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Broad signs off in style as England level series
Head joined Smith at the crease after Australia lost quick wickets and slipped to 169/3. Head struggled initially, beaten outside off multiple times, before getting into the thick of action with regular boundaries. Smith also found the fence from time to time, as they extended their partnership past 50 and brought the target below 150. In some late drama in the final over before Lunch, Moeen Ali got Smith to glove one to leg-slip where Ben Stokes timed his jump well to hold on to the ball but in his attempt to throw it, he hit his right knee and the ball popped out.
Woakes found movement straightaway in the final session and went past Smith’s outside edge on a couple of occasions while Moeen was getting sharp turn. Woakes also tested the outside edge of Head’s bat but the left-hander struck the first four of the session, playing one past mid-on. But Moeen and Woakes changed the tone of the match completely in just a few overs. Moeen lured Head into a drive, getting him to edge to slip while Smith fell after reaching fifty, squared up by Woakes to edge to slip. Moeen and Woakes then accounted for Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc as Australia, who were going strong at 264/3, slipped to 275/7.
Alex Carey and Pat Cummins tried to resurrect the chase, with the two batters striking a boundary apiece. But Cummins fell in his attempt to pull a short ball from Moeen, handing the spinner his third wicket. Broad was brought back into the attack in what was his final spell and bowled in tandem with Moeen. But the England bowlers encountered resistance from Carey and Todd Murphy who put on a well-paced partnership to keep Australia interested and England frustrated. Carey also struck a six off Moeen coming down the track while Murphy pulled a Broad delivery for a four. But Broad ended England’s wait by getting Murphy to edge to the ‘keeper and nearly had Carey too if not for Crawley putting down the catch. The dream finish came soon enough as Broad had Carey caught behind to secure himself a winning farewell and a 2-2 finish to the Ashes.
Earlier, With overcast conditions welcoming the teams at The Oval on the final day, and a changed ball which had a lot more shine, there was assistance for the bowlers as Broad and Woakes tested the Australian openers. Woakes eventually made the breakthrough, getting David Warner (60) to edge behind. England lost a review when Broad went up for a leg-before shout against Marnus Labuschagne. But a short while later, Usman Khawaja burnt a review after being trapped in front by an incoming delivery from Woakes as he went back to the hut after a well-made 72. Labuschagne came out with a lot more intent compared to his first innings effort. But his promising stand with Smith was ended by Mark Wood who went wide of the crease to find the edge.
Australia, who retained the Ashes after the drawn fourth Test, asked England to bat first and had them in early trouble. But Harry Brook’s counter-attacking 85 and useful runs from Woakes and Wood helped the hosts post 283 in their first innings in less than 55 overs. Australia nearly batted double the number of overs to score 295, with Smith scoring 71 in their first essay. Joe Root (91), Jonny Bairstow (78) and Zak Crawley (73) led England’s charge in the second innings as they took only 81.5 overs to score 395. Australia replied with a century opening stand before Woakes and Moeen ran through their batting order, and Broad had his final dance to bring a fitting end to an evenly-contested Ashes.
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Landslide RED warnings continue to be in force for the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
The RED Landslide Early Warnings issued by the Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organization [NBRO] to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya have been extended until 1600hrs today [06th December 2025]. Landslide Early warnings have also been issued to the districts of Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, Monaragala and Ratnapura,
Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Gangawata Korale, Deltota, Doluwa, Thumpane, Medadumbara, Minipe, Pathahewaheta, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Akurana, Udunuwara, Panvila, Pathadumbara, Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Poojapitiya, Harispattuwa and Udapalatha in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Mawanella, Rambukkana, Dehiowita, Warakapola, Deraniyagala, Bulathkohupitiya, Ruwanwella, Yatiyanthota and Aranayaka in the Kegalle district, Narammala, Mawathagama, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Rideegama and Polgahawela in the Kurunegala district, Rattota, Wilgamuwa, Ukuwela, Pallepola, Matale, Laggala Pallegama, Yatawatta, Naula and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district, and Nildandahinna, Walapane, Hanguranketha and Mathurata in the Nuwara Eliya district.
LEVEL II AMBER warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Passara and Haldummulla in the Badulla district, Nuwara Eliya, Ambagamuwa Korale, Thalawakele, Norwood, Kothmale West and Kothmale East in the Nuwara Eliya district, and Kahawaththa, Godakawela and Kolonna in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka and Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Elpitiya and Yakkalamulla in the Galle district, Mirigama, Attanagalla and Divulapitiya in the Gampaha district, Bulathsinhala, Ingiriya and Horana in the Kalutara district, Athuraliya and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Bibile and Medagama in the Monaragala district, and Kiriella, Nivithigala, Eheliyagoda, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Pelmadulla, Elapatha, Balangoda, Openayake, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Ratnapura and Kaltota in the Ratnapura district.
Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman has been fined 10% of his match fee and docked one demerit point after he was found guilty of breaching level 1 of the ICC code of conduct during the tri series final against Sri Lanka on November 29.
Fakhar was found to have breached article 2.8 of the code of conduct, which relates to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match.” He admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by the match referee, so there was no need for a formal hearing, said an ICC release.
The incident occurred in the 19th over of the final when Fakhar back-peddled from short-third, dived and seemed to have taken a stunning catch off Dasun Shanaka’s leading edge. The third umpire was called to check for the catch, and he deemed that the ball brushed the ground when Fakhar dived, and ruled it not out. Both Fakhar and the bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi weren’t happy with the decision and made it known to the on-field umpires.
The very next ball, Shanaka swiped across the line and was clean bowled. Fakhar looked at the umpire and sarcastically appealed for the decision. Pakistan eventually won the final by six wickets as batting first, Sri Lanka collapsed in a heap, losing 9 for 30 to be bowled out for 114. Babar Azam shepherded the chase with an unbeaten 37, taking Pakistan over the line in 18.4 overs.
This was Fakhar’s first offence in a 24-month period. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.
[Cricinfo]
The situation report issued by the Disaster Management Centre at 1800hrs today (5th December) confirms that 607 persons have died due to the adverse weather conditions while the number of missing persons has reduced to 214.
The number of persons affected topped the 2 million mark (2,082,195).
Landslide RED warnings continue to be in force for the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
Fakhar Zaman fined 10% of match fee for showing dissent at umpire’s decision
Showers will occur in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern,Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-western and Uva provinces and in Matale district
IMF pledges additional aid to Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah destruction
Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir takes oath as SJB National List MP
Govt. to roll out loan facilities for new entrepreneurs from next month
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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