Airmen lift off with big 36-15 win over CH and FC

Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club (SLAF) triumphed over the more favoured CH and FC with a comprehensive 36 points (four goals, one try, one penalty) to 15 (one goal, one try, one penalty) win in the opening match of the Mastercard Inter-club ‘A’ Division Rugby League at the Air Force Grounds in Ratmalana yesterday. Despite the scores being level at 8-8 at halftime, the Airmen dominated the second half to seal a bonus point victory.


The match kicked off with a strong start from Air Force. In the 13th minute, Sharaka Werella scored the first try of the league season and Air Force’s first of the match. The try, which was unconverted, gave Air Force a 5-0 lead.

CH and FC responded in the 22nd minute with a try from Nirosh Perera, following a penalty awarded to the Gymkhana Club. With the successful conversion, the score was level at 5-all.

The first half continued to be closely contested. In the 31st minute, Air Force earned a penalty right in front of the posts after a tackle on their player. Gayantha Iddamalgoda made no mistake with the kick, giving Air Force an 8-5 lead. However, CH and FC equalised in the 37th minute with a penalty of their own, and the scores remained tied at 8-8 as the teams headed into the ‘lemons’.

After the restart, Air Force came out firing. Within five minutes, they scored a converted try, taking a 15-8 lead. In the 54th minute, Isahara Madushan crossed the line for Air Force’s third try, following a beautiful series of passes. Gayantha Iddamalgoda added the conversion, extending the lead to 22-8.

Despite some strong defensive work from CH and FC in the final 20 minutes, they were unable to close the gap. In the 70th minute, Charith Silva scored a try for CH and FC, reducing the deficit to 22-15 with a brilliant conversion. However, Air Force responded strongly in the dying minutes of the match.


In the final moments, Air Force captain Rumesh Wasantha touched down for the bonus-point try, and Iddamalgoda’s conversion pushed the score to 29-15. Just before the whistle, Darshana Dabare sealed the victory with a try at the right-hand corner after a turnover, taking the final score to 36-15.

Referee: Gihan Yatawara.
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Jaffna Titans register second consecutive win

Charith Asalanka smashed an explosive 56 off 24 balls, with 5 fours and 5 sixes, as Jaffna Titans cruised to a comfortable 40-run win over Colombo Jaguars in the Lanka T-10 Super League on Thursday. The match, held at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, was the only game played on the second day (12). Asalanka was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock.

This was Jaffna Titans’ second consecutive win, during which they registered the highest team total so far in the tournament, scoring 138 for 6 wickets in 10 overs. The experienced pair of Charith Asalanka and Kusal Mendis, who scored 37 off 19 balls with 6 fours and a six, put on an 80-run second-wicket stand to set up Jaffna Titans’ challenging total. Colombo Jaguars skipper Angelo Mathews and Ali Khan claimed two wickets each.

Colombo Jaguars managed only 98 for 6 in their allotted 10 overs. Young off-spinner Treveen Mathew impressed again with figures of 3 for 18, following his brilliant 4 for 10 in the previous game against Hambantota Bangla Tigers. He has easily become the highest wicket-taker in the tournament so far.

The first two matches of the second day faced rain interruptions. The game between Kandy Bolts and Nuwara Eliya Kings was reduced to 3.3 overs, with Kandy scoring 38 for 1. The second match between Galle Marvels and Hambantota Bangla Tigers was abandoned without a single ball bowled. However, the third game, between Jaffna Titans and Colombo Jaguars, was played without any interruptions.

Galle Marvels-Nuwara Eliya Kings game called off

On the third day, rain once again disrupted the first game between Galle Marvels and Nuwara Eliya Kings, forcing it to be called off. Both teams shared one point each. When the game was halted, Galle Marvels were at 54 for 4 in 5.5 overs. Niroshan Dickwella, returning after suspension, scored 13, while Bhanuka Rajapaksa remained unbeaten on 12. Right-arm leg-spinner Dushan Hementha took 2 for 7 in his only over, putting pressure on Galle before the rain halted play.


