Sri Lanka Women’s cricket team made a dominant start to their three-match T20 series against New Zealand, securing a comfortable 7-wicket victory in Christchurch today (March 14).

Batting first, New Zealand Women struggled and were bowled out for 101 in 18.5 overs, with Emma McLeod top-scoring with 44 runs. 

Debutant Malki Madara delivered a stunning bowling performance, claiming 3 wickets for just 14 runs.

In response, Sri Lanka chased down the target in just 14.1 overs, losing only three wickets. 

Skipper Chamari Atapattu led from the front with an explosive 64 off 48 balls, hitting 9 fours and 2 sixes, and remained unbeaten as Sri Lanka sealed the win.
This victory marks Sri Lanka Women’s first-ever T20I win in New Zealand, having previously lost all three matches played there.

Former Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga and 400m runner Aruna Darshana are set to compete in the Sydney Track Classic in Australia tomorrow (15).

The event is part of the World Athletics Continental Tour – Challenger Event.
Both athletes are currently in Australia, with Rumesh Tharanga having already competed in two events in recent weeks. He recorded an impressive 82.66m throw at the Strive Program – A event and an even better 85.41m throw at the Perth Track Classic, which was the best performance of the year at that time. His throws currently rank second and fourth among the best javelin performances of the year.

Meanwhile, Aruna Darshana, who had initially planned to compete in the Perth Track Classic, was unable to participate due to visa delays. This will be his first event of the season. Among the qualified athletes for the 400m race, he holds the best personal record of 44.99 seconds, which he achieved in the preliminary rounds of the Paris Olympics.

Additionally, Sumedha Ranasinghe, who recently broke Rumesh’s national record and secured qualification for the Tokyo World Championships, and 400m athlete Kalinga Kumarage were both listed for the Sydney Track Classic. However, reports indicate that they will not be participating.

Rumesh and Aruna will have the opportunity to directly qualify for the Tokyo World Championships if they achieve the required standards of 85.50m in javelin and 44.85 seconds in the 400m at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Complex tomorrow.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

A jury has found former Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill guilty of taking part in the supply of cocaine in Sydney.

The 54-year-old faced trial over allegations he participated in the supply of a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, over an April 2021 introduction he made between his cocaine dealer and partner’s brother, Marino Sotiropoulos.

On the Crown’s case, the introduction amounted to setting up a drug supply because the dealer and Mr Sotiropoulos allegedly went on to organise a $330,000 deal for 1 kilogram of cocaine.

A jury in the NSW District Court heard that while MacGill’s involvement was limited to the introduction, the dealer also took part in two other alleged supplies, including one in which he handed over a vacuum-sealed bag of A4 paper instead of cash to Mr Sotiropoulos’s associates.

The dealer, referred to during proceedings as “Person A” for legal reasons, gave evidence in closed court and Crown Prosecutor Gabrielle Steedman invited jurors to accept his account, which she said was supported by other records before the court.

MacGill pleaded not guilty and his defence lawyers cast doubt on Person A’s credibility, arguing his conduct was deceptive and dishonest in multiple respects.

It took the jury about seven hours of deliberations to find MacGill not guilty of the charge of knowingly taking part in the supply of a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

But he was found guilty of an alternative charge of knowingly taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug — without the large commercial supply element.

MacGill made little reaction in the dock when he learned the verdict and left court without making any comment. 

ABC NEWS