Cricket

Sri Lanka's resurgence in limited-overs cricket has given captain Charith Asalanka a "good headache" as he faces a wealth of batting talent vying for spots in the top order. The team's recent 2-1 ODI series victory over the West Indies marked their third consecutive white-ball series triumph, following wins against the Windies in T20Is and India in ODIs.Nishan Madushka's impressive form has been a revelation for Sri Lanka. The opener scored 38 and 69 in the two ODIs he played, replacing the injured Pathum Nissanka. Nissanka returned to the side in the final ODI and struck a half-century.With Madushka, Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, and Kusal Perera all in solid form, there is intense competition for the top three batting positions. Asalanka believes this will make it difficult for the team management to select the squad for upcoming matches."I'm very happy about Nishan Madushka's form. If we have a player in that kind of form on the bench, that's a big win for us. Now when we go into a selection meeting, we've got good headaches. The selectors, coach, and I have a tough time choosing a team," Asalanka said.The captain also praised the National Super League (NSL) for helping him regain his form. "In the last series, against India, I wasn't in form. But I played the NSL tournament and got an excellent result out of that. We've got to thank the board for holding the NSL. It's a tournament that has a competitive level of cricket," he said.Sri Lanka will next face New Zealand in two T20Is and three ODIs, starting on November 9 in Dambulla. After that, the team will travel to South Africa for two Tests from November 27.

The third and final ODI between Sri Lanka and West Indies commenced with West Indies captain Shai Hope electing to bowl first. The West Indies made two changes to their lineup, bringing in Evin Lewis and Matthew Forde, while Sri Lanka remained unchanged.Matthew Forde opened the bowling for West Indies and immediately impressed, conceding only 1 run in his first over. However, Jayden Seales struggled at the other end, conceding 14 runs in his first two overs. Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando got Sri Lanka off to a solid start, scoring 24 runs in the first four overs.Seales finally found his rhythm in the fifth over, bowling a maiden. However, Nissanka broke the shackles in the next over, hitting a boundary off Alzarri Joseph. Fernando joined the party in the seventh over, smashing a glorious four off Seales.Forde continued to impress, bowling another maiden in the eighth over. Nissanka and Fernando kept the scoreboard ticking, adding 20 runs in the next three overs. Seales returned to the attack in the 12th over and conceded another boundary to Nissanka.The West Indies bowlers struggled to contain the Sri Lankan openers, who reached 50 runs in the 13th over. Nissanka and Fernando continued to dominate, scoring boundaries at regular intervals. Seales finally broke the partnership in the 17th over, dismissing Nissanka for 32.Fernando continued to play aggressively, hitting another boundary off Joseph in the 18th over. However, he was dismissed in the next over by Seales, caught by King for 24. Sri Lanka reached 80 runs in the 20th over, with Charith Asalanka and Dinesh Chandimal at the crease.

Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka Unleashes Batting Fury in Dambulla T20ISri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka set the Dambulla International Stadium ablaze with an extraordinary display of strokeplay in the second T20I against the West Indies on Tuesday. The left-handed opener's blistering knock in the fourth over of the innings left the crowd in awe and sent shockwaves through the opposition.Nissanka's onslaught began with a stroke of luck. He mistimed a heave off Shamar Joseph's first delivery, but the ball deflected off his pads and rolled to the boundary for four leg byes. This fortunate start seemed to ignite a fire within Nissanka, who proceeded to unleash a barrage of boundaries.On the next ball, Nissanka danced down the track and lofted a 138kmph length ball elegantly over extra cover. The following delivery was pulled with brute force over backward square leg, leaving the fielder stranded. Three boundaries were now on the trot, and Nissanka wasn't done yet.The very next ball was drilled straight down the ground through wide mid-off, causing the crowd to erupt in cheers. With Joseph visibly shaken, Nissanka took full advantage. The over culminated in style as Nissanka waited on a slower back-of-length ball, dissecting the gap between backward point and short third with pinpoint precision.Six boundaries (including one leg bye) had come off the over, tallying a massive 25 runs! This blitzkrieg propelled Sri Lanka to an aggressive start, with Nissanka finishing his innings on 54 off 49 balls.Nissanka's batting masterclass in the fourth over was a testament to his exceptional talent and fearless approach. It not only set the tone for Sri Lanka's innings but also left an unforgettable mark on the match.

