Sport

De Silva steadies Sri Lanka before spinners demolish Dutch

Published

3 years ago

July 1, 2023

Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga spun through the Dutch batting as Sri Lanka eked out a 21-run victory on Friday in the opening Super Six game for both teams.

The victory kept Sri Lanka tied at the top of the standings with hosts and Sunday’s opponents Zimbabwe in the World Cup qualifying tournament and on course for one of two places in India, AFP reported.

“Zimbabwe is a big, big match for us,” said Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka after his side clinched victory.

Shanaka had won the toss and chosen to bat – though it looked as if he had made the wrong choice when Sri Lanka struggled to 213 all out in 47.4 overs.

The Dutch, who upset West Indies in the group stage, seemed on course for another surprise when they reduced Sri Lanka to 67-5 and then 96-6.

Allrounder Dhananjaya de Silva, coming in with five wickets down, helped steer Sri Lanka to a defensible total.

He struck 93 off 111 balls hitting eight fours and two sixes. He was well supported by Hasaranga and Theekshana, who scored 20 and 28 respectively.

“My idea was to bat through the overs,” De Silva said as he collected the Man of the Match award. “I was basically just playing straight.”

“I like to spend time in the middle. This was the opportunity for me to do it. I think I did a good job.”

Medium pacer Logan van Beek was the pick of the Dutch bowlers, taking three wickets for an economical 26 runs in nine overs. Bas de Leede also took three wickets, including De Silva, at a cost of 42.

The Dutch lost opener Vikramjit Singh for nought to the second ball. The other opener, Max O’Dowd also went for a duck five balls later.

Wesley Barresi and De Leede revived the innings. Barresi was run out for 52 attempting a single into the covers. Teja Nidamanuru then fell to Hasaranga for a duck.

Mystery spinner Theekshana bowled De Leede for 41 and in his next over dismissed Saqib Zulfiqar lbw and, for his third wicket in six balls, bowled Van Beek for the fourth Dutch duck.

Shariz Ahmad tried to pinch a single on a misfield by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, who whipped off his glove, pounced on the ball and smashed the stumps at the bowler’s end with a laser throw.

Skipper Scott Edwards attempted to slog his team to victory but ran out of partners.

Hasaranga bowled Ryan Klein for five with a googly that jagged back through the gate.

Then, after an agonizing last-wicket stand of 16, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka bowled Aryan Dutt for seven with 10 overs still to play.

Edwards was left on 67 not out which included four fours and two sixes.

“We bowled really well. A bit disappointing with the bat,” said Edwards.

“We felt we should have got across the line.”

Ariana Television Network will broadcast the matches daily live on TV and Website.

Pre-match shows will start at 11am (Kabul time), while the day’s match will start at 11.30am (Kabul time).

Matches are streamed live on Ariana Television websites simultaneously:

www.arianatelevision.com/live and www.arianatelevision.com/icc-live

CLICK HERE for the broadcast schedule on Ariana Television

Related Topics:#SriLanka #WorldCupQualifier Cricket featured Netherlands

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Sorkh Poshan Khafi and Ariana Khost claim victories in ACL season six

Published

9 hours ago

September 12, 2026

Ariana News

Sorkh Poshan Khafi secured a convincing 3–0 victory over Aino Mina in the fourth match of the sixth season of Afghanistan Champions League Roshan in Kabul on Saturday.

Yar Mohammad Zekrkhail opened the scoring for Sorkh Poshan Khafi, before the side added two more goals to complete a comfortable win.

In the fifth match of the competition, Ariana Khost came from a 1–1 half-time scoreline to beat Arman FC 3–1.

Macdonald Ngwa Niba, an Arman FC player, opened the scoring against Ariana Khost with the team’s only goal.

Ariana Khost’s goals were scored by Jawad Alkozay, Arash Ahmadi, and Habibullah Hotak.

Ariana Khost found the net twice in the second half to seal all three points and secure a strong victory.

The sixth season of Afghanistan Champions League Roshan continues on Monday with two more fixtures:

Abu Muslim Farah vs Isteqlal Kabul | 3:30 PM

Omar Zawak vs Sarsabz Yashlar | 7:00 PM

Ariana Television will broadcast both matches live and exclusively, bringing the action directly to football fans across Afghanistan.

Sport

Omar Zawak, Toofan Herat secure victories in Afghanistan Champions League

Published

1 day ago

September 11, 2026

Ariana News

Omar Zawak and Toofan Herat secured victories in the second and third matches of the sixth season of the Afghanistan Champions League Roshan in Kabul on Friday.

Omar Zawak opened the day’s results with a 2–0 victory over Khurasan Faryab. Shadab Malekzada and Bilal Akbari scored for Omar Zawak to seal all three points.

In the third match, Toofan Herat produced a 3–1 win over Esteqlal Kabul. Merajuddin Kalantari scored Esteqlal’s lone goal, while Fraidoon Seyedi and Enayatullah Kohi were on target for Toofan. Kohi scored twice to complete the victory.

Two more matches set for Saturday

The competition continues on Saturday, September 12, 2026, with two more fixtures scheduled:

Sorkh Poshan Khafi vs. Aino Mina — 3:30 p.m.
Arman FC vs. Ariana Khost — 7:00 p.m.

Ariana Television Network (ATN) will broadcast both matches live and exclusively, allowing football fans across Afghanistan to follow the action as it unfolds.

The sixth season of the Roshana Afghanistan Champions League continues as teams compete for crucial points and a stronger position in the tournament standings.

Sport

Abu Muslim Farah beat Sarsabz Yashlar 3–0 in sixth season of ACL opener

Fans across Afghanistan can watch today’s second and third matches live and exclusively on Ariana Television.

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2026

Ariana News

Defending champions Abu Muslim Farah made a winning start to the sixth season of the Afghanistan Champions League, defeating Sarsabz Yashlar of Faryab 3–0 in the opening match.

The match, played Thursday evening at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium, saw Abu Muslim Farah dominate proceedings and secure all three points with a convincing performance.

Omid Popalzai opened the scoring in the first half, before Mahboob Hanafi and Omid Rajabi added two more goals after the break to seal a comfortable victory for the defending champions.

The sixth season of the Afghanistan Champions League features 10 teams, with the competition being played on a home-and-away format in Kabul.

Today, Friday, Omar Zawak Loy Shindand will face Khurasan Faryab at 3:30 p.m., while Istiqlal Kabul will take on Toofan Herat in the third match of the day.

Ariana Khost and Umar Zawak Loy Shindand are among the new teams competing in this season’s tournament.

Fans across Afghanistan can watch today’s second and third matches live and exclusively on Ariana Television.

The sixth season of the Afghanistan Champions League will run until November 21, with the participating teams battling for the championship title.