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Dhaka Test see-saws on curtailed Day 3
The Dhaka Test finds itself on a knife’s edge at the end of the third day as New Zealand counterattacked to cut the deficit and then picked two quick wickets before bad light brought an early end to the proceedings. Glenn Phillips’s 72-ball 87 pushed New Zealand just past the Bangladesh total before Ajaz Patel and Tim Southee picked two wickets to leave the hosts on 38/2 – with a lead of 30 runs – at stumps.
After the second day was completely washed out, wet outfield and bad light disrupted Day 3 too, with only 32.3 overs bowled in all. Yet there was plenty of action that moved the game along at a rather brisk pace. Glenn Phillips was at the heart of New Zealand’s strong riposte as he counterattacked Bangladesh’s spinners expertly. No play was possible in the morning session but when it did begin post Lunch, Bangladesh spinners looked to continue from where they left off on Day 1. There was ample turn and bounce for them to employ a couple of close in catches and attack the two batters with spin from both ends.
Phillips took the aggressive route against the viciously turning ball as he stood deep in his crease and played cut shots at deliveries that weren’t short enough, and unfurled the slog sweep at a whim. Mehidy Hasan was the recipient of the early carnage that dragged New Zealand ahead from the precarious position of 55 for 5 in response to Bangladesh’s 172. He got the scorecard moving briskly while Daryl Mitchell did enough to keep the outside edge of his bat away from the turning ball to stay put. After an initial nervous exchange, he too looked to cut loose and gave Nayeem Hasan the charge for a big hit down the ground but had to depart as Mehidy Hasan sprinted across from long on and took an exceptional catch.
Nayeem looked to speed up the end of New Zealand’s innings as he dismissed Mitchell Santner soon after to leave the visitors tottering at 97 for 7. Kyle Jamieson then walked out to put on a stubborn stand of 55 runs for the eighth wicket that ate into the deficit. During this alliance, Phillips brought up his 38-ball half-cetury – the joint-fastest for a New Zealand batter against Bangladesh. He also tried to shift gears further and dragged the team towards Bangladesh’s total. With spinners being dealt with, Najmul Hossain Shanto brought in pace from one end via Shoriful Islam and reaped instant rewards. On the first ball of his new spell, Islam got Jamieson to nick one to the keeper and depart for a 28-ball 20. Tim Southee dragged New Zealand’s essay in Phillips’s company before Shoriful ended the latter’s fine knock on 87 off just 72 deliveries.
Taijul Islam then returned to dismiss Southee, but by this stage New Zealand had gone past Bangladesh’s total to take a slender eight-run lead.
Southee didn’t waste any time in employing a spinner as Ajaz opened the bowling and struck on the third ball to dismiss Mahmudul Hasan Joy, caught by Mitchell at first slip. Zakir Hasan and Najmul Hossain looked to build a quick lead but the latter fell in the eighth over when he tamely drove on the up off Southee straight to Kane Williamson at mid-off. Right after this dismissal bad light stopped play. After a wait of more than an hour and thorough inspection by the umpires, play was called off. As it stands, Bangladesh head into the fourth day with a lead of 30 runs.
Brief Scores:
New Zealand 180 (Glenn Phillips 87, Mehidy Hasan 3-53) trail Bangladesh 172 (Mushfiqur Rahim 35; Glenn Phillips 3-31, Mitchell Santner 3-54) & 38/2 (Ajaz Patel 1-13, Tim Southee 1-8) by 30 runs
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Munoz sends Colombia into World Cup knockouts with 1-0 win over DR Congo
Daniel Munoz has fired Colombia into the World Cup round of 32 with a 1-0 win over the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Group K after goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi had threatened to turn the match into a night of frustration.
Munoz struck the winner from the right side of the penalty area in the 76th minute on Tuesday, finally beating Mpasi, who had repeatedly denied Colombia with an inspired performance.
Colombia, who opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, commanded possession and created numerous chances.

