LONDON, Wednesday – Six second-innings wickets from Mohammad Abbas helped Leicestershire ease to a six-wicket victory over Derbyshire go third in the Division Two of the County Championship.

Having taken two wickets late on day two to leave Derbyshire on 43-3 at stumps, the Pakistan bowler ripped through Derbyshire’s top order. Matt Critchley’s 86 was the only score of note in a total of 186 all out.

Abbas took 6-54 before Leicestershire made their target of 133 in 29.4 overs.

Middlesex were bowled out cheaply for a second time in the match as they were thrashed by 342 runs by new Division Two leaders Kent at Canterbury.

The visitors were all out for 56 on day one, with most of the damage done with the pink ball under floodlights.

Chasing 467 to win, Middlesex lost their last eight wickets in the first session of the third day - six of them to catches behind the wicket. Harry Podmore took a career-best 6-36 as Middlesex subsided to 124 all out.

Essex and Somerset seem set for a draw despite the hosts losing two late wickets at Chelmsford in Division One.

Resuming on 140-2, all of Somerset’s top-eight batsmen passed 20, but only James Hildreth (78) and opener Eddie Byrom (54) made half-centuries. Essex’s bowlers steadily made their way through Somerset’s order - Neil Wagner taking 3-122 as they were dismissed for 407 with nine overs left in the day. The hosts closed on 17-2 to lead by 127 going into the final day.

Alex Davies and Dane Vilas both scored centuries for Lancashire as they moved towards a high-scoring draw on a batsmen-friendly wicket against fellow Division One strugglers Hampshire.

Davies scored 115 and Vilas hit a fine 134 as the hosts reached 411 to trail by 40 runs after the first innings.

Hampshire ended day three on 66-2 to take a lead of 106 runs.

Warwickshire appear best placed to force victory on an intriguing final day of their match against Durham.

The visitors ended day three on 152-5 in their second innings to lead by 279.

Durham were in danger of following on in reply to Warwickshire’s 424, but Gareth Harte and Nathan Rimmington added 54 for the eighth wicket to help the hosts to 297 all out, 127 behind.

Warwicks looked in good shape with Jonathan Trott going well, but he fell for 53, keeping the hosts in touch.

The ex-England batsman, who scored 170 not out in Warwickshire’s first innings, passed the milestone of 500 County Championship runs this season. Division One leaders Surrey need 139 more runs to beat Yorkshire with all 10 second-innings wickets remaining after a Morne Morkel-inspired comeback.

Surrey trailed by 75 after the first innings despite Ollie Pope’s unbeaten 69 helping them take their overnight total from 219-7 to 267 all out. Morkel scored 29 and then took 5-39 as Yorkshire collapsed to 152 all out.

Chasing 228 to win, unbeaten duo Rory Burns (55) and Mark Stoneman (32) guided Surrey to 89-0 at the close.

Worcestershire survived a tricky 19 overs to reach 43-0 in their second innings as they chased a tough victory target of 462 against Nottinghamshire. Worcestershire took their overnight total of 215-7 to 287, meaning the hosts had a first-innings lead of 212.

Notts decided against enforcing the follow-on and piled on the runs through Jake Libby (100 not out), Samit Patel (71) and Riki Wessels (55 not out).But unbeaten openers Daryl Mitchell (19) and Martin Guptill (18) held firm.

Glamorgan go into day four staring at defeat on a precarious 121-4, after being set a mammoth 434 to win or four sessions to survive by Northants. Ricardo Vasconcelos (79) and Steven Crook (73) combined in a sixth-wicket stand of 147 in their 406-9 declared. Earlier, Ben Duckett (133) and Luke Procter (70) set a new record opening stand of 208 for Northants against Glamorgan. Ruaidhri Smith, with a career-best 4-75, helped to check their momentum.

The visitors struck a key blow late in the final session when Vasconcelos took a superb reflex catch at short-leg to dismiss Glamorgan’s in-form Australia Test batsman Usman Khawaja for 38, caught off Sri Lankan spinner Seekkuge Prasanna.

