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Carey, Marsh and Cummins lead thrilling chase of 279
Alex Carey scored an unbeaten 98 and shared a 140-run stand with Mitchell Marsh (80) – the highest sixth-wicket partnership in a fourth-innings against New Zealand – as Australia chased down 279 to complete a 2-0 series sweep and extend their dominance over Tasman neighbours New Zealand in the format, a lopsided record that now reads just 1 win for the Black Caps in the last 31 years.
Australia went into the final day of the series, four down, on the edge and confronting a rare possibility of losing only a second Test match to their Tasman neighbours in three decades. They had slipped to 34/4 on the third evening and victory was a further 202 runs away at the start of the day’s play. They were made to wait as portentous rain washed away the first hour of the morning session. But soon enough the sun was shining on them, literally and metaphorically.
Mitchell Marsh was going to be their big ray of hope having counter-attacked his way to a run-a-ball 29 last night. This morning, he was the beneficiary of some Black Caps benevolence as his fierce cut shot in the second over of the day was put down by Rachin Ravindra at point off the bowling of Tim Southee. His overnight batting partner, Travis Head, wasn’t as lucky as a similar shot two balls later led to his downfall.
That early dismissal brought Carey to the middle. Under pressure to keep his place in the side with Josh Inglis pushing him, the keeper-bat began solidly, driving Southee down the ground and punching Matt Henry past backward point for boundaries. It was a feature of Australia’s chase that despite the pressure they were subjected to, they maintained a scoring rate in excess of 4 (4.32 at the end).
Carey endured a heart-in-mouth moment when he was ruled out LBW to a nip-backer from Henry but DRS projected the ball to be sliding down leg. Another close shave arrived when he had moved to 37. Scott Kuggeleijn appealed for a caught-behind and got his captain to use a review, which eventually came to nothing. Between those two moments, Carey and Marsh were largely untroubled and Southee’s attempts to rotate his four seamers and Glenn Phillips could not put a lid on the scoring. Marsh got to his half-century with a fierce pull shot and three overs later Carey got a 50 of his own with a pair of boundaries off Ben Sears. By Lunch, the pair had put on 94 and victory was only 105 runs away.
The 43-over-old ball was significantly easier to contend with and the start of the second session’s play saw runs arrive in a glut. Marsh cut Southee for a pair of boundaries, forcing the captain to turn to his pace ace for a breakthrough. As it turned out, Matt Henry’s first over back cost New Zealand 16 runs with Carey tickling a legside delivery for four before Marsh unveiled one of his patented pulls over deep square-leg for a six.
With the target down to 59, Southee summoned Ben Sears into the attack and New Zealand’s fading hopes were reignited once more by the debutant speedster. With his second delivery, he broke the partnership with a pacy, full ball that Marsh missed while attempting a flick. The very next ball, Mitchell Starc chipped a simple catch down mid-wicket’s throat to leave Australia seven down.
Just like that, the clouds rolled in, the flood lights were turned on and the Hagley Oval crowd found its voice. But in Cummins, Australia had a No.9 with proven pedigree in such nip and tuck situations. Only last year, in the Edgbaston Ashes Test, the Australian skipper had seen his side over the line in a similarly tense chase. That chase in Birmingham was Australia’s first successful chase of 279 or more in over 12 years. And Cummins brought all his experience to the fore once he survived the hat-trick ball, which he edged just past second slip for four.
Carey continued to play his shots, a lap off Sears and a pair of swept boundaries off Phillips took Australia close. He was left two short of a century with Australia needing an identical number of runs when the strike turned over. Cummins punched the ball square off the wicket for a boundary to polish off an excellent chase.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 162 and 372 lost to Australia 256 and 281/7 (Alex Carey 98*, Mitchell Marsh 80, Pat Cummins 32*; Ben Sears 4-90) by three wickets.
The National New Paddy Harvesting Festival (Aluth Sahal Mangalya), a traditional annual ceremony of offering the first portion of the freshly harvested Maha season paddy to the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi, was held this morning (04) under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Disanayake at the historic Sri Maha Bodhi premises in Anuradhapura.
The ceremony was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Services under the theme “In unison, let us cultivate the land, to build a self-sufficient nation” (අහරින් ස්වයංපෝෂිත දැයක් තනන්නට එක මිටට ගොවි බිමට), following the guidance of the Atamasthanadhipathi, the most Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera.
This ritual, which dates back to the era of ancient monarchs, saw the participation of farmers from across the country. In accordance with tradition, they prayed for timely rains and fertile fields and invoked blessings for a self-sufficient and prosperous economy through agriculture.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake first paid homage and received blessings from the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi before joining the ceremonial proceedings.
The sacred procession, which carried the newly harvested paddy from near the historic Sinha Kanuwa in Anuradhapura, arrived at the sandy courtyard (වැලි මලුව) of the Sri Maha Bodhi, marking the ceremonial commencement of the New Paddy Harvest Festival.
