The Sri Lanka Air Force and the Eagle’s Golf Links will host the seventh Commander’s Cup - 2020, annual Golf Tournament for Men and Women on Saturday 22 February, on the picturesque settings of China Bay, close to the Harbour City of Trincomalee.

The Championship is organized by the Sri Lanka Air Force under the guidance of the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Marshal Sumangala Dias. This golf has attracted over than 70 local and foreign Golfers and enthusiasts of the game. In addition to the Commander’s Cup, the golfers will also vie for the Eagles’ Challenge Trophy which is awarded to the best serving player from the Tri Forces in Men and Women categories respectively. The tournament will conclude with a grand Awards ceremony on February 22 Night at Bay View, China Bay.

The Western Province Badminton Association (WPBA) has extended the entry deadline for the 1st Classic Level 1 Ranking (Platinum) Championships 2020.

Entries will now close on February 18 at 4.30 pm.

The WPBA Classic Level 1 Ranking Championships will take place from February 24 - March 01 at the S. Thomas’ College courts in Mt. Lavinia and at the Mercantile Badminton courts in Colombo simultaneously.

Interested shuttlers can submit their applications to the Sri Lanka Badminton Headquarters at Maitland Place, Colombo 07.

Further details can be obtained by contacting Sri Lanka Badminton on 011 268 9525.

Whether its Katherine Brunt’s three wickets in England’s 2009 victory or Stafanie Taylor shining for the West Indies in 2016, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup has provided cricket aficionados with plenty of fond memories to savour.

We have seen three winners, six countries host and countless memorable moments made since the inaugural ICC Women’s T20 World Cup back in 2009.

With 11 years having passed since the inaugural tournament in England, we have witnessed plenty of thrills and spills, but a few moments stand head and shoulders above the rest.

2009 - BRUNT'S BRILLIANCE AT LORD'S

There will be few better Women’s T20 World Cup memories for England fans than those of the inaugural 2009 tournament and what better way to make your mark on the world stage than by lifting the trophy on home soil?

England and New Zealand contested the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup final at Lords, with the host nation bowling out the White Ferns for 85 thanks to Brunt’s opening spell of three for six.

England shone from start to finish, with Claire Taylor taking the Player of the Series accolade while Holly Colvin finished with a tournament-high nine wickets.

Colvin and Taylor were joined by Charlotte Edwards, Sarah Taylor and Laura Marsh in the ICC Team of the Tournament.

2010 - PERRY'S BOOT SEALS MAIDEN GLORY

As Womens T20 World Cup Finals go, there will never be a moment quite like Australias last-ball victory in 2010.

Australia began their unparalleled run of World Cup success ten years ago when they edged out New Zealand by three runs in Barbados - but if it had not been for Ellyse Perry’s right foot, it could have been a very different story.

Sophie Devine was on strike with New Zealand needing five to win from the final ball and hammered a powerful drive towards the boundary from Perrys delivery.

But the Australian - who has also played in a football World Cup for her country - somehow managed to stick out her right foot and deflect the ball to mid-on to concede a single and take her team to their maiden Womens T20 World Cup victory.

The tournament also saw West Indies Deandra Dottin score the first womens T20I century, 112 not out against South Africa, with the 38 balls needed to bring up three figures still the fastest in WT20Is.

2012 - CAMERON SHINES AS AUSTRALIA CLINCH SECOND TITLE

Ellyse Perry starred in the 2010 final.

There was a familiar feel to 2012 as Australia clinched a narrow victory, beating England in the final by four runs in Sri Lanka.

Jess Cameron shone with a match-winning 45 in Colombo, while Julie Hunter impressed throughout by taking 11 wickets in the tournament.

The highest individual score fell to Englands Sarah Taylor with 65 not out against the eventual champions in the group stage, while Dottin was once again instrumental in West Indies route to the semi-finals, hitting an unbeaten 58 in victory over New Zealand.

2014 - BANGLADESH BREAK THE MOULD

It was a case of deja vu in 2014 as Australia celebrated their third successive Womens T20 World Cup title with a six-wicket win over England in the final.

But the tournament in Bangladesh had so much more to offer than more just delight for those in yellow.

The hosts were unable to progress beyond the group stage but their maiden win on debut was certainly one of the tournament highlights, Rumana Ahmeds side edging out Sri Lanka by three runs in Sylhet.

It was captain Rumana who put in a Player of the Match performance, hitting 41 off 34 balls a feat she and her country will be eager to recreate in Australia this month.

2016 - WEST INDIES THE WINNERS!

The 2016 Womens T20 World Cup was one like no other as the Australian dominance was broken and a new world champion emerged.

Having lost the semi-final on three previous occasions, the West Indies finally broke their curse by making the showpiece in Kolkata - the match that changed the narrative around womens T20 cricket.

Stafanie Taylors side secured their maiden world title in stunning fashion - overcoming reigning champions Australia was one thing but chasing down 149 runs to win the match by eight wickets was truly something else.

The tournament is one that will live long in the memories of West Indies supporters and players alike, with several names writing their names in the history books on the world stage.

Captain Taylor broke a tournament record by scoring 246 runs, while Anisa Mohammed became the first player, male or female, to take 100 T20I wickets.

2018 - PERRY REWRITES HISTORY WITH FINAL PERFORMANCE

In 2018, Australia were back on top - and they made sure they secured their fourth Womens T20 World Cup title in stunning fashion.

Most memorable may be Ashleigh Gardners Player of the Match performance in the eight-wicket final victory over England, the all-rounder scoring 33 runs and taking three wickets, but once again Meg Lannings side was full of stand-out performers.

Alyssa Healy blew Ireland away with her 21-ball half century in the group stages, while Perry was as instrumental as ever as she became the first Australian, male or female, to take 100 T20I wickets when she trapped Nat Sciver lbw in the final.

If the 2020 edition is anything like the six tournaments gone by, then the world is surely in for a cracker.

With Thailand making their debut on the global stage, teenage debutants looking to make an impact and the prospect of a world record crowd for a womens sporting event being broken at the MCG on 8 March, this years tournament has all the makings of being the best one yet.” ICC 

LAHORE, Sunday - Pakistan became kabaddi world champions Sunday after narrowly beating arch rivals India who played even though authorities at home vowed to investigate why a team competed despite a ban on sporting ties.

