Sports

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.

adaderana

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.

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 Lankan athlete Tharushi Karunarathna wins the Gold medal in the 800m women’s event at the Asian Under 20 Junior Athletic Championships being held in Yecheon, South Korea.

Tharushi Karunaratne with a timing of (2.05.63) won the Gold medal.

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

Former Captain Angelo Mathews today became the third Sri Lankan to score 7,000 Test runs.

Mathews reached the milestone after scoring 47 runs in the first innings of the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch.

Only two other Sri Lankans have scored more runs than Mathews in the country’s Test history.

During his innings, Mathews also surpassed the Test runs tally of former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya.

Jayasuriya retired from Test cricket after scoring 6,973 runs.

Kumar Sangakkara with 12,400 runs and Mahela Jayawardene with 11,814 runs lead the Test run scorers tally for Sri Lanka.

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.

Sri Lanka Cricket said that at the disciplinary inquiry carried out by the three-member inquiry panel into the alleged violations by the nationally contracted player, Chamika Karunaratne, for breaching several clauses in the Player Agreement during the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup held in Australia, Karunaratne had pledged guilty for all charges levelled against him.

Considering the seriousness of the violations committed by Karunaratne, the Inquiry Panel by its report has recommended to the Executive Committee of the SLC to strongly warn the player to refrain from further violations and to impose a punishment that will not have an impact on his cricketing career.

Subsequent to the said findings and recommendations of the inquiry panel the Executive Committee of SLC has handed a one-year ban from taking part in all forms of Cricket, and the said ban will be suspended for a period of one year.

And further to the said suspended sentence a fine of USD 5,000/- was also imposed against Karunaratne.