ADELAIDE, Friday - Men’s T20 captain Aaron Finch remains confident of taking his place in Sunday’s international season opener against Sri Lanka, but admits he’s no certainty of overcoming a side strain.

Finch took part in the T20 squad’s fielding session at Adelaide Oval Friday and then faced throw-downs in the practice nets, but will be re-assessed ahead of Saturday’s training before a final call is made on his availability.

The 32-year-old claimed his recovery from the injury, which he sustained in a Marsh Sheffield Shield Match against South Australia in Melbourne earlier this month, is progressing well.

But he admitted the initial diagnosis had been complicated by the back spasms he suffered around the same time, with the “little tear” to his side not revealed until he underwent scans while in Perth a week ago.

While back troubles have been a semi-regular companion for Finch in the recent past, he attributed the side strain to Victoria’s run glut against South Australia in the summer’s first round of Shield games.

Batting at number five rather than in his regular white-ball role as opener, Finch was effectively a spectator as Victoria’s top-order piled on 3-473 before he went to the wicket in the 124th over, and promptly flayed 57 from 44 balls.

“It was just sitting down for a couple of days in that Shield game at the Junction, and then coming out and trying to swing a bit too hard,” Finch said of the side strain’s cause.

“There wasn’t one (shot) in particular, but it could have been any number. I went pretty hard.”

If Finch, who led Australia at this year’s ODI World Cup in the UK and is expected to do the same for the T20 World Cup at home next year, is unavailable he has two deputies ready to take on the role.

While joint vice-captains Pat Cummins and Alex Carey are yet to lead Australia at international level and boast little captaincy experience in senior interstate competition, they are undaunted at the prospect of taking the helm.

“If I was to take the reins for that game (against Sri Lanka on Sunday), I’d be more than happy to do that,” Carey said today.

“We’ve obviously got some pretty senior heads out there - Pat Cummins, another vice-captain, as well as David Warner, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell. So there’s lots of guys to call upon if Aaron was unfortunately not able to get up.”

Should Finch fail to fully recover, and the role is entrusted to Cummins he would become the first specialist bowler to captain Australia in men’s limited-overs cricket. And the first fast bowler to lead a national men’s team since Ray Lindwall captained his one and only Test against India at Mumbai in 1956.

But the 26-year-old quick does not subscribe to the historical view that fast bowlers carry a sufficiently hefty workload without burdening them with the additional responsibility of decision making.

And to support his view, he need only look at Australia’s opponents for the first three-match Gillette T20 International Series in which Sri Lanka will be led by veteran fast bowler Lasith Malinga (aged 36).

“I think in T20 cricket, and I’ve seen it in a few leagues around the world, there’s been more fast bowling captains than perhaps in other formats,” Cummins said.”But I think you choose who’s going to be best for the role regardless of their role in the side.”

AUSTRALIA SQUAD: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, David Warner, Adam Zampa

SRI LANKA SQUAD: Lasith Malinga (c), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha.

****

Lanka-Australia T20I live on Sirasa TV

The Sri Lanka v Australia three-match T20 international cricket series will be shown live on Sirasa TV commencing with the first match at Adelaide on Sunday.

The second match is scheduled for October 30 at Brisbane and the third and final at Melbourne on November 1.

Women’s Emerging Team Asia Cup rescheduled again

Meanwhile the matches of the Women’s Emerging Team Asia Cup was once again rescheduled along with a change of venues. The decision was taken as the first four matches of the tournament had to be called off without a ball being bowled due to bad weather.

Nadeeka Lakmali won the Bronze medal in the Womens Javelin Throw (52.73m) at the World Military Games held at China yesterday. Sumedha Ranasinghe also won the Bronze medal in the Men’s Javelin Throw (75.35m) on the third day of the Games.

Sri Lanka has so far won two medals with the first by Nimali Liyanarachchi in the 800m on Tuesday. The Asian gold medalist in 2017 clocked 06.14 seconds to win silver while Ukraine sprinter Natalia Pryshchepa won the gold with a time of 2 minutes 05.14 seconds. Korir Nelly of Bahrain won the bronze with 2:06.50 seconds

Greshan Dananjaya finished fourth with a leap of 7.81m in the Men’s Long Jump while Sarangi Silva was also placed fourth in the Women’s Long Jump finals with a personal best time of 6.15m. Eighteen athletes missed this year’s National Sports Festival at Badulla as they are taking part at the World Military Games. (KR) 

Western Province produced the best performance in the women’s long jump event to sweep the podium winning gold, silver and bronze medals at the 45th National Sports Festival held at Vincent Dias Stadium in Badulla yesterday.