In final, Pakistan fought back in the second half to secure a 43-41 win over the defending champions in the popular South Asian sport in front of thousands of spectators.

“We are grateful to all the nations which made this event colourful,” Rana Muhammad Sarwar, the secretary general of the Pakistan kabaddi federation, told AFP.

“We should not let sports and culture become a victim of politics.”

Last week, Indian sports minister Kiren Rijiju said no kabaddi player had been given permission to participate.

“Playing in the name of the country with India’s flag being used are matters to be investigated,” Rijiju said.

Apart from India, teams from Iran, England, Germany, Sierra Leone, Australia, Canada and Azerbaijan participated in the event.

India cut bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan after attacks in Mumbai in 2008 that authorities blamed on Pakistani militants.

India has since ordered a general freeze on sporting contacts, and last year a Davis Cup tennis tie between the two nations was shifted out of Pakistan to Kazakhstan.

Few international sports events are held in Pakistan due to safety concerns, though in recent years cricket has made a comeback amid improving security.

Kabaddi originated in the sub-continent and later spread to other Asian countries.

Each team starts with seven players. During the 40-minute game, lone players will cross the centre line and attempt to tag opponents before racing back to their half and safety. The defending team will try to grab and stop the raider. Whoever succeeds in the wrestling match that ensues scores. AFP 

Johannesburg, Monday: Faf du Plessis announced on Monday that he was stepping down as South Africa’s cricket captain with immediate effect.

Du Plessis, 35, said he needed to take “a step back” from the captaincy in order to help the emergence of the next generation of leaders under Quinton de Kock.

De Kock led the team in recent one-day and Twenty20 internationals against England while Du Plessis was being rested.

It was announced last month that De Kock would be South Africa’s long-term one-day captain but in Monday’s statement, Du Plessis said he was also relinquishing the Test and T20 captaincy.

The announcement clears the way for De Kock to lead South Africa at the T20 World Cup in Australia in October and November and possibly to lead the Test team in a two-match series in the West Indies in July and August.

In a statement issued by Cricket South Africa, Du Plessis said he wanted to concentrate on contributing to the team as a batsman and senior player.

Du Plessis captained South Africa in 112 matches across all formats, including 36 Tests.

He said his time away from cricket since the end of the Test series against England last month had given him “a lot of perspective”.

Du Plessis added, “It has been a rewarding, sometimes tough and other times a lonely road, but I would not replace the experience for anything, because it has made me the man that I am proud to be today.”

He said the decision to step down was one of the toughest decisions he had made but he said he was committed to supporting De Kock, coach Mark Boucher and the rest of his team-mates.

“After the 2019 ICC World Cup, I made the decision to continue in my role as captain while the team went through a rebuilding phase following the retirement of some key senior players and a complete overhaul of the coaching staff that we had worked with until then,” he said.

“It was important to me that I stayed to help the team find its feet and plot a new way forward while assisting in identifying the next generation of leaders during a time of turbulence in SA cricket. The last season of my captaincy has been the most challenging to date as I had a lot of off-field issues that I devoted my energy towards.”

Du Plessis took over as limited overs captain in 2012 and became Test captain in 2016. He built up a reputation as one of the country’s outstanding leaders with his achievements including home-and-away series wins against Australia in both Tests and one-day internationals. AFP

Former Sri Lanka ODI captain Upul Tharanga upstaged Darren Bravo of West Indies to lead Sri Lanka Cricket XI to a two-wicket win in a one-day warm-up match played at the P Sara Oval yesterday.

Tharanga leading Sri Lanka Cricket XI helped his side recover from losing the first two wickets for one run in Sheldon Cottrell’s opening over to chase down West Indians’ tall score of 282, reaching 283-8 in 47.3 overs to win with 15 balls to spare.

West Indian batsman Darren Bravo drives through the covers during his knock of hundred.

Tharanga struck 16 fours and a six in his 124-ball knock for 120 and figured in a match winning stand of 198 with another former Sri Lanka one-day cricketer Asela Gunaratne who made 64 off 75 balls inclusive of seven fours.

Following their dismissal West Indies managed to crawl back into the match with the wickets of Sadeera Samarawickrema (0), Angelo Perera (12), Ashen Bandara (4) and Lahiru Udara (22) as the home side lost four wickets for 42 to slump to 253 for 8, but Thikshila de Silva (25 n.o. off 23 balls) and Pulina Tharanga (11 n.o. off 11 balls) carried them over the line without any further loss adding 30 off 26 balls.

Spinners Hayden Walsh (leg-spin) and Fabian Allen (slow left-arm) caused the middle-order slump after Cottrell’s opening burst.

The West Indians gave the hosts the luxury of 16 extra balls by delivering 13 wides and 3 no-balls.

Earlier West Indians winning the toss and choosing to bat first also lost two early wickets with openers Shai Hope and Brandon King both being dismissed without scoring, but Darren Bravo winning his first recall to the West Indies side since post-World Cup axing hit a brilliant century off 88 balls (14 fours, 1 six) before retiring.

Scores of 41 apiece from Sunil Ambris and Nicholas Pooran saw them reach 282 all out in 49.4 overs.

Sri Lanka under 19 World Cup left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka was the pick of the Sri Lanka Cricket XI bowlers capturing the key wickets of King, Jason Holder and skipper Kieron Pollard for 47 runs. His new ball partner Asitha Fernando took 2 for 17.

West Indians play their second one-day warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Cricket President’s XI at Katunayake on February 20 before taking on Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series commencing at the SSC on Saturday (February 22).

The captains of the competing teams in the Twenty20 women's World Cup in Australia, (L to R) Thailand's Sornnarin Tippoch, West Indies's Stafanie Taylor, India's Harmanpreet Kaur, New Zealand's Sophie Devine, Australia's Meg Lanning, England's Heather Knight, Bangladesh's Salma Khatun, Sri Lanka's Chamari Atapattu, Pakistan's Bismah Maroof and South Africa's Dane van Niekerk pose with the women's Twenty20 World Cup trophy at Taronga Zoo in Sydney on February 17, 2020, a few days ahead of the start of the competition. AFP

Fearless cricket has given Chamari Atapattu an enviable record against Australia and the Sri Lanka captain isn’t changing her approach any time soon.

