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Sri Lanka’s men’s team will tour Bangladesh during March–April this year to take part in an all-format tour.

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By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka’s bulldozing of a lack luster Afghanistan on its 3-leg tour continued by Wanindu Hasaranga’s men recording a second straight success by a 72-run humiliation on Monday to already pocketing the T20 series with one to go, in clean sweeping the touring team in all three formats with former captain Angelo Mathews delivering the Player of the Match knock out punch by a blistering 22-ball unbeaten 42 powered by 4 over the top and 2 boundaries and 2 wickets to boot in a defining all-round performance as Sri Lanka pummeled 187 for 6 on a concerted performance by the top order with Sadeera Samarawickrama at No. 4 starring in the lead playmaker tempo setting role with a top score of 51 off 42 piercing the boundary on five occasions at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.

Afghanistan was shot out for 115 in 17 overs as the Lankans rubbed in the salt of a terrible tour for the touring team whose reputation of shockers has taken a bad beating with the final game becoming just a formality with the Sri Lankans having asserted themselves in reviving a dented one-day image with the successes particularly in the short format ODI and T20 exchanges coming for the hosts in a conspicuous revamping under new captains in vindicating such a change by the national selectors headed by former opening batsman Upul Tharanga.

The high point of Monday’s victory was the 66-run sixth-wicket bonding between Mathews and Samarawickrama off 38 balls with the former captain reaching his element in accounting for the major share of 42 as he erupted in the fireworks of bludgeoning the Afghan attack at will.

A noteworthy feature was seeing skipper Wanindu Hasaranga displaying his penchant as a game captain ever willing to gamble in promoting himself up the order at No.5 to striking 22 off just 9 deliveries sending 2 to the stands and a boundary having come in with the score on 3 for 86 after 9.5 overs after Dhananjaya de Silva exited for a run a ball 14 in the one drop role after both openers fell in quick succession in the space of 4 runs in adding an invaluable run a ball 37 for the third-wicket with Samarawickrama. But Pathum Nissanka 25 off 11 with 5 boundaries, and Kusal Mendis 23 off 14 with 4 boundaries, had played their part smashing 45 between them off 3.5 overs in a power play exhibition.

 CHIEF SCORES

Sri Lanka 187/6 (20 Overs)

(Sadeera Samarawickrama 51, Angelo Mathews n.o. 42, Pathum Nissanka 25, Kusal Mendis 23, Wanindu Hasaranga 22, Dhananjaya de Silva 14, Mohammad Nabi 2/25, Azmatullah Omarzai 2/40, Fazalhaq Farooqi 1/31, Naveen-ul-Haq 1/46)

Afghanistan 115 (17 Overs)

(Karim Janat 28, Mohammad Nabi 27, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 13, Ibrahim Zadran 10, Angelo Mathews 2/9, Binura Fernando 2/18, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/19, Matheesha Pathirana 2/22, Dasun Shanaka 1/17, Maheesh Theekshana 1/30)

The post Sri Lanka’s bulldozing of Afghanistan in all three formats continues with 72-run win in second T20 appeared first on Sri Lanka Cricket.

In a game that batting is all abut the daring in dictating outcomes, particularly in the biff bang T20 format, Wanindu Hasaranga lived up to his reputation of the derring-do in as few outings in wearing the big boots to a typically captain marvel anointment hitting Sri Lanka out of trouble from 55 for 4 to a nerve wracking 4-run victory over Afghanistan by a characteristic firing from the hip scintillating 32-ball 67 packed with 7 boundaries and 3 over the top to go 1-up in the 3-match series on Sunday at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.

The Hasaranga impact ultimately prevailed in a dramatic run-shootout of see sawing fortunes as a threatening Afghanistan sitting pretty on 68 for 2 after 7.5 overs was checked by fast man Matheesha Pathirana, a find who stepped in from a conspicuous role of impermanency in the Lankan  cast who more or less thrived on his IPL Chennai Indians reputation by a spectacular 4 for 27 take to pipping his captain to the Player of the Match award in pinning the opponents to 156 for 9 in their allotted overs despite a fighting unbeaten 67 off 55 containing 8 boundaries by the Afghanistan skipper Ibrahim Zadran.  

Indeed, Hasaranga walked the hype of an odds against electrification with Afghanistan in control at that stage in a decimation of the top order four. Pathum Nissanka went for 6, Kusal Mendis 10, both of whom removed by the hostile Fazalhaq Farooqi.  Dhananjaya de Silva was the only one of them to get to a substantial 24 while Charith Asalanka fell for 3, back in the pavilion in the space of 7.2 overs. The Lankan skipper blasted

 72 off 41 deliveries for the fifth-wicket, 52 of which from his bat, together with Sadeera Samarawickrama who rose to the task in an ever growing Mr. Reliable role run a ball 25 with 3 boundaries. He continued his dominant role accounting for 33 of 39 off just 11 for the sixth-wicket together with Angelo Mathews whose contribution was just 6 in completing a glorious task of bringing his side right back into contention to the ultimate 160 exiting with the score on 146 in 16 overs.

