Sports

All-round Kapp and Dercksen headline South Africa’s confident win

Published

1 year ago

2024/12/5

Priyan

Marizanne Kapp struck three times with the ball [Cricinfo]

Allrounders Marizanne Kapp and Annerie Dercksen were at the fore as South Africa kickstarted the women’s ODI series against England with a six-wicket win in Kimberley. The duo shared six wickets between them as England were bowled out for 186. South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt then anchored the chase with an unbeaten 59, again aided by valuable cameos from Kapp, Dercksen and Nadine de Klerk as South Africa went 1-0 up with 70 balls to spare in the three-match series.

Refreshed after being rested from the preceding T20I series, Kapp picked up three wickets inside her first four overs reducing England to 29 for 3. That soon became 77 for 5 and eventually 106 for 7 in the 26th over. But a counterattacking eighth-wicket partnership of 67 off 64 between Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone helped England to a respectable total.

It seemed as if South Africa would make easy work of the chase when Tazmin Brits hit three fours in a Lauren Filer over. But she was given out lbw when a length ball from Lauren Bell hit her on the thigh pad after her missed attempt at a sweep-pull. She wanted to review the call but Hawk-Eye was down and she couldn’t use the DRS. However, South Africa found the going easier against Bell and Filer, especially when they pitched the ball on the fuller lengths. They had raced to 38 for 1 after six overs when spin was brought on.

Dean applied the brakes on scoring and trapped Sune Luus lbw, who was also unable to review the decision with DRS down, and walked back visibly upset. At that stage, with the up-and-down bounce exaggerated by the use of the heavy roller, the target felt distant.

But Dercksen eased the nerves by hitting three fours in her first eight balls. She helped South Africa take back the control England exerted through Dean and Nat Sciver-Brunt and allowed Wolvaardt to play the waiting game. Dercksen and Wolvaardt added 54 for the third wicket before the former fell pulling a short ball from Filer straight to deep square leg, where Tammy Beaumont took a well-judged catch.

That is when Kapp stamped her mark with the bat, scoring a run-a-ball 22 with three fours and a six. She first sliced Ecclestone past backward point before hitting Filer for a four and six to help South Africa march towards the target. At the other end, Wolvaardt completed her half-century off 92 balls. Kapp fell with South Africa 51 away but Wolvaardt and de Klerk [48 not out off 28 balls] completed the formality with the latter hitting 11 fours, the most by any batter in the contest. On the way, South Africa managed to keep Ecclestone wicketless for a ten-over spell in an ODI for the first time since March 2022.

England were dealt an early blow with Maia Bouchier being ruled out after spraining her neck while batting in the nets. As a result, Sophia Dunkley partnered with Beaumont at the top after they opted to bat. Beaumont edged Kapp first ball she faced but wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta couldn’t hang on. Kapp, and Jafta, did not have to wait long for success though as Dunkley tickled one to Jafta on the final ball of the first over.

Kapp continued to probe with the new ball and, along with Ayabonga Khaka, managed to string together a row of 11 dots before Beaumont decided to change gears. She charged Khaka to flick her over midwicket and went past Claire Taylor to become England’s second-highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs, and enter the list of top ten run-getters in the format. But her joy was short-lived, when, in the following over, she charged down to Kapp but was beaten on the inside to be bowled. Danni Wyatt-Hodge continued from where she left off in the T20Is and smacked a couple of balls before she was trapped in front by de Klerk.

Amy Jones then helped England recover briefly as spin came into play. But Dercksen, in just her second ODI preferred here ahead of the more experienced Anneke Bosch, struck soon enough, getting Jones to miscue a pull towards deep backward square leg where Chloe Tryon pulled off a stunning diving catch. Nonkululeko Mlaba, who had an injury scare after twisting her ankle early in the match, then trapped Alice Capsey lbw.

Heather Knight took her time and looked to get the measure of the surface. She hit five fours in her innings, often using her feet even against the seamers. But her attempted paddle against Mlaba proved to be her downfall.

At that stage, England looked to be folding cheaply, but Dean and Ecclestone combined for England’s third-best partnership for the eighth wicket in ODIs. It was only when de Klerk pulled off a fine leaping catch at backward point after Ecclestone mistimed a cut off a slow short ball from Dercksen that the partnership ended.

That effort was not enough to prevent a first loss on the tour for England, who were playing an international game for the first time at the Kimberley Oval.

Brief scores:
South Africa Women 189 for 4 in 38.2 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 59*, Nadine de Klerk 48*) beat England Women 186 in 38.4 overs (Charlie Dean 47*, Heather Knight 40; Annerie Dercksen 3-16, Marizanne Kapp 3-24, Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-47) by six wickets

[Cicinfo]

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Sports

Wellalage thrives after being thrown into the deep end

Published

19 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

19 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

19 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)