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England’s spinners shine amidst Afghanistan’s brave batting display
Adil Rashid (3-42), Liam Livingstone (1-33) and Joe Root (1-19) were influential in halting a daring batting performance from Afghanistan who produced their second highest World Cup score on Sunday (October 15) against England in Delhi. At one stage, the score seemed set to be in excess of 325 on another good batting surface but England’s spinners got into the act to do damage control through the innings.
Much like the previous games at the venue, the Arun Jaitley Stadium dished out another lovely batting pitch which along with the short boundary on one side meant that run-scoring and boundary hitting was as feasible as it gets. Rahmanullah Gurbaz took full toll of the conditions as he got off to a flier in the first Powerplay as Afghanistan racked up 79 in the first ten overs. Ibrahim Zadran wasn’t as aggressive or fluent but the pair’s century stand put pressure on England’s bowlers early on in the game. Until Jos Buttler turned to spin.
According to the data shown by the host broadcaster, today’s surface had more turn than there was in the previous two games at the venue. It didn’t hinder the batters too much but there was just enough in there for the tweakers to stay in the game. After an unusually expensive start to his spell, Rashid soon found his groove and broke the century opening stand by getting Zadran caught at short mid-wicket. It was a much-needed breakthrough for England who then got two more big wickets in the next 13 deliveries.
Rahmat Shah fell to a fizzy leg break that spun enough to drag him out of the crease momentarily and Buttler did the rest to effect a brisk stumping. The biggest blow came after this, as Gurbaz ended up being the casualty to a horrendous run out initiated by skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi. The innings had suffered a nosedive in momentum and the extra pace of Mark Wood was also causing problems for the batters apart from the tweakers. England’s spinners were disciplined and induced false strokes from Afghanistan’s batters. From 114/0, Afghanistan slipped to 190/6 and another underwhelming score loomed large.
However, young Ikram Alikhil. in his first game of this World Cup, produced a classy fifty under pressure. He was unruffled by pace or spin and showed immense promise after having been drafted into the XI for the out-of-form Najibullah Zadran. The left-hander stitched valuable stands with Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman to ensure that score went beyond respectable levels. England on their part were also a bit loose at the death with a few wayward deliveries. Sam Curran had a forgettable outing throughout.
The lower order fightback meant a strong score for Afghanistan but it still doesn’t look a par score, given the conditions and impending dew factor.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan 284 in 49.5 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 80, Ikram Alikhil 58; Adil Rashid 3-42, Joe Root 1-19) vs England
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal forwarded by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala, the officer
in the special grade of Sri Lanka Surveyors’ Service currently serving as the Additional Surveyor General (Central) to the post of Surveyor General with effect from 02.02.2026.
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Implementing the programme to provide concession for pepper, coffee and cardamom plantations affected by the disaster
The instructions required for granting relief to farmers for the short term crops devastated due to the extreme weather have been issued through Budget Circular No. 08/2025 and 08/2025 (i).
Considering the economic importance of the export agriculture sector, the requirement of re planting long term export agricultural crops that were destroyed by the floods and landslides, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the
resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to pay the cultivators engaged in pepper, coffee and cardamom an
allowance subject to a maximum of rupees 425,000/- per hectare for replanting as well as to provide seedlings free of charge from the Department of Export Agriculture.
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Cabinet approves implementation of National Strategic Action tion Plan to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings – 2026- 2030
Sri Lanka has signed and ratified the United Nations Convention against Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Combat Trafficking in Persons, especially against Women and Children, which is a treaty for the enforcement of its provisions.
Accordingly, the National Task Force on Trafficking in Persons was established in 2010 for the coordination of institutions that are interested and actively involved in the prevention of
trafficking in persons. The aforementioned task force has been operating in terms of the action plan prepared for a definite period, and the period of the final national strategic action plan for the period 2021-2025 has ended on 31-12-2025.
Therefore, having reviewed the progress of the aforementioned action plan. The national strategic action plan for the period 2026-2030 has been prepared with the consensus and knowledge of all relevant parties, consisting of four approaches:
protection, litigation (complaints), and partnership.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister
of Defense, to implement the aforementioned national strategic action plan.
A new act for National Lotteries Board to be introduced
Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 to be amended
Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala appointed to the post of Surveyor General
Implementing the programme to provide concession for pepper, coffee and cardamom plantations affected by the disaster
Cabinet nod to obtain diagnostic reports under public-private partnership
Cabinet approves implementation of National Strategic Action tion Plan to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings – 2026- 2030
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