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Heartbreak for Afghanistan as Sri Lanka qualify by slimmest margin
Afghanistan won hearts and minds, but it was Sri Lanka who won the contest, in a game for the ages in Lahore. The scorecard will say Sri Lanka won by two runs – and in the process recorded their 12th straight ODI win – but that barely scratches the surface in a game that could’ve gone either way.
After their heavy loss to Bangladesh, Afghanistan knew at the toss that any chase would have to be completed in around 37 overs for them to get their NRR to qualification standards. Adding a bit of spice to this scenario was the fact that, if they succeeded in doing so, Sri Lanka’s NRR would then drop below that of both Bangladesh’s and Afghanistan’s, thus eliminating the defending champions.
As it transpired, with Sri Lanka ending on 291 for 8 – courtesy an 84-ball 92 from Kusal Mendis and a late stand between Dunith Wellalage andMaheesh Theekshana – Afghanistan needed to reach their target in 37.1 overs. For much of the chase Sri Lanka had the game in hand, but then Mohammad Nabi’s 32-ball 65 lit the fuse of belief that spread through the Afghan camp.
Nabi walked in with 171 required off 110, and by the time he fell, the equation had dropped to 91 from 64. In between, he had pulled, swatted, cut and slapped Sri Lanka’s bowlers all over the Gaddafi Stadium in an innings that included six fours and five sixes.
Such was the impact of Nabi’s innings that the rest of the batters – the same ones that had struggled to maintain a high strike-rate against Bangladesh two days prior – would find the boundaries when required to keep up with the run-rate.
In the end though it was left to Rashid Khan, who would strike three boundaries in the final four balls of the 37th over to leave Mujeeb Ur Rahman needing to score three off one. Mujeeb would hole out at long-on, but that wouldn’t be that.
As the math would have it, Afghanistan could have still qualified if they were to get their score up to 295 in 37.5 overs – essentially with a single six. But incredibly, it appeared this wasn’t communicated to the Afghan players. And so, Farooqi, as the No. 11, would play out two defensive strokes, before being trapped lbw while attempting a third block. Rashid at the other end cut a forlorn figure as Sri Lanka secured an improbable win to finish atop Group B.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka 291/8in 50 overs (Kusal Mendis 92, Pathum Nissanka 41, Charith Asalanka 36; Gulbadin Naib 4-60, Rashid Khan 2-63) beat Afghanistan 289 in 37.4 overs (Mohammad Nabi 65, Hashmatullah Shahidi 59, Rahmat Shah 45, Rashid Khan 27*; Kasun Rajitha 4-79, Dhananjaya de Silva 2-12) by 2 runs
Warning for deep depression over South-east Bay of Bengal Sea area.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, Department of Meteorology at 10.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 for the period until 10.30 a.m. 09 January 2026
The depression in the Bay of Bengal to the southeast of Sri Lanka has intensified into a deep depression and is centered near latitude 5.4°N and longitude 85.3°E, about 420 km southeast of Pottuvil at 05.30 a.m. today (08th). The above system is currently (10:00 a.m.) located about 300 km southeast of Pottuvil.
It is very likely to move west-northwestwards across the southwest Bay of Bengal and cross the Sri Lanka coast between Hambantota and Kalmunai between 5.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. on Friday [9th January 2026].
Hence, showery, and windy condition over the island, particularly in the Northern, NorthCentral, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces is expected to enhance from today (08th).
For the Land area:
DAMAGE EXPECTED:
• Damage to huts, temporary shelters and light structures
• Destroy the roof tops/ sheets etc.
• Damage to power and communication lines.
• Breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees.
• Damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards.
• Damage to harbor yachts
• Flash flood
• Sea water inundation in low lying areas in the near coast.
Action suggested for the Land area:
• Coastal hutment dwellers are advised to move to safer places. Other people in the affected areas to remain indoors.
• People living in hilly areas (particularly landslide prone areas) and low lying areas in river basins are requested to be vigilant.
• Drivers and people using roads in the hilly areas are requested to be vigilant.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• General public is requested to be vigilant regarding impending extreme weather situation.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
• Requested to be attentive about future advisories issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.
Usman Khawaja could not produce a fairy-tale finish to his Test career, but Australia overcame a fright to chase down the 160-run target at SCG and record a convincing 4-1 Ashes victory.
It wasn’t quite a grandstand ending, with Australia mostly in control despite some chaotic batting that was befitting of this rather baffling Ashes series that ultimately did not live up to the hype. But there was much theatre on the final day in what proved to be the best match of the series. Australia lost five wickets for 59 runs in their second innings but Alex Carey, a star performer this series, and the under-pressure Cameron Green combined for a 40-run stand to seal a five-wicket victory.