The 30-year-old averages 40.20 against Meg Lanning’s side, more than double her career figure and an impressive feat against the defending ICC Women’s T20 World Cup champions.

That’s in no small part due to one of the greatest innings in women’s T20I history, scoring 113 from just 66 balls as part of Sri Lanka’s total of 176 for seven in Sydney last September.

A repeat of that would take something special but if there’s anyone who can reproduce such sterling knocks, it’s Atapattu.

“I just play my natural game, I always took myself as a positive cricketer, playing freely – and that’s all there is to it,” she said, speaking at the captains’ media day at Taronga Zoo, Sydney.

“We played against Australia last summer, we learned a lot about them and what makes them the best team in the world.

“We tried to play positive cricket – our dream is to get into the semi-finals.

“We are looking forward to playing good cricket, the innings against them made history but I want to go forward and make history again,” she said.

Atapattu’s superb record in the shortest format doesn’t end there, one of 14 players to have played in every Women’s T20 World Cup since the first edition in 2009.

As such she knows more than most about what success would mean for her country, yet to progress beyond the group stage in the six tournaments to date – an unwanted statistic she is keen to address.

“Our preparation against Australia has made us confident, so we are looking forward to taking that forward into the World Cup,” she added.

“In the last editions of the tournament, we’ve not made the semi-finals so that is what we’re looking to change this time.

“We know that there are some strong teams in this competition but we just want to take things one game at a time.” - ICC

Avishka Tharindu, right hand batsman of St. Anthony’s College Wattala scored unbeaten 278 runs against Lumbini College Colombo in their ‘Singer Trophy’ Under 19 inter Schools Cricket match played at Wattala yesterday.

Avishka scored unbeaten 278 runs in 205 balls with 45 boundaries and 3 sixes. Pawan Rathnayake of Mahanama, Colombo made 4th ton in this season. Pawan scored unbeaten 123 runs in 178 balls with 14 boundares against Trinity, Kandy.

Omesh Mendis (Prince of Wales Moratuwa) made a century against Isipathana Colombo. Imitias Slaza (Zahira) and Samith Isuru (Karandeniya Central) shown good all-round performances. Kaveesh Sathsara (P. De S. Kularathne MV) shown good bowling performance. Zahira College Colombo beat Moratu Vidyalaya by 86 runs. Other matches were drawn.

* At Moratuwa (Zahira Colombo won by 86 runs)

Zahira Colombo: 234 (47.4) (Mohomed Shamas 79, Rizwan Raahid 42, Mohomad Mahdhi 33, Imitias Slaza 24, Abdul Majid 22, Eran Hansamal 4/53, Rashan Kavishka 2/41, Vishwa Didulana 2/52) and 203/9 decl. (15/1 o/n) (49.3) (Aravinth Rajendran 70, Rizwan Raahid 39, Imithiyas Slasa 32, Rashan Kavishka 3/56, Eran Hansamal 2/43)

Moratu Vidyalaya: 150 (34.4) (Eran Hansamal 39, Nipun Kaushalya 32, Madhura Gimhana 25, Mohomad Shamas 3/29, Imitias Slaza 3/48, Rizwan Raahid 2/15) and 201 (42) (Chamalka Pushpakumara 65, Niraj Kavishka 53, Madushan Dilakshana 29, Imtiaz Slaza 6/59, Mohamed Mahdhi 2/45, Mohamed Shamaaz 2/70)

* At Moratuwa (Match drawn) Isipathana Colombo: 380 (228/6 o/n) (143) (Lisura Vinath 76, Themiya Gunarathne 66 n.o., Saveen Dantha 59, Leshan Amarasingha 40, Thiwanka Lakruwan 39, Sithuka Gunawardena 28, Ravindu Rathnayake 26, Naduka Fernando 3/44, Ravindu Janith 3/101)

Prince of Wales Moratuwa: 251/8 (60) (Omesh Mendis 109, Pasindu Pathum 41, Ravindu Janith 28 n.o., Naduka Fernando 22 n.o., Dinath Dissanayake 2/40)

On Day One

* At Wattala. St. Anthony’s Wattala: 434/8 (92) (Avishka Tharindu 278 n.o., Kaveesha Dulanjana 59, Kanishka Gimhan 25, Yasiru Yugath 3/126, Prabashana Gamlath 2/84) Lumbini Colombo

* At Asgiriya. Mahanama Colombo: 316 (83.3) (Pawan Rathnayake 123 n.o., Pulshan Rohana 60, Pawantha Weerasinghe 34, Sonal Dinusha 29, Uvindu Wimaladharma 2/46, Abhishek Anandakumar 2/56, Ruvin Peiris 2/59) Trinity Kandy: 37/0 (9) (Shane Gunathilake 25 n.o.)

* At Matara. St. Thomas Matara: 195 (53) (Hirusha Jeewadith 60, Sanchitha Ranasingha 35, Sachira Rashmika 33, Nipuna Samarasinghe 22, Kasun Edirithilake 4/70, Shashika Basnayake 3/49, Naveen Bandara 2/26)

St. Sylvester’s Kandy: 101/8 (40) (Chandula Jayakodi 42, Sineth Sithara 3/24, Ishara Theekshana 2/6)

* At Horana. Sri Dharmaloka Kelaniya: 111 (37.5) (Kavindu Malshan 33, Helanka Viduranga 24, Seneth Vinvinu 5/29, Umesh Prasad 3/36) and 6/0 (3)

Taxila Central Horana: 195 (52) (Vidushan Yasintha 45, Malith Kaushalya 34 n.o., Eranga Jayakodi 28, Deshan Dilmith 27, Kavindu Malshan 2/19, Hasindu Prabod 2/52, Piyumika Madawaththe 2/45)

* At Panadura. Sri Sumangala Panadura: 201 (65) (Prabath Jayasekara 58, Sathira Fernando 33, Mihiranga Fernando 30, Chamod Bettage 5/55, Manjula Duneth 2/57) Rahula Matara: 70/7 (30) (Majuja Dulneth 20, Mihiranga Fernando 3/18)

