By Dwayne Ferreira.
Sri Lanka Cricket Legends beat international rugby stars by 49 runs after Mahela Jayawardene struck 51 in the 12-over Colombo charity match.
COLOMBO — Some of the biggest names from two very different sporting worlds came together in Colombo on Monday as International Rugby Stars faced off against Sri Lankan Cricket Legends in a special charity T20 encounter at the Thurstan College Cricket Grounds.
The exhibition match on August 24 brought former World Cup-winning cricketers, celebrated Sri Lankan internationals and leading figures from global rugby onto the same field, creating one of the more unusual sporting spectacles staged in Colombo this year.
More importantly, the afternoon carried a charitable purpose, with the fixture organised in aid of the Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation, which supports people living with dementia and their families in Sri Lanka.
Thunderous 139 in 12 for Sri Lankan Legends
The match was reduced to 12 overs per side, but that did little to limit the entertainment. The Sri Lankan Cricket Legends piled up an imposing 139 for four before restricting the International Rugby Stars to 90 for eight. That handed the cricket legends a convincing 49-run victory.
Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene produced the standout batting performance, rolling back the years with a rapid 51 from just 27 deliveries.
He received strong support from Wickramaratne, who struck 39 from 22 balls before retiring hurt, while former Sri Lanka all-rounder Upul Chandana added a brisk 16 from only eight deliveries.
Sri Lanka also benefited considerably from 23 extras as the Rugby Stars struggled at times with their control.
Despite facing a line-up packed with former international cricketers, several rugby stars produced impressive bowling spells.
Former Wallabies scrum-half Will Genia was the most successful bowler, returning excellent figures of two wickets for seven runs.
Alex Coles conceded just nine runs from his two overs while taking one wicket, and Henry Pollock finished with 1 for 14 from two overs.
Sadly former wicketkeeper-batter Romesh Kaluwitharana was sent back early, dismissed for two, while Sri Lankan great Aravinda de Silva also departed cheaply, scoring just one from three balls.
Former World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga contributed six from seven balls, while Roshan Mahanama added one from his one delivery.
The Sri Lankan Legends nevertheless maintained an extraordinary scoring rate of almost 11.6 runs per over, reaching 139 for four from their allotted 12.
Rugby Stars Struggle to Keep Up
Set a daunting target of 140 from 72 deliveries, the International Rugby Stars needed to score at nearly 11.7 runs per over from the outset. The chase never gathered enough sustained momentum.
Mitchell top-scored with 24 from 16 balls, while Hendy contributed 18 from 14 deliveries. Coles, having already impressed with the ball, provided the most explosive contribution of the chase with an unbeaten 19 from only six balls.
However, the Rugby Stars continued to lose wickets and eventually finished on 90 for eight after 12 overs, falling 49 runs short of their target. The Sri Lankan attack shared the wickets around effectively.
Sriram produced the best figures with two for 13, while Aravinda de Silva showed he could still contribute with the ball by taking one for three. While Ranatunga also joined the wicket-taking column, conceding only five runs while collecting a wicket.
A Day To Remember
For all the competitive instincts on display, the occasion remained an exhibition built around charity and the unusual spectacle of elite athletes crossing sporting codes.
Yet when it came to cricketing skill, experience told.
Jayawardene’s half-century gave the Sri Lankan Legends control of the contest, while their bowlers ensured the Rugby Stars never came close enough to threaten a successful chase.
The result may have belonged to the cricketers, but the afternoon ultimately delivered exactly what the fixture promised: entertainment, sporting nostalgia and a rare meeting of internationally recognised names from cricket and rugby on the same Colombo field.
Match Scores
Sri Lankan Legends: 139/4 in 12 overs
(Mahela Jayawardene 51 (27), Wickramaratne 39 (22) retired hurt, Upul Chandana 16 (8) ,Will Genia 2/7, Alex Coles 1/9, Henry Pollock 1/14)
International Rugby Stars: 90/8 in 12 overs
(Mitchell 24 (16), Alex Coles 19 (6)*, Hendy 18 (14), Sriram 2/13, Aravinda de Silva 1/3, Arjuna Ranatunga 1/5)
