The Maldives national team has completed the match programme of its training camp in Sri Lanka, playing two Twenty20 practice matches against the SLC Emerging Team at Galle International Cricket Stadium. The SLC Emerging Team won both — the first by 160 runs on Wednesday 30 September, the second by 7 runs on Friday 2 October.
Both matches were played on turf wickets. Giving the squad match experience on natural turf, which is not available at home, was the stated purpose of the camp ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 Sub Regional Qualifier in Malaysia.
First match — Wednesday 30 September
- SLC Emerging Team 231/5 (20 overs)
- Maldives 71 all out (16.1 overs)
- SLC Emerging Team won by 160 runs
Maldives won the toss and fielded. Hirun Jayasundara made 79 from 42 balls with nine fours and three sixes before being run out, and captain Ranuda Somarathne added 50, with Dineth Goonewardena 29 not out.
Harsha Amarasinghe, Sheraz Iqbal, Tharusha Kavinda and Ameel Maroof each took a wicket. Adam Nasif was the most economical bowler of the innings, conceding 11 runs from his two overs at 5.50 an over.
In reply, Maldives were bowled out for 71 in 16.1 overs. Sheraz Iqbal top scored with 28 from 25 balls. Yasiru Rodrigo (2/10), Tharuksha Ashel (2/11) and Sarith Sudeera (2/7) took two wickets each. Hirun Jayasundara was named Player of the Match.
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/133902858@N04/albums/72177720335955847
Second match — Friday 2 October
- SLC Emerging Team 189/3 (20 overs)
- Maldives 182/5 (20 overs)
- SLC Emerging Team won by 7 runs
Maldives again won the toss and fielded. Janiru Wijewardane finished 65 not out from 40 balls and Nethmal Bandara made 65 from 36, the pair putting on 109 for the third wicket. Captain Gesandu Bisas was 27 not out.
Adam Nasif took 2/34 from his four overs. Harsha Amarasinghe conceded 6 runs from two overs, one of them a maiden, at an economy rate of 3.00, and Sheraz Iqbal returned 0/20 from four overs.
Chasing 190, Maldives were 121 for 5 in the sixteenth over. Captain Haziq Rasheed and Adam Nasif then added an unbroken 61 for the sixth wicket to take the side to 182 for 5, finishing 7 runs short. Nasif was 48 not out from 17 balls, with five fours and two sixes, and Rasheed 22 not out from 18.
Sheraz Iqbal made 31 from 29 balls, Yoosuf Azyan 25 from 21 and Ismail Ali 24 from 12. Maldives struck 16 fours and five sixes in the innings, against 21 fours and four sixes by the SLC Emerging Team. Janiru Wijewardane and Nethmal Bandara were named joint Players of the Match.
Next
The squad travels on to Malaysia on 5 October for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 Sub Regional Qualifier, where Maldives are in Group B with China, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong China. The first match is against China on Thursday 8 October.
Training in Sri Lanka has been supervised by head coach Asadullah Khan. The practice matches were arranged with the assistance and cooperation of Sri Lanka Cricket.
