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Fakhar, Nawaz earn Pakistan first points in tri-series opener
Zimbabwe lost seven wickets for 37 runs to slip to 147 for 8, when a total greater than 180 had been on the cards. Still, they pushed Pakistan’s chase into the final over, their seamers striking three times in the powerplay to slow Pakistan’s advance, before also squeezing the hosts in the middle overs.
Pakistan’s Nos. 5, 6, and 7, however, dug them out of the hole. Playing his comeback T20I innings Fakhar Zaman hit 44 off 32, putting on a 61-run partnership with Usman Khan. Usman was then joined by Mohammad Nawaz, who had earlier been the best of Pakistan’s bowlers. The required rate had become something of a challenge at this stage, but Nawaz’s 20 off 12 balls ensured victory was ultimately comfortable.
Had Brian Bennett held a straight-forward chance off Nawaz on the midwicket boundary, with 15 needed off 10, Zimbabwe could have mounted a sterner challenge at the business end. In the end, Nawaz struck the winning boundary with four balls to spare.
Zimbabwe veteran Graeme Cremer, playing his first T20I in over seven years and after 122 matches – the latter, a record – conceded 27 runs in three overs for one wicket.
After seven overs, Zimbabwe were running the show. The openers had hit 11 fours and a six between them. The run rate was in touching distance of 10. And the first two overs of spin had conceded 26 runs. But Nawaz, bowling quicker and more accurately than the legspinners, made the breakthrough that soon brought a flood of wickets when he had Tadiwanashe Marumani caught at deep square leg, though that first wicket came off a full toss. Later, he would also have Ryan Burl holing out.
It was Nawaz’ economy, though, that set him apart. He conceded only 22 from his four overs, and had by far the lowest economy rate (5.50) of any bowler to bowl four overs in the game. With the bat, he was fortunate to be reprieved on nine, but struck a six and two fours to ensure Pakistan didn’t flounder at the finish.
The period in which Zimbabwe crashed hardest was through the middle of their innings, when they slipped from 91 for 1 in the 11th over, to 128 for 8 in the 19th. Pakistan’s spinners bossed this period, with Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed also picking up key wickets. Although there was not much turn off the surface, the legspinners frequently beat batters in the flight, and created pressure through dot balls. It is this pressure that also caused two Zimbabwe run-outs.
In the eight-over stretch between the 11th and 19th overs, Pakistan conceded only 30. It took an unbeaten 34 from Sikandar Raza 34 off 24 balls to avert complete disaster.
They would struggle through the next four overs too, and when Ayub was dismissed by Cremer’s legspin in the 10th over, the required-rate was up to nine, and Zimbabwe looked like defending their total. But a sensible stand between Zaman and Usman gave the Pakistan chase some substance and Nawaz finished the job.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 151 for 5 in 19.2 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 16, Saim Ayub 22, Fakhar Zaman 44, Usman Khan 37*, Mohammad Nawaz 21*; Richard Ngarava 1-31, Tinotenda Maposa 1-29, Brad Evans 2-26, Graeme Cremer 1-27) beat Zimbabwe 147 for 8 in 20 overs (Brian Bennett 49, Tadiwanashe Marumani 30, Brendan Taylor 14, Sikandar Raza 34*; Shaheen Shah Afridi 1-34, Salman Mirza 1-21, Saim Ayub 1-31, Abrar Ahmed 1-28, Mohammad Nawaz 2-22) by five wickets
[Cricinfo]
India has strengthened its humanitarian support to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, providing critical air assets, emergency supplies, engineering equipment and medical aid to bolster national rescue and recovery operations.
India dispatched an additional MI-17 helicopter to assist the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) in ongoing air rescue missions on Tuesday (09). Two MI-17 V5 helicopters of the Indian Air Force had been operating in Sri Lanka from 29 November, conducting around 90 sorties, rescuing approximately 270 survivors, airlifting about 50 tonnes of relief material to inaccessible areas and relief camps and deploying 57 Sri Lankan troops to cut-off locations.
Having completed their flying hours, the two helicopters returned to India on Sunday (08) for mandatory maintenance and a fresh MI-17 aircraft arrived at Katunayake Airport to continue operations alongside the SLAF.
The aviation support comes alongside major maritime assistance. The Indian naval vessel INS Gharial arrived at the Port of Trincomalee on Sunday (08) carrying a 700-tonne humanitarian shipment, marking India’s fifth naval relief consignment to Sri Lanka, apart from 10 aircrafts and 5 helicopters, which have contributed towards rescues and relief operations, since the cyclone.
The shipment included essential food supplies such as pulses, sugar and milk powder, as well as bed sheets, towels, sarees, dhotis and tarpaulins for families displaced by flooding and landslides. The emergency aid is being directed to the hardest-hit districts through local relief agencies.
In a further show of engineering support, India has also handed over a 63-ton Bailey bridge and a consignment of essential medicines to Sri Lankan authorities to restore connectivity and meet urgent medical needs in affected communities.
The cargo was received by General Chaminda Wijerathne of the Sri Lanka Army Headquarters, Sunil Jayaweera, former Director Preparedness of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), now volunteering in the response and Shan Pathirana, Deputy Director of the DMC Awareness Division.
The handover was facilitated by the Indian High Commission in Colombo.
These coordinated air, sea and engineering initiatives underscore India’s continued commitment to supporting Sri Lanka during its national emergency response and long-term recovery. The assistance forms part of India’s broader partnership to restore essential services, reconnect isolated communities and provide relief to thousands affected by Cyclone Ditwah.
The Situation Report issued by the Disaster Management Center [DMC] confirms that as at 06:00AM today [10th December 2025] 639 persons have lost their lives to floods and landslides that devastated Sri Lanka in the past few days. The number of missing persons reported was 203.
The adverse weather conditions had affected 1.824,771 persons of which 86,040 were being taken care at 878 safety centers established by the government. 5,350 houses had been completely damaged while 86.882 houses had been partially damaged.
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Level III landslide warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended
The Level III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale by the Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] have been extended until 1600hrs tomorrow [10th December 2025].
Accordingly,
The LEVEL III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Division and surrounding areas of Panvila, Udapalatha, Minipe, Poojapitiya, Gangawata Korale, Thumpane, Doluwa, Pathadumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Harispattuwa, Akurana, Ududumbara, Pathahewaheta, Hatharaliyadda, Yatinuwara, Deltota, Medadumbara, Udunuwara, Kundasale and Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana, Aranayaka, Warakapola, Galigamuwa, Mawanella and Bulathkohupitiya in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Rideegama and Mawathagama in the Kurunegala district, and Ukuwela, Pallepola, Rattota, Matale, Laggala Pallegama, Yatawatta, Naula, Ambanganga Korale and Wilgamuwa in the Matale district have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Division and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Ruwanwella, Dehiowita, Kegalle and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Alawwa and Polgahawela in the Kurunegala district and Nuwara Eliya, Nildandahinna, Thalawakele, Kothmale West, Mathurata, Ambagamuwa Korale, Hanguranketha, Walapane, Kothmale East and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district, and Kahawaththa, Kolonna and Godakawela in the Ratnapura district have also been extended.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Mirigama, Divulapitiya and Attanagalla in the Gampaha district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, and Kiriella, Balangoda, Kuruwita, Openayake, Nivithigala, Kaltota, Pelmadulla, Kalawana, Eheliyagoda, Elapatha, Ayagama, Imbulpe and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.
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