* At CMS Kotte. St. Mary’s Kegalle: 162 (47.1) (Waruna Udara 55 n.o., Pasan Walisingha 26, Sampath Nissanka 3/32) and 12/0 (3)

Sri Jayawardanapura MV Kotte: 120 (39.3) (Akash Kumara 24, Maleesha Senanayake 4/24, Sineth Weerasooriya 3/19)

* At Karandeniya. Karandeniya Central: 165 (39.2) (Samith Isuru 66, Vishwa Dhananjaya 4/48, Kavindu Jayawickrame 3/46) and 88/2 (17) (Samith Isuru 34, Shavindu Umesh 28 n.o )

Kalutara Vidyalaya: 167 (31.2) (Vishmika Costha 35, Avishka Lakshan 30, Sadeep Fernando 24, Samith Isuru 6/54, Hansamana De Silva 3/49)

* At Balapitiya. Revatha Balapitiya: 149 (39.2) (Chathum Kawya 54, Pasindu Dilshan 25, Kushan Manjuka 23, Kaveesh Sathsara 7/31, Manusha Theekshana 2/21)

P. De S. Kularathne MV Ambalangoda:142 (25) (Lasshen Wanidu 31, Ravishan Nethsara 23, Kushan Manjuka 3/13, Kaveesha Imasha 3/19, Didula Nethsara 3/35)

* At Matugama. St. Mary’s Mathugama: 297 (64.4) (Himesha Madubashana 58, Hiran Lakshitha 55, Heshan Welgama 41, Randev Senavirathne 27, Tharindu Dilshan 21, Suboda Lakshan 2/35, Imesh Umayanga 2/40, Imesh Chinthaka 2/56, Dimantha Diljaya 2/73)

Royal Horana: 74/6 (30) (Subhoda Lakshan 21, Heshan Welgama 2/10, Harsha Sandaruwan 2/18)

* At Debarawewa. Debarawewa NS: 244 (52.1) (Hasala Wimalaweera 69, Mayura Lakshan 39, Vishwanath Ananda 28, Sahith Himakara 23, Madhura Dilshan 20, Dhanjaya Sandalidu 3/8, Kavindu Mihiranga 3/31, Venuk Hettiachchi 2/22)

Ananda Shashthralaya Kotte: 160/3 (40) (Dhananjaya Sandalidu 47, Ashan Isira 41, Hirusha Piyumal 33 n.o., Oshan Thenuka 2/55)

* At Pelawatte. St. Aloysius Ratnapura: 74 (36.4) (Sajith Chathuranga 5/8, Kavindu Dulanjaya 3/9) and 54/1 (18) (Kalpa Bhanuka 36 n.o.)

Homagama Central: 201/9 decl. (47) (Najith Chathuranga 50, Isham Akbar 43, Samith Navoda 28, Tharusha Sathsara 21, Shanuka Dhananjaya 4/29, Kalpa Bhanuka 2/33). YK

Tamil Union C & AC scored 250 runs for 9 wickets against Lankan CC on day two in their SLC Major League Tier ‘A’ - 3 Days Inter Club Cricket Tournament match at CCC yesterday. Lankan CC bowled out for 271 runs on day one.

* At CCC. Lankan CC: 271 (266/9 o/n) (93.2) (Geeth Kumara 69, Primosh Perera 64, Chanaka Ruwansiri 43, Damitha Silva 26, Keshan Wijerathne 25, Suranga Lakmal 4/50, Jeewan Mendis 3/65)

Tamil Union C & AC: 250/9 (84) (Tharanga Paranavitana 92, Yohan Mendis 48, Manoj Sarathchandra 25, Maduka Liyanapathiranage 23 n.o, Geeth Kumara 3/23, Sahan Nanayakkare 2/66. YK

Police SC recorded win against Bloomfield C & AC by 3 wickets in their SLC Major League Tier ‘B’ - 3 Days Inter Clubs Cricket match played at Police park Colombo yesterday.

* At Police Park (Police SC won by 3 wickets)

Bloomfield C & AC: 170 and 265 (244/9 o/n) (63.2) (Dilhan Cooray 55, Chamara Silva 57, Harsha Vithana 42, Kasun Ekanayake 27, Asel Sigera 5/64, Lahiru Silva 2/34)

Police SC: 228 (65.3) and 208/7 (59.3) (Lakshan Rodrigo 67, Dulash Mihiran 36 n.o, Sujan Mayura 25, Madhuranga Zoysa 21, Gayan Sirisoma 4/75). YK

Johannesburg, Monday: Former captain Faf du Plessis and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will return to the South African squad for a three-match Twenty20 series against Australia, starting at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday.

Du Plessis, who announced earlier on Monday that he was stepping down from the captaincy, is part of a 16-man squad to be captained by Quinton de Kock.

Both Du Plessis and Rabada were rested from one-day and T20 series against England following a Test series between the sides which ended last month.

Fast bowler Anrich Nortje, one of South Africa’s successes in a losing Test series, has also been included in the squad named by Cricket South Africa on Monday.

Independent selector Linda Zondi said the inclusion of Rabada and Nortje would boost the team’s bowling following a 2-1 defeat by England in a series which ended on Sunday.

Temba Bavuma’s selection is dependent on a scan of his right hamstring after he was injured during Sunday’s final match against England.

South African squad: Quinton de Kock (capt, wkt), Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis, Bjorn Fortuin, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jon-Jon Smuts, Dale Steyn, Pite van Biljon, Rassie van der Dussen. AFP

Twenty20 international series

fixtures:

February 21, Johannesburg

February 23, Port Elizabeth

February 26, Cape Town

LONDON, Monday - Harry Gregg -- hailed as a hero for saving lives in the air crash which killed eight of Manchester United’s “Busby Babes” in Munich -- has died at the age of 87.

Gregg, who was United’s goalkeeper, rescued a mother and her baby daughter, team-mates Bobby Charlton and Jackie Blanchflower and manager Matt Busby from the wreckage of the plane on February 6, 1958. He was back playing for Manchester United just 13 days later against Sheffield Wednesday.