The Most Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera commenced the ritual by filling the golden bowl with the new paddy, after which representatives from all provinces added paddy from their respective regions, symbolically filling the golden bowl.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake also participated in this ritualistic moment, amidst the chanting of Pirith by the Maha Sangha.
A vessel of pure bee honey, traditionally offered to the Sri Maha Bodhi, was ceremonially presented to the President by Deputy Leader of the Vedda Community U.W. Bandiyala Eththo.
The vessel of ghee, brought from the historic Saman Devalaya in Sabaragamuwa, was also presented to President Anura Kumara Disanayake, to be used in the customary ghee offering at the Sri Maha Bodhi.
The President also received the commemorative plaque of the National New Paddy Harvest Festival and presented tokens of appreciation to farmer leaders who have made significant contributions to the development of the country’s agriculture sector.
As part of the initiative to secure a pest-free harvest, the President participated in the distribution of pest-resistant seed paddy to farming communities across the provinces.
Addressing the subsequent official ceremony, President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that the current government is working to transform an economy that was in disarray. He noted that the Paddy Marketing Board is burdened with a debt of Rs. 28 billion, while harvested paddy is being left to spoil in storage.
The President emphasized that the current administration has accepted the responsibility of restoring and restructuring this disorderly system. He added that the government expects the support not only of the state machinery related to agriculture but also of all farming communities. He affirmed the intention to integrate Sri Lanka’s cultural and traditional systems to reclaim the legacy of the agricultural economy and thereby strengthen the national economy.
President Disanayake further stated that the country’s ancient kings achieved greatness through their contributions to agriculture and irrigation and that self-sufficiency in food was a critical factor in that success.
He highlighted that sustainable development has become a global discourse today and that Sri Lanka’s “Tank Cascade System” or “Vapi System,” stands as a remarkable example of sustainable development. The country’s irrigation system, which dates back nearly 2,000 years, continues to contribute to the advancement of agriculture even today.
As such, the government has allocated Rs. 2 billion in the current budget to rehabilitate the irrigation system and renovation work on the North Central Maha Ela Project has already commenced to revitalize the country’s agricultural industry. He added that the government also plans to develop seed farms to produce self-sufficient seeds, while protecting genetic ownership.
He further emphasized the need for fair prices for agricultural produce, both for farmers and consumers. Due to long-standing market distortions, the government will intervene over the next two to three harvesting seasons to ensure both parties receive fair prices.
The President also stated that the necessary provisions for such state interventions have been made in the current budget. Steps have been taken to create storage capacity to hold 300,000 metric tons of paddy, which is expected to mitigate market distortions going forward.
Among those present at the occasion were the Chief Incumbent of the Ruwanweliseya and Chancellor of the Rajarata University, Most Venerable Ithalawetunuwewe Gnanatillake Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Lankaramaya, Most Venerable Ralapanawa Dhammajothi Thera and members of the clergy; Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha; Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe; Governor of the North Central Province Wasantha Kumara Wimalasiri; and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne, along with a large number of farmer leaders and other dignitaries.
- (PMD)
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi arrived in the island a short while ago on a three-day state visit.
The Indian Prime Minister was received at the Katunayake International Airport by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath.
PM Modi is accompanied by Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Indian Foreign Secretary and several senior officials of the Government of India.
The General Manager of Railways has announced that the following special train services will operate during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period.
1. From Colombo Fort to Badulla – departing Colombo Fort at 1930 hrs on 11th, 12th, 19th and 20th April
2. From Badulla to Colombo Fort – departing Badulla at 1750 hrs on 11th, 12th, 19th and 20th April
3. From Galle to Anuradhapura – departing Galle at 0400 hrs on 12th and 13th April
4. From Anuradhapura to Galle – departing Anuradhapura at 1500 hrs on 12th and 13th April
5. From Colombo Fort to Galle – departing Colombo Fort at 120 hrs on 10th, 11th, 15th and 20th April
6. From Galle to Colombo Fort – departing Galle at 0610 hrs on 11th, 12th, 16th and 21st April
7. From Colombo Fort to Galle – departing Colombo Fort at 1330 hrs on 12th and 13th April
8. From Colombo Fort to Kankasanthurai [Intercity Express] – departing Colombo Fort at 0530 hrs on 11th and 18th April
9. From Kankasanthurai to Colombo Fort [Intercity Express] – departing Kankasanthurai at 1350 hrs on 11th and 18th April
10. From Beliatta to Colombo Fort – departing Beliatta at 0825 hrs on 12th, 13th, 18th, 19th and 20th April
We are working to stabilize and restructure an economy that was in disarray -President
Indian PM Modi arrives in Sri Lanka on a three day state visit
Special Train Services during Sinhala and Tamil New Year
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