Sports

Williamson powers New Zealand home, Breetzke’s record 150 in vain

Published

2 years ago

2025/02/11

Priyan

Kane Williamson was at his fluent best [Cricinfo]

New Zealand have qualified for the Pakistan Tri-Nation Series final after completing the third-highest successful chase in Lahore to beat an under-strength South Africa by six wickets. The result means the next match, between Pakistan and South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday, is a knockout.

Kane Williamson and Devon Conway, both back in New Zealand’s ODI squad for the first time since the 2023 World Cup, scored 133 not out and 97 respectively and shared in a record partnership for New Zealand against South Africa (187). Conway’s score was the first time he crossed fifty since the opening match of the 2023 World Cup, 11 innings ago. Williamson’s century was his first in 22 innings, dating back to his 148 against West Indies in Manchester in the 2019 World Cup. It was also Williamson’s second fastest ODI hundred, off 72 balls. Between them, the pair eclipsed a remarkable achievement by Matthew Breetzke, who became the player with the highest individual score on ODI debut – 150 – and the fourth South African to score a century in his first match.

Breetzke accounted for just under a half of South Africa’s total, which is the first indication of where things went wrong for them. They scored too slowly in the middle of the innings, especially given the flat nature of the track. The second issue was a severely uninspired attack, albeit not a first-choice one. Three of the bowlers – Earthan Boxch, Senuran Muthusamy and Mihali Mpongwana were on ODI debut and could be forgiven but lack of punch from Lungi Ngidi and Tabraiz Shamsi, who conceded 116 in 16 overs between them will be a concern ahead of the Champions Trophy.

South Africa have now lost five ODIs in a row, their longest losing streak in 20 years, but have played all their matches without a full strength side. While they’re unlikely to have too many positives to take from this defeat, they may console themselves with the knowledge that, Rachin Ravindra aside, New Zealand were at full strength and played like it.

After choosing to bowl first in the only day game of the series, New Zealand struck early when Will O’Rourke bounced Temba Bavuma out as he edged a pull. Bavuma had looked confident for his 23-ball 20 but New Zealand’s O’Rourke’s consistent and aggressive approach with the short ball paid off.

Breetzke and Jason Smith combined for a second-wicket stand of 93 but their scoring rate of 5.31 runs to the over was testament to New Zealand’s squeeze. South Africa struck only two fours and three sixes in the 17 overs between Bavuma’s dismissal and Smith’s run-out, as they tried to take on Mitchell Santner but were largely kept quiet. In that time, Breetzke brought up fifty off 68 balls.

When Smith was run-out, New Zealand had an opportunity to get into an inexperienced middle order and they took it. Kyle Verreynne tried to reverse-sweep the fourth ball he faced, missed and was bowled by Michael Bracewell. Another quiet period followed, in which South Africa only hit one boundary in 11 overs, as the combination of Ben Sears, Bracewell and Matt Henry stuck to their disciplines.

South Africa were 196 for 3 entering the last 10 overs and 280 looked a distance away. Breetzke took it on himself to get them there. He dispatched O’Rourke through deep third to bring up his century off 128 balls in the 41st over, and then put foot down. His next fifty runs came off 19 balls as he brought out his full range. His 150 came in an over where he hit Sears for 20.

Just as it seemed Breetzke could be eyeing a double, he mis-read a Henry slower ball and was caught at mid-off. Wiaan Mulder, who had largely operated as a spectator to that point, had the responsibility to finish off the innings but was fortunate to have an inside-edge trickle away for four before he established some control. He reached his second ODI fifty with a crunching cover drive off Henry, off the 54th ball he faced, and took South Africa over 300 with a four through short fine in the penultimate over. South Africa got only four runs off their final eight balls.

It was not enough. New Zealand built slowly but got ahead of the required run rate just after the halfway stage of their innings and were in full control from there. They had only lost Will Young at that point, for 19, though he should have been out for 6 in the third over. Smith dropped Young at backward point off Ngidi but the miss did not prove too costly.

His dismissal brought Conway and Williamson together and there was one nervy moment, when Williamson inside-edged Junior Dala past Verreynne but he soon settled into a rhythm and put on a masterful display of run-scoring, all around the wicket. His wagon wheel was almost entirely symmetrical, with 67 runs on the off side and 66 on the leg side and the highlights included four strong cut shots and a creative ramp over Verreynne as he leaned back to an Ngidi delivery.

