Sports

Adair rips through Afghanistan to give Ireland opening-day honours

Published

2 years ago

2024/02/29

Priyan

Mark Adair struck twice in the first session and ended with five for the innings (ACB)

A Test match had never been played at Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi before, so the conditions were a bit of an unknown for both Afghanistan and Ireland. Even then, neither side could have expected so much sharp, conventional swing, until a stage when reverse swing became a bigger factor. There was movement on offer off the pitch, too. Add to that the accuracy of Ireland’s quick bowlers, led by Mark Adair saw all ten Afghanistan wickets fell inside 55 overs.

Hashmatullah Shahidi had opted to bat under a bright and sunny sky, hoping for spin to play a part when they would bowl in the fourth innings of the Test. But, by the end of day one, Afghanistan were only 55 ahead, with six Ireland wickets remaining.

Ireland’s third-wicket pair of Curtis Campher and Harry Tector added 60 after they were 32 for 2 in the tenth over.

Afghanistan themselves were 11 for 2 after seven overs. Ibrahim Zadran and Shahidi had repaired their innings with a 55-run stand, which was broken when Shahidi tickled one down leg off one of Ireland’s three debutants, Brian McCarthy. Ibrahim and Afghanistan’s only debutant, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, then added 22 more. But at 86 for 3 just after lunch, the wheels started to come off for Afghanistan. And the trigger was pressed by Adair, who had already picked up two out of the three wickets until then. The first of those had come in the third ball of the seventh over when Adair had Noor Ali Zadran nicking to second slip.

Two deliveries later, Ireland reviewed when an lbw shout by Adair against Rahmat Shah went against them, only for replays to show the ball missing leg. But next ball, Adair cleaned Rahmat up for a duck, when a length ball angled in and straightened to find the gap between bat and pad. Adair also struck in the second over after lunch, having Gurbaz bottom edge one to the wicketkeeper.

Two of Adair’s other victims were Zia-ur-Rehman, who flashed one to second slip to end a stay of more misses than hits, and Zahir Khan, for whom Adair perhaps reserved his best of the lot. Coming from around the wicket to the left-hander, Adair landed one on a length around off, and got the ball to straighten to hit the top of off.

Adair’s five-for aside, debutant Craig Young and Campher picked up two wickets each. The most important of those was that of Ibrahim, who, like his captain Shahidi, ended up clipping down the leg side for a catch to the wicketkeeper. Until then, he had scored 53 of the 90 runs on the board. His departure gave Young his second wicket after he had bowled Nasir Jamal for a duck.

Campher, meanwhile, helped clean the tail up, striking twice in the 50th over after Naveed Zadran had frustrated Ireland for 42 balls.

Andy Balbirnie got a life in the second over when Rahmat dropped a simple catch off Naveed at gully. But Naveed ended his stay in his next over, pinning him in front. Balbirnie’s review proved to be futile as ball-tracking confirmed that the ball would have hit the middle of leg. Campher came in at No. 3 after that early blow and had a big role to play in how the day panned out.

More luck was due for Ireland except that they couldn’t capitalise. Peter Moor, Ireland’s other opening batter, was playing only his second Test for his adopted country. He had managed only 10 and 11 in his first, and when on 10 in the sixth over, he was cleaned up by Naveed by one that came back in sharply from outside off. But halfway to the pavilion, he was called back because Naveed’s front foot had crossed the line.

And off the final legal delivery of the sixth over, Moor – still on 10 – was ruled out lbw but he used the DRS to reverse the decision. But he couldn’t make it count as he chopped Naveen on to his stumps for 12 in the tenth over.

That is when Campher and Tector joined hands. Runs came at a steady pace for Ireland, with Campher leading the way. He hit 25 off his first 17 balls, including five boundaries. Tector was calmer at the other end, ticking off singles.

But in a late twist to the day, left-arm spinner Zia got Campher to nick behind to Gurbaz for 49. Two overs later, nightwatcher and the third of Ireland’s first-timers, Theo van Woerkom, was bowled for 1 with what was a classical delivery that drifted in and turned away.

However, Tector and Paul Stirling took Ireland to the end of the day without further damage.

Brief scores:
Afghanistan 155 in 54.5 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 53, Hashmatullah Shahidi 20, Karim Janat 41*; Mark Adair 5-39, Craig Young 2-31, Curtis Campher 2-13) lead Ireland 100/4 in 31 overs (Curtis Campher 49, Harry Tector 32*, Naveen Zadran 2-32, Zia-ur-Rehman 2-13) by 55 runs

(Cricinfo)

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Sports

Wellalage thrives after being thrown into the deep end

Published

20 hours ago

2026/02/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dunith Wellalage.

In a campaign where Sri Lanka have been forced to reshuffle their deck more often than they would have liked, Dunith Wellalage has found himself tossed the new ball during the Power Play and the young all-rounder has swum rather than sunk.

With Matheesha Pathirana, Wanindu Hasaranga and Eshan Malinga all ruled out by injury during the 20-nation showpiece, the former champions have had to plug gaps on the run. Wellalage, who may well have been watching from the sidelines had the cupboard been full, has instead been handed a front-row seat and he has made it count.

