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WWC 2025: Australia and South Africa face off for top-of-the-table clash

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Masabata Klaas might slot into the side (Cricinfo)

On Wednesday, Chloe Tryon and Marizanne Kapp were on the opposite sides of the Holkar Stadium. Tryon was lofting throwdowns inside out from the practice nets towards the main pitch while Kapp was taking some high catches on the other side of the ground. Tryon and Kapp were on the same side and made vital contributions in the only ODI South Africa  have won against Australia . They could once again be key in South Africa’s last league game of the Women’s World Cup, against the same opponents.

This is a top of the table  clash. Australia are yet to lose a game, on 11 points, while South Africa are on 10. The winner on Saturday will go to Navi Mumbai for the semi-final against India, while the loser will head to the Guwahati semi-final, where England will be waiting.

An Australia vs South Africa fixture has been an anomaly in women’s cricket. Before they played a multi-format series at the start of 2024, both the teams had last played a bilateral series in 2016 (only ODIs). Their meetings have often been restricted to ICC tournaments, where Australia have emerged victorious every single time – until the T20 World Cup semi-final  last year.

In the ODI World Cup in 2022,  South Africa had done well to post 271. However, their sloppy fielding – they dropped four catches – meant Australia comfortably aced that chase, with Meg Lanning’s century eclipsing Laura Wolvaardt’s 90.

This South African unit, though, not only knows how to reach knockouts but also keeps its nerves in check. That was on show in the two chases in Visakhapatnam in this World Cup, where they hunted down 252  against India despite being 81 for 5, and then chased 233 against Bangladesh from 78 for 5. This is not to say that only the lower order has fired for them. As many as five South Africa batters have scored 150 or more in the competition.

However, Australia could pose a completely different challenge to them on Saturday. There are question marks over Alyssa Healy’s  fitness, but Australia have shown they can line up strongly even without her. One thing that Australia promise is being relentless. They keep coming hard and offer little respite, be it with bat or ball. Annabel Sutherland  will be crucial to their all-round excellence: she has been superb with both bat and ball in the tournament so far, while being supported by the spin battery.
Australia are dominant. However, they will know that South Africa are a team with pedigree, as recent ICC tournaments show. At stake is not just the top spot in league standings but a semi-final in Navi Mumbai on a truer batting surface than Guwahati (plus an extra day in hand before a knockout match).

South Africa have been quite good against legspin in the last two years. Since the start of 2023, their top five averages 44.76 against that style of bowling. This is telling, because only Pakistan have faced more legspin bowling in this time (917) than South Africa (883). Australia average more (47.09) against legspin but their top five has faced only 491 such deliveries. Tazmin Brits,  Sune Luus,  Marizanne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt  all average over 58 against legspin in this period. Brits and Luus also score quite quickly, and only have two dismissals each against legspin.

On Saturday, they will be faced with one of the most economical bowlers  at this World Cup in Alana King . She has six wickets so far, but her X-factor has been the control she affords Australia in the non-powerplay overs. Against England, she was at her stingy best, which allowed other bowlers to pick up wickets from the other end. Australia also have another legspinner in Georgia Wareham, who has three wickets in the two matches she played when they rested Sophie Molineux. King has eight wickets in four ODIs and averages 13.25 versus South Africa. Before the Ashes where she took a five-for, her best bowling figures (4 for 26) came last year against South Africa.

Alyssa Healy did a few rounds of the outfield before a half hour batting stint in the enclosed nets. Tahlia McGrath said Australia are taking it day by day with their captain, who missed the previous game with a minor calf strain. Beth Mooney did her wicketkeeping drills before nets on Friday. Is that an indication Australia don’t want to risk Healy before the semi-final?

Australia (probable): Georgia Voll,  Phoebe Litchfield,  Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Beth Mooney (wk), Ashleigh Gardner,  Tahlia McGrath (capt),  Sophie Molineux,  Alana King,  Kim Garth,  Megan Schutt

South Africa are one of the two teams  to use all 15 players in the squad. They could bring back seamer Masabata Klaas instead of offspin-allrounder Nondumiso Shangase against Australia. They could also bring back Anneke Bosch, who scored 44 in South Africa’s only ODI win over Australia and also scored an unbeaten 74 against them in the T20 World Cup semi-final last year.

