Latest News
Ruthless South Africa add to England’s woes
South Africa put their World Cup campaign back on track with a devastating 229-run win over England in Mumbai on Saturday (October 21). It was a performance reminiscent of England’s own revolutionary batting approach as South Africa went out all guns blazing to first post a humongous total of 399 and the defending champions then meekly capitulated to the scoreboard pressure to crash land in the chase.
While the target of 400 meant chasing history, Wankhede was easily among the grounds where it could have been done. However, the new ball did nip around a fair bit under lights and England’s haste meant that the game was done in the first Powerplay itself. Marco Jansen in particular got the ball to talk but it was always going to be a passing phase after which the runs would inevitably come. Unfortunately for England, they only had their tail left by that time. The Jonny Bairstow dismissal was a reflection of England’s nerves as he looked fidgety at the crease before holing out to a strategically placed deep backward square leg.
Strategy worked once again for South Africa as an unusual leg slip for Joe Root paid off with the England no.3 glancing it straight to the man stationed there. The procession of wickets continued and in a chase where England couldn’t have afforded to lose more than three wickets inside the first 30 overs, they ended up losing four in the first ten. Dawid Malan fell to the down-the-legside strangle while Ben Stokes’ handed the simplest of return catches for Kagiso Rabada. All the early carnage meant that the game was effectively over barring something unthinkable from Jos Buttler and Harry Brook
As gifted as both batters are, some challenges are simply not within the realms of probability and this task was one such. It was only a matter of time before they too fell prey to the scoreboard pressure. Both eventually departed in the same over, which was Gerald Coetzee’s second and the tearaway pacer celebrated in jubilation after being taken apart in his first over by Buttler. If it wasn’t over earlier, it certainly was at 68/6 and although the tail added more than 100 runs, it was obviously only going to limit the damage. The hitting from Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson showed how the pitch had returned to being true after the new ball spell.
England would regret their implosion upfront with the bat. As they would when they think about their bowling performance in the last ten overs of the innings. As many as 143 runs were leaked with Heinrich Klaasen and Jansen going full throttle against the English bowling. Some of the plans and field settings were also bizarre, although the conditions at Wankhede can do that to teams when the batting side is in overdrive. The Klaasen-Jansen partnership virtually put a huge question mark on England’s chances after the reigning champions had staged a fightback of sorts with the wickets of Aiden Markram and David Miller.
The carnage at the end ensured that South Africa made optimal use of the platform that was provided early on by Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen. Both batters overcame a cautious start before going through the gears and they made full use of the batting friendly conditions at the venue. Adil Rashid, England’s only impressive bowler in the innings, did get both batters in succession but Markram and Klaasen continued to up the momentum for the Proteas. Twice in the innings South Africa lost wickets in clumps and with the Markram-Miller dismissal, they would have been worried about a timid finish to the innings.
However, Klaasen put all that to rest with a blistering innings that was typical of the man’s reputation these days. He fought the heat, humidity and cramps to decimate England’s bowling and found an able ally to Jansen who also exploded after a slow start. Buttler’s men would have fancied to keep South Africa to a score of 350 or under when Miller fell but the slog overs masterclass dashed the English hopes.
Brief scores:
South Africa399/8 in 50 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 109, Reeza Hendricks 85, Marco Jansen 75*, Rassie van der Dussen 60, Aiden Markram 42; Reece Topley 3-88, Gus Atkinson 2-60, Adil Rashid 2-61) beat England 170 in 22 overs (Mark Wood 43*, Gus Atkinson 35; Gerald Coetzee 3-35, Lungi Ngidi 2-26, Marco Jansen 2-35) by 229 runs
Latest News
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.
Showers will occur at times in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Central, and Uva provinces
Regulatory rollback tailored for “politically backed megaprojects”— Environmentalists
UK pledges £1 mn in aid for Ditwah victims
WFP scales up its emergency response in Sri Lanka
Opposition Leader discusses with Russian Ambassador more emergency relief
Heavy rainfall forecast for some places in Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces today
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News3 days agoOver 35,000 drug offenders nabbed in 36 days
-
News7 days agoLevel III landslide early warning continue to be in force in the districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale
-
Business5 days agoLOLC Finance Factoring powers business growth
-
News2 days agoCyclone Ditwah leaves Sri Lanka’s biodiversity in ruins: Top scientist warns of unseen ecological disaster
-
News5 days agoCPC delegation meets JVP for talks on disaster response
-
News5 days agoA 6th Year Accolade: The Eternal Opulence of My Fair Lady
-
News3 days agoRising water level in Malwathu Oya triggers alert in Thanthirimale
-
Features1 day agoFinally, Mahinda Yapa sets the record straight