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Zadran ton, Rashid cameo fires Afghanistan to 291
Ibrahim Zadran became the first batter from his country to hit a World Cup century as Afghanistan posted 291/5 after electing to bat first in their clash against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. At 21 years and 330 days, Zadran became the fourth youngest World Cup centurion and batted through the innings to give the team their highest World Cup score.
Zadran stitched vital half-century stands with Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi but perhaps the most vital contribution of the innings came from the bat of Rashid Khan, who blazed an unbeaten 35 off just 18 balls to move what seemed like a middling total on a fine batting surface towards par levels.
Afghanistan have enjoyed great success in this tournament by chasing down totals, but on another muggy day in Mumbai, they chose to invert this pattern by opting to bat first. Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz began steadily, if not adventurously, to add 38 for the opening wicket before Josh Hazlewood’s short-ball ploy bore fruition. Gurbaz played a half-hearted pull and was lapped up at deep square leg.
That followed the first of three half-century stands of the innings with Zadran and Rahmat Shah putting the innings in order with a steady 83-run stand. Afghanistan’s run-rate hovered around the five-run mark without actually breaching it. When Rahmat tried to hit out against Glenn Maxwell, he holed out at long off. Zadran batted on and proceeded to stitch another sedate stand with his captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who made a 43-ball 26. There were moments of brilliance along the way, most notably Zadran’s upper-cut boundary to a Pat Cummins short ball.
Azmatullah Omarzai provided the first impetus for a charge with an 18-ball 22 after hitting a six with his first scoring shot. It was apparent that once Zadran got to his milestone with a streaky single (that turned into a two) off his 131st delivery that the final flourish would have to come from both ends. Rashid provided just the ballast required. It appeared as if his enterprise would be cut short when he holed out to deep cover but the third umpire ruled the Stonis catch in favour of the batter.
Rashid took apart Maxwell for a 16-run over and added two more sixes in the final over from Starc. Zadran flicked Starc for a six and muscled another pull off Cummins as Afghanistan added 75 from the final six overs to take their score close to the 300-run mark. Over to the bowlers now.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan 291/5 in 50 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 21, Ibrahim Zadran 129*, Rahmat Shah 30, Hashmatullah Shahidi 26, Azmatullah Omarzai 22, Rashid Khan 35*; Josh Hazlewood 2-39) vs Australia
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Landslide RED warnings issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya extended up to 1600 hrs today [07]
The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Matara, Monaragala, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura effective from 16:00 hrs on 06.12.2025 to 16:00 hrs on 07.12.2025.
Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pathadumbara, Kundasale, Pathahewaheta, Panvila, Medadumbara, Doluwa, Thumpane, Udunuwara, Deltota, Ganga Ihala Korale, Pasbage Korale, Yatinuwara, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Minipe, Udapalatha, Gangawata Korale, Akurana, Poojapitiya and Harispattuwa in the Kandy district, Thumpane, Udunuwara, Deltota, Ganga Ihala Korale, Pasbage Korale, Yatinuwara, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Minipe, Udapalatha, Gangawata Korale, Akurana, Poojapitiya and Harispattuwa in the Kegalle district, Alawwa, Rideegama, Polgahawela, Mallawapitiya and Mawathagama inthe Kurunegala district, Ukuwela, Naula, Yatawatta, Laggala Pallegama, Pallepola, Matale, Rattota, Ambanganga Korale and Wilgamuwa in the Matale district, and Hanguranketha, Mathurata, Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya district
LEVEL II AMBER warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Ella, Welimada, Haputhale, Lunugala, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale West, Norwood, Ambagamuwa Korale, Thalawakele, Kothmale East and Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Godakawela, Kahawaththa and Kolonna in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colonbo district, Elpitiya and Yakkalamulla in the Galle district, Mirigama, Divulapitiya and Attanagalla in the Gampaha district, Ingiriya, Bulathsinhala and Horana in the Kalutara district, Pasgoda and Athuraliya in the Matara district, Bibile and Medagama in the Monaragala district, and Kuruwita, Balangoda, Eheliyagoda, Pelmadulla, Kaltota, Kalawana, Openayake, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Elapatha, Ratnapura and Kiriella in the Ratnapura district.
The Situation Report issued by the Disaster Management Center [DMC] at 2000hrs on Saturday [06] confirms that 607 persons have died due to the recent flooding and landslides while another 209 persons were missing.
The death toll in the Kandy district which one of the most affected districts has risen to 232, and 1800 houses have been fully damaged.The number of missing persons reported is 81
100,124 persons belonging to 29,874 families were being housed at 990 safety centers established by the government.
Border clashes have erupted again between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban forces, with each sides accusing the other of breaking a fragile ceasefire.
Residents fled the Afghan city of Spin Boldak overnight, which lies along the 1,600-mile (2,600 km) border between the two countries.
A medical worker in the nearby city of Kandahar told BBC Pashto that four bodies had been brought to a local hospital. Four other people were wounded. Three were reportedly wounded in Pakistan.
There has been sporadic fighting between the two countries in recent months, while Afghanistan’s Taliban government has also accused Pakistan of carrying out air strikes inside the country.
Both sides have confirmed they exchanged fire overnight but each blamed the other for initiating the four hours of fighting.
Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accused the Taliban of “unprovoked firing”.
The statement continued: “An immediate, befitting & intense response has been given by our armed forces. Pakistan remains fully alert & committed to ensuring its territorial integrity & the safety our citizens.”
Meanwhile, a Taliban spokesperson said Pakistan had “once again initiated attacks” and said it was “forced to respond”.
Residents on the Afghan side of the border said the exchange of fire started at around 22:30 (18:00 GMT) on Friday.
Footage from the area showed a large number of Afghans fleeing on foot and in vehicles.
Ali Mohammed Haqmal, head of Kandahar’s information department, said Pakistan’s forces had attacked with “light and heavy artillery” and civilian homes had been hit by mortar fire.
The latest clashes came less than two months after both sides agreed to a ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Turkey.
It ended more than a week of fighting in which dozens were killed – the worst clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban since the group returned to power in 2021 – though tensions have remained high.
The government in Islamabad has long accused Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban of giving shelter to armed groups which carry out attacks in Pakistan.
The Taliban government denies the accusation and has accused Pakistan of blaming others for their “own security failures”.
The Pakistan Taliban have carried out at least 600 attacks on Pakistani forces over the past year, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.
Last week delegations from both sides met in Saudi Arabia for a fourth round of negotiations on a wider peace settlement, but did not reach an agreement.
Sources familiar with the talks told BBC News that both sides had agreed to continue with the ceasefire.
[BBC]
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