Sports
Labuschagne, Warner blaze tons in Australia’s romp to 2-0 lead
Two days can make a lot of difference. At the same Mangaung Oval that saw a 222-plays-225 contest 48 hours ago, Australia turned up the batting oomph to post a gargantuan 392 before burying their hosts under this mountain of runs to take a 2-0 series lead in the ODI series, reinforcing their credentials as one of the early favourites at next month’s World Cup. This was still a mostly experimental side from the five-time champions but they still packed enough punch to pummel their hosts to the tune of 123 runs. Leading their batting charge was Marnus Labuschagne with a second straight demonstration of why he should also be on the plane to India. He hit 124 off just 99 balls with David Warner dovetailing brilliantly with his 20th ODI ton. Adding the gloss to the performance was a four-fer from the continually impressive Adam Zampa, who took 4 for 48 from nine overs of excellent legspin bowling to douse South African hopes.
The visitors turned up on a true batting surface with an aggressive approach. This was predicated on the fact that they fielded one proper bowler less. They handed debuts to Aaron Hardie and Tim David while Nathan Ellis came on for Josh Hazlewood. Incidentally, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma made three changes — Shamsi, Anrich Nortje and Andile Phehlukwayo in for Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee and Keshav Maharaj — of his own and opted to field.
Very early it became apparent that this wasn’t going to conform to the script of the opening game. The pace and carry was true and batters could hit through the line. The first two overs of the innings saw as many five boundaries struck with Head hitting four of them, including three off Kagiso Rabada’s first over. After his lead pacer went for 20 from his first two overs, Bavuma was quick to ring in a bowling change but after giving away just three runs from his opening over, Nortje was taken apart for 17 in his second with both Head and Warner hitting a six each
After eight overs, Australia had raced off the blocks to 71/0 and the South Africa captain turned to spin for respite. None of it was forthcoming as Warner put away two short deliveries from Aiden Markram before playing a pleasing inside-out loft over extra cover to complete a 12-run initiation. In the next over, Head launched two more sixes off Nortje to race to a 26-ball half-century and give his side a PowerPlay score of 102/0 — the highest in ODIs in South Africa.
South Africa caught a break eventually in the 12th over when Head mishit a loft off Shamsi, South Africa’s best bowler of the evening, and saw David Miller complete an excellent catch running back from mid-on. The left-arm legspinner struck for a second time a ball later when Mitchell Marsh missed an attempted reverse sweep and was dismissed LBW courtesy a DRS review.
After a 109-run opening partnership, Australia had lost two in two. But that was no reason to dial down the tempo of the innings. Labuschagne joined Warner and instantly displayed the kind of nimble footwork that was on show two nights ago when he arrived to the series as a ‘Concussion Substitute’. His battle against Shamsi had a bit of an edge to it with the batter looking to pull out the sweeps and the bowler not shy of returning words. At the other end, Warner, surprisingly, took a less dramatic route to a half-century and then marked the milestone by launching Phehlukwayo for a six.
By the 27th over, this third-wicket pair had given Australia their second century stand of the innings. Warner raced away to 93 off 77 while Labuschagne had serenely motored along to a run-a-ball 49. The veteran opener completed his 20th ODI century with a four and a trademark leap in the middle of a 16-run over from Shamsi that saw Labuschagne hit a six and four of his own. The right-hander followed that up by taking Nortje for three more fours in the following over. Such was Labuschagne’s acceleration post his half-century that he was already on 85 off 67 when Warner eventually fell – bowled to a ball that kept low – for 106.
Labuschagne eventually got to his second ODI ton off just 80 balls and shared another quickfire 83-run partnership with Josh Inglis, who added to the mayhem with a 37-ball 50. South Africa did, however, come back well in the final phase of the innings, with Shamsi taking two more wickets to finish with excellent returns of 4 for 61 and put the lid somewhat on the big hits. Australia managed only 134 for 6 from the final 18 overs, but the 48 fours and 9 sixes their batters achieved meant the score was only just shy of the rather ridiculous 400-mark.
