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Eventful day leaves Headingley Test tightly poised
The two captains – Pat Cummins and Ben Stokes – had memorable outings on the second day at Headingley as an eventful day’s cricket put the game in the balance. The pendulum swung both ways and by stumps, Australia finished the day with a lead of 142 runs and they have six more wickets to add to that on the third day.
Having already removed the English top order on the first day, Australia started off in fine fashion. Joe Root fell second ball after finding the slip fielder whereas Jonny Bairstow chased a wide one to edge it behind. Those two wickets jolted England and things only got worse after a while as Cummins and Mitchell Starc added to their tally by picking up two more wickets before the lunch break.
With the middle order failing to fire, the onus was on Stokes once again to step up for England. The allrounder was already down with a couple of issues and despite not being 100%, but he delivered. Mark Wood stunned Australia with a superb cameo to bring down the deficit and Stokes once again rallied with the tail. He ended up hammering Todd Murphy for five sixes in total after getting two reprieves off two balls earlier. At the other end, Cummins kept chipping away to pick another five-fer and eventually finished with six.
Stokes’ gutsy innings finally came to an end after he mistimed Murphy in his attempt to clear the ropes for the sixth time. He had done enough damage though as his 80 ensured Australia didn’t run away with the game, and were left with only a 26-run first innings lead. Stuart Broad then gave the English crowd more reasons to cheer as he struck early by dismissing David Warner for the 17th time in his career.
Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja batted out a tricky period before the Tea break and looked determined in the final session as well. Labuschagne picked up a couple of streaky boundaries off Broad whereas Khawaja appeared content to bat time. Bairstow then dropped a difficult catch for the third time in the game and like it was the case on the two previous occasions in the Test, England picked up a wicket immediately after the dropped chance.
Labuschagne took on Moeen Ali and went for the slog sweep with a man stationed at the deep. His dismissal brought Steve Smith out to the wicket but the milestone man flattered to deceive again as he found the midwicket fielder with a tame chip. Two key wickets from some ordinary bowling dragged England back into the game. The hosts added to Australia’s woes by having Mark Wood bowl a fiery spell. But it was Chris Woakes who made the breakthrough again for England with a delivery that just seamed away a touch after pitching to take Khawaja’s outside edge. The onus now rests on Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head to guide Australia to a defendable total on a pitch that has started to play up and down.
Brief scores:
Australia 263 & 116/4 (Usman Khawaja 43; Moeen Ali 2/34) lead England 237 (Ben Stokes 80; Pat Cummins 6/91) by 142 runs
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Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended
The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the Level III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale until 1600hrs on 11th December 2025.
Accordingly,
The LEVEL III RED landslide warnings issued to the the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Medadumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Pathadumbara, Doluwa, Panvila, Gangawata Korale, Ududumbara, Akurana, Yatinuwara, Harispattuwa, Deltota, Thumpane, Poojapitiya, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Minipe and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Aranayaka, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana, Bulathkohupitiya and Mawanella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Mawathagama and Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, and Rattota, Laggala Pallegama, Ukuwela, Matale, Wilgamuwa, Pallepola, Naula, Yatawatta and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Warakapola, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Polgahawela and Alawwa in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale East, Walapane, Thalawakele, Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale West, Nildandahinna, Mathurata, Ambagamuwa Korale, Hanguranketha and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district. and Kolonna, Godakawela and Kahawaththa in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Divulapitiya, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, and Kiriella, Eheliyagoda, Balangoda, Kaltota, Openayake, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Elapatha, Pelmadulla and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.
The handover of 35 tonnes of Russian Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka, recently affected by the cyclone «Ditwah», took place at Katunayake today (10th December)
The shipment was welcomed at the Katunayake airport by Ambassador of Russia Levan Dzhagaryan, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).
Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan: said “This delivery is a reflection of long-term friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka and reaffirms Moscow’s commitment to support countries in a difficult humanitarian situation.”
The supplies brought by the EMERCOM (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations) aircraft comprised a movable 60 kW electric power station, Pumping equipment for water drainage, Summer tents (10-person capacity) and Food supplies (sugar, vegetable oil, rice)
The total cargo weight is 35 metric tonnes. The aid will be distributed among the most affected regions.
Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee has named a 15-member squad to participate in the upcoming ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup (50 Over).
The team will depart for the United Arab Emirates today [0 December 2025] and has been placed in Group B, alongside Nepal, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended
“We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District” – PM
Russia gifts 35 tonnes of Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka squad named for ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup
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