Next man in, the recalled Dasun Shanaka former captain contributed 6 as Sri Lanka’s innings ended one short of the 20 overs, but the Lankan skipper had accomplished his winning task, the magnitude of his herculean role illustrated by the fact that five of the specialist batsmen of 6 failed to reach double figures. 

CHIEF SCORES:

Sri Lanka 160 (20 Overs)

(Wanindu Hasaranga 67, Sadeera Samarawickrama25, Dhananjaya de Silva 24, Kusal Mendis 10, 

Fazalhaq Farooqi 3/25, Naveen-ul-Haq 2/25)

Afghanistan 156/9 (20 Overs)

(Ibrahim Zadran n.o. 67, Karim Janat 20, Gulbadin Naib 16, Rahmatullah GurbazMatheesha Pathirana 4/24, Dasun Shanaka 2/17, Angelo Mathews 1/16, Wanindu Hasaranga 1/20, Maheesh Theekshana 1/31) 

The post Wanindu Hasaranga, 67 off 32, hits Sri Lanka out of trouble to dramatic victory appeared first on Sri Lanka Cricket.

Media Release

The 5th edition of the Lanka Premier League 2024 will be held this year from July 1st to 21st. The five-team competition will consist of a total of 24 games.

The first round will have 20 matches, while the final round will have 4 matches, including qualifier 1 & 2 and the eliminator. Each team will consist a minimum of 20 players and a maximum of 24 players with 6 overseas players.

The Lanka Premier League, Sri Lanka’s topmost T20 domestic competition with an international flavor, is a much-awaited competition among cricket lovers.

The post Lanka Premier League 2024 Starts July 1st! appeared first on Sri Lanka Cricket.

On the Series Win

We are in a better place as a team; we did a lot of good things. There were good all-round performances, covering bowling, batting, and fielding, which helped us win the series.

On his ODI target for 2024

The idea is to contribute the best to my team. That’s my target.

On conditions

These are very good wickets that we are playing on. We didn’t get these kinds of surfaces to bat on previously. It improves the batsmen’s game, and bowlers too learn to bowl on these types of wickets.

About his double hundred

I had a dream to score a double hundred. I didn’t think I could do it this early. Very pleasing. Great support from the team. I want to minimize my mistakes and keep improving.

Game plan during the run chase of the 3rd ODI

We just wanted to bat the first ten overs and get a good start for the team. We wanted to put the team in a good position, and we were successful.

The most challenging Afghan bowler

They have a decent attack. No particular bowler as such. 

About playing Test Cricket

I prefer Test cricket most. If I get another chance, I would like to grab that opportunity with both hands.

His favorite batsman on the team

I take all the positives from my teammates. There are things that I cannot do, and I learn from others.

Wearing Jersey Number 18

I chose number 18 because my birthday is on May 18.

His Goal as a Cricketer 

I would like to be the best batsman in the world. I will do my best for that. 

Fans

We love our fans, and we thank them for coming and supporting us. Thanks to all the fans for turning up in numbers. 

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Media Release

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is deeply saddened by the death of Mr. Trevor Rajaratnam, who was the former Vice President of the SLC. Rajaratnam, who was also a former treasurer of Sri Lanka Cricket, did a yeomen service to the game of cricket in Sri Lanka as an administrator.

Sri Lanka’s Cricket fraternity remains indebted to him for the valuable services he rendered for the game in the country. We wish to express our condolences to Trevor’s family, friends, and relatives at this moment of sadness.

The post Former Sri Lanka Cricket Vice President Trevor Rajaratnam Passes Away appeared first on Sri Lanka Cricket.

Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee selected the below-given 16-member squad to take part in the T20I series against Afghanistan. The Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Honorable Harin Fernando, approved the squad. The T20I games will be held on February 17th, 19th, and 21st at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium. The matches will start at 19h00.

The Squad

1.Wanindu Hasaranga – Captain
2.Charith Asalanka -Vice Captain
3.Pathum Nissanka
4.Kusal Mendis
5.Dhananjaya De Silva
6.Kusal Janith Perera
7.Angelo Mathews
8.Dasun Shanaka
9.Maheesh Theekshana
10.Binura Fernando
11.Matheesha Pathirana
12.Dilshan Madushanka
13.Nuwan Thushara
14.Akila Dananjaya
15.Kamindu Mendis
16.Sadeera Samarawickrama

Note to Editors
Dushmantha Chameera: He was selected but will not play as he is recovering from the injury
sustained during the ODI series. Binura Fernando came in place of Chameera.