English cricket scores on Wednesday:

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP (third day of four):

FIRST DIVISION

l At Chelmsford (day/night): Essex 517-5 dec (R ten Doeschate 173 no, R Bopara 118, A Cook 96, N Browne 66) and 17-2 v Somerset 407 (J Hildreth 78, E Byrom 54)

l At Old Trafford: Hampshire 451 (R Rossouw 120 no, J Vince 103; G Onions 5-96) and 66-2 v Lancashire 411 (D Vilas 134, A Davies 115, J Clark 82)

l At Trent Bridge (day/night): Nottinghamshire 499-9 dec (C Nash 139, J Libby 88, S Patel 76, R Wessels 75 no, T Moores 56) and 249-4 dec (J Libby 100 no, S Patel 71, R Wessels 57 no) v Worcestershire 287 (R Whiteley 76; H Gurney 4-97) and 43-0

l At Scarborough: Yorkshire 342 (J Tattersall 70, G Ballance 54; J Dernbach 4-104) and 152 (M Morkel 5-39) v Surrey 267 (O Pope 69 no, R Burns 59; B Coad 5-53) and 89-0 (R Burns 55 no)

SECOND DIVISION

l At Derby (day/night): Derbyshire 245 (W Madsen 80) and 184 (M Critchley 86; Mohammad Abbas 6-54) v Leicestershire 297 (P Horton 88, A Palladino 4-64) and 133-4 (C Ackermann 58)

Leicestershire (21pts) beat Derbyshire (4pts) by 6 wkts

l At Canterbury (day/night): Kent 241 (J Fuller 4-86) and 281 (G Stewart 103, H Kuhn 57) v Middlesex 56 (G Stewart 6-22) and 124 (H Podmore 6-36)

Kent (20pts) beat Middlesex (3pts) by 342 runs

l At Chester-le-Street (day/night): Warwickshire 424 (J Trott 170 no, T Ambrose 67; M Salisbury 4-111, C Rushworth 4-101) and 152-5 (J Trott 53) v Durham 297 (C Steel 51, T Latham 50; O Hannon-Dalby 4-61)

l At Sophia Gardens: Northamptonshire 281 (A Wakely 82, R Levi 75, R Vasconcelos 56; T van der Gugten 5-45) and 406-9 dec (B Duckett 133, R Vasconcelos 79, S Crook 73, L Procter 70; R Smith 4-75) v Glamorgan 254 (U Khawaja 103) and 121-4.

Suwaris Pemachandra of Speed Arrows Cycle Club, Beruwala and D Vindya Keshani (under 19) of Super Bayroo Cycling Club, emerged champions of the Super Racing (open) (men) and Junior (Women) cycling events, respectively at the Kalutara District Cycling Championship organized by the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation and sponsored by “Threadline Sports Apparel,” Gorakana, Moratuwa which commenced from the Sri Sunanda Primary School, Waskaduwa recently.

This cycling championship was held under different age categories, comprising men and women, covering 37km in two rounds.

Here are the final results of the annual Kalutara District Cycling Championship.

Junior event (Women under 19) Champion

D Vindya Keshani (age 15)

(A student of grade 10 in Halkandawila MV Kalutara)

Junior event (men – under 19)

Kasun Thivanka Kosgoda (Aluthgama) – Champion, P D Ashen Randika (Halkandawila)

Elite Women Racing (open)

E W Niluka Shyamali (Bandaragama) Champion K L Subhasini (Aluthgama) Runner-up.

Racing Standard (under 21)

R A Tharindu Nadeera Perera, Thalpitiya, Wadduwa) – Champion, H M Lakshitha Silva (Beruwala), D L Nirmal Eranda (Aluthgama)

Elite Racing (Men) (over 23)

M A Avishka Madonza (Champion) (Super Bayroo Cycling Club), D D A B Sandun Chamara (Runner-up) (Super Bayroo Super Club), Beruwala. I Shehan Kavinda (third place) (Super Bayroo Cycling Club, Beruwala)

Winners of Junior (men) under 17

Champion (First place) (Pink coloured T-shirt) Kasun Thivanka Kosgoda (Beruwala), A student of Aluthgama MV), Runner up (Second place) P D Ashen Randika (Payagala) (A school boy)

Super Racing (open/men) (age over 23)

Suwaris Pemachandra (Champion) (Speed Arrows Cycling Club) Suresh Priyadharshana (Speed Arrows Cycling Club), Madhuka Shehan (Speed Arrows Cycling Club)

All the champions and runners-up qualified to take part in the All Island Cycling Championship organized by Sri Lanka Cycling Federation to be held at Colombo next month.

Kalutara District DSI super sports Inter-schools Volleyball championship – 2018 under 11 and 13 boys categories were held on June 17, 2018 at the Pothupitiya Maha Vidyalaya play ground Wadduwa.

This tournament was organized by the Education Department under the Guidance of the Kalutara Zonal Sports Unit sponsored by DSI Super Sports and many schools took part in this Junior categories they gathered from all parts of the Kalutara District.

The under 11 championship was won by E.W. Adhikaram MV Mudugama while the under 13 title was bagged by Govinna MV.

A fine match bag of 12 for 34 (6/6 and 6/28) by Rusiru Mendis guided his alma mater St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa to beat Moratu Vidyalaya by 95 runs on first innings in their inter school under 15 division three tournament cricket match worked off at Moratuwa.

