Royal turn tables to win an absolute thriller
A resolute Royal team which was battered on day one, came back strongly on the third to score a seemingly impossible four wicket win over S. Thomas’ in their 137th Big Match at the SSC grounds. A team that had scored 350 for 5 in the first innings was rolled over for a paltry 127 in [...]
Cycling in a different perspective
Cycling in Sri Lanka takes place in two different formats presently — professional and recreational, with purposes of rehabilitation to be introduced under the auspices of the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka. The most popular so far has been professional cycling where most recently at the South Asian Games, Sri Lanka succeeded in winning a [...]
Prime Minister of New Zealand visits Royal Colombo Golf Club
During his extended stay in Colombo John Key, the Prime Minister of New Zealand visited Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) and was welcomed by Fredrick Jehan De Saram (President of RCGC), Ranil Pieris (Captain of RCGC), Primal Wijayanayake (Vice Captain of RCGC), Lasantha de Silva (GM of RCGC), committee, members and the management of RCGC. [...]
Mendis ‘ton’ puts Devananda on top
A sixty seven ball 116 by opening batsman Avindu Mendis with a 97 run first wicket stand with Kavindu Shehan (36) helped Sri Devananda to a strong position over Dharmasoka College on the first day of Ambalangoda’s Battle of the Blues. Rain delayed the start of the 49th big match between Dharmasoka College and Sri Devananda [...]
Another yawn at Pallekelle
It wasn’t for the first time that Vidyartha’s Ravishka Upananda has proved a thorn in Sylvestrian flesh. Yesterday, when Vidyartha was looking at the prospect of a follow on, he played a thrilling innings of 81 which contained nine fours and two sixes. Spinners Thusitha Soysa (3 for 49), and Sivakumar Tyron bore the burden of [...]
Making of a one-captain policy amid undercurrents
We all agree that the job of acting as a national selector in sports is a thankless job. When the going is good, all ships sail to the same port. But when the chips are down, it’s like a harbour with a huge rock protruding right at the ‘port’s mouth’. Yet, if you are not [...]
Kusal Janith Perera faces polygraph test
Lankan opening batsman Kusal Janith Perera who was recalled from Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand in December last year and subsequently suspended over the usage of the banned substance ‘nandrolone’ has been subjected to two more tests by the ICC, according to informed sources. It is said that the ICC authorities have carried out [...]
Cricket Big Matches in focus as rugby takes a back seat
The roads, pages, the blogs, the barstools as well as social media are more on the antics and performance of the cricket big matches these days. Rugby is on the backseat with mention of the Clifford Cup Knock-out Tournament that is commencing this week. The Clifford Cup is one of the oldest tournament presentation metals [...]
39th Battle of Kotte: Even exchanges at Moors grounds
Aided by three fruitful partnerships for the 2nd, 5th and 7th wickets St. Thomas College, Kotte closed their first innings at 193 for the loss of nine wickets on the first day in the 39th Battle of Kotte cricket encounter against their traditional rivals Sri Jayawardanepura MV at the Moors grounds yesterday. In reply Sri [...]
Peterites by eight wickets this time
An unbroken stand of 152 runs for the third wicket between Hashan Wanasekara and Lakshina Rodrigo guided St. Peter’s College to a convincing 8-wicket win against St. Joseph’s College in their annual limited overs encounter played at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday. St. Joseph’s batted first and posted 258-6 in their allotted 50 overs while [...]
66th Battle of the Golds: Cambrians fight back to save the day
The 66th Battle of the Golds between St. Sebastian’s College and Prince of Wales College ended in a stalemate, adding the 57th draw of the series, at the De Soyza Stadium in Moratuwa yesterday. The Sebastianites had the wand in their hands prior to the match but the Cambrians staved off well to end the [...]
Fourteen-year-old Sumanarathna shines for Maliyadeva
Two fine knocks by fourteen- year-old opener Supun Sumanarathna (91) and junior national star Damitha Silva (87) helped Maliyadeva College to reached 299 for 8 by the close in their drawn 33rd Battle of the Rocks encounter against St Anne’s College Kurunegala which concluded at the Welagedara Stadium Kurunegala yesterday. Sumanarathna hit 17 fours for [...]
Udyanga and Uththama overcome seniors to win Mt. Lavinia Sea Swim
For two successive years Udayanga De Silva of Madampe Central College and Uththama Silva of Mahamaya Girls School Kandy dominated to win the 79th Annual Two Mile Sea Swim of men’s and women’s individual championships at the Mt. Lavinia Beach last Sunday. Last year too these two swimmers won the events and the special feature [...]
‘Star to a scar’?
This is the week after the first round of the 2016 Davis-Cup ties around the world and there would be a lot to say about the performances of players and countries. But, publicity-wise, that is not what is happening. Instead, TV channels did not miss the charges leveled against Tennis ‘mega star’ by WADA (World [...]
Lankans win in girls and boys competitions
The 2016 Asia Oceania Under 16 , Junior Fed and Davis Cup tennis matches, commenced yesterday at the Gymkhana and SLTA courts. A total of sixteen countries took part including the host nation Sri Lanka. In the girls Fed Cup, matches that was worked out at Gymkhana courts, at the court number one, Singapore, the number [...]
Thambawita likely to take up the challenge
Pawan Dias of Royal College Panadura continues to be at the top as the leader of the All-Island Schools category in the fifth week running in the 37th Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016. However Lahiru Thambawita of Holy Cross College Kalutara has started to make inroads. Pawan expanded his lead [...]
