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Sri Lanka’s top order batter Pathum Nissanka on Friday (Feb.09) stroked the maiden double-century hit by a Sri Lankan cricketer in ODI format.

Nissanka scored 210 off just 139 balls to register the first-ever individual double century for the Lions.

The 25-year-old will go down in the ODI history as the 12th player to hit a double-century in international cricket.

A short while ago, the star opener played a delightful knock against Afghanistan in the first ODI at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Sri Lanka were 370/2 when Nissanka reached this historic milestone.

Meanwhile, Nissanka also broke the record 189 runs scored by Sanath Jayasuriya against India in Sharjah in 2000, which remained the highest ODI score amassed by a Sri Lankan for over 20 years.

This also re-writes the history as the highest number of runs scored by a Sri Lankan player at a home playground breaking the record.

The title to hold the highest score in the world’s ODI history is held by Rohit Sharma, who slammed 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014.

Sri Lanka won an Asian Games medal in athletics for the first time in 17 years earlier this evening.

Sri Lanka’s Nadeesha Dilhani Lekamge bagged silver in the women’s javelin throw in the ongoing Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China.

Sri Lanka’s Nadeesha Lekamge bagged silver with a personal-best throw of 61.57m.

Incidentally, this is Sri Lanka's first ever Asian Games medal in athletics after Susanthika Jayasinghe won a medal back in 2006.

India's Annu Rani claimied the gold medal in the women’s javelin throw event while Huihui Lyu of China won bronze.

Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets to win the only test match between the two nations, in Colombo.

Afghanistan, batting first, were bundled out for a modest 198 runs. Opening batsman Rahmat Shah top-scored with a fighting 91, but the Sri Lankan bowling attack, led by the pace of Vishwa Fernando (4 wickets) and the spin of Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya (3 wickets each), proved too strong.

In reply, Sri Lanka piled on a mammoth 439 runs, building a commanding lead. Veteran Angelo Mathews anchored the innings with a masterful 141, while Dinesh Chandimal provided valuable support with a fluent 107. Opener Dimuth Karunaratne also chipped in with a solid 77. Despite Naveed Zadran's four-wicket haul for Afghanistan, the Sri Lankan batting line-up proved too deep and diverse.

Set an improbable target of 443, Afghanistan could only manage 296 in their second innings. While young Ibrahim Zadran impressed with a fighting 114 and Rahmat Shah continued his good form with a brisk 54, the Sri Lankan bowling attack maintained their stranglehold.

Chasing 56 runs to win, Sri Lanka reached target in less than 10 overs, winning the game by 10 wickets and a day to spare.

Former Zimbabwe cricket team captain Heath Streak dies at 49, his wife Nadine confirmed via a social media post on Sunday. A couple of weeks ago, the news of Streak’s demise had emerged on social media via his former teammate Henry Olonga. However, the news turned out to be false, with Olonga himself taking a U-turn, suggesting the former Zimbabwe skipper was alive. However, the news of the legendary cricketer’s death this time was confirmed by his wife.

“In the early hours of this morning, Sunday the 3rd of September 2023, the greatest love of my life and the father of my beautiful children, was carried to be with the Angels from his home where he wished to spend his last days surrounded by his family and closest loved ones. He was covered in love and peace and did not walk off the Park alone. Our souls are joined for eternity Streaky. Till I hold you again,” his wife Nadine Streak wrote on Facebook. John Rennie, a former Zimbabwe international, also confirmed the news to Sportstar. He said: “He passed away in the early hours of the morning at his farm at Matabeleland. He was surrounded by his family and loved ones. He died peacefully after a long fight with cancer...”.

Streak, who was battling liver cancer for a long time, was one of the most decorated cricketers of his time, representing Zimbabwe in 65 Tests, 189 ODIs while scoring 4933 runs and taking 455 wickets for his country across formats. Streak, till date, remains the only player from Zimbabwe with a double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in Tests and 2000 runs and 200 wickets in ODIs. A number of his records still inspire cricketers, not just in Zimbabwe but across the world.

Source - NDTV

--Agencies

Sri Lanka women’s skipper Chamari Athapaththu has been named as the Captain of the ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year for 2023.

According to the ICC, the veteran Sri Lankan started the year with a Player of the Match performance in Cape Town in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, smashing 68 off 50 balls to help Sri Lanka beat South Africa by three runs.