Equally, Williamson’s pacing of his innings was perfect. He gave himself time to get in, all while scoring at a run-a-ball, and then took over the more dominant role from Conway, who got to fifty first. Conway’s half-century came off 64 balls, before Williamson’s reached his, off 44 balls, with a massive six over mid-on off Shamsi. It was also Williamson’s fourth successive fifty-plus ODI score in Pakistan. He took a liking to Mpongwana and Ngidi’s short-balls while Conway took on Shamsi and South Africa had no answers.

Williamson got to his century in the 34th over with a single off Dala. Conway was not far behind and eager to get there but, when he was on 97, he tried to cut Dala past point and found Muthusamy, who moved to his left and took the catch.

Muthusamy was the pick of South Africa’s bowlers and dismissed Daryl Mitchell, thanks to a stunning catch from Mulder at long-on, and Tim Latham off successive balls but Glenn Philipps partnered Williamson to the end. Williamson hit the winning runs in the 49th over, to give New Zealand victory with eight balls to spare.

Brief scores:
New Zealand 308 for 4 in 4.4 overs (Kane Williamson 133*, Devon Conway 97, Glenn Phillips 28; Senuran Muthusamy 2-50) beat South Africa 304 for 6 in 50 overs (Matthew Breetzke 150, Temba Bavuma 20, Jason Smith 41, Wiaan Mulder 64, Matt Henry 2-59, Will O’Rourke 2-72) by six wickets

[Cricinfo]

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Sports

Dinusha delivers an escape for the ages

Published

4 hours ago

2026/08/30

Thilina Walpola

The Indians were quick to congratulate Sonal Dinusha as he produced back to back hundreds at the SSC to join an elite group of players and save the second Test

by Rex Clementine

In the history of Test cricket, we have witnessed some epic rearguard actions that have saved the day.

Our coach Gary Kirsten himself once batted for 14 and half hours after England enforced the follow on in Durban. Sir Garfield Sobers did something similar when he occupied the crease for many hours to save the Lord’s Test of 1963.

Then, again at Lord’s, Mahela Jayawardene led from the front in 2006. Sri Lanka were forced to follow on after conceding a first innings deficit of 359 runs, but MJ produced a masterclass. With six other Sri Lankans posting half centuries, the tourists pulled off one of their greatest escapes.

And then, this week, came Sonal Dinusha.

What truly remarkable batting that was.

There is, however, one significant difference between Dinusha and those other greats. Kirsten, MJ and Sir Garry were all seasoned campaigners. Dinusha is a rookie playing just his fifth Test.

What was so impressive about the 25-year-old was how organised he was. He didn’t lose patience. He didn’t get carried away. There was no rush of blood.

These are hardly traits we associate with young players in modern cricket. We see them flashing outside off stump. We see them charging down the track wanting to take the spinners to the cleaners. We see them engaging opponents and getting sucked into needless scraps.

Dinusha, though, is different.

But how come? In this day and age of the IPL and instant gratification, how have we unearthed a cricketer with such temperament?

There is little doubt that this is a special kid and a special talent. Hopefully, Sri Lanka can dream big. Head Coach Gary Kirsten called it one of Sri Lanka’s finest match saving knocks.

“I love the way he plays Test cricket. He understands what the bowlers are trying to do to him. This innings today will go down in history as one of the best match-saving knocks for Sri Lanka.”

Dinusha batted for seven hours in the second innings. The fact that he had also scored a hundred in the first innings, having already made another century in Galle, makes his achievement even more extraordinary. He finished the series with 420 runs in four innings.

That was some insane batting. Let’s hope the kid keeps going.

Despite the series defeat, there were other positives for Sri Lanka. The manner in which Pasindu Sooriyabandara batted and the composure young spinner Keshara Nuwantha showcased when the team was under the cosh after yet another collapse were encouraging signs.

The lower order played impressive roles too. Lahiru Kumara batted like a champion and frankly, put some of the opening batters and the captain to shame.

Several Indian players turned up at the SSC on the final morning probably thinking this would be a quick finish and they would soon be heading home. Some might even have fancied squeezing in a bit of last minute shopping.

Dinusha and Sri Lanka’s tail had other ideas.

Those plans went out of the window as the lower order showed remarkable resolve, eating up overs and frustrating an Indian attack that had arrived expecting to administer the last rites.

“Really impressed with some of the young batters who have shown their mettle in Test match cricket. Apart from Sonal Dinusha and Pasindu Sooriyabandara, everyone put their hearts together, fighting as hard as we could to save the Test match. The character shown by everyone pleased me,” Kirsten said.

The fast bowling was top notch too. Both Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando had their moments and provided another useful reminder that Sri Lanka do not always have to turn to raging turners to win Test matches. Quicks can win you games too.

