Eala earns swift US Open win vs Oliynykova to reach 3rd round

Sri Lanka’s ODI captain Kusal Mendis has been ruled out of the remainder of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 after suffering a hamstring injury during Colombo Caps’ match against Kandy Royals. The wicketkeeper-batter sustained the injury while attempting a run during the contest, although Colombo Caps went on to register a six-wicket victory. Following medical assessments, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that Mendis will begin his rehabilitation at the National High Performance Centre. His absence is a significant setback for Colombo Caps, who have appointed Kamindu Mendis as captain for the rest of the tournament. The injury also raises concerns for Sri Lanka ahead of their two-match series against India, scheduled to begin on August 15. Mendis is a key member of the national side across formats and was expected to play a leading role, including wicketkeeping duties. However, officials have not yet announced a timeline for his recovery. Before the injury, Mendis had been in outstanding form. He opened his LPL campaign with a brilliant 79-run knock against Galle Gallants and continued to demonstrate the consistency that has made him one of Sri Lanka’s most dependable batters. Earlier this year, he enjoyed a memorable Pakistan Super League season, scoring 550 runs in 11 innings at an impressive strike rate of 168.19, making him one of the competition’s standout performers. Mendis has also carried that momentum into international cricket in 2026, scoring 408 runs in 14 innings across all formats. In One-Day Internationals alone, he has accumulated 211 runs in four innings at an outstanding average of 70.33. Sri Lanka’s medical staff will now closely monitor his recovery, hoping the experienced batter regains full fitness in time for the upcoming international assignments. His absence from the remainder of the LPL is a major blow for Colombo Caps as they continue their campaign without their captain and leading run-scorer.

DAMBULLA: A sensational unbeaten century from opener Ameesha Delani powered Sri Lanka Women to a commanding six-wicket victory over Pakistan Women in the opening T20 International of the three-match series on Friday, overshadowing impressive batting performances from Pakistan captain Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar. After winning the toss, Sri Lanka elected to bowl first, allowing Pakistan to make a confident start. Captain Muneeba Ali led from the front with a blistering 42 off just 24 balls, striking nine boundaries during a 66-run opening partnership that gave the visitors early momentum. Following Muneeba’s dismissal, Shawaal Zulfiqar anchored the innings with a composed 63 runs, while Iman Nasir contributed 21 during a valuable 61-run stand for the second wicket. However, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals in the closing overs and finished on 176 for 7 from their allotted 20 overs. For Sri Lanka, Kavisha Dilhari claimed two wickets, while Kavya Kavindi, Sugandika Kumari and Chamudi Praboda picked up one wicket each to restrict Pakistan from crossing the 180-run mark. In reply, Sri Lanka produced an even stronger batting display. Opener Ameesha Delani stole the spotlight with a magnificent unbeaten 101, combining aggressive stroke play with calm composure to guide her team to victory with an over to spare. Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu provided excellent support with 39 runs as the hosts comfortably chased down the 177-run target, finishing on 177 for 4 in 19 overs. Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain the Sri Lankan batters despite efforts from Nashra Sandhu, who claimed two wickets. Humna Bilal and Umm-e-Hani took one wicket each but were unable to prevent the hosts from taking a 1-0 lead in the series. The defeat leaves Pakistan needing a strong response in the second T20I, scheduled for August 2, to keep the series alive before the final match on August 4. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will head into the next game full of confidence after a dominant all-round performance led by Delani’s match-winning century.

NEW YORK: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open after failing to recover fully from a right knee injury, dealing a major blow to the tournament just days before the final Grand Slam of the season. The five-time Grand Slam champion confirmed on Friday that he would not compete at Flushing Meadows despite making every effort to return to competitive tennis. “Even though I have been working hard with my team and my medical staff, we have now had to make the difficult decision that I will not be able to compete at the US Open this year,” Sinner said in a statement. The 24-year-old Italian explained that he had recently returned to court in Monte Carlo with his team but realised that his knee still required additional recovery time. “I’m very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart,” Sinner said, adding that he had been eagerly anticipating the tournament and the atmosphere created by its fans. Sinner has not played competitively since lifting the Wimbledon trophy on July 12. His injury had already forced him to withdraw from the US Open preparation events in Cincinnati and Montreal, raising doubts about whether he would be fit enough to defend his position among the tournament favourites. His absence will be particularly significant given his remarkable 2026 campaign. Sinner has recorded 44 victories against just three defeats this season and has collected six titles, including his Wimbledon triumph. The Italian was also expected to arrive in New York with strong motivation after winning the US Open in 2024. However, his title defence will now have to wait. Sinner’s withdrawal also changes the dynamics of a tournament that had been building toward another chapter in his growing rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz, Sinner’s biggest contemporary rival, announced on Thursday that he would return to competition at the US Open after spending more than four months on the sidelines with a wrist injury. The Spaniard lost last year’s US Open final to Sinner, making his return one of the most anticipated storylines of this year’s tournament. With Sinner now absent, Alcaraz will have an opportunity to strengthen his position in the Grand Slam race. Sinner’s 2026 season has not been without setbacks. At the French Open, he arrived as the overwhelming favourite but suffered a surprise second-round exit while struggling in a severe heatwave. For now, the Italian will remain in Europe and concentrate on rehabilitation. His target is to return for the Asian swing, with tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai among his planned objectives. For the US Open, however, one thing is certain: the defending 2024 champion and current world No. 1 will be watching from afar, leaving the Grand Slam field wide open for a new champion.