The big upset win set the tone for a remarkable year for Sri Lanka women and Athapaththu was at the forefront of it all.

She finished with 470 runs in the year, scoring at a quicker-than-usual strike rate of 130.91. With 15 sixes in the year, she also hit a personal high in Women’s T20Is.

In the second half of the year, Athapaththu hit a purple patch, recording an unbeaten 80 in 47 balls in Colombo to help Sri Lanka pull back a win in the three-match series against New Zealand.

Athapaththu’s assault blew the White Ferns attack away as Sri Lanka went on to chase 141 with all 10 wickets to spare.

She then went on to play a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s series triumph over England in England.

The remaining members of the team are Beth Mooney (wk) (Australia), Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa), Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Nat Sciver-Brunt (England), Amelia Kerr (New Zealand), Ellyse Perry (Australia), Ash Gardner (Australia), Deepti Sharma (India), Sophie Ecclestone (England), and Megan Schutt (Australia).

Read more : https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/world-cup-stars-dominate-icc-women-s-t20i-team-of-the-year-for-2023 (NewsWire/ ICC)

Sri Lanka Cricket has selected a 15-member squad to take part in the Asia Cup 2023.

Dasun Shanaka - Captain 
Kusal Mendis - Vice Captain
Pathum Nissanka
Dimuth Karunaratne
Kusal Janith Perera
Charith Asalanka
Dhananjaya de Silva
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Maheesh Theekshana
Dunith Wellalage
Matheesha Pathirana
Kasun Rajitha
Dushan Hemantha
Binura Fernando
Pramod Madushan

Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, and Lahiru Kumara, who were selected in the original squad, will not take part owing to injuries.

Binura Fernando and Pramod Madushan’s names have been sent to the Ministry of Sports and Youth for approval, as they were late inclusions to replace injured players.

Kusal Janith Perera is recovering from a “flu’, which he suffered, and will join the squad once fully recovered.

The Asia Cup 2023 begins on August 30 and will run until September 17.

TV1, as part of the Champion Network, brings you the action live holding the official broadcasting rights of the tournament for Sri Lanka.

India’s seamers tore through Sri Lanka’s batting lineup, who had no answer to the swing and seam exploits of Bumrah, Siraj and Shammi.

Registering a 302-run win against Sri Lanka after piling up a mammoth total of 357-8, India becomes the first team to qualify for the Semi Finals of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

Mohammed Shami took four wickets after Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah rattled the top-order of Sri Lankan batting line-up at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

Siraj scalped three wickets after Bumrah struck on the first ball of the innings to put Sri Lanka under pressure and Shami only added to the problems of the Kusal Mendis-led side, who were totaled out for a paltry score of 55 runs.

This was Sri Lanka’s second successive lowest score against India after the islanders were bowled out for 50 in the Asia Cup final, in the run-up to the World Cup.

India, who are unbeaten in the tournament, cruised into the semifinals.

Kohli made 88 while opener Shubman Gill hit 92 as India completed a seventh win in seven games.

The pair were out in quick succession after they had shared a stand of 189 following the second-ball exit of India captain Rohit Sharma. But Shreyas Iyer kept the runs coming at the Wankhede Stadium with a blistering 82 off just 56 balls including six superbly struck sixes.

He eventually holed out off Dilshan Madushanka, the left-arm quick finishing with 5-80, as he became the leading bowler at the World Cup with 18 wickets.

Rohit leg-glanced Madushanka’s first ball of the match for four after India were sent into bat.

But Madushanka’s second ball cut off the seam before crashing into Rohit’s off stump.

Sri Lanka could have had India three wickets down early on but missed both Gill and Kohli.

Gill was on eight when a diving Charith Aslanka dropped a difficult catch at backward point following a slashing drive off Madushanka.

Next over, Kohli was reprieved on 10 when Dushmantha Chameera was unable to cling on to a return catch off a leading edge

Those misses proved costly, Kohli completing a run-a-ball fifty featuring eight boundaries.

Gill, keeping pace with Kohli, reached the landmark in 55 balls before hitting the first six of the match when he pulled Chameera over midwicket.

But the 24-year-old fell in sight of a hundred when caught behind by wicketkeeper and Sri Lanka skipper Kusal Mendis trying to uppercut Madushanka.

