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WWC 2025: Evenly matched Bangladesh and Pakistan aim to hit the ground running in Colombo

Published

7 months ago

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Against Bangladesh, Pakistan could promote Sidra Amin up the order [Cricinfo]

In the last four ODI meetings between Bangladesh and Pakistan, both sides have won two matches each. To underscore just how evenly matched they seem to be, one of those Bangladesh wins went into a Super Over. These teams also trod similar paths to this World Cup, having played in the World Cup Qualifier in Pakistan, earlier this year. When they met in Lahore, Muneeba Ali, Sidra Amin and Aliya Riyaz had all contributed in a successful chase of 179.

And it is those three batters that shape as a significant strength for Pakistan, as they enter the World Cup proper. All three are in decent touch, having also contributed good scores in the series against South Africa – Amin hit two hundreds – over the past two weeks. Amin, in fact, is the fifth-highest scorer in ODIs this year, averaging 86.33 in this format, though at a relatively sedate strike rate of 70.95. Muneeba, meanwhile, averages 43 across eight innings this year, and Riaz 50 across seven. Many of those runs came against lower-ranked opposition in the Qualifier, however. Thus, they must now dust off similar performances at the pinnacle event.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, enter the World Cup perhaps wondering if they are a little underdone. They have had no ODI cricket since that final in Lahore, more than five months ago, in April. Although they beat Ireland 3-0 at home at the end of last year, and comfortably saw off Scotland, Thailand and Ireland at the Qualifier, they lost two matches out of three against West Indies before that.

Bangladesh’s traditional strength has been their bowling, but they also feel they have some batting depth this year. In addition to Nigar Sultana, who has been consistent for some time, they have also been getting contributions from top-order batter Sharmin Akhter, who averages 50.85 across eight innings this year.

Sultana’s team does have an additional trial this World Cup, however. Their coach Sarwar Imran suffered a minor stroke in Colombo on Monday. Sultana said he was on the path to recovery, and that she had spoken to him on Tuesday. But his focus will be on recovery for the foreseeable future.

Bangladesh tried various combinations in the warm-ups. If they decide they want a second frontline seamer, Fariha Trisna might be the option they go for.

Bangladesh (possible): Farqana Hoque,  Rubya Haider, Sharmin Akhter,  Sobhana Mostary,  Nigar Sultana (capt, wk),  Shorna Akter,  Sumaiya Akter,  Fahima Khatun,  Jannatul Ferdus,  Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter

Pakistan won their most recent ODI, against South Africa last week. They might go with the same XI, although there could be a promotion up the order for Sidra Amin.

Pakistan (possible):  Muneeba Ali,  Omaima Sohail,  Sidra Amin,  Fatima Sana (capt),  Natalia Pervaiz,  Eyman Fatima,  Sidra Khan (wk), Syeda Aroob Shah,  Diana Baig,  Rameen Shamim,  Nashra Sandhu

[Cricinfo]


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Prabhsimran, Shreyas upstage Rahul’s 152* to mow down record T20 chase

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17 mins ago

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2026/04/26

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KL Rahul became the first Indian batter to score 150 in the IPL [cRICINFO]

Punjab Kings (PBKS) overpowered Delhi Capitals (DC) and pulled off the highest successful T20 chase in an IPL bash where 265 met 264. They mowed down the target with six wickets and seven balls to spare. The opening blitz from Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh – they hit 116 together in the powerplay – and captain Shreyas Iyer’s chancy yet composed 71 not out off 36 balls upstaged KL Rahukl’s unbeaten 152 off 67 balls on a flat Delhi pitch.

Before the start of the chase, ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster had PBKS’ win probability pegged at 14.83%. It zoomed up to 65.35% after Arya and Prabhsimran went on a ruthless boundary-hitting spree in the powerplay. Both openers fell in successive overs to spin, but Shreyas then took charge of the chase and increased that count to 100%.

Rahul’s knock could’ve been cut short on 12 had Shashank Singh not dropped a regulation catch at deep square leg. Shashank lost his shape and ended up knocking the ball away to the boundary. After dropping at least three chances in their previous game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Shashank spilled another chance on Saturday, leaving coach Ricky Ponting upset in the dugout.

Shashank fumbled again in the fifth over of the powerplay, running to his right from sweeper cover and letting the ball roll into the boundary. By the time the powerplay ended, DC ran away to 68 for 1, their highest powerplay score this season.

Rahul was responsible for 35 of those from 16 balls, having repeatedly hit the ball over the top. Rana was also quick off the blocks, moving to 22 off 13 balls. Prabhsimran and Arya later made those powerplay scores look pedestrian.