Chief scores

Galle Marvels and Nuwara Eliya Kings – No result due to rain

Galle Marvels 53 for 4 wickets in 5.5 overs (Niroshan Dickwella 13, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 12*, Dushan Hementha 2/7) vs Nuwara Eliya Kings

Jaffna Titans beat Colombo Jaguars by 40 runs

Jaffna Titans 138 for 6 wickets in 10 overs (Kusal Mendis 37, Charith Asalanka 56, Tom Abell 13 ,Angelo Mathews 2/22,Ali Khan 2/20)

Colombo Jaguars 98 for 6 wickets in 10 overs (Daniel Lawrence 28, Najibullah Zadran 17, Asif Ali 13, Ramesh Mendis 15*, Treveen Mathew 3/18)
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Sri Lanka to tour New Zealand in Dec-Jan

The Sri Lanka Men’s National Team will tour New Zealand during the December–January period to take part in a T20I and ODI series, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced today (11).

During the tour, Sri Lanka will play 03 ODIs and 03 T20Is against New Zealand.

The schedule is as follows:
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Niroshan Dickwella’s ban reduced, eligible to play cricket again

Sri Lankan cricketer Niroshan Dickwella’s ban from playing any form of cricket has been significantly reduced from three years to three months.

Accordingly, this makes him eligible to play all forms of cricket effective from today (11).

After the consideration of an appeal made by Dickwella, the appeal panel has declared that as per the medical evidence it is clearly established that the player has consumed a substance of abuse out-of-competition and that it is unrelated to sports performance.

Accordingly, the panel has stated that therefore, they are of the view that the player Niroshan Dickwella’s 3 years ineligibility period imposed by the disciplinary panel, should be reduced to 3 months ineligibility period, commencing from 13 August 2024.

Furthermore, the panel has mentioned that this decision balances the player’s right to fair consideration with the principles of anti-doping, ensuring fairness while maintaining the integrity of sport.

The appeal panel which considered Dickwella’s appeal consisted of Retired Judge Upali Samaraweera, Prof. Asela Mendis and Attorney-at-Law Gimhana Jagodaarachchi.

Attorney-at-Law Suminda Perera with Senior Attorney-at-Law Ranil Prematilake appeared for Niroshan Dickwella.

On August 16, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed that Dickwella was suspended from participating in all forms of cricket with immediate effect due to an alleged anti-doping violation.

Dickwella was found guilty of a doping violation during the recent Lanka Premiere League (LPL).

This had reportedly been revealed following a doping test conducted by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency.
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Nissanka’s 89 steadies Sri Lanka’s innings

Kyle Verreynne’s manic sprint to a third Test century lit up the second morning and sent South Africa speeding to a total of 358. But the afternoon and evening sessions belonged to Sri Lanka. Their top four produced their best collective effort in the series so far, with Pathum Nissanka hitting 89 off 157 balls, forging a 109-run second wicket stand with Dinesh Chandimal.

With Angelo Mathews not out on 40 at stumps, and Kamindu Mendis unbeaten on 30, Sri Lanka have seven wickets in hand, and are well-placed to take a lead in the first innings. They have for the first time in the series, put serious pressure on a South Africa attack that seemed short of options on a flattening Gqeberha deck.

Kagiso Rabada was the most menacing of their bowlers, conceding only 40 and taking the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne for the third time in the series, in his 15 overs. He’d also had Nissanka dropped by David Bedingham at second slip, on 22. Sri Lanka negotiated Marco Jansen with much more confidence than they had in the first Test, in which he’d claimed 11 wickets. By stumps, Jansen had given away 75 off his 18 overs, and was the only frontline bowler without a wicket.

Though there were occasional plays and misses against Rabada in particular, Nissanka was largely watchful, scoring only eight runs off his first 50 deliveries. He eventually began to attack the shorter deliveries, and it was the pull shot that he favoured through the remainder of the innings, taking to Jansen’s shorter balls in particular. Most of his run-scoring came square of the wicket, and he raised his batting tempo in Chandimal’s company, settling into accumulation mode against the spin of Keshav Maharaj in particular.
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India U-19 thrash Sri Lanka to enter Asia Cup final

India’s Under-19 team, led by Mohamed Amaan, made a fine all-round effort to enter the Asia Cup final when they beat Sri Lanka Under-19s by 7 wickets in their semi-final cricket fixture played at the Sharjah International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

India, chasing a target of 175, started strong with openers Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi adding 91 runs in just 8.1 overs, setting the tone for victory. Suryavanshi was particularly aggressive from the beginning, scoring a superb 67 off 36 balls, with six fours and five sixes, earning him the Player of the Match award. Mhatre supported well with a knock of 34 off 28 balls, hitting seven fours.

