Tag: Lanka

Mendis fires Sri Lanka to series-clinching win

COLOMBO - Ajantha Mendis and Thisara Perera shared seven wickets as Sri Lanka posted a 26-run win over the West Indies in the third one-day international on Sunday to clinch the series 2-0.
Sri Lanka showed the depth of their bowling line-up by defending their total of 277-9 and restricting the tourists to 251 despite resting attack spearheads Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan and Nuwan Kulasekara for the match. Unorthodox spinner Mendis finished with 4-46 and seamer Perera

Torrential rain in Sri Lanka kills 11; rice crop at risk

COLOMBO - Heavy rain triggered flooding in Sri Lanka that killed at least 11 people and is threatening up to 90 percent of the staple rice crop, heightening concern about supply shocks and inflation, officials said on Sunday. Heavy monsoon rain caused flooding across the Eastern, Northern and North Central provinces for the second time in less than a month. More than 250,000 people have been forced into temporary shelters by this latest inundation.
"A large amount is destroyed.

Tharanga guides Sri Lanka home with ton

COLOMBO - Upul Tharanga cracked an unbeaten 101 to steer Sri Lanka to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second one-day international on Thursday. The left-handed opener hit seven fours in his ninth one-day century as Sri Lanka achieved a rain-revised target of 197 with more than four overs to spare for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The opening game of the series was abandoned due to rain on Monday. The final match will be played on Sunday.

Sri Lanka need to fix middle order

MUMBAI - Kumar Sangakkara or Mahela Jayawardene should drop down and bolster a concerning middle order if Sri Lanka are to be successful at this month's World Cup, former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga told Reuters.
Ranatunga, the burly left-handed batsman who led Sri Lanka to the title the last time it was played in the subcontinent in 1996, believes the island nation are the favourites, besides India, to win the World Cup for a second time.

Sri Lanka hope to make most of home comforts

NEW DELHI - Sri Lanka's ability to rise to the occasion makes them one of the most feared teams in the World Cup, especially in favourable home conditions. When the focus was on other sides in the 2007 edition in the Caribbean, Sri Lanka steadily emerged as deserving challengers to Australia in the final with their solid all-round show.
They have often proved tough customers in all conditions, having depth in batting and bowling. Their best in recent months came when they

Sri Lanka, WI eye World Cup workout

COLOMBO - West Indies and Sri Lanka will resume their series where it ended last year due to rains. The one-dayers were postponed and are now being played with World Cup in sight. The teams will start their World Cup preparations, with the 15-member squad trying to get into winning form.
Sri Lanka last played an ODI series in November, West Indies even further back in June when they were thrashed 0-5 by South Africa, and a series in the subcontinent provides a welcome platform

Sri Lanka persist with World Cup squad

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka have decided to stick with their 15-man World Cup squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies starting January 31. The series had been originally scheduled for December of last year, but incessant bad weather - which also hugely affected the preceding Test series - prompted a postponement.
In addition, the venue for the series has been changed. The Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo will play host to all three clashes instead of

Sri Lanka reschedule West Indies ODIs

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka will host its rescheduled one-day series against the West Indies starting at the new Hambantota stadium in the island's south on January 31, officials said Sunday. Heavy rains in December forced the series to be scrapped. The games were to be played across the three World Cup venues in Hambantota, Colombo and the central region of Kandy. All three games would now be day-night encounters at Hambantota and in Colombo, Sri Lanka Cricket said.The series will be used by

Rains worsen Sri Lanka flood havoc

BATTICALOA - Fresh rains Friday compounded the misery of the million-plus victims of Sri Lanka's deadly floods, as relief workers struggled to bring crucial supplies to the worst-affected regions. After a brief respite overnight, renewed downpours battered the island's central and eastern districts where 27 people have been killed by the flood waters and mudslides.
"The situation is clearly worsening," said Paula Alvarado, a regional spokesman for the International Federation of

Sri Lanka floods toll hits 18

COLOMBO - At least 18 people have died and nearly one million have been made homeless by flooding in Sri Lanka after days of heavy rains, officials said Wednesday. Central and eastern regions of the island have been worst hit by the monsoon rains, with frequent mudslides and rising water levels. Continuing bad weather forced President Mahinda Rajapakse to abandon a tour of flood-affected areas.
Many schools remained shut with the military deployed to rescue marooned villages and

Sri Lanka, India to relaunch ferry service after three decades

COLOMBO - India and Sri Lanka on Friday signed an agreement to restart sea ferry services shut down for nearly 30 years, the latest sign of resurgent economic ties since the end of Sri Lanka's quarter-century civil war.
The two nations gave no immediate timeframe, but said the service should start shortly.
"Sea passenger transportation between India and Sri Lanka is being established...to speedily restore the traditional links between the two countries," a joint statement

Pakistanis urged to invest in Sri Lanka

KARACHI - Sri Lanka is the next economic miracle success story emerging in Asia and Pakistani investors should look to enter this promising market. These views were expressed by the Consul General of the Republic of Sri Lanka in Karachi DW Jinadasa, while talking to the media.
Giving details, Jinadasa said that the Sri Lankan economy is expected to record an astounding growth of eight percent in 2010, while the GDP per capita has more than doubled to over $2,000 in the last five

India, Sri Lanka reject Pakistan’s Asia Cup bid

LAHORE: Pakistan's isolation in international cricket is likely to continue as India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have refused to support the country's bid to secure hosting rights of the 2012 Asia Cup at a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council in Dhaka.
According to sources, PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and Sultan Rana, who represented Pakistan at the ACC executive council meeting, had offered to host the 2012 event at a neutral venue and suggested Dubai. "But they met with stiff

Sri Lanka strike back in rain-hit Test

PALLEKELE: Sri Lanka grabbed two wickets off successive overs to restore the balance in the third and final Test against the West Indies on Thursday. The West Indies were strongly placed at 241-3 before slipping to 244-5 in their first innings at stumps on a rain-hit second day.
Brendan Nash, who survived a run-out chance on 32, was unbeaten on 62 and Carlton Baugh had yet to open his account as only 41 overs were bowled in the day due to rain.
The West Indies lost well-set

Pakistan, Sri Lanka agree to waive visa regulations, restore PIA ops

COLOMBO: Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Sunday agreed they would waive off the requirement for official and diplomatic visas and restore PIA flights to Colombo.
In a series of meetings held in Colombo by President Asif Ali Zardari with the Sri Lankan president, prime minister and foreign minister, with the two sides signed three agreements and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance bilateral ties.
The agreements and the MoU aim at abolishing visas, facilitating customs

Sangakkara boosts Sri Lanka with unbeaten 135

COLOMBO: Kumar Sangakkara hit an impressive 135 not out under pressure to boost Sri Lanka in the second Test against the West Indies on Wednesday.
The skipper hit one six and 16 fours in a 252-ball knock for his 24th Test hundred as Sri Lanka posted 294-5 in their first innings at stumps on the second day.
Prasanna Jayawardene was unbeaten on 12 when play was called off after tea due to rain.
Sangakkara steadied the innings with a record 170-run stand for the fourth

Sri Lanka win first series in Australia

SYDNEY: Sri Lanka claimed their first-ever series success in Australia with a win against Ricky Ponting's team in the rain-marred second one-day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.
The Sri Lankans won by 29 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method after several rain interruptions and followed their stunning one-wicket victory in the opening match in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka condemned Australia to a seventh straight international defeat in all forms