Batting first Vidyalians were all out for 106 runs with Rusiru claiming 6 for 6 and in reply Sebs declared at 201 for 4 with Aloka Fernando and Kaveesha Silva scoring 71 and 53 runs respectively and in their second essay visitors were reeling at 59 for 9 at stumps with Rusiru capturing 6 for 28 runs.

Moratu Vidyalaya – 106 in 30.4 overs – Navindu Perera 29, Rusiru Mendis 6/6, Nisal Senanayake 2/33 and 59/9 – Rusiru Mendis 6/28, Banuka Janith 2/13.

St Sebastians – 201/4 in 46.1 overs – Aloka Fernando 71, Kaveesha Silva 53, Rahen Cooray 43.

A magnificent chanceless 100 runs by Vinuja Ranpul helped Prince of Wales College to beat St. Sebastians College Katuneriya in their inter school under 17 division one tournament cricket match played at Katuneriya.

Vinuja hit seven fours and two sixes and occupied the crease for 162 minutes and faced 82 balls. He associated first wicket partnership of 147 runs with Dinura Fernando who contributed 65 runs. This is the second century of Vinuja in this tournament.

Batting first Cambrians scored 206 for 4 and in reply Katuneriya Sebs were all out for 142 runs.

Prince of Wales – 206 for 4 in 50 overs (Vinuja Ranpul 100, Dinura Fernando 65).

St. Sebastians College Katuneriya – 142 in 49.4 overs.

Dinesh Perera 46, Shivan Peiris 28, Yasiru Ratnayake 3/26, Samadra Medis 3/26.

Sri Lanka’s troubled tour of the Caribbean ended with a win in the third and final Test that enabled the tourists to share the three-Test series one-all with one drawn. The result meant that Sri Lanka will have another long wait for their next visit to the West Indies to try and achieve a series win in the Caribbean. On their last tour too in 2008 they drew the Test series one-all. This was the first time that Sri Lanka played a three-Test series in the West Indies.

This current tour provided them with the best opportunity to break that hoodoo and secure a maiden series victory but everything went awry for the Lankans from the first Test onwards which they lost by a big margin of 226 runs at Port-of-Spain. Although they fought back in the second Test at St Lucia’s bad weather proved a stumbling block and the match ended in a draw. Prior to going into the third and final Test which was a night game at Bridgetown, Barbados the Lankans encountered a number of controversies that resulted in the captain Dinesh Chandimal having to miss the Test following a ICC suspension and fine on him for ball tampering, a hand injury to key spinner Rangana Herath and the sending off home of young leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay on disciplinary grounds.

What one can assume from all these occurrences is that it brought the team together and what we saw at Bridgetown was a determined effort put up by the eleven selected players to save face from all that they had been through over the past week or so. Entrusted with the captaincy of his country for the first time fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, the vice-captain of the team led from the front to fashion out a handsome four-wicket win for his country and ensure that the Sobers-Tissera trophy played for the Test series remained with Sri Lanka. Mind you the team didn’t have experienced batters like Angelo Mathews (on paternal leave) and Dimuth Karunaratne (injured) but yet managed to beat the West Indies who were at full strength and become the first Asian country to record a win at this venue.

Lakmal was first promoted to vice-captain during the Test series against Bangladesh in January this year following his success as captain in leading Tamil Union to win the Premier League championship after 65 years in 2015-16. With Chandimal along with coach Chandika Hathurusingha and manager Asanka Gurusinha facing further charges by the ICC for breaching the spirit of cricket by holding up the second Test for two hours and liable to be suspended from two to four Tests, Lakmal may find his new responsibilities as Test captain extended to the South African series starting next month as well.

SPINNERS TAKE A BACK SEAT

This was a series where the spinners took a back seat and the fast men from both sides dominated proceedings. Lankan spinners Herath, Dilruwan Perera and Akila Dananjaya managed only eight wickets amongst them while the pacies Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha raked in a handsome 40 wickets.

From the West Indies side their only front line spinner Devendra Bishoo picked up only four wickets from three Tests as many as part time spinner Roston Chase took in one innings of the Port-of-Spain Test. The rest of the wickets were consumed by Shannon Gabriel (20 wickets), skipper Jason Holder (12), Kemar Roach (11) and Miguel Cummins (3).

What the series proved is that if the pitches and conditions are right Sri Lanka had a pace quintet to trouble the opposition and win matches. But the big question is whether back in Sri Lanka they would get the same type of pitches they encountered in the Caribbean. With the next Test series being against South Africa at home, it would be ideal if Sri Lanka can prepare fast and green pitches with bounce so that their bowlers can continue the good work and the batsmen now having accustomed themselves to the fast bouncy surfaces of the West Indies confidently counter the likes of Rabada, Philander, Ngidi and Steyn. Or will Sri Lanka with the desperate desire to win the two-Test series make turners to suit their spinners Herath, Perera, Dananjaya and Sandakan?

