Sports
Dinsara shines as Sebs record scintillating win over Maliyadeva
Under 19 Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Vimath Dinsara hogged the limelight with a century and an unbeaten 49 runs to lead St. Sebastian’s to seven wickets victory over Maliyadeva as the home team chased down a target of 94 runs in just 14 overs in the Under 19 Division I Two Day tournament Tier ‘A’ match at Moratuwa on Tuesday.
After skipper Manuja Chanthuka led the way with a four wicket haul to restrict the visitors to 147 runs in the second innings, the Sebs were left with a target of 94 runs to chase.
Dinsara who was the top scorer with 140 runs in the first inning, produced yet another top performance, an unbeaten 49 inclusive of three fours and three sixes. His knock came in 30 balls as he joined Chanthuka for an unfinished fourth wicket stand of 67 runs to seal the victory with seven overs to spare.
In the morning session, Dinsara added 80 runs to his overnight score as the Sebs’ last four batsmen accumulated 128 runs on day two.
Chanthuka and Malintha Silva collected match bags of six wickets each for the home team, while Thaveesha Balasooriya picked up five wickets for Maliyadeva.
The victory helps St. Sebastian’s take the top spot in the points table of the Tier ‘A’ tournament.
Meanwhile, the Tier ‘A’ match between S. Thomas’ and St. Servatius’ ended in a no decision after the home team reached 231 for seven wickets in reply to visitors’ 311 for seven wickets declared.
In a traditional match Zahira posted 311 runs for the loss of four wickets against Maris Stella as Roshan Careem scored an unbeaten century. Careem put on an unfinished stand of 162 runs for the fourth wicket with Mohamed Ijas who was not out on 84 runs.
Match Results
St. Sebastian’s beat Maliyadeva at Moratuwa
Scores:
Maliyadewa
200 all out in 61.4 overs (Gayana Weerasinghe 88, Vinuka Galappaththi 46n.o., Thaveesha Balasooriya 24; Manuja Chanthuka 2/40, Malintha Silva 3/50, Nadeesh Fernando 2/25) and 147 all out in 47.3 overs (Pansilu Ranasinghe 41, Dimantha Nisanka 23, Vinuka Galappaththi 28; Malintha Silva 3/22, Manuja Chanthuka 4/60, Navod Fernando 3/21)
St. Sebastian’s
126 for 6overnight 254 all out in 76 overs (Ushen Silva 21, Vimath Dinsara 140, Janaka Silva 23, Manuja Chanthuka 22, Malintha Silva 27; Gayana Weerasinghe 3/62, Thaveesha Balasooriya 5/56) and 94 for 3 wickets in 13.1 overs (Ryan Dissanayake 17, Vimath Dinsara 49n.o., Manuja Chanthuka 16n.o.; Gayana Weerasinghe 3/56)
St. Servatius’, S. Thomas’ ends in no decision at Mount Lavinia
Scores:
St. Servatius’
311 for 7overnight decl. in 83 overs (Risira Kithmura 21, Diniru Abeywickramasinghe 141, Raveen Kavintha 41, Chamarindu Nethsara 40, Viran Chamuditha 41n.o.; Abheeth Paranawidana 3/79, Ashen Perera 2/37)
S. Thomas’
231 for 7 in 77.5 overs (Thisen Eheliyagoda 62, Nathan Caldera 51n.o., Akash Fernando 47; Chalana Indusha 4/55)
Careem dazzles for Zahira at Negombo
Scores:
Zahira
311 for 4 in 73 overs (Thabith Rizficar 50, Umar Imran 37, Roshan Careem 109n.o., Mohamed Ijaz 84n.o.; Ramith Bandara 2/65)
Ireland Women 118/9 in 20 overs (Alana Dalzelle 14, Orla Prendergast 26, Leah Paul 10, Alice Tector 10, Louise Little 26*; Lauren Bell 1-39, Linsey Smith 1-20, Sophie Ecclestone 3-22, Charlie Dean 2-11, Dani Gibson 2-10) lost to England Women 119/6 in 17.3 overs (Dani Wyatt Hodge 16, Nat Sciver-Brunt 48, Heather Knight 26; Aimee Maguire 2-23, Orla Prendergast 2-17) by 4 wickets
Lionel Messi marked his record sixth World Cup appearance with his first hat-trick at a FIFA tournament as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 to open the defence of their global crown, he also became the joint highest scorer at World Cups with the feat.
