Sports

India seal series after Rohit’s blistering ton

Published

1 year ago

2025/02/11

Priyan

Rohit's century came off just 76 balls. [BCCI]

Rohit Sharma (119 off 90) produced a blistering century, his 32nd in ODIs, to set up India’s series-clinching four-wicket win in the second ODI against England in Cuttack. Chasing a competitive target of 305, India were led by Rohit’s sparkling innings and his 136-run opening stand with Shubman Gill (60 off 52). Shreyas Iyer (44) and Axar Patel (41*) also chipped in with useful knocks to see the hosts through despite a few wickets falling towards the end.

At the halfway mark, England’s total of 304 did appear to be a tricky one on a slow black-soil surface with the odd ball stopping off the hard length. Spinners and off-pace deliveries didn’t seem easy to get away. However, as is the case with black-soil surfaces, batting under lights tend to be relatively easier. At least, that’s what Rohit made it seem as he got off the blocks in a jiffy. A couple of sixes, one over deep square leg and the other over deep cover showed that the captain was in the zone for the night. His aggression allowed Gill to take his time although the latter also dished out some exquisite strokes.

The first ten overs returned 77 for India with all ten wickets intact, and it set the tone for the chase. Even as the field spread, runs continued to flow from both the openers, Rohit in particular. During his terrific knock, he also overcame Chris Gayle to move to no.2 in the all-time six hitters list in ODIs. There was some turn on offer for Adil Rashid but by the time he came on, Rohit and Gill were so assured that they dealt him with aplomb. The ball also didn’t really hold off the pitch as it had during the afternoon when England batted.

It needed something special to break the openers’ onslaught and Jamie Overton provided it with a scorching yorker. Just a ball before, he had been smashed over mid-wicket with a powerful pull stroke by Gill and the all-rounder then beat the Indian vice-captain for pace with a terrific nut. It brought Virat Kohli to the crease but the veteran no.3 had an off day at the office. He did strike a glorious on-drive for four but looked all at sea against Rashid’s leggies. Eventually, one of them found the edge, with England reviewing successfully for the breakthrough.

It was a minor passage of play where the visitors would have had a bit of self-belief to bounce back in the game. However, so far ahead were India in the chase that it allowed Rohit to mellow down and Shreyas Iyer also could afford to play a safe game in the next few overs. The pair added still added 70 at a brisk pace, off just 61 deliveries with Rohit continuing to be the dominant partner. It seemed like the duo might be able to complete the chase by themselves before the Indian captain gifted his wicket away.

Having struck the ball cleanly and even dismissing decent deliveries to the fence, Rohit fell to a full toss, miscuing it towards mid-wicket after having stepped out to take it on the full. Liam Livingstone was the beneficiary of the gift but the wicket came just a bit too late in the contest from England’s perspective. Iyer combined with Axar to push India’s charge before the former fell to a silly run out that occurred due to terrible miscommunication. KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya both fell as India neared the target but the result was never in doubt. Axar along with Ravindra Jadeja closed out the game with 33 deliveries to spare.

Earlier in the afternoon, England put on a much improved show with the bat in comparison to their efforts in the opening ODI. Contrasting fifties from Joe Root (69) and Ben Duckett (65) followed by a Liam Livingstone (41) cameo, powered England through after Phil Salt failed to convert another start in the series. The visitors did get off to another rapid start in the first ten overs, like they had in Nagpur, before slowing down against India’s spinners. Varun Chakaravarthy, on ODI debut, was the one who broke the opening stand by dislodging Salt. He then put the brakes on the scoring although it was Jadeja who proved the toughest to get away for England’s batters.

The left-arm spinner hit the right lines, mixed up his pace and lengths, and got the odd ball to hold up with grip and turn to fox the batters. He also won the matchup duel with Duckett whose attempts to tame the spinner resulted in his downfall. It also meant that Jadeja along with fellow left-arm spinner Axar could bowl at the right-handed England middle-order without any worries. Harry Brook struggled for impetus but he did stitch a useful 66-run stand with Root who was the anchor around whom the innings revolved. The spinners choked the run flow so much for India that the rewards were reaped by their quicks.

Harshit Rana did concede a few boundaries to Brook but like in the fourth T20I, had the last laugh with a wily slower ball, taken brilliantly by Gill at mid-off. A while later, it was Buttler’s turn to fall to a pacer, Pandya this time, after being tied down by the spinners. Amidst all this, Root batted with assurance to hold one end up. Livingstone and Root got a handy partnership as England looked with a chance of getting past the 320-run mark and beyond. However, Rohit’s ploy to hold spin back for the final ten overs worked wonders as Jadeja snapped up Root in his penultimate over.