South Africa (probable):  Laura Wolvaardt (capt),  Tazmin Brits,  Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen,  Marizanne Kapp,  Karabo Meso (wk), Chloe Tryon,  Nadine de Klerk,  Nondumiso Shangase/Masabata Klaas,  Ayabonga Khaka,  Nonkululeko Mlaba

(Cricinfo)



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Dulani and Samarawickrama set up Sri Lanka’s victory in T20I series opener

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Chamari Athapaththu contributed with both bat and ball for Sri Lanka

Half-centuries from Harshitha Samarawickrama and Imesha Dulani propelled Sri Lanka to a 25-run win in the first T20I against Bangladesh. The home side’s batting woes continued as they failed to chase down 162 against an efficient bowling effort by the visitors in Sylhet.

Malki Madara, Mithali Ayodhya and captain Chamari Athapaththu picked up two wickets each as Sri Lanka restricted Bangladesh to 136 for 7 in the chase. Athapaththu was outstanding with her accuracy, conceding just 19 runs in her four overs for the two wickets. Bangladesh had been put in early trouble when they slipped to 44 for 4 in the sixth over, despite starting off rapidly with 39 for no loss in the first 3.3 overs.

Shorna Akter then struck 60 off 45 balls, with six boundaries including two sixes, but her knock was for a losing cause. There was no help from batters at the other end. Shorna stuck around even as Bangladesh kept losing wickets and was the last batter dismissed off the final ball of the innings.

Earlier, Sri Lanka were powered by Athapaththu, who cracked five boundaries and a six in her 32. After her dismissal in the tenth over, Dulani and Samarawickrama added 80 runs for the third wicket. Samarawickrama struck five fours and two sixes in her 61 off 35 balls, while Dulani slammed seven fours in her 55 off 40 balls.

Their approach derailed Bangladesh’s bowlers, with only offspinner Sultana Khatun putting in an impressive bowling display: she took 2 for 29. The remaining two T20Is in the series will also be held in Sylhet.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Women 161 for 4 in 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 32, Imesha Dulani 55, Harshitha Samarawickrama 61; Marufa Akter 1-37,  Sultana Khatun  2-29, Nahida Akter 1-26) beat Bangladesh Women 136 for 7 in 20 overs (Dilara Akter 23, Juairiya Ferdous 16, Shobhana Mostary 16, Shorna Akter  60; Malki Madara 2-31, Mithali Ayodhya 2-34,   Chamari Athapaththu 2-19) by 25 runs

[Cricinfo]

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time

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Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 28 April 2026, valid for 29 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle,
Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts 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 011-7446491.

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US press gala shooting suspect charged with attempting to kill Trump

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US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel and Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) of the FBI Washington Field Office Darren Cox stand next to a picture of a shotgun carried by Cole Tomas Allen, April 27 [Aljazeera]

Federal authorities in the United States have charged the suspect who allegedly shot a US Secret Service agent as he tried to breach security at a press gala attended by Donald Trump with attempting to assassinate the US president.

Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, also faces firearms charges in a three-count complaint, prosecutors announced on Monday.

In the case of a conviction, the attempted assassination of Trump carries out a sentence of up to life in prison.

Allen wore a blue prison jumpsuit at his first appearance in Washington, DC, federal court, two days after authorities said they foiled an attack at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, an annual black-tie gathering of journalists and politicians in the US capital.

“He attempted to assassinate the president of the United States, Donald J Trump”, prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine said in court.

Allen has not yet responded to the allegations. Seated at the defence table flanked by US Marshals, Allen said he would answer all questions truthfully and that he had a master’s degree in computer science.

US Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered Allen detained while the case moves forward. Sharbaugh scheduled another hearing over Allen’s continued detention for Thursday.

Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for Washington, DC, said further charges could be filed against Allen as the investigation proceeds.

“Make no mistake, this was an attempted assassination of the president of the United States, with the defendant making clear what his intent was – and that intent was to bring down as many of the high-ranking cabinet officials as he could,” Pirro told reporters on Monday.

She cited an alleged manifesto written by the suspect, saying that his targets were administration officials “prioritised from highest-ranking to lowest”.

Pirro added that Allen allegedly had a semiautomatic pistol, a shotgun and three knives. She said authorities believe the guns were purchased in California.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Allen travelled via train from his home near Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington.

[Aljazeera]

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