The former 38-year-old forward thought he had opened the scoring in the eighth minute in Kansas City on Tuesday when he slotted home from close range, but the offside flag was raised.
The dream start to his record-setting appearance, which will be matched by Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal against DR Congo on Wednesday, was not to be denied for long though.
A trademark, mazy run was capped by a drive on the edge of the box from that famed left foot. The power too much for Algeria keeper Luca Zidane, son of World Cup winner with France, Zinidine.
Messi doubled his tally on the hour mark with a simple tap in from a rebound off the keeper following a drive from Alexis Mac Allister.
The moment that even a player as decorated as Messi came in the 76th minute when he drilled low past the keeper from just outside the box.
The strike took Messi level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals.
His substitution came just three minutes later to a standard ovation, even old maestro seemed disappointed to be removed – and most likely rested for Argentina’s tilt at becoming only the third side to defend a World Cup title.
Algeria – the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winners – offered little, but were themselves denied an early goal when Fares Chaibi’s ninth minute strike was ruled out for offside.
Messi saw to it that there was no opening game upset to be had tat this edition, having lost their opening game at Qatar 2022 to Saudi Arabia.
Messi, who spent the majority of his club career in Spain with Barcelona before moving to French giants Paris-Saint Germain, plys his trade in US football’s Major League Soccer with Inter Miami.
Jordan and Austria open their account in the group later on Tuesday in San Francisco.
[Aljazeera]
Iran twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in an exciting World Cup clash at Los Angeles Stadium as protests against Tehran’s government and a peace deal signed to end the US-Iran war formed a charged backdrop to the match.
High security presence and protests outside the venue were among the off-field concerns surrounding the match on Monday.
And when New Zealand took an early lead through Elijah Just’s volleyed shot from inside the box, after being set up by Chris Wood, some fans critical of the Iranian government celebrated with New Zealand supporters.
Many of these anti-regime spectators also carried Iran’s pre-Islamic Revolution Lion and Sun flag, against FIFA’s rules. Several also booed Iran’s national anthem before kickoff.
But most of the crowd of more than 70,000 appeared firmly behind Team Melli, chanting “Ir-ran! Ir-ran!” and erupting when Ramin Rezaeian equalised shortly after the half-hour mark.
Rezaeian, one of several Iran players who had not played club football since February after the domestic league was suspended amid US and Israeli air strikes, reacted quickest to a blocked shot and poked the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.
Wood and Just combined again early in the second half, the New Zealand captain sliding a precise pass into the 26-year-old forward’s path before Just hammered home to restore the All Whites’ lead.
Iran responded 10 minutes later with a superb goal from Mohammad Mohebbi, who headed Rezaeian’s perfect cross in off the far post to make it 2-2.
The stalemate means all the teams in Group G have one point after Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt earlier on Monday.
New Zealand, making their third appearance at the tournament, remain without a win at a World Cup after seven matches. Iran are looking to reach the knockout round for the first time.
The match laid bare divisions among Iranian American fans, many of whom said they felt torn between pride at seeing Iran on the sport’s biggest stage, anger over Tehran’s crackdown on protesters and concern over Washington’s bombing campaign.
Before kickoff, about 300 to 500 protesters gathered outside the stadium, waving anti-government signs and flags.
Some Iranian Americans had said attending the match would imply support for Iran’s government, while others said they wanted to set politics aside and support the players.
Iran will next return to Los Angeles to face Belgium on Sunday when New Zealand take on Egypt in Vancouver.
[Aljazeera]
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