Elite athlete Anjali Pulawansa won first place with a leap of 5.96 meters with Lakshika Suganthi (5.76m) and H. Henderson (5.67m) placed second and third respectively.

In the Pole Vault event won by Northern Province Anitha Jagatheeshwaran jumped 3.30m and secured the gold medal. Second and third places went to Udeni Silva (3.10m) and S.K Perera (3.00m) respectively.

On the opening day no national records were established and most of the athletes were out of the country for the World Military Games in China. In the men’s long jump G.Sampath from Uva district won the gold medal for a leap of 7.34m. Amila Jayasiri from North Western was placed second with 7.32m and K.Karunasekara of North Western was third with 7.29m.

The 200m men’s event was won by Southern Province’s K.S.L. Wickramasinghe who won the gold medal clocking 21.9 seconds. C.L Kumara of North Central Province with 22.0 secs and M. Silva of Central Province (22.15 secs) took the silver and bronze respectively.

The women’s 200m gold medal was won by Central Province when Sri Lanka junior athlete Amasha Silva clocked 25.0 seconds to win the event. Sadeepa Handerson of Western Province was placed second with a time of 25.46seconds while Shafia Yameek from Central Province won the bronze medal clocking 25.70 seconds. 

England are scheduled to play two Tests in Sri Lanka as part of the ICC World Test Championship in March next year. The two Tests are scheduled to be played at Galle and at the R Premadasa Stadium.

Prior to the Test series England will play two warm-up matches at Katunayake and P Sara Oval.

The tour itinerary released by Sri Lanka Cricket:

March 3: Arrival

March 7-9: v SLC Board President’s XI at Katunayake

March 12-15: v SLC Board President’s XI at P Sara Oval

March 19-23: 1st Test at Galle

March 27-31: 2nd Test at R Premadasa Stadium

April 1: Departure 

Secretary General of Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, Dr. Chula Senaratne has been appointed to the Medical Commission of the FIBA international for the term of 2019-2023. It is a rare achievement to get an appointment into a professional commission of FIBA International from South Asia, especially in a sport dominated by America and Europe.

Dr. Chula Senaratne works at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital Kalubowila. His Basketball career spans around 40 yrs with half of this as a player and the other half as an administrator.

He is a Member of the Central Board of South Asian Basketball Association (SABA) and also serves on the Medical Committee of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka.

He was appointed as the Chef De Mission of the Sri Lankan Contingent at the Youth Olympic Games held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2018 and was the Chairman of the National Selection Committee for Basketball for seven years apart from his other positions on the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation.

Match drawn between Sri Sumangala College Panadura and Dudley Senanayake College Tholangamuwa in their traditional fixture of the ‘Singer Trophy’ Under 19 inter schools cricket tournament played at Kegalle yesterday.

Sri Sumangala Panadura:206/9 decl. (41) (Sasindu De Silva 52, Prabash Jayasekara 46, Kumara Jayalath 5/37)

Dudley Senanayake Central Tholangamuwa: 102/7 (29.1) (Sandaruwn Padmakumara 51 n.o., Mihiranga Fernando 2/18, Anuka Jayasinghe 2/21

(YK)

Both matches were drawn at Maggona and Police Park in the fixtures of the Major Emerging Inter Club tournament yesterday.

* At Maggona (Match drawn) Sri Lanka Ports Authority CC: 132 (36.4) (Amoda Vidanapathirana 37, Dilan Suraweera 29, Lahiru Samarakoon 4/27, Sachin Fernando 3/36, Yomesh Ranasinghe 2/34) and 10/1 (4)

Badureliya CC: 218 (33.3) (Yomesh Ranasinghe 58, Ravindu Rathnayake 50, Randula Dasun 39, Malinda Joyod 25, Damith Perera 23, Pasindu Ussetti 5/73, Dilan Suraweera 3/63, Mithila Aravinda 2/26)

* At Police park (Match drawn) Galle CC: 176/6 decl. (50) (Vinura Dulsara 75 n.o., Lashen Silva 35, Ravishka Wijesiri 21, Pawan Rathnayake 3/46, Charith Harshana 2/3) vs Police SC (YK) 

Royal College made a clean sweep of the annual 14th hockey championship against traditional rivals Trinity College winning all three contests at Reid Avenue Astro Turf yesterday.