Sri Lanka's historic victory at The Oval in 2024 marked a significant milestone in their cricketing journey. While their 1998 triumph at the same venue remains etched in memory, the conditions faced by the 2024 team were far more challenging.Sanath Jayasuriya, a key figure in the 1998 victory, hailed the fast bowlers for their exceptional performance. Unlike the dry and sunny conditions of 1998, the 2024 match was played on a green-tinged track under cold and cloudy skies."These guys played in different conditions altogether," Jayasuriya said. "It was tough conditions, with the grass, the weather, and everything was cloudy and cold. All credit to these boys."Sri Lanka's quartet of quicks, Asitha Fernando, Milan Rathnayake, Vishwa Fernando, and Lahiru Kumara, shared 18 wickets between them. Kumara's aggressive approach and Fernando's consistency were particularly noteworthy."It's the first time we went with four fast bowlers, and we went with that because of the conditions here, and all of them went beyond 100% in their efforts," Jayasuriya said.The series also witnessed the emergence of young talents like Kamindu Mendis and Pathum Nissanka. Mendis, batting at No. 7 and 8, scored 267 runs, including a century. Nissanka's aggressive batting, particularly his 127 not out in the second innings, played a crucial role in Sri Lanka's chase."Pathum couldn't play Tests for a few years because of injuries, but he's been doing well in T20s and one-dayers," Jayasuriya said. "He played his natural game here, and I love to see him doing that."Rathnayake, who made his debut in the first Test, impressed with both his bowling and batting. He took 10 wickets and scored 72 and 43 down the order."Milan played Sri Lanka A cricket and we knew that he was a good bowler and could bat well," Jayasuriya said. "But the world didn't know he could bat. He batted really well and bowled really well right through this Test series."Sri Lanka's victory at The Oval in 2024 showcased the resilience and determination of their team. The fast bowlers' exceptional performance, coupled with the emergence of young talents, bodes well for the future of Sri Lankan cricket.

Pathum Nissanka's unbeaten half-century has put Sri Lanka in a commanding position to secure a historic victory over England in the third Test at the Oval. By the end of the third day's play, Sri Lanka had reached 94 for 1, needing just 125 more runs to seal the win and end a seven-match losing streak against England.Nissanka has been the cornerstone of Sri Lanka's batting, scoring an impressive 53 not out. He reached his second fifty of the match with a powerful drive through the covers off debutant Josh Hull. Kusal Mendis has also contributed with an unbeaten 30, including four boundaries.Sri Lanka's pursuit of a challenging target of 219 runs was made possible by Jamie Smith's counter-attacking 67. Smith's innings pulled England out of a collapse that saw them lose five wickets for 26 runs.Smith's aggressive approach provided England with a glimmer of hope for a first home Test series clean sweep since 2004. However, his dismissal on the stroke of tea, chipping a ball to short midwicket, ended England's resurgence.Vishwa Fernando played a crucial role in England's collapse, claiming three wickets for 40 runs, including the prized scalp of Joe Root for just 12. Lahiru Kumara also made a significant contribution, taking four wickets for 21 runs in seven overs.Former England captains Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook have criticized the hosts for their poor batting performance, which saw them collapse from 221-3 to 325 all out in their first innings.As Sri Lanka closes in on a potential victory, Nissanka's role has been pivotal in keeping their hopes alive for a memorable win over England.