It was always going to be a steep ask from the Proteas to keep up with the scoreboard pressure. But they did make a fist of it in the early running when Quinton de Kock and Bavuma added 81 runs in 9 overs before the keeper-bat fell to a sharp return catch from Nathan Ellis for 45. The introduction of Zampa then put the brakes on the chase with the ace legspinner trapping Bavuma LBW for 46 while attempting a paddle sweep and then having Aiden Markram caught. When Rassie van der Dussen dragged a Hardie delivery on to his stumps, the game appeared to have been settled.
But Heinrich Klaasen kept South Africa in the game with a series of superb strikes, especially off the bowling of Head. Zampa returned to castle him with a skidder. David Miller kept the flame of the chase flickering for some more time but when he became the fourth South African batter to get out in the 40s, the writing was on the wall. The final rites were read in the 42nd over.
Brief scores:
Australia 392/8 in 50 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 124, David Warner 106; Tabraiz Shamsi 4-61) beat South Africa 269 in 41.5 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 49, David Miller 49; Adam Zampa 4-48) by 123 runs
(Cricbuzz)
Eshan Malinga returned career best figures of four for 46, but his impressive spell could not prevent Pakistan from breaching the 300 run mark in the curtain-raiser of the ODI tri-nation series in Rawalpindi on Sunday.
Pakistan were bowled out for 305, with former captain Salman Ali Agha leading the charge with his fourth ODI hundred.
Agha struck a fluent 107 off 90 deliveries, peppering the boundary with ten fours and a six before falling to Asitha Fernando. The Sri Lankan seamer was equally impressive, returning tidy figures of three for 39.
Agha featured in a 97 run partnership with Hasan Nawaz and at 215 for four with 13 overs remaining, Pakistan appeared poised for a formidable total. However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers clawed their way back into the contest, applying the brakes just when the hosts threatened to run away with the game.
On a surface tailor made for batting, Sri Lanka’s late fightback could prove crucial, with the visitors fancying their chances of chasing down the target.
Left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka finished with two for 67, although his figures flattered him somewhat. He was guilty of straying onto the pads far too often, offering the Pakistan batters several scoring opportunities.
Sri Lanka went into the contest with just four specialist bowlers, leaving the part timers to shoulder a fair share of the workload. To their credit, the makeshift attack rose to the occasion, sharing ten overs between three bowlers without allowing Pakistan to completely dictate terms.
Dasun Shanaka did the lion’s share of the work, sending down seven overs, while Sahan Arachchige and Kamindu Mendis chipped in with the remaining three.
Sri Lanka also welcomed back top order batter Avishka Fernando, who returned to the ODI fold after spending several years on the sidelines.
England are the third team in the tri-nation competition, which serves as valuable preparation for next year’s World Cup.
The opening three matches will be played in Rawalpindi before the tournament shifts to Lahore for the remaining fixtures, including the final.
Sri Lanka are in the midst of a marathon 50 day tour of Pakistan. Having already completed a three-match T20I series, they will turn their attention to the tri-nation tournament before playing a First Class warm-up fixture followed by two Tests.
19 Division I – Tier ‘A’ Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
The top eight teams begin their battle for the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ limited-overs title today, when Mahinda College, Galle, take on St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa, in the first quarter-final at Dombagoda.
Led by Dulsith Dharshana, Mahinda qualified for the knockout stage with wins over St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota (by five wickets), Royal College, Colombo (by six wickets) and Lumbini (by ten wickets). Their only defeat came against St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya, the only side to top 200 against them. In their other matches, Mahinda’s bowlers kept opponents to low totals.
That bowling unit, spearheaded by left-arm paceman Sadew Nethmina, appears to have peaked ahead of the crucial clash. They bundled Lumbini out for 40 in their last match, with Nethmina and Vishmitha Sathsara sharing nine wickets between them.
St. Sebastian’s reached the knockout stage on the back of wins over Maris Stella College, Negombo, and D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo. Their match against Sri Sumangala College, Panadura, ended without a result because of rain, while they lost by two wickets to Richmond, the eventual group champions.
