2011 to 2015.
His one-year appointment will come into effect on 16 March 2026. Siddons, who enjoyed an extensive first-class cricket career in Australia and captained both South Australia and Victoria, will take on the responsibility of guiding Sri Lanka’s women’s team in preparation for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in June in England.
His first assignment will be Sri Lanka Women’s Tour of Bangladesh, scheduled to take place in April–May 2026.
Cricket
Government Weighs Overhaul of Sri Lanka Cricket Amid ICC Talks
Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage has revealed that discussions are currently underway with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding possible reforms to the administration of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). A final decision is expected within the coming week, as the government seeks to avoid the risk of sanctions from the ICC.
Speaking on the matter, Minister Gamage confirmed that options such as appointing an interim committee or a competent authority are being considered. He noted that President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka is directly involved in the talks, underscoring the government’s determination to restore credibility and raise cricketing standards in the country.
The announcement follows comments made by Minister Nalinda Jayathissa, who stated that the government will soon take decisive action on the legal and administrative framework of SLC.
Sri Lanka Cricket has faced mounting criticism after the men’s national team failed to qualify for the semi‑finals of the recently concluded T20 World Cup, co‑hosted by Sri Lanka and India. The disappointment adds to a troubling record: the team has now gone 12 years without reaching the semi‑finals of any ICC tournament, a stark contrast to its former reputation as a consistent global contender.
-
Football1 year agoSri Lanka Schools National Championship 2025: Super 8 Fixtures and Grouping
-
News1 year ago2025 Schools Rugby Season Set to Thrill Fans with Knockout and League Action
-
Cricket9 months agoNuwan Thushara Shines as RCB Storms into IPL 2025 Final
-
Live4 years agoLive Broadcast of Syria vs Sri Lanka | AFC U23 Asian Championship Qualification
-
Cricket1 year agoSri Lanka’s Greatest Cricketers: Top Batters and Bowlers of All Time
-
News9 months agoMajor Shake-Up in Sports Governance: New 2025 Regulations Reform National Sports Bodies in Sri Lanka
-
Football1 year agoFFSL Rebrands Division-1 as ‘League-One’ with a Bold New Vision
-
Football10 months agoSri Lanka Announces U19 Football Squad for SAFF Championship 2025

