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Asalanka ton powers Sri Lanka to 279

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This was Asalanka's second century in ODIs

Charith Asalanka’s second ODI hundred saw off regular strikes from Bangladesh to take Sri Lanka to 279 in the World Cup match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday (November 6). In an eventful innings played in the midst of severe pollution in Delhi, Angelo Mathews became the first player to be ‘timed out’ in international cricket.

Bangladesh hit the right notes from the get go when wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim completed a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss the returning Kusal Perera in the first over. Shoriful Islam’s next over though wasn’t so successful though, with Pathum Nissanka hitting three boundaries and setting the base for his steady 61-run stand with Kusal Mendis.

Both batters however fell in quick succession. Mendis, who struggled for timing and took 14 balls to get off the mark, hit a six, his first in his last six innings after a whirlwind start to the tournament, before holing out to long-on. It took Shakib Al Hasan all of three balls on the day to pick his first wicket. Pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib then followed up in the next over and had Nissanka bowled for 41 off 36 balls, giving Bangladesh some control back.

That led Sri Lanka to another period of recovery through a 63-run stand for the fourth wicket between Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka. Samarawickrama scored at run a ball, hitting four boundaries, before falling prey to Shakib’s flight again and holing out to deep midwicket. But what happened thereafter divided opinions.

In the 25th over, Mathews was readying to take strike when his helmet strap broke. He gestured to the dugout for a new helmet but didn’t consult with Shakib Al Hasan, the opposition captain, who went on to successfully appeal for “timed out” to onfield umpires.

In the meantime, Asalanka got to his fifty off 56 balls, keeping the scoreboard ticking amidst fall of wickets at the other end. His 78-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva helped Sri Lanka get their bearing back even as Mathews led intense discussions in the dugout about his dismissal.

De Silva, scored 34 off 36 but failed to get to the pitch of a delivery after stepping out and was stumped off Mehidy Hasan’s bowling. Asalanka thereafter continued to pick the odd boundary and got to his hundred off 101 balls in the 48th over. It was the ninth hundred scored at the venue, the most in this World Cup.

Maheesh Theekshana added 22 important runs but once Asalanka was caught in the deep off Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Sri Lanka went on to lose their last three wickets for 1 run and were bowled out with three balls remaining in the innings.

Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka
279 in 49.3 overs (Charith Asalanka 108, Pathum Nissanka 41, Sadeera Samarawickreme 41, Dhananjaya de Silva 34, Maheesh Theekshana 22; Tanzim Hasan Sakib 3-80, Shoriful Islam 2-52, Shakib Al Hasan 2-57) vs Bangladesh



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Landslide RED warnings issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya extended up to 1600 hrs today [07]

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The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued  landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Matara, Monaragala, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura effective from 16:00 hrs on 06.12.2025 to 16:00 hrs on 07.12.2025.

Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED  warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pathadumbara, Kundasale, Pathahewaheta, Panvila, Medadumbara, Doluwa, Thumpane, Udunuwara, Deltota, Ganga Ihala Korale, Pasbage Korale, Yatinuwara, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Minipe, Udapalatha, Gangawata Korale, Akurana, Poojapitiya and Harispattuwa in the Kandy district, Thumpane, Udunuwara, Deltota, Ganga Ihala Korale, Pasbage Korale, Yatinuwara, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Minipe, Udapalatha, Gangawata Korale, Akurana, Poojapitiya and Harispattuwa in the Kegalle district, Alawwa, Rideegama, Polgahawela, Mallawapitiya and Mawathagama inthe Kurunegala district, Ukuwela, Naula, Yatawatta, Laggala Pallegama, Pallepola, Matale, Rattota, Ambanganga Korale and Wilgamuwa in the Matale district, and Hanguranketha, Mathurata, Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya district

LEVEL II AMBER warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Ella, Welimada, Haputhale, Lunugala, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale West, Norwood, Ambagamuwa Korale, Thalawakele, Kothmale East and Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Godakawela, Kahawaththa and Kolonna  in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I YELLOW warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of  Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colonbo district, Elpitiya and Yakkalamulla in the Galle district, Mirigama, Divulapitiya and Attanagalla  in the Gampaha district, Ingiriya, Bulathsinhala and Horana in the Kalutara district, Pasgoda and Athuraliya in the Matara district, Bibile and Medagama in the Monaragala district, and Kuruwita, Balangoda, Eheliyagoda, Pelmadulla, Kaltota, Kalawana, Openayake, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Elapatha, Ratnapura and Kiriella in the Ratnapura district.

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618 dead, 209 missing as at 2000hrs on Saturday [06]

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The Situation Report issued by the Disaster Management Center [DMC] at 2000hrs on Saturday [06] confirms that 607 persons have died due to the recent flooding and landslides while another 209 persons were missing.

The death toll in the Kandy district which one of the most affected districts has risen to 232, and 1800 houses have  been fully damaged.The number of missing persons reported is 81

100,124 persons belonging to 29,874 families were being housed at  990 safety centers established by the government.

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Deadly border fighting breaks out between Pakistan and Afghanistan

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Fighting broke out close to the Afghan border city of Spin Boldak, which has seen deadly clashes in recent months (pictured October 2025) [BBC]

Border clashes have erupted again between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban forces, with each sides accusing the other of breaking a fragile ceasefire.

Residents fled the Afghan city of Spin Boldak overnight, which lies along the 1,600-mile (2,600 km) border between the two countries.

A medical worker in the nearby city of Kandahar told BBC Pashto that four bodies had been brought to a local hospital. Four other people were wounded. Three were reportedly wounded in Pakistan.

There has been sporadic fighting between the two countries in recent months, while Afghanistan’s Taliban government has also accused Pakistan of carrying out air strikes inside the country.

Both sides have confirmed they exchanged fire overnight but each blamed the other for initiating the four hours of fighting.

Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accused the Taliban of “unprovoked firing”.

The statement continued: “An immediate, befitting & intense response has been given by our armed forces. Pakistan remains fully alert & committed to ensuring its territorial integrity & the safety our citizens.”

Meanwhile, a Taliban spokesperson said Pakistan had “once again initiated attacks” and said it was “forced to respond”.

Residents on the Afghan side of the border said the exchange of fire started at around 22:30 (18:00 GMT) on Friday.

Footage from the area showed a large number of Afghans fleeing on foot and in vehicles.

Ali Mohammed Haqmal, head of Kandahar’s information department, said Pakistan’s forces had attacked with “light and heavy artillery” and civilian homes had been hit by mortar fire.

The latest clashes came less than two months after both sides agreed to a ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Turkey.

It ended more than a week of fighting in which dozens were killed – the worst clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban since the group returned to power in 2021 – though tensions have remained high.

The government in Islamabad has long accused Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban of giving shelter to armed groups which carry out attacks in Pakistan.

The Taliban government denies the accusation and has accused Pakistan of blaming others for their “own security failures”.

The Pakistan Taliban have carried out at least 600 attacks on Pakistani forces over the past year, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.

Last week delegations from both sides met in Saudi Arabia for a fourth round of negotiations on a wider peace settlement, but did not reach an agreement.

Sources familiar with the talks told BBC News that both sides had agreed to continue with the ceasefire.

[BBC]

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