The Caribbean pitches proved a testing ground for our top order batsmen against pace and only two came out on top – Chandimal and Kusal Mendis who each managed a century in the series and made over 200 runs.

But what stands out here is the courageous knock of 28 not out off 43 balls from Kusal Perera following a nasty accident while fielding the previous day that saw him stretchered out and with a big question mark against him batting during Sri Lanka’s run chase. Perera batted with a lot of discomfort no doubt but stuck to his guns to steer his team home for a memorable win. Playing the supporting role perfectly was Dilruwan Perera who has on many occasions produced some unique knocks in Tests. This one when the team was in dire straits at 81-6 chasing 144 for victory would surely rank as one of his best innings. He proved the ideal foil to the aggressive Kusal playing a sheet anchor role scoring 23 not out off 68 balls in a match winning partnership of 63 for the seventh wicket. Dilruwan has no doubt proved himself to be a more than useful all-rounder in the Lankan line up.

What Kusal Perera’s batting down the order proved is that he is no Test opener. His contribution as an opener in the series was 0, 12, 32, 20 and 0. The sooner the Lankan management and the national selectors get this into their heads it will be better for the team. Perera does not have the technique to survive the new ball at the start of an innings - he is too flashy and loose in his stroke play to provide the start that Sri Lanka needs to lay a platform for their middle order batsmen to prosper. The best way to harness the talent of Kusal Perera and maximize it is to send him lower down the order.

Mahela Udawatte the other batsman slotted into the opener’s berth is not Test class at all. For ten years since making his entry into international cricket at the age of 21 he played only ODIs and T20Is and was looked up as a one-day cricketer. To take the step from one day cricket to Test is a massive one and Udawatte no doubt failed miserably.

PERMANENT BATTING SPOTS

It is high time that the team management stopped experimenting with the exceptionally talented Kusal Mendis and gave him a permanent slot in the batting order. He should bat at either 3 or ideally 4. He is so talented that he will score a hundred in any position he is asked to bat like he showed in the first Test when he opened. The same goes with another classy batsman Dhananjaya de Silva who having the experience of opening at domestic level for Tamil Union would be ideal at no. 3.

The fitness issues concerning former captain Angelo Mathews (although he didn’t return home on those grounds on this occasion) puts a big question mark on his career how long he will be able to serve his country. It is good that Sri Lanka has batsmen in the caliber of Kusal Perera and Roshen Silva around to shore-up the batting if needed with Niroshan Dickwella playing a pivotal role as wicket-keeper cum batsman at number 7.

As for the West Indies who are ranked well below Sri Lanka’s no. 6 at 9 to draw the Test series was a commendable effort. Sri Lanka was expected to beat the Windies but their batting fell foul of the pace attack spearheaded superbly by Gabriel. In the West Indies batting spunky wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich was the pick of their batsmen proving a thorn to the Lankans scoring a century and two fifties in the series and accounting for 13 catches behind the wicket to win the Player of the Series award.

Sri Lanka’s bowling in the Windies’ second innings, with stand-in captain Suranga Lakmal leading from the front, won them a tense third Test to draw level in the series, coach Chandika Hathurusingha has said.

The visitors conceded 204 in the Windies’ first innings, before replying with 154 of their own and coming back to scuttle Jason Holder’s men for 93 in their second hit. Then, needing 63 runs for victory on day four in Barbados with five wickets in hand, they held on to win the day-night Test by four wickets and make it 1-1 in the series.

That a young Sri Lankan team pulled off the win with several of their senior players missing and captain Dinesh Chandimal serving a suspension would give them confidence, the coach suggested.

“We have had a lot of ups and downs. To come back and level the series is a great effort,” he said. “We always had hope but the way the game progressed we were under pressure.

“Tactically, Jason was on the mark but our bowlers responded in the second innings. Our second-innings bowling won us the game. Suranga had a chat and they rallied around. All credit to all four bowlers. Suranga led from the front. That particular 10-over spell put the Windies under pressure.”

Lakmal, who had five wickets for the match, including 3/25 the second time around, was elated at how his first experience with Test captaincy went. “I feel so happy,” he said. “I didn't expect it. I thought it was a good opportunity to lead and I took it.”

Taking them across the finish line were Kusal Perera, who returned from a short hospital visit the previous day, and Diruwan Perera.

