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Collective batting effort takes New Zealand to a strong total
Put in to bat on a dry, sluggish surface in Hyderabad, New Zealand posted a healthy 320-plus score against Netherlands on Monday (October 9) thanks to contributions from their top five and a sizzling cameo at the end from Mitchell Santner. Netherlands were disciplined for a large part of the innings and went a notch up after the 40-over mark with some solid defensive bowling but like in the game against Pakistan, they leaked a few runs in the final few overs to let New Zealand off the hook.
When the innings started in the afternoon, there were clear signs that this pitch was nowhere as flat and easy-paced as it had been during the warm-up games here last week. Netherlands started with a bang by bowling three maidens on the trot to put pressure on New Zealand’s openers. Most teams would have panicked but Devon Conway and Will Young were calm in their riposte. They upped their intent and importantly, played the ball on merit to punish anything remotely loose. The next three overs went for 28 runs and the batting side had gotten momentum.
Aryan Dutt was excellent at his end with the new ball, making optimal use of the surface but he was let down by Ryan Klein who was drafted into the XI for the injured Logan van Beek. Both Conway and Young took the attack to Klein with the former also carting Dutt for a big six over cow corner. Despite starting the game with three maidens, New Zealand ended with a whopping 63 runs in the first Powerplay. Netherlands, though, found their bearings once the field was spread and the radar was much better. Roelof van der Merwe broke the opening stand by dislodging Conway and that wicket further helped the Dutch to keep a lid on the scoring rate.
Young was joined by Rachin Ravindra who once again looked comfortable out there despite not being as fluent as the England game. The surface also had a part to play in that. The pair accumulated runs and got their respective fifties but the scoring rate wasn’t intimidating enough. Perhaps, the Black Caps knew a par score for the surface and were working quietly towards that. Or maybe, it was just street-smart bowling from the Netherlands bowlers who bowled to the fields more often than not. Young looked set for a hundred but he and Ravindra both fell to soft dismissals.
The baton was carried forward by Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham but there was a significant difficulty in forcing the pace after the 30-over mark. However, the experience of the batters meant that scoreboard kept ticking. It was Mitchell’s dismissal in the 41st over that started a downward spiral for New Zealand. They lost a few more wickets even as skipper Latham held his own at the other end. The scoring rate dipped and it even seemed like the Dutch may have an outside chance of restricting the Kiwis to less than 300.
However, Latham and Santner provided a good finish to the innings with the latter ending the innings with a no-ball six and a Free Hit that was also dispatched for six. The last three overs produced 50 runs, an extraordinary finish on the sluggish pitch as New Zealand have pushed their total from a respectable one to a score around the par levels.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 322/7 in 50 overs (Will Young 70, Tom Latham 53, Rachin Ravindra 51; Roelof van der Merwe 2-56, Paul van Meekeren 2-59) vs Netherlands
(Cricbuzz)
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Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended
The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the Level III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale until 1600hrs on 11th December 2025.
Accordingly,
The LEVEL III RED landslide warnings issued to the the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Medadumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Pathadumbara, Doluwa, Panvila, Gangawata Korale, Ududumbara, Akurana, Yatinuwara, Harispattuwa, Deltota, Thumpane, Poojapitiya, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Minipe and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Aranayaka, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana, Bulathkohupitiya and Mawanella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Mawathagama and Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, and Rattota, Laggala Pallegama, Ukuwela, Matale, Wilgamuwa, Pallepola, Naula, Yatawatta and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Warakapola, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Polgahawela and Alawwa in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale East, Walapane, Thalawakele, Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale West, Nildandahinna, Mathurata, Ambagamuwa Korale, Hanguranketha and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district. and Kolonna, Godakawela and Kahawaththa in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Divulapitiya, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, and Kiriella, Eheliyagoda, Balangoda, Kaltota, Openayake, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Elapatha, Pelmadulla and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.
The handover of 35 tonnes of Russian Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka, recently affected by the cyclone «Ditwah», took place at Katunayake today (10th December)
The shipment was welcomed at the Katunayake airport by Ambassador of Russia Levan Dzhagaryan, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).
Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan: said “This delivery is a reflection of long-term friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka and reaffirms Moscow’s commitment to support countries in a difficult humanitarian situation.”
The supplies brought by the EMERCOM (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations) aircraft comprised a movable 60 kW electric power station, Pumping equipment for water drainage, Summer tents (10-person capacity) and Food supplies (sugar, vegetable oil, rice)
The total cargo weight is 35 metric tonnes. The aid will be distributed among the most affected regions.
Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee has named a 15-member squad to participate in the upcoming ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup (50 Over).
The team will depart for the United Arab Emirates today [0 December 2025] and has been placed in Group B, alongside Nepal, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
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