Royal retained the JCA Corea trophy winning the under 19 contest 4-1 after being held to a 1-all score at half time. They also won the under 16 contest played for the Paul Jeyaraj trophy 1-0 and the old boys game played for the Col Bertie Dias trophy 3-1.

Former Royal College hockey captain and Sri Lanka Schools player Dr. Thushara Matiwalage was the chief guest. 

Chrisantha de Silva, former Sri Lanka Cricket executive committee member and former president of Moratuwa Sports Club has died.

De Silva was president of Moratuwa SC for 20 years from 1982, president of Lions Club of Moratuwa in 1988-89, president of Colombo District CA 1988-2002 and served in the SLC ExCo from 1988 to 2002. He was also a Civil Engineering contractor at SLC Admin and Engineering. Last year De Silva lost his wife Nalini who died of a heart failure on her 67th birthday. The remains of De Silva lie at his residence at 80, Lady De Soysa Drive, Uyana, Moratuwa. Cortege leaves residence on Sunday at 2 pm to Holy Emmanuel Church, Rawathawatta, Moratuwa for burial. 

The 10th International Schools Karate Championship will be held on October 26 and 27 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. The tournament is organized by the Leeds International School on behalf of the International Schools of Sri Lanka Association. Chief Signal Officer, SLSC Regimental HQ, Panagoda Maj. Gen. Nilantha Hettiarachchi will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony and the National Olympic Committee Secretary Prema Pinnawala is the chief guest at the closing ceremony. 

The Pottuvil Central College boys cricket team and Devapathiraja Vidyalaya, Ratgama Girls cricket team recorded victories over the Batticaloa Methodist Central College boys cricket team and Wadduwa Central college girls cricket team respectively and were crowned as boys and girls Overall champions in the All Island school Games-2019 which was held at the Giriulla Wickramashila National school Play Ground Recently.

This Competition was successfully organized by the ministry of education under the guidance of the Education Department sports unit officials.

In the boy’s semi-finals Pottuvil Central College boys cricket team recorded a massive victory over the Medirigiriya National school boys cricket team and Batticaloa Methodist Central college boys cricket team recorded an easy victory over the Meegalewa Mahaweli National school boys cricket team and qualified for the final

In the girls semi-finals Devapathiraja Vidyalaya, Ratgama girls cricket team recorded a narrow

victory over the Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda Girls cricket team and Wadduwa Central College girls cricket team recorded an easy victory over the Carmel Girls College Chilaw and qualified for the finals.

In the final of the boy’s match the Pottuvil.C.C won the toss and scored 43 run’s for three wickets in reply Batticaloa Methodist C.C scored only 37 runs for three wickets In the Girls cricket final Wadduwa C.C batted first and scored 49 runs for five wickets in reply Devapathiraja Vidyalaya, Ratgama girls scored 50 run’s for only three wickets and emerged champions

BASEL, Switzerland, Saturday - Roger Federer extended his Swiss Indoors win streak to 23 matches as he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the final for the 15th time, racking up his 50th win of 2019.

The top seed will be playing for his 10th title at his home tournament when he faces Alex de Minaur in a first-time meeting after the Australian stopped Reilly Opelka 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/3). Federer, 38, has now made the Basel final in his last 13 appearances and 15th overall.

His last defeat came in the 2013 final at the hands of Juan Martin del Potro. For Federer, victory on Saturday was his second of the season over 21-year-old Tsitsipas who had stunned the 20-time major winner at the Australian Open in January.

Federer, who had a walkover in the quarter-finals due to the pre-match injury withdrawal of compatriot Stan Wawrinka, notched up two love games in the second set and advanced on his first match point.

“Having the crowd behind you really helps you believe in your game,” said Federer who had also defeated Tsitsipas in Dubai earlier this year. “I had to play aggressive and take risks against Stefanos. There was a lot of running. But it’s always easier to play at home, I was energised.”

Federer will be in uncharted territory in the final with De Minaur, who has won trophies this season in Sydney, Atlanta and Zhuhai. “He’s one of the fastest players,” Federer said. “I’m very excited to be in the final again.

“I was not sure how it would go this week, so I’m really happy.” The 28th-ranked De Minaur, who trains and lives in Spain, is the first Australian to reach the Basel final since Mark Philippoussis finished runner-up in 1997. – AFP 

An unbeaten chanceless 100 runs by Ushan Deemantha guided Piliyandala Central to defeat S. Thomas College, Matale by innings and 82 runs in their Inter School First Eleven cricket match worked off at Matale.

Ushan hit eleven fours and occupied the crease for110 minutes and faced 128 balls and also was associated in a third wicket partnership of 91 runs with his skipper Chamod Sandaru who scored 53 runs.