Diruwan said the duo’s experience of playing together for the same club helped them bat on a challenging, uneven surface. “We thought if we bat longer we can get the runs … We both play for the same club and we know each other.

“This is the first time I've batted this way, so it was pretty hard for us, and I'm happy we managed to achieve it.”

Holder, meanwhile, rued the missed chances. “We just did not have enough runs in the second innings,” he said. “It put our bowlers under pressure to come and do something special. Even though we gave them 140 to win, we knew could do it. But we missed some chances in the field.”

With Windies hosting Bangladesh next, Holder was keen to look at the positives. “(Shannon) Gabriel was outstanding. I must commend him. (Shane) Dowrich was outstanding as well. (Kemar) Roach needs to be mentioned too,” he said of the players who finished with 20 wickets, 288 runs and 11 wickets respectively. The Windies play Bangladesh in two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is starting on 4 July.

Queen of the local boxing ring Anusha Kodituwakku proved she is fit and ready for a tilt at glory at the Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang in August when she won a bronze medal in the women’s flyweight category at the Ulaanbataar Cup Mongolia.

At 39, Sri Lanka’s boxing heroine Kodituwakku, is at the tail end of an illustrious career which includes winning a historic bronze medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April this year. The Asian Games will be one of her last major competitions with her swansong likely to be at the World Championships in New Delhi in November.

Kodituwakku, a longtime employee of MAS Unichela, showed her impending retirement will leave a huge void as she took on a strong field at one of the warm-up events to the Asian Games, emerging with a bronze medal in the 51kg flyweight class in Mongolia.

“I’m very pleased with my performance as I will come against these same boxers at the Asian Games too. Winning a medal will boost my confidence,” Anusha said. It will be her first appearance at the Asian Games. Four years ago, an injury forced Anusha out of the Incheon Asian Games.

“It was a noteworthy performance as she faced stronger opponents at the Commonwealth Games. There were boxers from North and South Korea, Russia, Iran and hosts Mongolia, who are all of a high quality. We are very pleased that Anusha was able to reach the semi-finals where she lost narrowly to a North Korean girl,” said coach Manju Wanniarachchi.

Sri Lanka was represented by six boxers in Mongolia, three men and three women.

“Anusha’s next competition as she looks ahead to the Asian Games will be the Police Commissioner’s Cup in Indonesia early in July. Two other girls from MAS who went to Mongolia too – Keshani Hansika and Krishmi Dharmathilake will accompany her,” Wanniarachchi revealed.

The Indonesian event will take place at the same venue where the Asian Games boxing competition will be held leaving Anusha delighted at the opportunity to use this as a dress-rehearsal for her medal bid in August.

Samara, Thursday: A powerful header from Barcelona’s Yerry Mina fired Colombia into the last 16 of the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Group H rivals Senegal, who crashed out due to a poorer disciplinary record than Japan.

Colombia and Japan will play either England or Belgium, who were playing later Thursday.

The South Americans, looking to reach the latter stages after reaching the quarter-finals in Brazil, risked going out of the tournament at the first hurdle.

But after seeing the video assistant referee come to their rescue in a disappointing first half, Colombia were handed a last-16 lifeline 13 minutes from the end when Mina rose to meet a corner from the right and direct a header into the roof of Khadim Ndiaye’s net.

Poland’s 1-0 consolation win over Japan meant the Asians finished level with Senegal, who were agonisingly eliminated because they were issued six yellow cards in the competition, two more than Japan.

In Samara, Colombia coach Jose Pekerman kept faith with the attacking front line that thumped Poland 3-0, with midfielders Juan Quintero, James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado providing the support for striker Radamel Falcao up front.

But by the end of an entertaining first half, Pekerman was forced to tinker when Rodriguez was forced off with an injury problem and replaced by Luis Muriel.

Before then, Senegal had shown attacking potency but, all too often, failed to threaten David Ospina’s goal.

Colombia’s best first-half chance came from a free-kick that saw Ndiaye dive to parry Juan Quintero’s powerful effort after Falcao had been sandwiched in mid-air.

Yet Colombia lacked pace and punch, and the trickery of Juan Cuadrado, so effective against Poland, failed to impress Senegal as they caught the Juventus man out more than once.

When Cuadrado lost possession cheaply at the halfway line, Keita Balde sent Sadio Mane on his way towards goal before the Liverpool man fell under a challenge from defender Davinson Sanchez.

Serbian referee Milorad Mazic pointed to the spot but amid Colombian protests he was called to consult the VAR, which showed Sanchez’s boot had made contact with the ball first.

From another free kick Falcao was flagged offside when he headed Quintero’s floated delivery high and wide.

Senegal responded, but Keita shot straight at Ospina after the ‘keeper had spilled a powerful drive by Mane.