Gregg became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when he joined United in December 1957 for £23,500 and went on to be voted the best at the following year’s World Cup in Sweden.

He was capped 25 times by Northern Ireland and played 247 times for United from 1957-66. - AFP

NEW DELHI: India will play a day-night Test in Australia this year and another during England's visit in 2021, cricket board chief Sourav Ganguly said.

The decision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) follows January's meeting with a Cricket Australia delegation led by chairman Earl Eddings.

Australia have pushed for more pink-ball Tests, which are favourably timed for spectators and TV audiences as they continue into the evening, as they host India in a four-match series in December-January.

“Day-night Test will happen and we will make a public announcement -- the second Test against England next year. Yes, against Australia also,” Ganguly told reporters after a board meeting in New Delhi on Sunday.

India will host England in January-February 2021 for five Tests, of which one will be under lights -- and possibly at the refurbished stadium in Ahmedabad, which will be the world's biggest cricket venue when it opens. Virat Kohli's India played their first day-night Test in Kolkata last year, thrashing Bangladesh in just over two days.

Earlier India had declined Australia's offer of playing a pink-ball Test in Adelaide at the end of 2018, but Kohli now appears more at ease with the format.

“We played the day-night Test here and were pretty happy with how it went. It's become a very exciting feature of any Test series, so we are absolutely open to play a day-night Test,” Kohli said in January. AFP

The West Indies cricketers are in town and as in the past their presence always evokes memories of those Caribbean calypso style of play which is often associated with their style of play. West Indies cricket today no longer carries the big names and legends of the past, but wherever they play they are an exciting bunch of players that can draw the crowds because of their unique flair to play entertaining cricket.

From the present side the big names who are in the squad are the captain Kieron Pollard, former skipper Jason Holder and top order bat Darren Bravo. Among the younger lot are vice-captain Shai Hope, Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase and Nicholas Pooran.

The last two ODIs these two sides have contested have ended in dramatic fashion with Sri Lanka sneaking through to win both. The most recent of them took place in the 2019 World Cup at Durham where two of the brightest talents from either side Avishka Fernando (Sri Lanka) and Nicholas Pooran (West Indies) provided the first instance in World Cup history where two men under the age of 25 scored hundreds in the same match.

Fernando , 21 scored his maiden international hundred (104) to set up Sri Lanka’s score of 338-6 – their highest total against West Indies, and Pooran three months shy of his 24th birthday responded with 118 – his first international century too – to threaten a remarkable comeback in what would have been the highest chase at a World Cup.

If not for the golden arm of former captain Angelo Mathews, Pooran would have carried West Indies to victory. Airdropped to bowl the 48th over Mathews who had not bowled a single ball previously in the World Cup or in any ODI since December 2017 came onto bowl with West Indies needing 31 from three overs and a plundering Pooran on strike. Mathews’ first ball bowled full and wide Pooran flung his hands wildly at it and edged a catch behind the wicket to Kusal Perera. That was the turning point for Sri Lanka who went onto restrict West Indies to 315-9 and win by 23 runs in a dead rubber contest where both teams were out of contention.

The other instance too was a high scoring affair where both sides topped 300 plus and it took place in Bulawayo in the Zimbabwe tri-nation series in 2016 which Sri Lanka went onto win.

Enterprising knocks of 94s apiece from Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella contributed to Sri Lanka's highest ODI score against West Indies at the time – 330-7. The two were involved in a 107-run stand after Kusal Perera had been cleaned up by Shannon Gabriel who clocked average speeds of 145 kph in the third over. Dhananjaya de Silva hit an exuberant 58 to put Sri Lanka back on track before Mendis and Dickwella further consolidated that position. Both were within reach of their maiden ODI hundreds when they were dismissed. Mendis in particular was innovative in his stroke play peppering the leg-side boundaries with five sixes in his 73-ball knock in contrast to the 106 balls used by Dickwella. The final touches to the Lankan innings was put by cameos from stand-in skipper Upul Tharanga (26 off 19) and Sachith Pathirana (24 off 16).

West Indies run chase was spearheaded by opener Evin Lewis. With just a handful of internationals under his name Lewis struck a counter-attacking maiden ODI century to give West Indies a sniff of gunning down a 300-plus chase for the first time in ODIs. Lewis smacked 15 fours and four sixes in his 122-ball knock of 148. Unfortunately Lewis failed a fitness test and was left out of the present squad for the Sri Lankan tour.

Cameo knocks of 45 off 46 balls from skipper Jason Holder and 19 off 16 from Carlos Brathwaite brought West Indies within 24 of Sri Lanka’s total, but what followed was unpardonable. With victory within sniffing distance West Indies stumbled to a one-run loss triggered by panic, poor shot selection and lackadaisical running between the wickets that saw them finish on 329-9.

West Indies are not the dominant side they once were throughout the eighties and nineties, a period of dominance, which was made possible due to the perfect combination of intimidation, aura and skill, and still today remains the most fabled and feared in the history of cricket.

“We were so accustomed to being No. 1 in the world and being the team that everyone wants to beat. To see the decline as a former cricketer is very hard to take,” former West Indies pace ace Curtly Ambrose once said.

West Indies waning is clearly shown by Sri Lanka’s dominance over them in the recent past. Factually West Indies has yet to win an ODI series in Sri Lanka. Richie Richardson’s side drew the three-match series played in 1994, 1-all (1 NR), and West Indies lost the next two played in 2011 (0-2, 1 NR) under Darren Sammy and in 2015 (0-3) under Jason Holder.

Holder and Bravo are the only survivors of West Indies’ last ODI visit to Sri Lanka five years ago when they were whitewashed 0-3. Certainly Pollard’s new look West Indies team will want to put that record right on the present tour.

Sri Lanka and West Indies are two countries that have in recent times taken a dip in their cricket internationally and are struggling to compete with other nations. There can't be a more telling piece of statistics to show where Sri Lanka and West Indies cricket stands now. Sri Lanka are ranked no. 8 in ODIs and T20Is and West Indies are no. 9 in ODIs and no. 10 in T20Is.

However the reasons for their downfall are in contrast to each other.