St. Sebastian’s boast a strong batting line-up, with Hirusha Perera, Navinu Fernando, Lashen Fernando, Thivanka Fernando and Meshone Ferdinando all making notable contributions in the group stage. Skipper Koshendra Fernando is expected to lead the bowling attack with his spin, supported by Adeesha Lakshan, Lashen Fernando and Risinu Prabesh.
Teams
Mahinda (from):
Dulsith Darshana (Captain), Sadew Nethmina (Vice Captain), Randula Mabarana, Manitha Rajapaksha, Sehas Ashinsa, Kaveesha Githmal, Thiyon Helika, Kavindu Nimsata, Gesandu Bisas, Vishmitha Sathsara, Buddhima Tharupathi, Naviru Nishitha, Nihindu Sesitha, Anuga Palliyaguru, Senuja Vehan, Kevin Geemitha, Bakshara Jayarathne.
Officials: Denuwan Rajakaruna (Head Coach), Sandaru Nethmina (Asst. Coach), Y. Nishantha Kumara (Master in Charge)
St. Sebastian’s (from): Koshendra Fernando (Captain), Meshone Ferdinando, Nisila Dimath, Navinu Fernando, Hirusha Lochana, Lashen Fernando, Thejan Bandara, Chamath Wellalage, Risinu Prabesh, Sanoj Perera, Deneth Keshara, Adeesha Lakshan, Dilena Fernando, Thiwanka Fernando, Shenas Hashein, Pathiv Vehan, Dineepa Wickramsooriya.
Officials:
Lahiru Kanishka (Head coach), Nishantha Fernando (Asst. Coach), Sandaru Tharusha Perera (Master in Charge)
The other three quarter finals will be played on Tuesday as per the below schedule.
Mahanama Colombo V St. Joseph’s Darley Road at Mattegoda
Nalanda Colombo V St. Anthony’s Katugastota at Campbell Place
Richmond Galle V Wesley Colombo at Weeraketiya
Several big names fell at the first hurdle, including last year’s finalists Royal College, Colombo, as well as S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, Trinity College, Kandy, and St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya. Royal and St. Peter’s were in the same group and finished behind Mahinda and St. Anthony’s. S. Thomas’ were in Group ‘A’, where Mahanama and Wesley edged out the rest to book their places.
by Reemus Fernando
Asian Junior Championship medallist Mihinsa Dewmini Abeyratne broke a ten-year-old meet record to win the Under 20 high jump at the All Island Schools Games Athletics Championship at Diyagama on Sunday.
The President’s College, Embilipitiya, athlete cleared 1.75 metres, equalling her personal best, to erase the record of Poornima Gunarathne of Leeds International, Panadura. Gunarathne’s mark of 1.74 metres had stood since 2016.
Trained by retired sports officer Gamini Dias, Mihinsa was expected to achieve something special this season after setting a personal best of 1.75 metres at the same venue earlier this year. She followed that with a bronze medal at the Asian Junior Championship in Hong Kong.
Hers was one of six meet records to fall by the time this report was filed on day three of the meet.
In the girls’ category, Lyceum International School, Wattala, and Ave Maria Convent, Negombo, set new marks in relay events. In a closely contested Under 14 4×100 metres final, Lyceum clocked 51.35 seconds to erase Musaeus College’s 2019 record. Ladies’ College, who finished second in 51.52, also bettered the previous mark.
Ave Maria Convent edged Nimala Maria Balika in another tight finish to win the Under 16 girls’ 4×100 metres in a new meet record of 49.49 seconds. Nimala Maria Balika also bettered the old record.
In the boys’ category, Sadeesh Denuwan of Halmillaketiya MV stole the limelight with a new meet record of 11.22 seconds in the Under 14 80 metres hurdles. Maneesha Samarasinghe of Lyceum International, Wattala, set a new record of 13.09 seconds in the Under 16 100 metres hurdles.
Lyceum International, Wattala, also set a new meet record of 3:13.76 in the Under 20 4×400 metres relay.
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