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St. Joseph beat St. Peter by 5 wickets to regain the Rev.Fr Peter Pillai Memorial shield

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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)

News

BALL BLASTER 2026: SRI LANKA’S BIGGEST SCHOOL FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT RETURNS BIGGER THAN EVER

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24 Schools, 15 Venues and Three National Trophies as Ball Blaster Enters Its Third Year

COLOMBO — Ball Blaster, Sri Lanka’s premier school football tournament, is set to return in 2026 with its biggest edition yet, organized by Aasgard Sports (Private) Limited in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association and the Ministry of Education.

Now entering its third year, Ball Blaster has grown from 2023 with 20 schools into one of the country’s largest youth football events. The 2025 edition featured 16 schools competing across four groups, drawing national broadcast attention through Sri Lankan Sports TV and PEO TV. For 2026, the tournament expands significantly, with 24 schools set to compete across 15 venues nationwide, in a season spanning six weeks and 84 matches.

A NEW FORMAT: THREE TROPHIES, THREE CHAMPIONS

The standout feature of Ball Blaster 2026 is a new three-tier trophy format. Schools will be drawn into four groups of six, playing a round-robin group stage before advancing into one of three parallel championships based on their group finish: the Cup Trophy for group winners, the Bowl Trophy for runners-up, and the Plate Trophy for second runners-up. The format ensures every participating school remains in contention for a national title deep into the tournament.

All three championships will reach their conclusion on the same finals weekend, with third-place playoffs and grand finals for the Cup, Bowl and Plate trophies all being played at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.

“Ball Blaster has always been about giving young footballers a stage,” said a spokesperson for Aasgard Sports. “This year, we’re expanding that stage to every corner of the island, and making sure every school that takes part has something real to play for, right to the final whistle.”

BUILDING ON A STRONG 2025

Ball Blaster’s growth has been underpinned by strong sponsor support. The 2025 edition was backed by Lifebuoy as Title Sponsor, alongside Lemonade as Refreshing Partner and Sky Market Travels as Travelling Partner. Organizers say conversations are already underway with returning and new sponsors ahead of the 2026 season, as the tournament’s expanded scale — nationwide venues, a longer season and three separate finals — offers significantly greater visibility for partners.

BROADCAST AND COVERAGE

As in previous years, Ball Blaster 2026 will be broadcast live via Sri Lankan Sports TV and PEO Sports, with matches also available on YouTube and across Sri Lankan Sports TV’s digital platforms.

For sponsorship and partnership enquiries, contact: Pasindu Mihiranga Sri Lankan Sports TV | Aasgard Sports (Private) Limited 0726 85 18 18 marketing@srilankansportstv.com

www.srilankansportstv.com

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Football

Jaswar Umar Hails FIFA Series as Turning Point for Sri Lankan Football

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Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar has described the inaugural FIFA Series in Colombo as a major milestone for the country’s football development, saying the tournament has given Sri Lanka renewed confidence and a stronger connection with the international game.

Umar, who has been involved in efforts to strengthen Sri Lankan football administration and development, said hosting the tournament demonstrated that developing football nations could compete on the global stage when given meaningful opportunities.

The FIFA Series, held in Colombo in March 2024, brought Sri Lanka together with Bhutan, Papua New Guinea and the Central African Republic. The four participating nations represented three different confederations, giving Sri Lanka an unusual opportunity to face teams with different playing styles.

Sri Lanka completed its campaign unbeaten, drawing 0-0 against Papua New Guinea and defeating Bhutan 2-0. Umar said the matches provided valuable experience for the national team and helped players adapt to different forms of international competition.

DOHA, QATAR – DECEMBER 17: FIFA President Gianni Infantino with Football Federation of Sri Lanka President Jaswar Umar during a meeting on December 17, 2024 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Serhat Akin/FIFA)

He stressed that the benefits extended beyond the football field. Sri Lankan officials involved in administration, technical operations, media, medical services and event management gained practical experience in organising matches to international standards.

The Racecourse Ground also received an important upgrade through assistance from FIFA’s Forward Programme. The renovation enabled the historic Colombo venue to host international football and created improved facilities for future events.

Umar said one of the most important achievements was bringing international football closer to Sri Lankan supporters. Young fans were able to watch national players compete against foreign opposition in their own city, helping to inspire a new generation.

He thanked FIFA and its President Gianni Infantino for supporting developing football nations.

According to Umar, the FIFA Series has left Sri Lanka with more than match results. It has provided international experience, stronger administrative capabilities, improved infrastructure and, most importantly, renewed belief in the future of Sri Lankan football.

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Cricket

Dulani’s sparkling century powers Sri Lanka to thrilling victory

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Imesha Dulani stole the spotlight with a sensational unbeaten century as Sri Lanka Women chased down a formidable target of 177 to register a convincing six-wicket victory over Pakistan Women in the first T20I worked off at Dambulla international Stadium.

Pakistan looked set for victory after posting a competitive 176 for 7 in their 20 overs. Captain Muneeba Ali gave the innings early momentum with a fluent 42 off 24 balls, while Shawaal Zulfiqar anchored the innings superbly with a brilliant 63 from 41 deliveries, striking 10 fours and a six. Eman Naseer added a valuable 21, while Ayesha Zafar and Saira Jabeen played aggressive cameos in the closing overs to push Pakistan to an above-par total.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Kavisha Dilhari leading the way with two dismissals. Chamudi Praboda, Sugandika Kumari and Kawya Kavindi chipped in with one wicket apiece, while disciplined fielding produced two crucial run-outs.

The chase belonged entirely to Dulani, who delivered the innings of the match. Displaying confidence, composure and a wide range of attacking strokes, she remained unbeaten on 101 from just 64 balls, smashing 17 boundaries and a six. Her innings combined elegance with controlled aggression, ensuring Sri Lanka stayed ahead of the required rate throughout the chase.

Captain Chamari Athapaththu provided the ideal platform with a sparkling 39 off 22 balls, adding 78 for the opening wicket before Nashra Sandhu broke the partnership. Although Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals in the middle overs, Dulani remained firmly in control, rotating the strike effectively before accelerating when it mattered most.

Kavisha Dilhari contributed 11 valuable runs, while Nilakshika Silva remained unbeaten on nine as Sri Lanka reached 177 for 4 in 19 overs, sealing victory with six balls to spare.

Pakistan spinner Nashra Sandhu finished with two wickets, but she could do little to halt Dulani’s memorable knock.

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