Whereas in the Caribbean the attraction for cricket has lost its charisma with lots of youngsters turning to other fast-paced sports and the West Indies cricket board, perennially at war with players over wages, and unable to win the trust of its most gifted cricketers, the problem with Sri Lanka is that their first-class domestic structure through which all the national team players perform and come through has been diluted to the extent that it is no longer providing the platform for the cricketer to take the next step to international cricket and they don’t have a stable domestic program that keeps on changing each year.

These are factors that have contributed to the decline of two great cricket nations which are struggling to raise their heads on the face of increasing pressure brought upon by upcoming countries like Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands, Oman and Nepal who are making vast strides in white ball cricket.

Monday 17th February 2020, Colombo: EFL 3PL, the logistics and 3PL arm of Expolanka PLC, is fulfilling its three-year sponsorship agreement with the historic rugby outfit, Havelock Sports

Club in novel ways. In addition, EFL 3PL has supported the Havelock Sports Club to uplift the standards of the club in order to enrich the members’ club experience, as well as enhance the infrastructure to support and motivate the players.

EFL 3PL organized an evening of fellowship and camaraderie with the young Havies team recently to boost their confidence, at the Hilton Colombo. The Havelock Sports Club is sporting one of the youngest teams in this season and is increasingly living up to its potential to become future champions.

EFL has a proven track record as a company that supports a multitude of sports, having sponsored the Mercantile Volleyball Association for five years, while going on to become

Runners-up at the Mercantile Volleyball Games in 2018. They founded the Colombo Football

Club, which is now one of the leading football clubs in Sri Lanka. EFL 3PL also plays a part in the schools rugby circuit, namely S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia, Royal College, Trinity College and St. Peters College. EFL 3PL is now proud to extend its influence to the sport of rugby, determined to empower the Havelock Sports Club to become a force to reckon with. By supporting the Havelock Sports Club, EFL 3PL aims to encourage talent amongst youth both on and off the field.

EFL 3PL has gone to the extent of absorbing some promising talent into the company and those rugby professionals now enjoy a thriving career.

The Havelock Sports Club has been pivotal to the development of the sport of rugby in the country. As such, EFL 3PL is proud to mentor the great tradition by supporting Havies in order to take them to the next level as one of the country’s oldest rugby clubs. Going from strength to strength, Havies had an excellent 2019 year, becoming Runners Up at the 2018/19 Rugby League

and the Clifford Cup Champions after 38 years, under EFL 3PL’s sponsorship. EFL 3PL is determined to drive their winning spirit with the aim of supporting them to strive for excellence on and off the field.

Sammy Akbar - Director – EFL 3PL & Freeport said, “Having represented the Sri Lanka youth team at the Rugby ASIAD in Taiwan, S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia, Havelock Sport Club and CH&FC, I consider myself to be an eternal servant of the game. As seniors, if we don’t step forward to support the talented players on and off the field, who else can they depend on? At a time when we see prime sponsors shying away from sponsorships due to various reasons, it is

paramount that some of us step forward in whichever way possible to support the game, the players, and to help foster the sport for generations to come.

Sri Lanka Army emerged the men's champions while the women's team secured the runner-up possition in the Defence Services Volleyball championship which was worked off at the Air Force Indoor Stadium, Katunayaka recently. Volleyball event is the curtain raiser for 2020 Defence Services Games and the other events will be held in due course. Army spikers have shown a great progress in recent times and bagged the Defence Services women's beach volleyball crown in January beating AIr Force 2-1 in final.

Army men's team clinched the volleyball champion title convincingly beating Air Force team 3-1 in the final. Army women entered the volleyball final for the first time in history and went down to Air Force 3-0 in the final. Air Vice Marshel Prasanna Payo was the chief guest at the finals and many high ranking tri-forces officials were also present on the occasion.

D S Senanayake College Queensland Old Boys Association and St Johns (Jaffna) Old Boys association Sydney had inaugural cricket match for Unity Cup in Brisbane Australia recently.

12 players and their families from St, Johns OBA traveled to Brisbane (about 1,000km apart) to take part in the Unity cricket game.

According to DS OBA this was the first time such an event took place in Queensland. The day started with traditional Kiribath and lighting of the oil lamp from both parties.

The games were two 20 over games and St Johns team won the trophy on the last ball of the super over. Both teams showed excellent sportsmanship.

The game was followed by an award ceremony.

Both communities, Tamil and sinhala live in harmony and keen to develop new friendships among them. DSSC and St. Johns OBAs set a perfect example for that to the community.

DS OBA will travel to Sydney next year to play with Jaffna Central and Hindu OBA teams and the main event, St Johns DS Unity Cup annual event.

The Annual Inter House Athletic Meet of ST Benedict’s College was held at the Sugathadasa Stadium recently. Distinguished Old Benedictine, former football captain Thilak Peiries and his wife Nelum graced the occasion as chief guests.

A high standard of athletics was on display right throughout the day. An important feature was that the honour of presenting the awards were given mainly to the most outstanding past athletes, the majority of them from the last decade, where Benedictines have been in the forefront of the Sri Lanka Schools Athletics scene.

The Best Athletes according to age categories were: Under 12 – Dilshan Shevan Caldera (Camillus), Under 13 – Christiano Louis (Camillus), Under 14 – Kalana Jayamanne (Claude), Under 15 – Angelo Fonseka (Camillus) Under 16 – Steve Fernando (Camillus), Under 17 – Ojitha de Silva (Cassian), Under 18 – Oshada Mottau (Cassian) and Under 20 – Sadeepa Fernando (Camillus).

The Best Athletes according to disciplines were: Best Sprinter – Sadeepa Fernando, Best Thrower – Steve Fernando, Best Jumper – Akash Fernando, Best Hurdler – Sadeepa Fernando, Best Long Distance Runner – Sanjaya Srinath, Road Race Winner (Junior) – Sakuntha Balasooriya, Road Race Winner (Senior) – Sanjaya Srinath, Best Junior Athlete (Track) – Angelo Fonseka, Best Junior Athlete (Field) – Angelo Fonseka and the Most Outstanding Athlete of the Meet was again Sadeepa Fernando.