“It was a challenge bowling during the Power Plays and the key was for me to deny the batsmen boundaries,” Wellalage told reporters on the eve of Sri Lanka’s crunch Super Eight clash against New Zealand at the R. Premadasa Stadium. “I had to be clever with my lengths and when I did that the batters had to take a few chances. I relished the new challenge.”

Called upon to operate inside the first six overs against England when field restrictions were on, a phase usually reserved for the more experienced bowlers, the left-arm spinner rolled his arm over with maturity beyond his 23 years. He finished with three wickets, varying his pace and length like a seasoned campaigner.

With seven scalps from five outings, Wellalage is Sri Lanka’s second highest wicket-taker in the tournament behind Maheesh Theekshana’s eight. Not bad for a man who began the competition as a supporting act.

But it is not just with the ball that the former Under-19 captain has been asked to come forward. Sri Lanka’s think tank has nudged him up the batting order, promoting him from his usual berth at seven or eight, a move that has drawn praise from Batting Coach Vikram Rathour.

“I usually bat at number seven or eight, but I have been told to be ready to go up at number five if the situation arises,” Wellalage explained. “My role is to get some quick runs. The coaches have been very supportive and I enjoy the challenge.”

It is a role that demands clear thinking and brave stroke-play, the art of finding gaps rather than swinging blindly for the ropes. In a side that has at times been guilty of losing wickets in clusters, Wellalage’s calm head has offered stability.

Wednesday’s contest in Colombo is a must-win for Sri Lanka, who were handed a sobering 51-run defeat by England in their Super Eight opener. Another slip and the equation becomes steep; win, and the semi-final dream remains alive.

“We have got to now win both these games,” Wellalage said. “We have played New Zealand a lot in recent years and we know that we can beat them in these conditions. We are still in with a chance to make it to the semis and winning tomorrow will be important.”

Sri Lanka’s struggles in global tournaments since lifting the T20 crown in 2014 have been well documented. They have had to navigate qualifying routes and even missed out on the 2024 Champions Trophy, the first Men’s ICC event they failed to feature in since making their World Cup debut in 1975.

Yet Wellalage believes the tide is slowly turning.

“We know how important a home World Cup is. The fans have turned up in numbers and we have always believed that we can make it to the semi-finals,” he said. “The last two games haven’t gone to our plan but we are looking forward to the must-win clash tomorrow.”

Sri Lanka boast a healthy record at the RPS, where the surface often demands application over audacity. It is not a venue for reckless slogging but for bowlers who hit their straps and batters willing to graft before they unfurl.

“We have a good record at this ground and our winning percentage here has been good. All players are looking forward to doing well tomorrow,” Wellalage added.

by Rex Clementine

Sports

Afghanistan to host Sri Lanka for white-ball series in March in the UAE

Published

20 hours ago

2026/02/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

The two teams haven't met in internationals since the Asia Cup in September last year

Afghanistan will host Sri Lanka for the first time in March for a multi-format white-ball series, with three ODIs and three T20Is to be played in the UAE from March 13 to 25.

The T20I leg of the tour will be played in Sharjah on March 13, 15 and 17. The ODI leg will be played in Dubai on March 20, 22 and 25.

The T20I series will start just five days after the T20 World Cup ends on March 8. The ODI series will end just one day before both the IPL and PSL get underway on March 26. Players from both countries – Dasun Shanaka, Rashid Khan, Kusal Perera and Noor Ahmad, among others – are in various squads across the two franchise competitions.

This will be only the second bilateral T20I series between the two teams. The first time was in February 2024.

In ODIs, this will be the fourth bilateral series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka after previous meetings in 2022, 2023 and 2024. (Cricinfo)

Sports

Thomians collapse after second wicket stand

Published

20 hours ago

2026/02/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

Kanilka Anthony (5/66) and Dinal Fernando bowled the bulk of the overs and shared eight wickets between them as Trinity restricted S. Thomas’ to 189 runs on day one of the Ranil Abeynayake Memorial Trophy cricket encounter at the BRC ground on Tuesday.

‎Trinity are the hosts of this match which is also a Division I Tier ‘A’ tournament encounter.

‎With the Anthony-Fernando pair threatening to bundle out the visitors for a low score, number nine batsman Shanil Perera dropped anchor with an unbeaten 37 for them to post their eventual total.

‎In reply,Trinity were 54 for one wicket at close.

‎Batting first Jayden Amaraweera and Aaron Kodithuwakku put on a stand of 85 runs for the second wicket but rest of the batsmen failed to capitalize on the patiently put on base.

‎The Thomians got off to a bad start after open bat Yevan Gunathilake was out for five runs with just eight runs on the board . But there were no further wickets in the morning as the second wicket pair batted for 35 overs together.

‎Amaraweera made 50 in 115 balls and Aaron’s 72 came in 181 balls.

‎Scores:

‎S. Thomas’ 189 all out in 77.4 overs

‎(Aaron Kodituwakku 72, Jaden Amaraweera 50, Shanil Perera 37n.o.,

‎Kanika Anthony 5/66, Dinal Fernando 3/34)

‎Trinity 54 for 1 in 16 overs

(Pulisha Thilakarathne 25n.o.) (RF)