The left-arm spinner then had Jamie Overton off the final ball of his spell to a moment of atrocious shot selection from the all-rounder. This meant that England were in danger of imploding for one more time on this tour. However, Livingstone batted deep and also struck a few big blows at the back end to boost the visitors’ total. Rashid also clobbered three boundaries on the trot against Mohammed Shami to ensure that the work done by Root and Duckett wasn’t wasted entirely. The tourists, though, could have gotten past the 320-330 range if they had batted with a bit more game awareness.

However, given the way India and Rohit handled things in the second half, perhaps that total also may not have been enough. Buttler might reflect on his decision at the toss because the afternoon period was the ideal time for spinners to bowl and for the pacers to take pace off. In the evening, there wasn’t enough bite off the deck although the ball did spin even then.

The final game of the series shall be played in Ahmedabad on February 12. Technically, it is a dead rubber in the context of this series but both sides will be keen to use that as a final opportunity before the Champions Trophy.

Brief scores:
England 304 in 49.5 overs (Joe Root 69, Ben Duckett 65; Ravindra Jadeja 3-35) lost to India 308/6 in 44.3 overs (Rohit Sharma 119, Shubman Gill 60; Jamie Overton 2-27) by four wickets.

[Cricbuzz]

All News Advertisement

Sports

Unbeaten Joes take on resilient Petes

Published

7 hours ago

2026/03/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

St. Peter’s Team with officials

Seated (ffrom left) R.P.H.P. Perera (Trainer and Physiotheraphist), Nalin Wijesinghe (Head Coach), Rohan Fernando (MiC), Enosh Peterson (Captain), Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo (Rector), Rev. Fr. Praveen Wijesekara (Priest in Charge), Asadisa Thejana (Vice Captain), Thushara Madushan (Asst. Coach), Dinuka Godakanda (2nd XI Coach).

Second row (from left) Dineth de Silva, Tharin Senvidu, Hiruka Silva, Joshua Sebastian, Sadeesha Kariyawasam, Savi Fernando, Jason Fernando, Thareen Sanketh, Janith Panditharathne, Standing Yathindra Jayaweera. Back row (from left) Dinsara Rathnaweera, Shadeesha Silva, Thenura Dissanayake, Shavidu Silva, Dimalsha Jayawardana, Evan Joshua Rodrigo, Menura Dissanayake, Oshadha Akalanka.

By Reemus Fernando

‎

Unbeaten St. Joseph’s College will start as clear favourites when they meet arch-rivals St. Peter’s College in the prestigious “Battle of the Saints” Big Match, which gets underway at the SSC Grounds today.

‎Joes, led by Rishma Amarasinghe, arrive with an impressive unbeaten record this season and a well-balanced side that has shown both consistency and match-winning ability. With memories of their historic 2008 triumph still cherished, the Josephians will be determined to emulate that famous side led by Ruwantha Fernandopulle, which ended a 35-year drought. However, they too are currently in the midst of a long wait for another outright win in the series and will be eager to break that deadlock.

‎A major strength of the Josephian outfit lies in their formidable spin department. The inclusion of Sri Lanka Under-19 spinner Vigneswaran Akash further strengthens an already potent attack featuring Nushan Perera, who has claimed 69 wickets this season, and Vishwa Peiris with 50 scalps. Together, they form arguably the most dangerous spin unit in the schools circuit this year.

‎Their batting unit has also been equally impressive. Aveesha Samash has been the standout performer, amassing close to 800 runs, including a century and seven fifties. Skipper Amarasinghe has led responsibly, while Yenula Dantanarayana, Dilpa Maduranga and Senuja Wakunagoda have all made valuable contributions. This depth in batting, coupled with their bowling strength, makes Joes a formidable opponent.

‎In contrast, St. Peter’s College may not boast many outright victories this season, but they remain unbeaten thanks largely to a resilient and cohesive batting lineup. Led by skipper Enosh Peterson, who has found form at the right time with an average close to 40, the Petes will rely heavily on their batsmen to challenge the favourites.

‎Asadisa Silva has been exceptional, scoring 687 runs at an average of 53, including three centuries. He has been well supported by Joshua Sebastian, who averages 52, while Savi Fernando has accumulated over 500 runs. Jason Fernando has also contributed consistently, adding further stability to the lineup. The return of Thareen Sanketh from a shoulder injury is another positive, as he has shown signs of regaining form.

‎However, St. Peter’s face concerns in their bowling department. Off-spinner Sadeesha Silva, with over 40 wickets, and left-arm spinner Janith Panditharathna, who has claimed 27 wickets, have been the main contributors. Beyond them, the attack has lacked penetration, which could prove costly against a strong Josephian batting lineup.

‎It will also be interesting to see how both teams utilise the SSC conditions, particularly their pace bowlers, as neither side has seen significant impact from their seam attacks this season.

‎With Joes boasting superior balance and momentum, they will look to press for a rare outright victory. Meanwhile, the Petes, driven by their batting resilience, will aim to defy the odds and maintain their unbeaten run. The stage is set for another thrilling chapter in this historic rivalry.