Skipper Mohamed Amaan hit a six off leg-spinner Praveen Maneesha in the 22nd over, sealing a seven-wicket win with an unbeaten 25 off 26 balls.

Sharujan Shanmuganathan scored 42 off 78 balls with two fours, while Lakvin Abeysinghe contributed 69 off 110 balls with three fours and two sixes. The duo added a valuable 93-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but it wasn’t enough to post a challenging target as Sri Lanka was bowled out for 174 in 46.2 overs.

Earlier, Sri Lanka skipper Vihas Thewmika won the toss and chose to bat first. However, opener Pulindu Perera was run out for 6, followed by quick dismissals of Dulnith Sigera (2) and Vimath Dinsara (a first-ball duck) by paceman Chetan Sharma, leaving Sri Lanka struggling at 8 for 3 in 3.4 overs.

Paceman Chetan Sharma was the most successful bowler, taking 3 for 34 and troubling the Sri Lankan batting lineup.

India will face the winner of the Pakistan and Bangladesh semi-final in the final tomorrow at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Chief scores

Sri Lanka Under 19’s 173 in 46.2 overs (Sharujan Shanmuganathan 42, Lakvin Abeysinghe 69, Kavija Gamage 10, Vihas Thewmika 14, Chetan Sharma 3/34, Kiran Chormale 2/32, Ayush Mhatre 2/37)

India Under 19’s 175 for 3 wickets in 21.4 overs (Ayush Mhatre 34, Vaibhav Suryavanshi 67, Andre Siddarth 22, Mohamed Amaan 25, KP Karthikeye 11,Vihas Thewmika 1/33, Viran Chamuditha 1/38, Praveen Maneesha 1/27)
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Mihiran secures semi-final spot at Asian Boxing

Guaranteeing Sri Lanka at least a bronze medal in the flyweight (51kg) category, Umayanga Mihiran secured a spot in the semifinals of the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships, which continued in Chiang Mai, Thailand, yesterday.

The 21-year-old boxer delivered a composed and tactical performance, defeating Malaysia’s Muhammad Abdul Qayyum in the quarterfinals. Both fighters entered the ring after byes in the previous round, but Mihiran’s precision punches and superior movement set him apart.

Starting cautiously, Mihiran used sharp left jabs to control the first round. He then shifted gears, unleashing well-timed uppercuts and hooks while evading Qayyum’s attacks with fluid lateral movement. Despite one judge scoring in favour of Qayyum, Mihiran’s dominance and ring control were undeniable.

Mihiran will face a formidable challenge in the semifinals on Sunday, taking on Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Jalilov, the reigning Asian U22 champion. Jalilov advanced after defeating Kazakhstan’s 2021 World Champion Saken Bibossynov in a close contest.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s other quarterfinalists, Nuwan Jinadasa (light flyweight, 48kg) and Ravindu Kumara, were eliminated after suffering technical knockouts. Jinadasa’s promising start against Japan’s Kazuma Aratake ended abruptly in the final round when a series of powerful combinations forced the referee to stop the fight. Kumara struggled against Uzbekistan’s hard-hitting opponent, who brought the Sri Lankan to his knees twice in the second round before the referee intervened.

With Jinadasa and Kumara out, Sri Lanka’s hopes now rest solely on Mihiran. His upcoming clash promises to be a true test of his talent against one of Asia’s finest boxers.

The championships, featuring elite athletes from 21 nations, continue to showcase the intensity of Asian boxing, with Mihiran emerging as a symbol of Sri Lanka’s fighting spirit in the international ring.
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Shammi Silva assumes Presidency of Asian Cricket Council

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) today announced that Mr. Shammi Silva, President of Sri Lanka Cricket, has officially assumed the Presidency of the ACC.

Mr. Silva brings extensive expertise to the role, having served as the Chairman of the ACC Finance & Marketing Committee for several years, the statement said.

As he takes the helm, Mr Silva expressed his gratitude and shared that: “It is a great honour to lead the Asian Cricket Council. Cricket is the heartbeat of Asia, and I look forward to working closely with all member nations to elevate the game, provide opportunities for emerging talent, and strengthen the bonds that unite us through this beautiful sport.”