There was excitement among the Colombian fans when they learned Poland had scored against Japan, but Los Cafeteros struggled to do their bit.

Hopes were raised when Quintero’s powerful free kick from the right was blocked in the area and fell to Muriel, whose shot was deflected out. From the corner, Falcao’s header was bundled wide.

Penalty claims were waved away when Muriel fell dramatically under a challenge by Ndiaye as the ‘keeper rushed out to close him down.

But the Samara stadium erupted as Colombia finally broke the deadlock.

Cuadrado’s attempt to dribble into the area earned a corner, and Barcelona defender Mina rose highest to flash a header downwards that bounced up into the top of Ndiaye’s net on 77 minutes.

Senegal rallied in the closing minutes and it took a series of great saves by Arsenal shot-stopped Ospina to keep Colombia in the tournament. AFP

Bangladesh A made a strong reply in their first innings after Test discard Lahiru Thirimanne had composed a brilliant 168 out of Sri Lanka A’s first innings total of 449 for eight declared in the first four-day unofficial test played at Chittagong.

Bangladesh ended the third day at 360 for four wickets to trail Sri Lanka A by 89 runs going into the fourth and final day today with skipper Mosaddek Hossain and Sabbir Rahman scoring centuries and figuring in a fourth wicket stand of 209 after Sri Lanka A had captured three wickets for 74.

Mosaddek scored 135 off 243 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes while Sabbir remained unbeaten on 144 scored off 257 balls with 13 fours and 2 sixes.

Sri Lanka winning the toss and batting first recovered from losing opener Lahiru Milantha for four in the eighth over to post a big total.

Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne returning from injury hit a pleasing half century – 60 off 106 balls but the key knock came from Thirimanne who batted over nine hours to compile a massive 168 off 339 balls (14 fours, 2 sixes).

Thirimanne figured in two century stands with two promising youngsters 156 for the fifth wicket with Charith Asalanka (90 off 155 balls, 13 fours) and 119 for the sixth with Sammu Ashan (70 off 97 balls, 8 fours, 1 six).

Right-arm medium pacer Khaled Ahmed finished with four wickets for 92.

Scores:

Sri Lanka A 449-8 decl. (D Karunaratne 60, L Thirimanne 168, A Priyanjan 23, C Asalanka 90, S Ashen 70, N Tharaka 27 n.o., Khaled Ahmed 4/92)

Bangladesh A 360-4 at close (Soumya Sarkar 21, Tushar Imran 25, Mosaddek Hossain 135, Sabbir Rahman 144 n.o., Zakir Hasan 27 n.o.)

SEOUL, Thursday: Ecstatic Mexican fans besieged the South Korean embassy in their capital to celebrate with diplomats after the Asian team stunned Germany at the World Cup and ensured Mexico’s progress to the last 16 in Russia.

Mexicans watched in horror as their side were thumped 3-0 in Yekaterinburg, leaving them keeping a nervous eye on the match between Germany and South Korea about 500 miles (800 kilometres) to the west in Kazan.

But Mexico City exploded with joy when South Korea scored two injury-time goals to eliminate the defending world champions in a huge upset.

Hundreds of Mexican fans mobbed the South Korean embassy to chant “We are all Koreans!” as one lifted the consul general Han Byoung-jin onto his shoulders.

Videos posted on social media also showed ambassador Kim Sang-il sharing a bottle of tequila with fans and jumping up and down as the crowd partied outside the embassy, chanting “Korean brother, now you’re Mexican”.

The embassy was bombarded by phone calls thanking South Koreans, Yonhap news agency said, including one from Mexico’s undersecretary for foreign affairs.

Mexican finance minister Jose Antonio Gonzalez Anaya also called his counterpart in Seoul to thank South Korea, Seoul’s finance ministry said, promising to treat him to a meal at the next G20 finance ministers’ meeting. AFP

Volgograd, Thursday: Japan and Poland were booed from the pitch in Volgograd after a farcical end to their final Group H match which saw the Blue Samurai qualify for the last 16 despite a 1-0 defeat.

Japan went through by the slimmest of margins -- their fair play record -- after the last 10 minutes were played out like a training match as both sides settled for the result.

They will meet either Belgium or England after reaching the knockout stage for the third time in their history. When Jan Bednarek scored his first international goal in the 60th minute for already eliminated Poland, the score between Colombia and Senegal stood at 0-0 meaning Japan were going out. But once news filtered through of Yessy Mina’s 74th minute goal for Colombia the match changed for the worse.