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Sri Lanka roared to a smashing 155-run win over Afghanistan to take the 3-match ODI series by two straight annihilations with one to go yesterday at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium on a brilliant batting and bowling performance with middle order batsman Charith Asalanka playing a lead role unbeaten 97 off 74 balls powered by 9 boundaries and 2 over the top in a total of 308 for 6 off 50 overs, and the dance magic 4-wicket burst by wily leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga. It was perfected by an upfront sparkling captain’s innings of 61 off 65 by Kusal Mendis inclusive of 6 boundaries and a six, and Sadeera Samarawickrama 52 off 61 with 3 boundaries and Janith Liyanage, in only his third appearance driving it home with a 48-ball 50 inclusive of 2 over the top and across.

It was the ideal script for the host nation in breaking the back of Afghanistan and denting its reputation in the biff bang game to outgunning oppositions by its batting strongpoint which on Sunday came apart in the face of a clinical Lankan bowling attack fronted by Wanindu Hasaranga whose fantastic 4 for 27 haul off 6.5 overs was the nailing point to that victory as the visitors crashed to 153 off 37 overs from a healthy 128 for 2 by off 26.2 overs with the lending atom of the pace duo of Asitha Fernando 2 for 23 and Dilshan Madushanka 2 for 28 in that routing as Afghanistan lost the last 8 wickets for just 25 runs.

Hasaranga hastened Afghanistan’s end in that top order breakthrough of Rahmanullaj Gurbaz for 8 caught behind by Mendis, one drop Rahmat Shah for 63 (69b, 7×4) plumb  leg before wicket after Asitha Fernando had done up Ibrahim Zadran for 54 (76b, 6×4) giving Mendis his second caught behind, and driving it to boot by nailing the Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi clean bowling him for a duck in a 4 for 146 torpedo in 29.5 overs that reached its climax with the last 4 wickets crashing for the addition of one run with Hasaranga accounting for two of them finishing it off in 33.5 overs trapping Gulbadin Naib leg before wicket for a duck in the wake of claiming the eighth wicket of Mohammad Nabi  in similar fashion for 1 with Dilshan Madushanka in between claiming successive wickets of Qais Ahmad caught by Nissanka for 1 and Noor Ahmad leg before wicket for a duck.

The Lankan innings on winning the toss reached top gear cornerstone of 139 for 3 after 27.2 overs rallied by a third-wicket 103-bonding fronted by skipper Kusal Mendis and two drop Sadeera Samarawickrama off 115 balls from a shaky start of 1 for 19 by the loss of Pathum Nissanka for 18 leg before wicket to Azmatullah Omarzai in 4 overs, and 2 for 36 after 8.3 overs when Avishka Fernando a Fazalhaq Farooqi victim held by Naib for 5. Shortly after Mendis himself went making it 147 for 4 in 28.3 overs that followed the advent of Charith Asalanka and Janith Liyanage in a fifth-wicket 111 flurry off 98 with the latter departing with the score on 258 for 5 after 44.5 overs. It followed a half century flourish for the next wicket off 25 balls between Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga 14 off 13 (2×4) taking Sri Lanka past 300.

It was the second occasion Charith Asalanka had missed a deserving dream century in as many matches following an unbeaten 90 odd in a winning cause against the series against Zimbabwe.

CHIEF SCORES:

Sri Lanka 308/6 (50 Overs)

(Charith Asalanka n.o. 97, Kusal Mendis 61, Sadeera Samarawickrama 52, Janith Liyanage 50, Pathum Nissanka 18, Wanindu Haaranga 14, Azmatullah Omarzai 3/56, Fazalhaq Farooqi 1/55, Noor Ahmad 1/54, Qais Ahmad 1/55).

Afghanistan 153 (33.5 Overs)

(Rahmat Shah 63, Ibrahim Zadran 54, Wanindu Hasaranga 4/27, Asitha Fernando 2/23, Dilshan Madushanka 2/28, Pramod Madushan 1/37)

The post Sri Lanka drubs Afghanistan by 155 runs to clinch series – Charith Asalanka Player of the Match 97 n.o., Wanindu Hasaranga 4/27 appeared first on Sri Lanka Cricket.

Sri Lanka Cricket will facilitate the Uganda National Team for a 14-day training camp, which will be conducted in Sri Lanka.
The facilitation will include the allocation of an international ground (GICS, Galle), the allocation of a team from the High Performance Center Development Squads to play seven T20 games, and providing match-related logistics, such as umpires, scorers, match meals, medical support, and other relevant assistance at the ground. The internal transportation of the Uganda national team will also be provided by Sri Lanka Cricket.
Sri Lanka Cricket’s facilitation comes as a goodwill gesture for an Associate member of the International Cricket Council.
The Uganda national team was facilitated following a request made by the Ugandan Cricket Association from the Speaker of Sri Lanka Parliament, Honorable Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, when the honorable speaker attended the 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth held in Uganda from January 3 to 6, 2024. The team arrived in the country this morning.

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