On behalf of the ACC, Mr. Silva also extended heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing President, Mr. Jay Shah, for his exemplary leadership and significant contributions during his tenure.

Under Mr Shah’s stewardship, the ACC achieved remarkable milestones, including the successfully achieving highest value for its commercial rights of ACC Asia Cup tournaments for 2024–31, the introduction of a new pathway events structure, and the continued development and growth of cricket across its member nations, the ACC said.

Mr Silva assumes the presidency at a pivotal time for Asian cricket. He is expected to prioritize grassroots development and support emerging cricketing nations to excel on the global stage.

The ACC congratulated Mr. Shammi Silva on his appointment and said it looks forward to advancing the council’s objective
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Musk’s record $56bn pay deal rejected for second time

Tesla CEO Elon Musk's record-breaking $56bn (£47bn) pay award will not be reinstated, a judge has ruled.

The decision in the Delaware court comes after months of legal wrangling and despite it being approved by shareholders and directors in the summer.

Judge Kathaleen McCormick upheld her previous decision from January, in which she argued that board members were too heavily influenced by Mr Musk.

Reacting to the ruling, Mr Musk wrote on X: "[S]hareholders should control company votes, not judges."

Tesla vowed to appeal the ruling, saying the decision was "wrong".

"This ruling, if not overturned, means that judges and plaintiffs’ lawyers run Delaware companies rather than their rightful owners – the shareholders," the company said in a post on X.

Judge McCormick said the pay package would have been the largest ever for the boss of a listed company.

Tesla failed to prove the pay package, which dates back to 2018, was fair, she said.

A shareholder vote on the payment passed by 75% in June, but the judge did not agree the pay should be so large despite what she called Tesla's lawyers' "creative" arguments.

“Even if a stockholder vote could have a ratifying effect, it could not do so here," she wrote in her opinion.

The judge also ruled the Tesla shareholder who brought the case against Tesla and Mr Musk should receive $345m in fees but not the $5.6bn in Tesla shares they asked for.

Some observers said a ruling in favour of Mr Musk and Tesla would have dealt a blow to conflict of interest laws in Delaware.

"The idea of conflict rules is to protect all investors" not just minority investors, said Charles Elson of the University of Delaware's Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance.

Mr Elson said Judge McCormick's opinion was well-reasoned.

"You had a board that wasn't independent, a process that was dominated by the CEO, and a package that was way out of any sort of reasonable bounds," he said. "It's quite a combo."

Mr Elson said he expects Tesla might try to reconstitute a similar pay package in Texas where the company moved its legal base earlier this year after the pay ruling.
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President Biden Pardons Son Hunter, Citing “Miscarriage of Justice”

U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who faced convictions for making false statements on a gun background check, illegally possessing a firearm, and pleading guilty to federal tax charges.

“Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House. “From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word, even as I have watched my son being selectively and unfairly prosecuted.”

The pardon comes after repeated assurances from the White House that Biden would not intervene in his son’s legal matters. Hunter Biden, a recovering drug addict, has been a focal point of Republican criticism, including from President-elect Donald Trump.

Hunter was scheduled for sentencing on gun-related charges on Wednesday and federal tax offenses on December 16. He previously admitted to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes while indulging in drugs, luxury items, and other excesses.

In a statement on Sunday, Hunter Biden acknowledged his past mistakes during his battle with addiction. “I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction,” he said, expressing gratitude for the clemency and pledging to help others struggling with addiction.

President Biden, whose son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015, criticized what he described as politically motivated charges against Hunter. He pointed out that cases like Hunter’s, involving false gun forms or late tax payments, typically result in non-criminal resolutions when the taxes are repaid with penalties and interest.

“It is clear that Hunter was treated differently,” Biden stated. “The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election.”

Biden said he made the decision over the Thanksgiving weekend, during which his family, including Hunter, gathered in Nantucket, Massachusetts. On Friday, a supporter urged him to pardon his son during a public outing.

“I believe in the justice system, but I also believe raw politics has infected this process, leading to a miscarriage of justice,” Biden explained. “As a father and a President, I hope Americans will understand why I came to this decision.”
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