The strike meant Colombia would win the group and Japan were ahead of Senegal despite identical points, goal difference and goals scored, because they had received fewer yellow cards. A cacophony of boos rang out as hardly any tackles were made in the last 10 minutes as Poland decided any sort of win would be enough and Japan decided not to risk any yellow cards. Japan coach Akira Nishino made six changes including bringing in attacking pair Shinji Okazaki and Yoshinori Muto for his World Cup debut.

And it was they who fashioned the first real opening in the 12th minute of a game played at sedate pace in 36 Celsius temperatures.

Bednarek played a blind pass across his penalty area straight to Muto who shifted it to Yuto Nagatomo motoring down the left flank.

His whipped cross was met by a diving Okazaki header which flashed wide. Moments later Muto won possesion again outside the box and his fierce shot was parried out of harm’s way by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, one of five changes in Poland’s starting line-up.

The Polish captain Robert Lewandowski is renowned as a world-class goalscorer for Bayern Munich but, as in the rest of Poland’s sorry World Cup campaign, he was seeing little of the ball. Goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima kept his place for the Samurai Blue despite a howler for Senegal’s first goal in the 2-2 draw and repaid Nishino’s faith with a wondrous save to keep the score goalless at half-time.

Piotr Zielinski crossed from the right and Kamil Grosicki found himself unmarked near the penalty.

His cleverly directed header looked destined for the bottom corner until Kawashima made up huge amounts of ground to claw it to safety with a right hand at full stretch.

Goalline technology confirmed he had kept it out by less than half the width of the ball but that was just about all Poland had offered as they headed for the shortish plane ride back to Warsaw. Kawashima did it again in the second half to prevent what would have been Tomoaki Nakino own goal.

Okazaki had run his heart out in the sapping conditions and gave way to Yuya Osaka in the 47th minute as Nishino introduced fresh legs.

Kawashima did have to pick the ball out of his net on the hour mark as Bednarak got on the end of a Rafal Kurzawa long free-kick to volley home at the back post. AFP

Akrams Sports Club, Kattankudy beat Husainiya Sports Club, Kattankudy by 8 wickets in the final to emerge champions and bagged the ‘Maha Challenge Trophy-2018’ of the limited 10 over’s flood-lit cricket tournament conducted by Maha Group, Kattankudy at the Kattankudy Hisbullah play grounds recently.

Kattankudy Maha Group Managing Director A.M. Mumthas Madani organized the tournament, while 16 prominent teams of the area took part.

Kattankudy Husainiya Sports Club batted first and scored 42 runs in their allocated 10 overs before being all out. In reply Kattankudy Akrams Sports Club, scored 43 runs in 5 overs for two wickets.

The awards ceremony was held under the patronage of the Kattankudy Maha Group Managing Director A.M.Mumthas Madani. Kattankudy Urban Council Chairman S.H.Azfer, Kattankudy Divisional Education Officer M.A.C. Badurdeen, Co-ordinating Secretary to the State Minister, Mohamed Rizwin, Samurdhi Zonal Manager A.L.M.Zulmi and Kattankudy Urban Council Members who were the guests.

Winners were awarded Trophy and Rs.20,000.00 cash prize by the chief guest and the Kattankudy Husainiya Sports Club was awarded a cash prize of Rs.15,000.00 and trophy.

Man of the series was Sujath.

A fine bowling spell of 7 wickets for four runs by Kanika Dayarathne guided Royal College, Colombo to defeat Sri Chandrajothi Vidyalaya, Yakkala on first innings by 132 runs in their inter-school under 15 division one tournament cricket match conducted by Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association and played at Yakkala.

Batting first Royalists declared at 172 for 5 with Sadisha Rajapakse and Dasis Manchanayake unbeaten on 82 runs respectively. Sachitra Denuwan claimed 3 for 48 for the homesters. In reply Sri Chandrajothi Vidyalaya was skittled out for a paltry 40 runs. At stumps Royalists were 67 for no loss with Hirutha Wijesena unbeaten on 48 runs.

[Chief Scores]

Royal College 4 – 175.5 dec in 22 overs.

Thevindu Harsaja 23, Sadisha Rajapakse 55, Dasis Manchanayake 82 n/o, Sachitra Denuwan 4/48 and 67/0 – Hirutha Wijesena 48 n/o.

Sri Chandrajothi Vidyalaya – 40 in 22.2 overs – (Kanika Dayarathne 7/4, Tharindu Hansaja 3/14).

A splendid unbeaten 130 runs by opener Isiwara Dissanayake helped Royal College Colombo to beat Mahanama College Panadura by 178 runs on first innings in their inter-school under 17 division one tournament cricket match worked off at Colombo.

Isiwara had four hits to the boundary and four over and occupied the crease for 197 minutes and faced 130 balls.

Batting first Royalists declared at 254 for 4 and in reply visitors collapsed for 76 runs.