Batting first Matale Thomians were bundled out for 68 runs and in reply Centralians declared at 228 for 5 and in their second essay homesters collapsed for a paltry 78 runs with a fine spell of 5 for 6 runs by Sithum Nimalka.

Chief Scores:

S. Thomas College: 68 in 37.3 overs (Inuka Ekanayake 20, Ushan Deemantha 3 for 14, Sadun Abeywardene 3 for 16) and 78 (Kavindu Kaushallya 23, Sithum Nimalka 5 for 6).

Piliyandala Central: 228 for 5 declared in 57.4 overs (Ushan Deemantha 100 not out, Chamod Sandaru 53, Inuka Ekanayake 2 for 86).

A fine match bag of 10 for 12 (6/7 and 4/5) by left arm leg spinner Demitha Sandesh guided Piliyandala Central College to defeat M.D.H. Jayawardene Vidyalaya, Battaramulla outright in their Inter School Under 13 Division Three Tournament cricket match played at Cooray Park, Wellawatte.

Incidentally this game is the first outing of Centralians in this season and they are coached by former Panadura Johnian M.D. Sudesh Harsha.

Batting first M.D.H. Jayawardene Vidyalaya were bowled out for 44 runs and Centralians declared at 103 for 4 and in their second essay M.D.H. Jayawardene Vidyalaya were skittled out for a paltry 28 runs with Tharusha madushanka too capturing 4 for 16 to give him a match bag of 6 for 25 runs.

Chief Scores:

M.D.H. Jayawardene Vidyalaya: 44 (Demitha Sandesh 6 for 7, Tharusha Madushanka 2 for 9) and 28 (Demitha Sandesh 4 for 5, Tharusha Madushanka 4 for 16, R.A.D. Thilina 2 for 2).

Piliyandala Central: 103 for 4 (Tharusha Madushanka 23 not out, W.A.D. Umesha 2 for 24).

ADELAIDE, Sunday: David Warner emphatically bounced back to form with a first-ever Twenty20 century as Australia crushed Sri Lanka by 134 runs in their opening match of the series in Adelaide on Sunday.

Birthday boy Warner clubbed an unbeaten 100 as he powered Australia to a massive 233 for two, aided by century stands with skipper Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell.

Sri Lanka limped to 99 for nine from their 20 overs in a meek response, with leg-spinner Adam Zampa capturing three for 14.

Coming off a dismal Ashes campaign in England and low scores in the new domestic season, Warner plundered his ton off 56 balls with four sixes and 10 fours.

The left-handed opener scored just 95 runs in 10 innings for Australia’s Ashes retention, but once he got set Sunday he pounded the Sri Lankan bowlers with belligerence, and reached his hundred off the last ball of the innings.

The ton on his 33rd birthday was complemented by blistering half-centuries from Finch and Maxwell, as the Australians ripped into the Sri Lankan bowlers -- with Kasun Rajitha’s 0-75 off four overs proving the most expensive figures in a T20 international. “It’s great to come out and play on nice true wickets,” man-of-the-match Warner said as he left the arena.

“The tone was set by Finchy. I tried to go on and be there at the end. I’d like to think we have enough runs.” Sri Lanka were always struggling in reply, with Pat Cummins on a hat-trick after dismissing Danushka Gunathilaka (11) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (2) with successive deliveries in his opening over.

Dasun Shanaka top scored with 17 and wicketkeeper Kusal Perera hit 16 before he was bowled by Mitchell Starc. Skipper Lasith Malinga was still there at the end with an unbeaten 13.

“Lovely start to the summer. The boys were fantastic, Warner and Finchy were superb,” Starc said.

“The bowling too was clinical, a bit of work to do in the fielding, but a great performance all in all.” Finch bludgeoned three sixes and eight fours in Australia’s innings before holing out to Kusal Mendis at deep mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan for 64 off 36 balls.

The Aussie skipper shared in a free-hitting opening stand of 122 with Warner and looked in ominous scoring form before he top-edged the leg-spinner in the 11th over.

Maxwell showcased a wide range of improvised shot-making for his 62 off just 28 balls, studded with three sixes and seven fours.

He partnered Warner in a 107-run stand and was dismissed, caught behind off Dasun Shanaka in the final over of the innings. It was Australia’s highest T20 total at home since their 221 against England in Sydney in 2007. Australia face the Sri Lankans in Brisbane and Melbourne before Pakistan arrive for T20s in Sydney, Canberra and Perth as they prepare to host the T20 World Cup next October. AFP

Western Province won 258 medals including 99 gold, 79 silver and 81 bronze to reign supreme at the 45th National Sports Festival concluded at the Vincent Dias Stadium in Badulla yesterday.