Sports

A thing of beauty is a joy forever

Published

4 hours ago

2026/08/30

Thilina Walpola

A fine rearguard action by Keshara Nuwantha and Sonal Dinusha denied India a wicket in the extended morning session of day five taking all hopes away. The pair batted for two and half hours

By Anura Tennekoon

Sonal Dinusha, Sri Lanka’s number six batter, played the innings of a lifetime when he batted throughout the fifth day of the second Test against India to earn his side a hard-fought draw.

At the start of the final day, Sri Lanka were six wickets down and held a lead of just 16 runs. It was not a pretty picture. Few in their right mind would have given Sri Lanka much chance of surviving even until the lunch break, with India seemingly poised to complete a comprehensive victory.

Sonal, however, had other ideas. He resolved to bat as deep into the day as possible, finding willing allies among the lower order. They combined determination and patience with controlled aggression and sound defence. It caught the Indian bowlers by surprise. An attack that had looked lethal earlier in the game gradually began to lose its sting and direction.

The two overnight batters survived the entire morning session, adding 113 runs from 265 deliveries. After lunch, Nuwantha was eventually dismissed for a well-compiled 46, but by then Sri Lanka had begun to believe.

Lahiru Kumara, the burly fast bowler, joined Sonal in the middle and ensured India would have no easy route back into the contest. He did exactly what was required of him, dropping anchor and occupying the crease for 90 deliveries while scoring just 12 runs. Runs were almost irrelevant by then; survival was everything.

The pair batted through the tea break and beyond, taking Sri Lanka towards safety. It was a supreme batting effort, led magnificently by Sonal and aided and abetted by the bowlers at the other end.

I have hardly touched upon Sonal’s own contribution with the bat to this remarkable rescue mission. He employed the sweep, both orthodox and unorthodox, to excellent effect and scored most of his runs by placing the ball judiciously into the gaps and accumulating steadily. It was an innings of the highest order.

If I may point out one flaw, it was his reluctance to play the cover drive and off-drive, thereby depriving himself of some valuable scoring opportunities. But that is a minor observation in what was otherwise a stupendous batting effort for which no amount of praise can be too much.

A thing of beauty is indeed a joy forever, and this was an innings to remember.

Now that you have got off to such a flying start in your Test career, lad, keep improving and keep reaching for the skies.

My very best wishes to you in all your cricketing endeavours.

Sports

Sithumli shines at Korea Open Junior Squash

Published

4 hours ago

2026/08/30

Thilina Walpola

Sithumli Mendis proudly displays her trophy after finishing runner-up in the Classic Plate at the Korea Open Junior Squash Championships in Incheon

Gateway College’s Sithumli Mendis continued to make her mark on the international squash circuit, claiming her third overseas accolade after finishing runner-up in the Classic Plate at the 19th Korea Open Junior Squash Championships 2026 in Incheon, South Korea.

The promising youngster produced a string of impressive performances during the tournament, held from August 12 to 15 and featuring players from 18 countries and regions.

Sithumli began her campaign in commanding fashion, sweeping aside South Korea’s Ji Won Won in straight games, 11-5, 11-3, 11-4.

She faced a sterner examination in her second match against Malaysia’s J. M. Balasingam. Despite putting up a spirited fight, Sithumli went down 9-11, 7-11, 6-11, 8-11.

The setback, however, did little to dampen her resolve.

Dropping into the Classic Plate competition, Sithumli regrouped in style. She overcame South Korea’s Mun Ha-ram 11-8, 12-10 before accounting for another home favourite, Doeun Kim, 11-7, 11-6 in the semi-final to secure her place in the title clash.

In the final, Sithumli came up against South Korea’s Jane Lee and once again refused to go quietly. After conceding the opening game 7-11, she hit back strongly to take the second 11-4. Lee, however, held her nerve in the decider, winning 11-8 and leaving the Sri Lankan youngster with a well-earned runner-up finish.

The achievement represents another significant step in Sithumli’s blossoming career and marks her third international award.

Her success in Korea follows an impressive showing at the 37th Junior National Squash Championships in Sri Lanka last month. She finished runner-up in the Girls’ Under-17 event and claimed third place in the Girls’ Under-19 category.

Those performances also earned Sithumli the Most Promising Junior Girl Player of the Year 2026 award, underlining her status as one of Sri Lanka’s brightest young squash prospects.

The Korea Open brought together talented juniors from the United States, South Korea, Canada, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, China, Hong Kong China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Macao China, Australia, Qatar and the United Kingdom.

Against such a strong international field, Sithumli’s podium finish was another encouraging indication that the young Sri Lankan is beginning to make her presence felt beyond home shores.