Atapattu resigns as Lanka coach after India defeat

Colombo

Former Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu today resigned from the post of head coach of the national cricket team following its recent Test series defeat against India, the country’s cricket board announced. Atapattu’s resignation comes after the island nation lost back-to-back Test series against Pakistan and India. Atapattu, one of Sri Lanka’s batting mainstays during his playing days, had held the position of head coach from October 2014 after Paul Farbrace took over as England’s assistant coach. He had also worked as a batting coach of the team from 2011 and was also the interim head coach for some time before he was assigned full charge.

Greater Noida

Sharmila jumps into lead after five-under round

Sharmila Nicollet fired a sensational five-under 67 to lead the field after Round 2 of the 15th leg of the Women’s Professional Golf Tour at the Jaypee Greens here today. One stroke behind is rookie Amandeep Drall who returned with a score of two-under 70 to total 142 after the second round. Sharmila, who is eyeing her first title of the year, carded nine birdies, which is a record for a single day in the entire season.

Moscow

Randhawa, Gangjee tied 13th at Russian Open

Jyoti Randhawa and Rahil Gangjee were tied 13th after carding three-under 68 in the first round of the $1.12 million Russian Open at the Kolkovo Golf Club here today. While Gangjee scored birdies on the first, third, 12th, 15th holes against a bogey on the par-five fifth, Randhawa dropped two shots and birdied the third, sixth, 12th and 13th. SSP Chawrasia scored one-over 72 to be joint 70th, while Khalin Joshi got a 74 to be tied 99th. Gaganjeet Bhullar had a horrible start on the European Tour event as the Kapurthala golfer scored nine-over 80 to be tied 132nd. — Agencies