Overall second place was won by Central Province with 149 medals (51 gold, 38 silver, 60 bronze) and North Western Province secured overall third place with 109 medals (32 gold, 33 silver, 44 bronze). Southern, Sabaragamuwa, North Central, Uva, Eastern and Northern Provinces won overall fourth to ninth places respectively.

Southern Province athlete Thivanka Perera who won the men’s high jump gold with a height of 2.12m was adjudged the best male athlete for the ninth consecutive time.

Lakshika Sugandhi of Western Province who won the women’s 100m hurdles event was picked as the best female athlete.

Young athlete Dilshi Kumarasinghe won a gold medal in the women’s 800m clocking 2:10.26min.

She was able to finish easily with no real competition. R. Dulakshi and M C Dilrukshi won Silver and Bronze respectively.

Southern Province dominated the 4x100m relay track in the Men’s category while in the Women’s category it was all Western Province. The 4x100m team comprising Suraj Dinusha, Malin Udayakumara, Dimuthu Kumara and Chamod Yodasinghe won gold with a comfortable lead, clocking 41.77secs. Eastern and Western Province took the Silver and Bronze respectively in the Men’s category.

In the Women’s category it was the dynamite quartet comprising Tharindi Heshani, Sadeepa Henderson, Harshani Jayakantha and Lakshika Sugandi who took the gold in a time of 48.41 secs in the 100m final for Western Province.

National champion from St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa, Samith Fernando managed to clinch the gold in the Men’s Shot Putt event with a throw of 15.44m which was a far cry from his national record of 16.23m.

YOKOHAMA, Sunday - South Africa will play England in the Rugby World Cup final after Handre Pollard scored 14 points to steer Rassie Erasmus’ team to a hard-fought 19-16 victory over Wales in Yokohama on Sunday.

Pollard nervelessly kicked the decisive penalty with four minutes to go as the tense game threatened to go to extra time with the scores locked at 16-16.

“We’re in the final of the World Cup... but that’s only half way there. We’d love to win the World Cup,” said South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus.

“We play a class England team in the final now but we’re there. We’ve got a a chance now and we might go all the way. You never know.”

It was a true battle of the boot as the 1995 and 2007 World Cup champions ground out a victory that consigned Wales to their third tournament semi-final defeat after previous losses in 2011 and 1987.

“It wasn’t our day but I’m still proud to pull this jersey on and represent all the people in this stadium,” said Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones, who was close to tears.

The two teams played out a dreadful first half of rugby dominated by turgid set-piece, crash balls and aerial combat as both sides kicked the leather off the ball.

There was none of the verve shown by England in their gripping 19-7 victory over New Zealand on Saturday, but the slowed rhythm suited the Springboks and their giant pack of forwards, reprising the tactics they also employed in their 26-3 quarter-final victory over Japan.

Bok scrum-half Faf de Klerk showed a spark of flamboyance at the very start of the game, darting down the shortside from a scrum and chipping ahead, George North just doing enough to cover on the bounce.

But any glimmer of bright, attacking rugby quickly faded amid a first quarter mired by never-ending scrum resets and poor kicking.

When Justin Tipuric failed to roll away, Pollard stepped up and made no mistake with a simple first penalty, quickly neutralised by Dan Biggar when Willie Le Roux strayed offside, before the Bok fly-half got his second after a Welsh scrum wheeled.

Aerial ping-pong resumed, Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies eventually spilling a ball to hand the Boks advantage, as the first ‘Mexican Wave’ rippled around the stadium on 25 minutes to rival the action on the pitch. Wales came pouring in at the side of a driving maul and Pollard made no mistake with his third penalty.

Welsh woes continued as tighthead prop Tomas Francis, the most used player by Gatland since the last World Cup with 41 Tests played, injured his shoulder in a tackle on Duane Vermeulen from the restart.

One of Gareth Davies’ many box kicks almost came to fruition as Biggar fielded and offloaded to North, but the rare sortie into Bok territory was ended by a smart tap-tackle by the ubiquitous de Klerk.

North, clutching a leg, followed Francis off the pitch as Biggar kicked his second penalty after Aaron Wainwright was taken out off the ball to make it 9-6 at half-time, both teams shuffling off the pitch in front of a subdued arena.

