SRI LANKA CRICKET NEWS (DECEMBER 2024) Compiled by Victor Melder
South Africa beat the touring Sri Lankans by 233 runs in the first Test played at Kingsmead, Durban. Scores:
South Africa, 1st Innings – 191 (Bavuma 70, Maharaj 24, Asitha Fernando 3/44, Kumara 3/70, Jayasuriya 2/24, Vishwa Fernando 2/15)
Sri Lanka, 1st Innings – 42 (Kamudu Mendis 13, Jansen 7/13, Coetzee 2/18)
South Africa, 2nd Innings – 366/5 dec (Stubbs 122, Bavuma 1123, Markram 47, Jayasuriya 2/32, Vishwa Fernando 2/64)
Sri Lanka, 2nd Innings – 282 (Chandimal 83, de Silva 59, Kusal Mendis 48, Jansen 4/73, Rabada 2/65, Coetzee 2/67, Maharaj 2/67)
Player of the Match: Marco Jansen (South Africa)
Points: South Africa 12, Sri Lanka 0.
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South Africa climbed to second place in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings with a commanding 233-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Durban on Saturday. Marco Jansen was the standout performer for the hosts, delivering exceptional match figures of 11/86. After losing the first Test of their away series by a large margin, Sri Lanka dropped to 5th place in the WTC 2023-25 points table, with a points percentage of 50%. Sri Lanka began the match in 3rd place, holding a points percentage of 55.56%.(Daily Mirror, 1.12.2024)
South Africa beat the touring Sri Lankans by 109 runs in the second and final first Test played at Gqberha. Scores:
South Africa, 1st Innings – 358 (Verreynne 105no, Rictedan 101, Bavuma 78, Kumara 4/79, A. Fenando 3/102, V.Fer4nando 2/65.
Sri Lanka, 1st Innings – 328 (Nissanka 89, K.Mendis 48, Chandimal 44. Mathews 44, Peterson 5/71, Maharaj 2/65, Jansen 2/100)
South Africa, 2nd Innings – 317 (Bavuma 66, Markram 55, Stubbs 47, Beckingham 35, Jayasuriya 5/129, V.Fernando 2/47)
Sri Lanka, 2 d Innings – 238 (D.de Silva 50, Kusal Mendis 46, Kumudu Mendis 35, Chandimal 29, Maharaj 5/76, Pererson 2/33, Rabada 2/63)
Player of the Match: Dane Peterson (South Africa)
Player of the Series: Temba Bavuma (South Africa)
South Africa won the 2-macth series 2-0.
Sri Lanka have named a largely unchanged 16-man T20I squad to travel to New Zealand later this month. Only Dunith Wellalage misses out from the squad that faced the same opposition at home last month. The team is expected to leave for New Zealand on 20 December. While no reason has been cited for Wellalage’s omission, it is likely that his spin-bowling attributes would have been less useful in New Zealand’s more seam-friendly conditions. Wellalage is currently taking part in the Lanka T10 tournament for Jaffna Titans. Apart from Wellalage, Sri Lanka’s team – led by Charith Asalanka – has a familiar feel. Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis and Asalanka comprise the primary batting options, while Chamindu Wickramasinghe is in line to play a more prominent role than on recent tours as the sole seam-bowling allrounder. Notably, Bhanuka Rajapaksa retained his position in the squad despite middling performances in the recent Abu Dhabi T10, as well as in Sri Lanka’s last series against New Zealand. While another curious retention is Dinesh Chandimal, who, despite being named in recent squads, last played a T20I in February 2022. Wickramasinghe will supplement a varied seam attack consisting of Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando and Binura Fernando. Spinners Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Jeffrey Vandersay round out the squad. The first two T20Is will take place in Mount Maunganui on 28 and 30 December, before the action moves to Nelson for the final match on 2 January. Team: Charith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Bhanuka Rajapaksha, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Binura Fernando. (Ceylon Today, 19.12.2024)
