Latest News
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.
Latest News
627 confirmed dead, 190 persons missing as at 6:00 a.m. today [08]
The Situation Report issued by the Disaster Management Center at 0600hrs on 8th December 3035 confirms that 627 persons have lost their lives due to floods and landslide that occurred in the island during the past few days. The number of persons missing was 190.
Latest News
Government prepares Anuradhapura farmers for Maha Season
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to prepare the farmers in the Anuradhapura District whose paddy cultivation was destroyed due to floods to re-cultivate during the upcoming Maha season.
Highlighting the need for all relevant institutions to work in proper coordination, treating this as a national necessity, the President instructed the authorities to provide compensation to farmers without delay and to ensure temporary irrigation water supply through provisional repairs.
The President further noted that the government is providing the highest amount of compensation in the country’s history for crop damages, with the expectation that cultivation activities will be commenced again promptly.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake gave these instructions this morning (07) while attending a special coordination committee meeting at the Anuradhapura District Secretariat to review the programme being implemented to restore normalcy to the lives of people affected by the disaster situation and to rehabilitate damaged infrastructure in the district.
The President instructed officials to present, before this Friday, a report detailing the number of farmers who were completely affected, the extent of damaged farmland and the required financial allocations. He emphasised that compensation must be granted only to those who are genuinely entitled and that no one should receive it unjustly.
The President stated that the government is committed to providing compensation to the farming community and directed officials to foster confidence among farmers so that they will be encouraged to resume cultivation.
The President also inquired, separately, from the relevant institutions about the measures taken for the development of the district’s infrastructure including highways, irrigation and communication networks.
The President examined the programme for reopening obstructed roads and instructed that temporary repairs be expedited to meet the public’s transportation needs until permanent road development plans are implemented.
Officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board informed the meeting that 473 out of the 580 electricity transformers damaged due to the disaster have already been restored and that full electricity supply to the district could be achieved by tomorrow.
They further stated that 49,000 water connections had been affected, of which about 99% have now been restored, while water is being supplied by bowsers to the remaining areas. They noted that total restoration of water supply is expected within the next two days. Damaged community water projects are also being restored.
Well-cleaning activities are currently being carried out with the support of the Navy and the President instructed officials to complete these tasks swiftly through community participation coordinated by Divisional Secretariats.
Discussions were also held regarding the provision of compensation for crops such as Maize, restarting cultivation, restoring the livelihoods of those engaged in animal husbandry, normalising health services and rehabilitating religious sites including damaged temples.
The floods have caused total damage to 228 houses in the district. The President instructed officials to gather accurate information on whether affected families should be resettled on the same land or relocated elsewhere and to begin identifying suitable land for resettlement.
Officials reported that all schools in the district could reopen by 16 December. The President instructed that the Rs. 15,000 allowance promised by the Treasury for schoolchildren affected by the disaster be fully distributed before 31 December and that the list of beneficiaries be prepared without delay.
The President also expressed his gratitude to government officials, the Police and the Tri-Forces for their service in providing relief to the public and restoring infrastructure.
The meeting was attended by Co-Chair of the Anuradhapura District Development Committee, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Susil Ranasinghe , Anuradhapura District MPs Susantha Kumara Navaratna and Sena Nanayakkara, North Central Province Governor Wasantha Jinadasa, Chief Secretary J.M.R.P. Jayasinghe, representatives of local authorities; Secretary to the Treasury Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma, Anuradhapura District Secretary K.G.R. Wimalasuriya, ministry secretaries and other government officials.
Latest News
Level III landslide warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended till 1600 hrs on Monday [08]
The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale until 1600hrs on Monday [8th December 2025].
Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Division and surrounding areas of Pathadumbara, Pathahewaheta, Harispattuwa, Doluwa, Thumpane, Poojapitiya, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Akurana, Minipe, Udapalatha, Hatharaliyadda, Kundasale, Panvila, Medadumbara, Ududumbara, Deltota, Pasbage Korale, Yatinuwara and Ganga Ihala Korale in the Kandy district, Bulathkohupitiya, Mawanella, Aranayaka, Galigamuwa, Warakapola, Kegalle, Yatiyanthota, and Rambukkana in the Kegalle district, Rideegama, Alawwa, Mawathagama, Mallawapitiya and Polgahawela in the Kurunegala district, and Rattota, Wilgamuwa, Laggala Pallegama, Ambanganga Korale, Ukuwela, Matale, Naula, Pallepola and Yatawatta in the Matale district.
LEVEL II AMBER warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Division and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Ella, Welimada, Haputhale, Lunugala, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella, and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, Thalawakele, Ambagamuwa Korale, Norwood, Kothmale East, Kothmale West and Nuwara Eliya, Hanguranketha, Nildandahinna, Walapane, amd Mathurata in the Nuwara Eliya district and Godakawela, Kahawaththa and Kolonna in the Ratnapura district have also been extended.
LEVEL I YELLOW warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Division and surrounding areas of Elpitiya and Yakkalamulla in the Galle district, Mirigama, Divulapitiya and Attanagalla in the Gampaha district, Bibile and Medagama inthe Monaragala district, and Nivithigala, Kaltota, Pelmadulla, Elapatha, Ayagama, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Imbulpe, Eheliyagoda, Kiriella, Balangoda, Openayake and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district
-
News5 days ago
Lunuwila tragedy not caused by those videoing Bell 212: SLAF
-
News4 days agoLevel III landslide early warning continue to be in force in the districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale
-
Latest News6 days agoLevel III landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya
-
Features6 days agoDitwah: An unusual cyclone
-
Latest News7 days agoUpdated Payment Instructions for Disaster Relief Contributions
-
Business2 days agoLOLC Finance Factoring powers business growth
-
News2 days agoCPC delegation meets JVP for talks on disaster response
-
News2 days agoA 6th Year Accolade: The Eternal Opulence of My Fair Lady