James Rodriguez, making his 10th World Cup appearance to equal the Colombian record jointly held by Freddy Rincon and Carlos Valderrama, forced Mpasi into action with a powerful strike in the 11th minute.
The goalkeeper stood firm, repelling efforts from Jhon Arias and winger Luis Diaz, who came close to breaking the deadlock in the 18th minute, controlling a chipped pass inside the penalty area, turning smartly, and firing a shot goal-wards, only for Mpasi to save it with his foot.
The African side, buoyed by their opening 1-1 deaw with Portugal, threatened sporadically through Edo Kayembe, Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa, but lacked a clinical finish.
By half-time, Colombia had registered 15 shots, including six on target, with nine of their 10 outfield players attempting efforts.

In the stands, DR Congo had support from Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, the team’s famous “living statue” fan, who made his World Cup debut after missing the opener against Portugal because of Ebola quarantine requirements.
Colombia resumed on the front foot after the break, with Diaz forcing another fine save from Mpasi in the 51st minute before Arias dragged the rebound wide.
Wissa almost snatched the lead for DR Congo in the 73rd minute, when his shot from Simon Banza’s assist was blocked, but Colombia struck shortly after through Munoz.
Diaz later thought he had doubled the advantage with a finish into the top corner, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
Colombia moved to six points from two matches and guaranteed their progress to the knockout stage ahead of their final group game against Portugal, who beat Uzbekistan 5-0 earlier on Tuesday.
DR Congo remained on one point and will need a result against Uzbekistan to keep their qualification hopes alive.

[Aljazeera]
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July 6th declared as Sri Lanka National Legal Aid Day
The Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka was established under the Legal Aid Act No. 27 of 1978 with the objective of facilitating access to justice for all citizens, including vulnerable groups and marginalized persons.
The commission makes a significant contribution to the protection of fundamental rights through the provision of legal aid services promotion of legal awareness, strengthening the rule of law and promoting access to justice.
It has been identified the appropriateness of declaring a National Legal Aid Day to enhance the public awareness of legal rights and remedies, facilitate a national dialogue on law enforcement and enhance the public understanding of the importance of legal services.
Accordingly, having ratified the legal Aid Act No.27 of 1978, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to declare July 06th as the National Legal Aid Day.
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Appointment of a special Committee for protection of lands in Eastern Province
A series of political, economic, and administrative problems in the Eastern Province have arisen due to the misuse of government power and political patronage, as well as illegal land grabbing, unauthorized land grabbing, and unauthorized constructions along the coastline.
As a result, the natural ecosystem of the region has been severely endangered, and these informal and illegal human activities have also become a major factor in the rapid creation of severe soil erosion along the entire eastern coastal area.
Furthermore, despite 16 years having passed since the end of the civil war, the lack of a formal program to permanently resettle the displaced people and the deviation from common criteria in the formation of the administrative structure have had a direct impact on the development activities of the province, as well as national security.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the President to implement the following proposals and find prompt and permanent solutions to the aforementioned problems, take legal action and strengthen institutional coordination.
• Appointing a committee by the name of “Protecting Eastern Province Lands’ with the chairmanship of the former Land Commissioner of the Southern Province and current Local Government Commissioner of the Southern Province, Senaka Palliyaguruge, and comprising of representatives of relevant institutions.
• Establishing of a special unit headed by a Deputy Inspector General of Police and granting of full powers to the security forces to stop unauthorized land acquisitions and land reclamations carried out using political power.
• Taking over the government lands that were provided by the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority 05 years ago, to the government where no project has been implemented so far.
• Handing over the acquired lands to the Divisional Secretaries to use for the development activities of the people under a formal program.
• Preparing of a formal plan to promote the tourism industry by utilizing the high potential of the eastern coastline while protecting the coastal system.
• Formulating a mechanism to ensure that the government officials implement the law impartially and transparently when operating hotels along the eastern coastal area.
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