The Rev. Bro. Alexander Cyrillus Memorial Challenge Shield for the Champion House was won by – Camillus House (508 points) and Rev. Bro. Baptist Croos Memorial Challenge Trophy for the Runner-Up – Claude House (499 points). The Houses were named as a tribute to four brothers.

The Brothers were Rev. Bro. Cassian of Jesus, the only De La Salle Brother who has not been a Director of the College but one who faithfully served the school for 42 years (1870-1912), Rev. Bro. Camillus Eugene (Director 1909-1912), Rev. Bro. Claude Marie (Director 1923-1931) and Rev. Bro. Luke Gregory (Director 1931-1939, 1943-1947).

The Ambassador Cup of Japan Karate Championships 2020 organized by the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Karate-Do Federation was held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on February 15.

The tournament was conducted in commemoration of Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games which is scheduled in Japan this summer, in where Karate has been listed as an official Olympic sport for the first time.

Over 3,000 Karate practitioners from different clubs across the island participated in this first-ever ‘Ambassador Cup’ in Sri Lanka, which styled in performing ‘kata’, while demonstrating wide popularity of Karate in the country.

The winning clubs were awarded in the respective categories listed below;

Winner- SHITORYU KARATE DO SHUKOKAI- SRI LANKA

1st Runner up- INT GOJU RYU KARATE DO SAKURAKAI

2nd Runner up- JAPAN KARATEDO ITOSUKAI SRI LANKA BRANCH

3rd Runner up- INTERNATIONAL GOPRAKAI KARATE ASSOCIATION

In the interval of the Karate Championships, a special ceremony to confer “Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation” on Sisira Kumara, President of the Sri Lanka Karate-Do Federation, was held where Ambassador SUGIYAMA Akira, on behalf of the Government of Japan, handed over the certificate of commendation to Kumara while expressing his deep appreciation for making Karate one of the most popular sports in Sri Lanka.

Over four decades, Kumara has been working strenuously to increase the number of Karate practitioners from both rural and urban settings, which now stands over half a million with many young boys and girls actively taking part. Originated in Japan, Karate cultivates both inner quality and physical skills simultaneously, which benefits healthy development of mind and body.

Periyasamy Pillai Selvaraj, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Relations attended the ceremony as a chief guest while Suresh Subramaniam, President, National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka too graced the occasion.

St Anthony’s College Wattala right-hand batsman Avishka Tharindu broke several batting records on his way to a monumental 350 against Lumbini College Colombo in a ‘Singer Trophy’ Under 19 inter-school cricket match which ended in a draw at Wattala yesterday.

Tharindu who was unbeaten on 278 on the first day went onto hit 56 fours and three sixes in his innings of 350 that came off 285 balls as St Anthony’s reached 514 all out.

According to available records Tharindu’s innings surpassed Dhammika Vaas’ 310 for Maris Stella College Negombo against St Peter’s College Negombo in 1996 and Indika de Saram’s 304 for St. Thomas’ College Matara against Devananda College Ambalangoda in 1993 – the only other schoolboys to reach the milestone.

Tharindu followed his marathon knock with an unbeaten 79 in the second innings that left him 12 runs short of 1000 for the season. Lumbini in reply scored 160 in their first innings but the Antonians didn’t enforce the follow-on despite gaining a massive 354-run lead.

Meanwhile Samith Isuru right-arm leg-spinner and skipper of Karandeniya Central College became the first bowler to pass the 100-wicket milestone for the season when he captured a match bag of nine wickets against Kalutara Vidyalaya. Isuru however finished on the losing side as Kalutara won the match by five wickets. In the other matches Sri Jayawardanapura MV Kotte beat St. Mary’s Kegalle by 5 wickets, P. de S. Kularatne MV Ambalangoda beat Revatha Balapitiya by 9 wickets, Taxila Central Horana beat Sri Dharmaloka Kelaniya by 9 wickets, St. Mary’s Matugama beat Royal Horana by innings and 27 runs and Homagama Central College beat St. Aloysius Ratnapura by 6 wickets. All the other matches ended in draws.

RESULTS:

• At Wattala: Match drawn. St. Anthony’s College, Wattala: 514 (434/8 o/n) (113.1) ( Avishka Tharindu 350, Kaveesha Dulanjana 59, Kanishka Gimhan 25, Yasiru Yugath 3/131, Prabashana Gamlath 2/88, Tharindu Ekanayake 2/89, Shahan Kaushalya 2/119) and 175/3 (23) (Avishka Tharindu 79 n.o., Gihan Sathmika 33, Dinuk Vishal 26, Kaveesha Dulanjana 21 n.o.)

Lumbini Colombo: 160 (45.2) (Hiru Chethana 41, Chalana Chamod 37, Kaveesha Dulanjana 7/37, Romesh Suranga 2/44)

• At Asgiriya: Match drawn.

Mahanama Colombo: 316 and 115/2 (19) (Pawantha Weerasinghe 59, Pawan Rathnayake 27 n.o., Pulshan Rohana 23, Uvindu Wimaladharma 2/34)

Trinity Kandy: 264 (37/0 o/n) (86.4) (Ranudha Somaratna 60, Dinitha Siriwardene 44, Shane Gunathilake 40, Abhishek Anandakumar 29, Deemantha Bandara 35, Pawan Ratnayake 2/42, Achintha Supun 2/50)

• At Matara: Match drawn.

St. Thomas’ Matara: 195 and 128/9 decl. (37.3) (Sachira Rashmika 28, Vihadu Ruwin 25, Nimanthaka Bashana 22, Shashika Basnayake 5/62, Kasun Edirithilake 3/43)

St. Sylvester’s Kandy: 131 (101/8 o/n) (51.2) (Chandula Jayakodi 42, Mikdad Mohommed 24, Naveen Bandara 21, Sineth Sithara 3/28, Sathira Theekshana 3/31, Sachira Rashmika 2/19) and 147/6 (44) (Maleesha Silva 33, Abhishek Kumar 30 n.o., Kasun Edirithilake 30, Sadeepa Halangoda 21, Sineth Sithara 3/34, Sachira Rashmika 2/41)

• At CMS Kotte: Sri Jayawardanapura MV Kotte won by 5 wickets.