Biggar levelled the scores with his third penalty early in the second period, before Damian de Allende finally broke the try-scoring deadlock. The Bok centre shrugged off a weak challenge by Biggar and fended off Owen Watkin and Tomos Williams for a fine individual five-pointer that Pollard converted. With 20 minutes to play Wales spurned a shot at goal to go for deep lineout. The maul was thwarted but the Welsh went through multiple phases and were eventually awarded another penalty in front of the posts, electing to go for the scrum.

The bold decision, made to gasps from the crowd, paid off as Ross Moriarty managed to get the ball to Tomos Williams who fed Jonathan Davies, the centre’s instantaneous pass finding Josh Adams, who crossed in the corner for his sixth try of this World Cup. AFP

Southern Province, North Western Province and Central Province won their matches on day one of the Prima Champion Trophy Inter Provincial Cricket tournament yesterday.

North Western Province beat North Central Province by 33 runs according Parabola method at Thurstan ground, Southern Province beat Western Province (South) by 10 runs at Mt. Lavinia and Central Province beat Western Province (Central) by 3 wickets at Pallekele.

Other three matches ended no result at De Soysa Stadium Moratuwa, Polonnaruwa and Rangiri Dambulla.

RESULTS

* At Mount Lavinia: Southern Province won by 10 runs.

Southern Province: 123 (43) (Tharinda Nirmal 37, Shanon Roddrigo 4/19, Achala Perera 2/14, Dilan Silva 2/17, Sukitha Dewthilina 2/20)

Western Province (South): 113 (36.2) (Maheen Perera 29, Thenuka Praveen 27, Irushka Thimira 3/26, Malsha Tharupathi 3/27, Chanaka Dananjaya 2/18)

* At Thurstan: North Western Province won by 33 runs according Parabola method.

North Western Province: 275/9 (44) (Gayana Weerasinghe 97, Amesh Tennakoon 56, Gayan Harshana 25 n.o., Lovindu Wickramasinghe 3/20. Nipun Liyanage 2/35, C. P. Deshan 2/44)

North Central Province: 126/8 (33) (Lahiru Bawantha 39, Lovindu Wickramasinghe 31 n.o., Pasindu Wijekoon 3/14, Thimira Viran 3/27)

* At Pallekele: Central Province won by 3 wickets.

Western Province (Central): 132 (35.1) (Manura Peiris 28, Duvindu Ranathunge 24, T. S. Mathew 2/15, Manula Kularathne 2/20, Lahiru Abesinghe 2/37)

Central Province: 135/7 (47.3) (T. S. Mathew 38 n.o., Vihas Thewmika 2/20, Manura Peiris 2/22)

* At Moratuwa: No Result.

Western Province (South Outer): 161/8 (50) (Yasiru Sandeepa 37, Vishwa Lahiru 27 n.o., Muditha Lakshan 2/22) vs Western Province (North Outer)

* At Polonnaruwa: No Result.

Uva Province: 5/0 (0.4) vs

Western Province North

* At Rangiri Dambulla: No Result.

Northern Province: 73/2 (16) (K. Sadeshan 34 n.o., Y. Yoseeson 26) vs Eastern Province. -YK

Sri Lanka Women’s Emerging Team qualified to play the finals of the Women’s Emerging Team Asia Cup 2019, when they beat Bangladesh by four wickets on Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium.

The Lankans will face India Women’s Emerging, who won the second consecutive game of the ongoing tournament by beating Pakistan by seven wickets at the Navy grounds Welisara.

The finals of the tournament will be held on 29 October at the R Premadasa Stadium.

RESULTS

* At RPICS: Sri Lanka Women won by four wickets.

Bangladesh Women: 127 off 48.3 overs (K.Welikonthage 3-18)

Sri Lanka Women: 128-6 off 33.4 overs (H.Samarawickrama 53; N.Akter 3-41)

* At Navy ground Welisara: India Women won by seven wickets.

Pakistan Women: 106 off 46.5 overs (T.Hassan 32, R.Shamin 31; D.Vaidya 4-23, S.Dibyadarshini 3-16)

India Women: 109-3 off 30 overs (N.Parween 44)

One of the Trustees of Havelock Sports Club and one-time committee member Christie Vijayakumar Kumnandham, a product of S. Thomas’ College Mt Lavinia who passed away at the age of 71 on Saturday will be cremated at Kanatte General Cemetary today at 4.30 pm. His remains lie at A.F. Raymond’s funeral parlour. An ardent rugby lover he rarely missed a match played by Havelock SC.