Australia appeared to be cruising at 62 for no loss before losing three quick wickets as England sniffed an opening. On the last day of his 88-Test career, Khawaja came to the crease with Australia at 92 for 3 just after lunch and still needing 68 runs for victory on a surface playing tricks.
He received a hug from his great mate Marnus Labuschagne and walked through a guard of honour from England’s team. But Khawaja lasted just seven balls and made just 6, knocked over by Josh Tongue, who finished with 3 for 42 from 11 overs and did ensure England fought hard at the end of what has been a wretched tour.
England’s bid for a late heist were slim and made even harder with skipper Ben Stokes – who did take the field – unable to bowl after injuring his right adductor earlier in the match.
Quite typically of this series, there was mayhem at the start of Australia’s chase with three lbw shouts in the first seven deliveries. England did burn a review when Travis Head got an edge to a yorker from Brydon Carse, who shared the new ball with Tongue after Stokes lost faith in Matthew Potts after his nightmare (0 for 141) in Australia’s first innings.
After an edgy start, Head resumed his domination of England and scored quickly without much fuss until the situation exploded in the ember of this series.
England were left aggrieved when their review of an edge against Jake Weatherald on 16 was unsuccessful despite a tiny spike on Snicko. But third umpire Kumar Dharmasena decided there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the decision as Carse engaged in a war of words with Weatherald amid heated scenes.
It loomed as a pivotal moment for Weatherald after a modest start to his Test career. Unruffled by the controversy, Weatherald and Head put the foot down as Australia sped to 57 after ten overs.
Head was in the mood to end things quickly, but on 29 he skied Tongue and was caught at midwicket. It ended Head’s remarkable series after moving up the order in Perth, finishing with 629 runs at 62.90 – the ninth-most by an Australian in an Ashes series.
Weatherald could not kick on and was caught at fine-leg off Tongue in the last over before lunch to ensure there will be plenty of debate over his position in the long break until Australia’s next Test series against Bangladesh in August.
After so much debate in the lead-up, the SCG surface did offer sharp turn in the backend of this match to revive memories of the ground’s traditional characteristics. Skipper Steven Smith was left stunned when he was bowled through the gate by a delivery that spun back sharply from offspinner Will Jacks, bringing Khawaja to the crease.
Jacks was proving a menace and Khawaja was lucky when he edged past Stokes at first slip before playing on to Tongue. Khawaja walked off after receiving another hug from Labuschagne and he performed the Sajdah on the SCG outfield before acknowledging the huge ovation from the fans.
The match suddenly sparked to life when Labuschagne, who was dropped by Jacob Bethell at backward point on 20, was run-out on 38 after a terrible mix-up with Carey. With Australia still needing 39 runs, Green came to the crease under much scrutiny but batted calmly before Carey sealed the victory with a boundary.
It ended a frenetic series that lasted just 18 days and was marred by some sloppy cricket. But Australia proved too experienced and too disciplined for an underprepared England, who did get better as the series wore on. Australia were far from blemishless through the series, with major question marks remaining over their batting order, but standout performances from Head, Carey and Mitchell Starc simply overwhelmed England.
Much like previous matches in this series, England will rue leaving first-innings runs on the table and on this occasion they didn’t capitalise on Joe Root’s brilliant 160.
Khawaja had started the day leading Australia on to the field, with an unknown if he would get the opportunity to bat again. England resumed their second innings at 302 for 8 with a lead of 119 runs as they eyed adding at least another 50 runs to make Australia nervous.
Their hopes rested on Bethell, who restarted on 142 after his magnificent display on day three when he registered his maiden first class century.
With the field well spread, Bethell manipulated the strike and cruised to 150 as Australia patiently waited for the second new ball. Bethell had an anxious moment on 151 when he was rapped on the pads by Scott Boland only to be given a reprieve by DRS when the ball tracker confirmed that it was going over the stumps.
The lead grew to 145 runs, but just when England started to get excited – like countless times this series – their hopes were crushed. Starc, of course, provided the key breakthrough when he finally removed Bethell who feathered an edge after being cramped on the cut. It was Starc’s 30th wicket for the series and the most by an Australian since Mitchell Johnson’s legendary 2013-14 Ashes series when he bagged 37 wickets.
Like several times the day before, the fans provided a rousing ovation to Bethell who trudged off extremely proud but knowing his dismissal had probably effectively ended England’s slim chances.