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Sri Lankan sprinter Tharushi Karunarathna on Sunday (July 16) set an Asian record and a national record at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championship being worked off in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 19-year-old clocked a time of 2:00:06 to clinch the Gold medal in women’s 800m event, ahead of Gayanthika Abeyrathna who finished third to win the Bronze medal with a time of 2:03:25.

Karunarathna holds the record for both 400m and 800m events at the All-Island School Games 2019 while being the Gold medalist for both events. She also holds the record for the 800m at the Sir John Tarbot Senior Championships 2019 and is the Gold medalist for both 400m and 800m events. She was awarded the best female athlete under 16 at the provincial meet in 2019.

Last month, Karunarathna clinched the Gold medal in the women’s 800m event and the Silver medal in the women’s 400m competition at the 20th Asian Under-20 Junior Athletic Championships 2023 currently in Yecheon, South Korea.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan team – consisting of Tharushi Karunarathna, Aruna Dharshana, Tharushi Karunarathna, Kalinga Kumarage and Nadeesha Ramanayake – on Saturday (July 15) bagged the Silver medal in 4x400 mixed relay at 2023 Asian Athletics Championship.

Ramanayake on Thursday (July 13) won a Gold medal for the country in the Women’s 400m event at the Asian Athletics Championship 2023, while Abeyratne and Lekamge claimed the Bronze in women’s 1,500-metre event and women’s javelin throw, respectively.

The 13-member Sri Lankan athletic team, led by Abeyratne, left for Bangkok on July 09, to take part in the championship which will be held at the Supachalasai National Stadium in Bangkok from 12 – 16 July.

South Africa defeated New Zealand 12-11 in the Rugby World Cup final to win their fourth title and become the dominant force in tournament history.

Captained by their first black Test captain Siya Kolisi, the Springboks overcame a numerical disadvantage for the majority of the match after New Zealand captain Sam Cane was red-carded for a high tackle in the 27th minute.

South Africa took a 9-3 lead into half-time thanks to three penalties from Handre Pollard. New Zealand rallied in the second half, with Richie Mo'unga kicking a penalty before Beauden Barrett scooped up a loose ball and slid in for a try to cut the lead to 12-11.

Both teams pushed for a decisive score in the final quarter, but neither could find one. Jordie Barrett missed a long-range penalty in the 73rd minute, and the Springboks held on for a thrilling victory.

This victory means that the Springboks have won half of the eight Rugby World Cups they have taken part in. They were absent from the first two editions due to the apartheid government, but they have since become one of the most successful teams in the tournament's history.

Under Kolisi's leadership, the Springboks have also become a symbol of unity and hope for South Africans of all races. Their victory in the Rugby World Cup final is a significant moment in the country's history, and it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and coaches involved.

New Zealand's Four-Year Reign as Head Coach Ends Just Short of the Ultimate Prize

Ian Foster's four-year reign as New Zealand head coach comes to an end just short of the ultimate prize. The All Blacks were under pressure in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup after dipping below their usual high standards.

Foster's team started the tournament well, winning their first three pool matches. However, they were beaten by England in the semi-final, and they were then narrowly defeated by South Africa in the final.

Foster's future as head coach is now uncertain. He is likely to come under pressure from the New Zealand Rugby Union to resign, especially given that the All Blacks have not won the Rugby World Cup since 2011.

Sri Lanka have beaten the Netherlands by 128 runs in the final of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers on Sunday at Harare Sports Club.

Sri Lanka — who remained unbeaten in the Super Six stage — posted 233 on the scoreboard while batting first. Sahan Arachchige top-scored for the Lankan Tigers scoring 57 off 71 deliveries.

The Netherlands could not stand in front of Sri Lanka’s bowling as they were all-out for just 105 runs. Only three Dutch batters managed to score into double figures.

-Agencies-

Sri Lanka's Tharushi Karunaratne won the GOLD medal in the Women's 800m spritn at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

She clocked a time of 2 minutes 3 point two zero seconds to win Gold.

Incidentally, this is Sri Lanka's first medal in the 800m at an Asian Games.

India won Silver, and China claimed the Bronze medal.

This is also Sri Lanka's first ever Gold Medal in athletics at the Asain Games after 2002.

Australia has won its maiden World Test Championship title after beating India by 209 runs in the final at The Oval.

Chasing 444 for victory, India were all out for 234 shortly before lunch on day five on Sunday after losing seven wickets on the final morning

The triumph makes Australia the first team to have won world titles in all three formats of the game, with Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and David Warner completing their own triple crowns.