Pakistan coach says team must rise above threats in India
LAHORE, Pakistan, March 12, 2016 (AFP) – Pakistan’s head coach Waqar Younis said a potentially hostile environment in India should motivate the country’s national cricket team as they prepare to travel to their arch-rivals turf to compete in the World Twenty20. Waqar called on his squad to rise to the challenge minutes after the Pakistani government [...]
What I Learnt from Cricket
Playing in the Royal-Thomian and wearing the Blue and Gold striped cap was the dream of every budding cricketer in the school. I first turned out for the College First XI unexpectedly in the inaugural Royal-Thomian 50 over encounter in 1975. I subsequently played in the Royal-Thomian Big Match. The journey to the Royal-Thomian was [...]
Appointing unsuitable coach a grave setback to netball
Singapore has been doing extremely well at international netball competitions. In 2012 they won the Asian Senior Netball Championships. They repeated the performance in 2014 and they have all the capabilities of winning the 2016 contest as well in the tournament to be held Thailand from July 30 to August 7. Accordingly they will bag [...]
Mahinda look to stall Richmond’s dream run
Mahinda College will go all out to prevent the strong Richmond College team from winning the Lover’s Quarrel three years in a row when they meet for the 111th time at the Galle International stadium on March 18 and 19. The toss and the weather are the major factors that will decide the outcome of [...]
‘Battle of the Gold Uva’ cricket encounter on March 18 and 19
St. Joseph’s College, under the leadership of R. M. Chanadana Ruwan, a right hand all-rounder and a fourth year player will be looking to retain their prestige against Bandarawela Central College cricketers led by Demintha Prabhath Jayaweera, a dashing left hand batsman and a seasoned fifth year player when the two teams meet in their [...]
THE TALK OF THE TOWN
The talk in town is the Big Event in the faster version of the game which has already begun in a neighbouring country and fans are waiting to see it either on TV or ‘Live’. Before our heroes left for the event a big ‘tamasha’ took place at the headquarters with even the Big Man [...]
Sitwala too good for Balachandra
Defending champion Dhruv Sitwala of India proved to be too good for his compatriot Bhaskar Balachandra as he coasted to a convincing six frames to two win in the final of the 15th Asian Billiards Championship played at Hotel Ramada in Colombo to retain the Asian title for yet another year. Balachandra who performed two giant [...]
Himasha leaves for World Indoor Athletic meet on March 15
The Athletics Association has decided to send sprinter Himasha Ehshan for the IAAF World Indoor Athletic Championships which is scheduled to take place in Portland, USA on March 17 to 20. The Sports Ministry has made a special request that Himasha should be sent for the event. Himasha and his coach Chaminda Perera is due [...]
From Ananda Mawatha to Campbell Place
‘Saga of the Maroons – A former captain’s personal reflection of Ananda-Nalanda Cricket encounters’, compiled by former Ananda Cricket captain Tilak de Silva and published by Tharanjee Prints, is a book that is virtually a ‘ball-by-ball’ description of the Ananda-Nalanda series, from its inauguration in 1924 up to the 86th encounter. It contains details of [...]
Can improved Kingswood overcome Dharmaraja ?
By common consent, Kingswood is an improved team. Yet, can they overcome a Dharmaraja side that has been a bit off-colour. The answer, in a word, is unlikely. If Kingswood succeed in performing a miracle, it will be their first win since 1958. On the other hand, the Rajans have won four of the five [...]
Preserving old traditions
On the heels of the suspension of three schoolboy cricketers comes the hooligan spectators that stood against the cricketing spirit at the big match between St. Joseph’s College and St. Peter’s College played over the weekend. Truly this big match turned to be a bog match at the end of the day. It was reported that [...]
Record sum on offer as prize money at N’ Eliya horse races on March 20
With a record sum on offer as prize money, over 60 horses will be seen in action when the newly formed Royal Turf Club (RTC) commence its races at the refurbished Nuwara Eliya Racecourse on March 20 beginning at 10.30am. For the first time in Sri Lanka’s horse racing history, a staggering amount of Rs. [...]
Kandy favourites to retain Clifford Cup for the second year running
Kandy Sports Club, are firm favourites to retain the Clifford cup for yet another year, as they will try to keep their unbeaten tag intact for the rugby season 2015/2016. Yesterday they met minnows of the Sri Lankan rugby fraternity, in the recent past: CH and FC in the quarters at Nittawela. Kandy, the league [...]
Com. Leasing ends unbeaten reign of Vallibel Finance
Commercial Leasing Co. ended the unbeaten reign of the high riding Vallibel Finance, in the 13th Ceylon Cold Stores PLC, sponsored, ‘Elephant House Lemonade’ Trophy MCA Division ‘D’ 40-over League Tournament 2016, quarter-finals worked off last weekend. Along with giant killer, Commercial Leasing the other three teams that advanced to the semis after winning their [...]
12th Sri Lanka University Games from Sept. 1 to 12
The Twelfth Sri Lanka University Games will take place from September 1 to 12 at seven venues. Sri Lanka University Sports Association (SLUSA) has decided to conduct the Games on the above mentioned dates. Twenty one sports will be included in the SLUSA Games. They are: Badminton, Basketball, Baseball, Carrom, Chess, Cricket, Elle, Hockey, Swimming, Taekwondo, [...]