Chief Scores

Royal College – 254/4 dec in 45 overs – (Isiwara Dissanayake 130 n/o, Kavindu Pathirathne 21, Kamil Mishara 22, Sandun Appuhamy 23 n/o, Asitha Jayalath 2/52.

Mahanama College – 76 in 24.20 overs (Kavindu Pathirathne 2/6, Manula Perera 2/13, Sandun Appuhamy 2/20).

Methodist High School, Puwakaramba Moratuwa won the Kalutara District Boys Open Table Tennis 2018 championship held recently. B V Sugeeshwara Randeepa Mendis won the under eight category and became the under seven runner up while S A Chalana Sammana Fernando became the runner up of under 12 age group and M Dilanja Dineth Fernando and D D Eshan Dilruksha won the third place in the under 12 age category. Here the champion team posed for a photograph with the Principal Mrs M Lilanthi Perera (seated 3rd from left) with other School officials.

(Picture by Dilwin Mendis Moratuwa Sports Special Correspondent)

We read with dismay the news that the captain of our cricket team was banned for ball tampering.

Cricket is a gentlemen’s game and when we were schoolboys, it was drilled into us to play the game fair and let the better side win. But of course the game has under gone drastic changes since then and today it is played to win and that too ruthlessly.

Over the years our team had skirmishes at play and they were not insurmountable. The most damaging was the bowling of Muralitharan, but he came through it unscathed. Muralitharan went through a torrid time due to his unusual action.

Now the ball tampering by the captain is unpardonable and has set a bad example. After the hearing of the appeal if he is found guilty he should be dropped from the team, not so much as a punishment but as a warning to young players for the future.

Dr. Chandra Weeraratne
23/1, 5th Lane,
Ratmalana.

The Annual 7 Star Six-a-Side Blind School Cricket Tournament 2018 will be held on June 30 (Saturday), starting from 9.00 am and the finals will be played at 4.00 pm. Six teams, Deaf and Blind School – Bandarawela, Deaf and Blind School – Moneragala, Deaf and Blind School – Tangalle, Deaf and Blind School – Weligama and two teams from the School for the Blind, Ratmalana will be participating.

The event will take place at the the School for the Blind, Ratmalana grounds.

The School for the Blind Ratmalana is the oldest and the largest school with many facilities for the sight impared students in Sri Lanka which is 106 years old.

Sri Lanka Test opener and Sri Lanka A skipper Dimuth Karunaratne warmed up for next month’s two-Test series against South Africa with a determined innings of 161 on the fourth and final day of the first four-day unofficial test against Bangladesh A which ended in a draw at Chittagong yesterday.

Karunaratne who missed the West Indies tour due to a finger injury showed that he had fully recovered by hitting 23 fours and one six in 165-ball knock that saw Sri Lanka A end their second innings at 262-2. Also returning to form was Test discard Lahiru Thirimanne who followed his first innings knock of 168 with another confident innings of 67 not out.

Earlier Bangladesh A resuming at 360-4 collapsed to 414 all out losing their last six wickets for 28 runs falling to the left-arm chinaman deliveries of Lakshan Sandakan who finished with figures of 5 for 108. The second unofficial test begins at Cox’s Bazar on July 3.

Scores: Sri Lanka A 449-8 decl and 262-2 in 57 overs (Dimuth Karunaratne 161, Lahiru Milantha 30, Lahiru Thirimanne 67 n.o.)

Bangladesh A 414 in 135 overs (360/4 contd) (Sabbir Rahman 165, Zakir Hasan 35, Prabath Jayasuriya 3/83, Lakshan Sandakan 5/108)

Former Sri Lanka Cricket presidents and administrators have written a strong letter to Sports Minister Faiszer Mustapha urging him to appoint an interim committee to resurrect the country’s cricket from plunging further into the mire it has fallen into.

The letter signed by the first interim committee chairman Rienzie Wijetilleke and past presidents of SLC Ana Punchihewa, Hemaka Amarasuriya, Sidath Wettimuny, Vijay Malalasekera, Jayantha Dharmadasa, Upali Dharmadasa and Arjuna Ranatunga have pointed out the misdeeds, waste and corruption that has taken place from the time the Thilanga Sumathipala administration was elected to office in January 2016 that has resulted in the national cricket team’s fall from grace in the rankings in all three formats..

They urge the Minister to appoint an interim committee to look into all the misdeeds and to streamline the election process with necessary amendments to the constitution of Sri Lanka Cricket to prevent the rampant abuse of power as practiced by the incumbent administration, leaving no room for such brazen acts to be repeated in the future.

The SLC administration is currently under the Sports Minister appointed Competent Authority following the postponement of elections due to a legal injunction which is pending.