St. Mary’s Kegalle: 162 and 115 (12/3 o/n) (40.3) (Sandeep Weerasooriya 22, Praveen Liyanage 20 n.o., Sampath Nissanka 6/41, Isuka Dinasara 2/17)

Sri Jayawardanapura MV Kotte: 120 and 160/5 (41.5) (Chamod Supun 31, Gihan Boteju 26, Visuka Dinathara 23, Joseph Seneviratne 21, Akash Kumara 20, Praveen Liyanage 2/18, Thineth Weerasooriya 2/55)

• At Karandeniya: Kalutara Vidyalaya won by 5 wickets.

Karandeniya Central: 165 and 154 (35) (88/2 o/n) (Shavindu Umesh 47, Samith Isuru 34, Thilina Hashintha 23 n.o., Kavindu Jayawickrama 5/38, Wishwa Dhananjaya 4/55)

Kalutara Vidyalaya: 167 and 153/5 (33.2) (Avishka Lakshan 39, Minindu Silva 24 n.o., Samith Isuru 3/81, Hansamana De Silva 2/43)

• At Panadura: Match drawn.

Sri Sumangala Panadura: 201 and 197 (59.1) (Mihiranga Fernando 61, Imeth Gampola 45, Prabash Jayasekara 43, Sulakshana Ashan 5/44, Ruvinda Dilshan 2/11, Manuja Dulneth 2/17)

Rahula Matara: 114 (70/7 o/n) (41.1) (Bhagya Himeth 36, Manuja Dulneth 20, Mihiranga Fernando 3/18, Vidusha Peiris 3/43, Anuka Jayasinghe 2/21) and 74/5 (21) (Sulakshan Ashan 30 n.o., Charuka Peiris 2/10, Vidusha Peiris 2/16)

• At Matugama: St. Mary’s Matugama won by inns and 27 runs.

St. Mary’s Matugama: 297;

Royal Horana: 140 (74/6 o/n) (63.2) (Imesh Umayanga 52, Sahan Divyanjana 24, Subhoda Lakshan 21, Harsha Sandaruwan 5/59, Heshan Welgama 2/26) and 130 (48) (Sahan Divyanjana 35, Harsha Sandaruwan 5/75, Heshan Welgama 3/51)

• At Balapitiya: P. de S. Kularatne MV Ambalangoda won by 9 wickets.

Revatha Balapitiya: 149 and 46 (20.2) (Pasindu Dilshan 22, Ravishan Nethsara 4/7, Kalpa Harshajith 3/28, Hirusha Dewmika 2/1)

P. de S. Kularatne MV Ambalangoda: 142 and 58/4 (15) (Tharindu Harshana 35, Kaveesha Imasha 4/20)

• At Debarawewa: Match drawn.

Debarawewa NS: 244 and 19/4 (4.3) (Kavindu Mihiranga 2/6)

Ananda Shashthralaya Kotte: 378 (160/3 o/n) (96.4) (Hirusha Piyumal 111, Hasith Hansidu 72, Danaja Sandalidu 47, Ashan Isira 45, Eshan Adithya 26 n.o., Oshan Thenuka 4/117, Nimneth Thakshila 2/37, Ishan Aravinda 2/121)

• At Pelawatte: Homagama Central won by 6 wickets.

St. Aloysius Ratnapura: 74 and 213 (54/1 o/n) (71.4) (Kalpa Bhanuka 59, Vihara Attanayake 49, Thumuditha Niranjaya 38, Chanaka Dananjaya 25, Damith Navoda 4/72, Samith Chathuranga 3/55)

Homagama Central: 201/9 decl. and 89/4 (15.4) (Isham Akbar 39, Sajith Chathuranga 23 n.o., Geeth de Silva 3/43)

DAY ONE SCORES

Matches will be continued today on day two.

• At Panagoda: Dharmasoka Ambalangoda: 226 (64.5) (Lohan de Zoysa 93, Sanula Gunarathne 33, Chanaka Jananga 30, Senitha Helambage 20, Saneru Dissanayake 4/31, Dhananjaya Dabare 4/39)

D.S. Senanayake: 73/1 (28) at close (Anishka Kalpana 37 n.o.)

• At Kadirana: Devapathiraja Ratgama: 105 (42.4) (Jeewaka Sasheen 30, Menusha Perera 4/29, Shone Seni 2/8, Tharusha Fernando 2/15)

St. Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa: 167/5 (54) at close (Nipun Dhananjaya 37, Achintha Deshan 32, Dineth Ushara 25 n.o., Chamath Fernando 22, Pasindu Dassanayake 27, Irushka Thimira 4/44)

• At Divulapitiya: Nalanda Boys College, Minuwangoda: 211 (42.1) (Sachiru Hansala 66, Nadun Kalhara 44, Arana Dabare 3/59, Hasindu Perera 2/38, Movindu Jayasinghe 2/41)

Bandaranayake Central College, Veyangoda: 213/7 (56) at close (Nipun Santhush 84, Dilsha Malshara 38, Hasindu Perera 35, Movindu Jayasinghe 26, Nadun Kalhara 3/65, Mahindu Malith 2/55)

• At Gampaha: Galahitiyawa Central: 360 (63.2) (Subhan Sanuka 135, Sandaruwan Chinthaka 55, Neluka Dilshan 51, Senesh Nadeeshan 28, Sandaru Pathirana 2/40, Sithija Silva 2/74)

Bandaranayake Gampaha: 145/5 (32) at close (Sithija Silva 40, Hasitha Pathirage 24, Sahan Puwakpitiya 31, Sandaruwan Chinthaka 3/52)

• At Bentota: Gamini NS Bentota: 232 (53.2) (Lasith Eranda 51, Kavishka Bawantha 41, Akash Lochana 41, Amir Rasiq 3/29, Disara Fernando 3/22)

St. Joseph’s Negombo: 162/6 (42) at close (Kalana Kavinda 42, Sajith Kaushalya 25, Sithum Vishwa 25, Sakuntha Fernando 25, Sahan Ranthilakege 2/45, Ushmika Prasanjith 2/38) - (YK)