In the past, Rahul often slowed down after the powerplay, but on Saturday, he didn’t allow the momentum to let up. He step-hit Yuzvendra Chahal for six over long-on in the seventh over and proceeded to step out of his crease and pick the legspinner away for back-to-back fours in the 11th over. By then, Rahul had already raised his half-century off 26 balls. He got another life on 51 when he popped up a return catch, but Vijaykumar Vyshak couldn’t hold onto it.

Rahul went on to bring up his fastest IPL century, off 47 balls. He reached the landmark with a drilled drive down the ground off Marco Jansen in the 15th over. He celebrated by crossing his arms in the form of an ‘X’ and had more than 28,000 fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium celebrating with him.

At the other end, Nitish Rana looked set to bring up a hundred of his own until Xavier Bartlett had him caught by Shreyas at mid-off for 91 off 44 balls to snap a 220-run stand – the highest for DC. In the 11 balls prior to his dismissal, Rana had cracked 44 off the Australia quick, including a sequence of 6,4,4,4,4,6 in the 12th over that cost PBKS 28 runs.

Rana wasn’t as fluent against Chahal, but Rahul had made up for it at the other end. Rahul went from 100 to 150 in just 19 balls. He got there with a superbly controlled upper cut off a lifter from Arshdeep Singh on the penultimate ball of the innings.

Rahul became the first Indian to score 150 or more in the IPL and third overall behind only Chris Gayle’s 175* against Pune Warriors India (PWI) in 2013 and Brendon McCullum’s 158* against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2008. He batted through 20 overs and vaulted DC to their highest total. At the innings break, Rahul was so knackered that he was panting for breath through his interview on a 41-degree day in Delhi.

Prabhsimran and Delhi boy, Arya, then left the crowd breathless in the chase with their unfettered assault in the powerplay. It began with Arya pumping a fairly blameless length delivery on off from Auqib Nabi over midwidcket for six and ended with four by Prabhsimran, which propelled PBKS to 116 for 0 in six overs. It was the second-highest powerplay score in the history of the IPL, falling nine short of levelling the record set by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) against DC at this very venue in 2024.

PBKS had passed fifty in the third over when Arya crunched Axar Patel for six and then Prabhsimran muscled them past hundred in the final over of the powerplay with an over full of fours against seamer Mukesh Kumar.

DC clawed back into the contest when their spinners Axar and Kuldeep Yadav dismissed PBKS’ openers in the seventh and eighth overs. Kuldeep struck again in the tenth over when he stormed through Cooper Connolly’s defences with a zippy wrong’un, leaving PBKS at 145 for 3 in the tenth over. Shreyas then managed the chase so well that PBKS ended up winning with more than an over to spare.

Shreyas got cracking when he pumped legspinner Vipraj Nigam into the sight screen in the 11th over. Nigam had come into the DC side as a concussion sub for Lungi Ngidi, who was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after suffering a blow to his head while attempting a catch off Arya at mid-off. Nigam created a chance to dismiss Shreyas on 28, but Karun Nair, who came in as a fielding sub, dropped a sitter at long-off in the 15th over. Two balls later, Nair dropped Shreyas once again, this time at long-on off Kuldeep.

Lungi Ngidi banged his head on the ground while he looked to take a catch [Cricinfo]

Shreyas went 4,6,6 off the next three legal balls to tilt the game PBKS’ way. The second six over long-on brought Shreyas a half-century off 26 balls. He also lined up T Natarajan for a brace of sixes to rush PBKS home along with Shashank.

Brief scores:
Punjab Kings 265 for 4 in 18.5 overs (Priyansh Arya 43, Prabhsimran Singh 76, Cooper Connolly 17, Shreyas Iyer  71*, Nehal Wadhera 25, Shashank Singh 19*; Axar Patel 1-44, Kuldeep Yadav 2-46, Vipraj Nigam 1-24) beat Delhi Capitals 264 for 2 in 20 overs  (Pathum Nissanka 11, KL Rahul 152*, Nitish Rana, 91; Arshdeep 1-49, Xavier Bartlett 1-69) by six wickets

[Cricinfo]
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Heat Index at Caution Level in the  Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time

Published

4 hours ago

on

2026/04/26

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Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 25 April 2026, valid for 26 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on the  human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the  Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.


Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-744649

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued For Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western province

Published

18 hours ago

on

2026/04/25

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Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 12.00 noon 25 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 25 April 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the  Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya
districts after 1.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning
activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that
people should:
• Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

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