Sri Lanka's Dhananjaya de Silva believes that his team-mates deserve more opportunities to play in county cricket in England. He believes that this would be particularly beneficial for the batters, who would gain valuable experience in English conditions.Counties have been allowed to field two overseas players in their XI in each format since 2021. However, Sri Lankan players have largely been overlooked, in part due to their touring commitments. Vishwa Fernando is the only member of the 18-man touring party to feature in the Championship this year, playing three matches for Yorkshire.Dinesh Chandimal has also expressed his desire to play county cricket, but has been unsuccessful in securing a contract. "The last few years, I wanted to get a county deal," said Chandimal, who has scored 15 Test hundreds. "I didn't get it so far. If I can do well in this series, hopefully I will be picked by one of the counties. It is my dream to play a season of county cricket."De Silva believes that playing in the Championship would be beneficial for Sri Lanka's batters. "Playing in these conditions will be better for the batsmen," he said. "We are only getting the chance while we're touring here. But if the batsmen can play county [cricket], it'll be nice for them."Sri Lanka have a three-month gap in their international schedule after the Champions Trophy, which could allow their Test players to feature in the early stages of the county season. However, Wanindu Hasaranga, who is not part of the Test squad, has been denied No-Objection Certificates by SLC to play in the Hundred.De Silva said that Sri Lanka have prepared well for the second Test at Lord's and will make two changes, with Pathum Nissanka and Lahiru Kumara replacing Kusal Mendis and Vishwa Fernando. "Overall, Pathum is the best batter in the country at the moment," said De Silva. "He has a good mindset and he has a good technique."He also played down the absence of Mark Wood, suggesting that Chris Woakes had been harder to face. "The speed is not troubling me, but the line and length," said De Silva. "The opening bowler, he bowls in one area for 20 to 30 balls and that's the problem we have: with the swinging ball, not the pace… if the plans work here, we'll get on top."

Sri Lanka's opening batsmen, Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando, got off to a solid start in the first ODI against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Wednesday. Nissanka struck a six over mid-wicket off Taijul Islam, while Fernando hit a boundary through covers off Tanzim Hasan Sakib.However, Sakib provided the breakthrough for Bangladesh, dismissing Fernando for 24. The left-arm spinner bowled a full and wide delivery outside off, which Fernando edged to the keeper.Nissanka continued to play aggressively, hitting another boundary off Sakib and a four off Shoriful Islam. He was eventually dismissed for 35, caught behind off Taijul Islam.Kusal Mendis, the Sri Lankan captain, came to the crease and played a patient innings, scoring 25 off 40 balls. He was supported by Sadeera Samarawickrama, who made 22 off 33 balls.Bangladesh's bowlers kept the Sri Lankan batsmen in check, with Taijul Islam and Shoriful Islam taking two wickets each. Taskin Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan Sakib also bowled economically.At the end of 20 overs, Sri Lanka were 105/3, with Mendis and Samarawickrama at the crease.

Sri Lanka's ODI ambitions remain undeterred despite missing out on the Super League and the Champions Trophy. Head coach Chris Silverwood emphasizes that representing the country is motivation enough for the team, especially against a competitive Bangladesh side.The rivalry between the two teams intensified during the recent T20I series, with gestures and verbal exchanges adding fuel to the fire. However, Silverwood acknowledges that the rivalry has fostered a healthy competitive edge.Sri Lanka is in the early stages of a new ODI cycle and has made a promising start with series wins against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. Silverwood aims to build on this momentum and establish a distinct style of play leading up to the next World Cup.The return of Pathum Nissanka, who recently became the first Sri Lankan to score an ODI double century, is a major boost for the team. Silverwood praises Nissanka's exceptional contributions and consistency.Another player to watch is Kamindu Mendis, who has impressed with his ambidextrous batting and ambitious stroke play. Mendis has seized his opportunities and is now vying for a permanent berth in the team.Silverwood highlights the importance of individual contributions and the team's collective effort in putting up big scores and executing their skills effectively.