St. Joseph’s Team with officials

Seated (from left) Lahiru Wickramasinghe (First XI Asst. Coach), Lakmal de Silva (First XI Head Coach), Nushan Perera, Asiri Caldera (First XI MiC), Rishma Amarasinghe (Captain), Rev. Fr. Samesh Anthony (Prefect of Games), Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi (Rector), Rev. Fr. Priyan Tissera (Vice Rector), Senuja Wakunagoda (Vice – Captain), Sanjeewa Fernando (Second XI MiC), Aveesha Samash, Pradeep Munasinghe (Second XI Coach). Hasith Dilhara (Fielding coach), Miranga Wickramage (First XI Asst. Coach)

Standing (from left) Chethina Kavinda, Mario Suraweera, Dilpa Maduranga, Vishwa Peiris, Dihen de Silva, Nimthaka Goonewardena, Yenula Dantanarayana, Chamath Perera, Nethula Damthusa, Nirwan Jayathilaka, Demion de silva, Pamoda Dalpadado, Disinu Samarasingha, Thisanga Perera, Vigneshwaran Akash.

Sports

Sandeepa’s unbeaten ton powers Mobitel to mammoth win at DS ground on Saturday

Published

7 hours ago

2026/03/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

15TH STAFFORD MOTORS – MCA T20 LEAGUE CRICKET TOURNAMENT

A blistering unbeaten 105 off 38 balls with eleven boundaries and seven maximums by Sandeepa Halangoda was the highlight of Saturday’s matches of the 15th Stafford Motors – MCA G division T20 league cricket tournament.

Saturday’s matches were played at four venues, the MCA , D S Senanayake College ground, Dharmapala College ground and SLC ground Bandaragama.

In the morning games,

JF&I packaging defeated Pyramid Wilmar by four wickets despite Umeda Madushan’s three wicket haul at the MCA grounds.

In a low scoring game at Dharmapala College grounds in Pannipitiya, CDB ‘B’ restricted Jetwing Travels to 78 runs and won the game with six wickets in hand and 11 overs to spare.

In a one sided game at the D S Senanayake College ground, Emar Pharma registered their third win in four outings by annihilating Synergen Health by 162 runs. Dushyantha Darshana contributed with a half ton and Desha Fernando captured four wickets for the winners.

At the Sri Lanka Cricket [SLC] ground in Bandaragama Maliban Biscuits took the lead of group A of the tournament with a net run rate boosting win over WSO2 . Maliban restricted WSO2 to 103 runs and passed the target in 8.2 overs.

In the evening games,

At the MCA grounds, Future Life Holdings led group D with a close 14 run win over Singer Sri Lanka. Srimal Peiris and Mithun Jayawickrema shared seven wickets between them to restrict Future Life to 152/8 but Singer fell short of by 14 runs.

Alaris Lanka and Wiley Global shared points at the Dharmapala College grounds as their game was abandoned without a toss due to rain and wet ground conditions.

At the D S Senanayake College grounds, Mobitel powered by an unbeaten ton by Sandeepa Halangoda [105*]and half tons by Dasun Bandara [55] and Sachin Bulathsighala [64*] overcame 99X by 141 runs.

In a rain shortened ten over game at SLC ground Bandaragama LOLC Insurance overcame Regnis Appliances by 21 runs

At MCA grounds:JF&I Packaging by four wickets

Pyramid Wilmar

132/9 in 20 overs [Sahas Vihanga 35, Malintha Peiris 14, Umedha Madushan 19,Vishal Akash 20, Udara Athapttu 17*; Dihan Darshan 1-16, Isanka Lakshan 3-21, Chamath Yatawara 1-21, Gayan Hasanka 1-25, Dinesh Vishwajith 2-10]

JF&I Packaging

133/6 in 19.3 overs [Chamath Yatawara 16, Dhanushka Kevitiyagala 14, Sarinda Malavige 22, Tiran Dhanapala 26,Gayan Hasanka 25; Budhdhika Herath 1-32, Umeda Madushan 3-36, Udara Athapaththu 1-14, Chandimal Chanaka 1-21]

Future Life Holdings by 14 runs

Future Life Holdings

152/8 in 20 overs [Kavindu Ranahasa 60, Neluka Dilshan 13, Savindu Rodrigo28, Praveen Wanniarachchi 10; Mithun Jayawickrema 3-22, Gimhana Hettiarachchi 1-25, Srimal Peiris 4-34]

Singer Sri Lanka ‘B’

138/10 in 19.3 overs [ Sheyal Imesh 27, Ahamed Rifad 11, Mithun Jayawickrema 21, Akila Samarakoon 19, SajithSanjeewa 18; Tharuka Sooriyarachchi 1-19, Sahan Ranasinghe 2-14, Neluka Dilshan 1-22, Praveen Wanniarachchi 2-21, Malshan Lakshitha 2-32, Prabath Wijesinghe 2-08]

