Sports
Afghanistan shock Australia to keep semi-final hopes alive
Afghanistan shocked Australia to keep their T20 World Cup hopes alive with a historic 21-run win in St Vincent.Needing a victory to avoid elimination, Afghanistan posted 148-6 on a challenging surface on the back of a superb opening stand of 118 between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran.
They quickly reduced Australia to 32-3 in the chase before Glenn Maxwell’s 35-ball half-century recovered the situation for the 2021 champions.But just when Australia seemed to have the advantage, Gulbadin Naib removed Marcus Stoinis and Tim David before taking the prize wicket of Maxwell.
From there, Australia collapsed from 106-6 to 113-9 and Afghanistan sealed the win – their first over Australia in any form of cricket – in the final over.
“We’ve been waiting for a long time, it’s a great moment for me, my nation, my people,” said player of the match Gulbadin.
Pat Cummins had earlier taken his second hat-trick in as many games – the first player to achieve the feat in T20 internationals – but despite Australia’s fightback with the ball, Afghanistan’s total proved to be beyond them.
Rashid Khan’s side are now firmly back in contention to reach the semi-finals and face Bangladesh in their last Super 8s game on Tuesday.
“It’s a massive win for us as a team and as a nation,” added Rashid. “In a World Cup, to beat champions [Australia are 50-over world champions] is a great feeling and it is something we have missed.
“It’s just the beginning for us and we have every chance of making the semis.”
Meanwhile, Australia take on India in St Lucia on Monday. and will likely need to win to progress to the last four.
History for Afghanistan
A win for Australia would have taken them and India safely through to the semis with a game to spare.Instead, the group has been brought to life thanks to a memorable Afghanistan win.
“It’s so important for us and back home. People in Afghanistan are badly missing this win and I’m sure they are proud of us,” said Rashid.
The first moment of intrigue came at the toss when Australia opted to bowl first at a ground where chasing has historically been difficult.
However, it quickly became apparent that batting was not going to be simple on a bouncy pitch offering movement for seamers and spinners alike.
“We were outplayed tonight,” Marsh said. “I don’t think it was won or lost at the toss, I was more than happy to bowl first.”
Afghanistan’s openers battled through some tricky opening overs before accelerating towards the end of the powerplay.
Gurbaz and Zadran picked their moments to attack superbly as the innings progressed but, with boundaries not always easy to come by, it was their tireless running between the wickets that really kept the momentum going.
Afghanistan, who are coached by former England batter Jonathan Trott, faltered once the partnership was broken with Cummins nipping in to claim his own landmark late in the innings but the openers had done more than enough to give their side a chance.They got the ideal start in the second innings, too, as Naveen-ul-Haq bowled Travis Head with a beauty third ball and then got rid of Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh with a slower ball.
by Rex Clementine
India are closing in on a big win at SSC after Sri Lanka slumped to 229 for six at stumps on day four of the second Test having been forced to follow on yesterday.
Sri Lanka lead by just 16 runs with four wickets in hand and with three sessions remaining, the tourists will be looking to wrap up victory and complete a 2-0 series sweep. India won the first Test in Galle by 165 runs.
Sonal Dinusha, who batted superbly for a hundred in the first innings, was unbeaten on seven when rain brought play to a premature end. With Sri Lanka now into the tail, Dinusha has his work cut out. He has been the hosts’ standout performer in the series, having also made 100 and 84 in Galle.
Sri Lanka resumed the day on 265 for eight, still needing 39 runs to avoid the follow on, but were bowled out for 290 and asked to bat again.
Although they lost both openers early, Kamindu Mendis and Pasindu Sooriyabandara gave Sri Lanka hope with a 115 run stand for the third wicket.
Sooriyabandara, who had made 80 in the first innings, once again played spin superbly, using clever footwork, while Mendis took on the fast bowlers.
But India had plenty of runs on the board and persisted with the short ball against Mendis, stationing three fielders on the boundary. Eventually, the plan paid off. Mendis took on Mohammed Siraj and perished for 55, with captain Shubman Gill running in from square leg to complete a fine catch.
That was the breakthrough India desperately wanted and the spinners quickly turned the screws. Three wickets fell for just nine runs as Sri Lanka surrendered the initiative and India regained control.
Sooriyabandara missed out on a well deserved hundred when he charged Manav Suthar. The left-arm spinner cleverly fired the ball wide, leaving the batter stranded as Rishabh Pant whipped off the bails in a flash. Sooriyabandara’s 92 came off 173 balls and contained ten fours and a six.
Having spent considerable time in the field, India’s bowlers were beginning to tire, evident from the number of loose deliveries they sent down. But Sri Lanka’s batters lacked the patience to drive home the advantage, with several throwing away their wickets just when the hosts appeared to be clawing their way back into the contest.
Sri Lanka Air Force emerged Overall Champions in both the Men’s and Women’s categories at the 14th Defence Services Badminton Championship concluded successfully on 21 August 2026 at the Sri Lanka Army Indoor Sports Complex, Panagoda.
The SLAF Men’s Team secured the Open Men’s Doubles and Men’s Team Championships, while the Women’s Team excelled by winning the Open Women’s Singles, Open Women’s Doubles and Women’s Team Championships.
In the Open Men’s Doubles, Leading Aircraftman Lochana De Silva and Aircraftman Achintha Imeshaqe secured the championship, while Aircraftwoman Praveena Wijesundara and Aircraftwoman Anurangi Masakorala claimed the Open Women’s Doubles title with Aircraftwoman Praveena Wijesundara winning the Open Women’s Singles Championship.
Major General Mohan Premaratne, President of the Sri Lanka Army Badminton Federation, was the Chief Guest at the awards ceremony while SLAF’s Director Sports Air Commodore Prabath Dissanayake, former Chairman Badminton Sri Lanka Air Force Air Commodore Poojana Gunathilake, Secretary Air Force Sports Council Group Captain Eranda Geeganage and Secretary Badminton Sri Lanka Air Force Wing Commander Thushara Wijeratne. were also present.
Malki Madara and Shashini Fernando shared nine wickets between them to help Sri Lanka Air Force Women beat Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women by 169 runs and propel their team to the semi finals of the Major Club Womens Limited Over cricket tournament conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket.
In the game played at their home ground in Katunayake on Monday [24], Sri Lanka Air Force posted 276 runs for the loss of eight wickets with Ashani Kaushalya topping the score card with 57 runs off 81 balls with ten hits to the ropes.Sasini Alwis and Wethumya Wijesuriya captured three wickets each.
Chasing 277 to win Shashini Fernando captured five wickets while Malki Madara captured four wickets to restrict the Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women to 107. Skipper Sanduni Nisansala scored 38 off 61 balls with four boundaries and a six.
Sri Lankan Air Force Women will meet Panadura Sports Club Women for the semi-final at the LRDC ground on Friday (28)
Scores:
Sri Lanka Air Force Women 276/8 in 50 overs [Ashani Kawshalya 57, Malsha Shehani 32, Savindi Cooray 34*; Sasini Alwis 2-48, Wethumya Wijesuriya 2-67]
Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women 107/10 in 43.5 overs [Sanduni Nisansala 38; Malki Madara 4-14, Shashini Fernando 5-09]
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