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Friday (20) announced that at an extraordinary general meeting held on 20 December 2024 its membership approved significant amendments to the Constitution, reaffirming its commitment to fostering good governance, transparency, inclusivity, and efficiency in its management structure. Among the notable changes, a substantial reduction in the total number of voting members from 147 to 60 has been introduced. The new voting structure ensures that voting rights are determined solely based on the level of cricket played by each member club, with all qualified clubs and associations being entitled to only one vote. This marks a pivotal step towards equitable representation and streamlined decision-making. Further, in order to strengthen the transparency in financial management, the membership unanimously approved the establishment of the Audit Committee, Investment and Budget Committee, and Related Party Transactions Committee. This landmark initiative is expected to create a more level playing field for cricketing stakeholders, ensuring that representation within SLC reflects merit and contribution to the development of cricket across the nation. SLC believes these constitutional amendments will foster a culture of professionalism, transparency, and meritocracy, paving the way for the holistic growth of cricket in Sri Lanka. In addition to the above changes, the Election Committee for SLC for the year 2025, headed by retired Court of Appeal Judge Malanie Gunaratne and four other members, was also appointed during the Extraordinary General Meeting. The election committee will oversee the preparations and conduct upcoming elections scheduled to take place in 2025.(Ceylon Today, 21.12.2024)
Sri Lanka Cricket which escaped an overhaul in 2023 over corruption charges raised in Parliament amid numerous public protests have finally admitted its failures and mismanagement and a disputed voting set up at what is said to have been an extraordinary general meeting held on Friday. Eventually admitting to its failures and abuses which it could no longer conceal amid calls for change over the past four years, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) declared at the meeting that three Committees need to be set up to monitor its income and expenditure. “In order to strengthen the transparency in financial management, the membership unanimously approved the establishment of the Audit Committee, Investment and Budget Committee, and Related Party Transactions Committee. “SLC believes these constitutional amendments will foster a culture of professionalism, transparency and meritocracy, paving the way for the holistic growth of cricket in Sri Lanka,” SLC said in a media statement. The media statement also claims it made a ruling to chop down the number of votes to elect its office-bearers from a despised 147 to 60 in an apparent reference to eliminating vote-buying that opponents said created a base for shady elements to creep into its administration. “Among the notable changes, a substantial reduction in the total number of voting members from 147 to 60 has been introduced”, the media statement further said while also claiming that SLC will no longer shut its doors to public scrutiny. “Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wishes to announce that its membership at an extraordinary general meeting approved significant amendments to the Constitution reaffirming its commitment to fostering good governance, transparency, inclusivity and efficiency in its management structure”, the media statement said. An election of office-bears to SLC is scheduled to be held before the end of May 2025 under the supervision of retired Appeal Court judge Malanie Gunaratne. Crusaders for change at SLC said they will adopt a wait-and-see approach to the new developments. “We welcome the amendments for change, but we will not get carried away until we see the real changes take place”, said a former Sri Lanka player who was involved in SLC’s administration and quit the scene. (Sunday Observer, 22.12.2024)
The touring Sri Lankans beat a New Zealand XI by 32 runs in a warm-up game played at Lincoln. Scores:
Sri Lanka – 128/2 in 10 Overs (Nissanka 31, Hasaranga 27, Rajapaksha 25, Fisher 1/12, Lister 1/25)
New Zealand – 96/2 in 10 Overs (Bough 57no, Carter 23, Thushara 2/10)
New Zealand beat the touring Sri Lankans by 8 runs in the first T20 encounter at Mount Maunganu. Scores:
New Zealand – 178/ 8 in 20 (overs (Mitchell 62, Bracewell 59, B.Fernando 2/22, Theekshana 2/29, Hasaranga 2/54)
Sri Lanka – 164/8 in 20 overs (Nissanka 90, Kusal Mendis 46, Duffy 3/21, Henry 2/28, Foulkes 2/42)
Player of the Match: Jacob Duffy (New Zealand)
New Zealand beat the touring Sri Lankans by 45 runs in the second T20 encounter at Mount Maunganu. Scores:
New Zealand – 1986/5 in 20 Overs (Chapman 42, Robinson 41, Hay 41no, Hasaranga 2/28)
Sri Lanka – 141 in 19.1 Overs (Kusal Perera 48 Nissanka 37, Asalanka 20, Duffy 2/15, Santner 2/22)
Player of the Match: Mitchell Hay (New Zealand)