At Dharmapala College grounds:

CDB ‘B’ by six wickets

Jetwing Travels

78/10 in 19.5 overs [Budhdhika Chathuranga 17, Ranusha Pigera 16, Dinuka Peiris 17; Vishwa Rathnayake 1-07, Chathuranga Dikkumbura 1-13, Themira Niyomal 2-13, Dhanushka Dharmasiri 1-08, Isuru Jayaranga 2-12, Chamod Madushan 1-09]

CDB ‘B’

79/4 in 9.0 overs [Isuru Jayaranga 13, Themira Niyomal 14, Saman Ambilimeegama 22*, Dhanushka Dharmasiri 10*; Sanjeewa Prasanna 2-09, Dushantha Prasadh 1-22, Ashan Wijerathne 1-22]

At D S Senanayake grounds:

Emar Pharma annihilate Syngern Health by 162 runs

Emar Pharma

201/7 in 20 overs [Deshan Fernado 46, Dushyantha Darshana 63, Janith Jayasinghe 29, Devinda Ayesh 29; S Thuwaragashan 4-37, Isuru Weerasinghe 2-30]

Synergen Health

39/9 [all out] in 8.1 overs [Chanul Gawwrawamanna 07*; Deshan Fernando 4-20, Chandana Dodangoda 2-16, Devinda Ayesh 2-02]

Halangoda’s ton powers Mobitel to a 141 run win

Mobitl Pvt Ltd

249/3 in 20 overs [Krisha Santhusha 11, Dasun Bandara 55, Sachin Bulathsinghala 64*, Sandeepa Halangoda 105*; Saranga Liyanage 1-62, Arjuna de Silva 2-35]

99X

108/8 in 20 overs [Yasith Fernando 26, Sameera Piyasundera 22, Arjuna de Silva 29; Sachin Indrarathne 1-19, Sanesh Ekanayake 1-07, Rangana Rajapaksha 2-15, Budhdhika Hewa 1-18, Krishan Santhusha 1-21, Sandeepa Halangoda 1-05]

At SLC ground Bandaragama:

Maliban Biscuits by eight wickets

WSO 2

103/10 in 19.3 overs [Osanda Herath 47, Sasmitha Dilshan 10, Shan Anjana 12; Chamara Rathnayake 2-14, Dilip Sandaruwan 1-05, Chathuranga Dewapriya 3-21, Tharindu Siriwardena 2-21, Dilan Chathurng 1-22, Mohamad Shilmi 1-19]

Maliban Biscuits

107/2 in 8.2 overs [Tharindu Siriwardene 17, Gihan Anuruddha 2-44, Mohamed Shilmi 26*; Brian Benett 1-29, Shan Anjana 1-27]

LOLC Insurance by 21 runs in 10 over game

LOLC Insurance

108/6 in 10 overs [Tharindu Mohan 31, Asanka de Silva 14, Dinesh Chathuranga 34; Tharang Dammika 1-21, Asela Sanjeewa 1-24, Imalka Fernando 2-07]

Regnis Appiiances

87/5 in 10 overs [Gaveen Yatawara 26, Tharang Dammika 13, Yahal Samantha 17, Nimesh Madushanka 12*; Dinesh Chathuranga 2-20, Tharindu Mohan 1-17, Neranjaya Madushanka 1-10, Vishwa Kumara 1-03]

Latest News

CAF strips Senegal of AFCON title, Morocco declared African champions

Published

1 day ago

2026/03/18

Priyan

Senegal forward Sadio Mane holds up the trophy as he celebrates with his teammates after the AFCON final [File: Aljazeera]

African football’s governing body has stripped Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title they won in a chaotic final two months ago and declared Morocco the champions.

In a stunning decision, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on Tuesday that its appeals board ruled that Senegal is “declared to have forfeited” the match, a 1-0 victory. The result, it said, was now “being officially recorded as 3-0” ‌in favour of host nation Morocco.

At the January 18 final in Rabat, Senegal’s players walked off the pitch, led by coach Pape Thiaw, in protest against a penalty awarded late in regulation time to Morocco.

When play resumed after a delay of about 15 minutes, Morocco forward Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved. In extra time, Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal that saw Senegal become champions of Africa for the second time.

The heated final also saw supporters trying to storm the field, players scuffling on the sidelines, reporters from the two countries fighting in media areas, and a bizarre sequence in which Moroccan ball boys tried to seize a towel being used by Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy – in an apparent bid to distract him and help their team win the continental title.

At a disciplinary hearing in January, CAF imposed fines of more than $1m as well as bans for Senegal and Morocco players and officials, but it had left the result untouched.

The case could go to a further appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

[Aljazeera]