Having had a horrible time with the ball in his Ashes debut, Potts finally had some cheer when he swatted Boland for consecutive boundaries to get the lead over 150 runs. But Starc again snuffed out England when he removed Tongue and ensured Australia – as was later proven despite the wobbles – had a modest target to chase.
Brief scores:
Australia 567 (Travis Head 163, Steven Smith 138, Beau Webster 71*; Brydon Carse 3-130, Josh Tongue 3-97) and 161 for 5 (Marnus Labuschagne 37, Jake Weatherald 34; Josh Tongue 3-42) beat England 384 (Joe Root 160, Harry Brook 84; Michael Neser 4-60) and 342 (Jacob Bethell 154; Beau Webster 3-64, Mitchell Starc 3-72) by five wickets
[Cricinfo]
The United States says it has seized two tankers linked to Venezuelan oil exports in “back-to-back” operations in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean.
US forces boarded the Russian-flagged Marinera after a pursuit lasting almost two weeks as it travelled through the waters between Iceland and Scotland. The UK Royal Navy gave logistical support by air and sea.
A second tanker – the M/T Sophia – was accused by the US of “conducting illicit activities” and boarded in the Caribbean.
The moves come as the US seeks to choke off most exports of Venezuelan crude oil, and just days after its special forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a lightning raid on his residence in Caracas.
Venezuela’s leadership is co-operating with the US on the second tanker seized in the Caribbean, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
“They understand that the only way they can move oil and generate revenue and not have economic collapse is if they co-operate and work with the United States,” he told reporters.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump had said that Venezuela – which has the world’s largest proven oil reserves – “will be turning over” up to 50 million barrels of oil worth some $2.8bn (£2.1bn) to the US.
Rubio, who briefed US lawmakers on the ongoing operation in Venezuela on Wednesday, said that the US would sell oil that is in Venezuela “in the marketplace at market rates” and that the US would control how the proceeds were dispersed “in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people”.
He said the US had a considered plan for the future of Venezuela, and that the administration was “not just winging it”.
Rubio said the Trump administration’s plan in Venezuela was stabilisation, recovery and then transition.
But the discussions surrounding oil were only one component of concern US lawmakers had over the escalating conflict.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said lawmakers needed answers to lingering questions of how many US troops could be involved and how much money the US involvement in Venezuela will cost.
Republicans largely appeared to back the administration’s moves in the region, though some expressed concern about what kind of say Congress had.
The Senate is expected to vote next week on a bipartisan war powers resolution – an attempt to block continued military action in Venezuela. A war powers resolution – created in the wake of the Vietnam War – limits a president’s power to involve US armed forces in hostilities without congressional approval.
“If we’re going to have continued engagement in the next phase, I think it has got to be subject to war powers,” North Carolina’s Thom Tillis said.
Meanwhile, Missouri’s Josh Hawley said that if the administration’s actions were a law enforcement operation, then it does not require congressional approval, but “if it’s a military operation involving a foreign head of government, even one we don’t recognise officially, that’s a very different situation”.
China – the biggest buyer of Venezuelan oil in recent years – has condemned the US moves and accused it of threatening global energy security.
The seizure of the two tankers was announced by the US military in separate posts on social media on Wednesday.
The US European Command said the M/V Bella 1 – using the former name of the Marinera – was boarded “for violations of US sanctions”.
“The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro”, a Coast Guard cutter.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence said RAF surveillance aircraft and a naval support vessel, the RFA Tideforce, were among the UK military assets that took part in the operation, following a US request for assistance.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the action was “in full compliance with international law”, and “formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions- busting”.
The vessel has been accused of breaking US sanctions and shipping Iranian oil.
Images published by Russian state broadcaster RT show a helicopter close to a ship that appears to be the M/V Bella 1.
The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping shows that the tanker had changed its name to Marinera, and was sailing under the Russian flag. Its home port stated as the southern Russian city of Sochi on the Black Sea.
The Russian transport ministry said US forces boarded the Marinera at about 15:00 Moscow time (1200 GMT), after which communications with the vessel were lost.
US officials said that Marinera was falsely flying the flag of Guyana last month, which made it stateless.
Experts told BBC Verify that the US called the ship Bella 1 as a vessel cannot change its flag during a voyage unless there was a real transfer of ownership or change of registry.
The experts also said that under UN international maritime law, a stateless vessel can be boarded by authorities.
Separately, the US Southern Command announced on Wednesday that the defence and homeland security departments “apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker without incident”.
“The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea. The US Coast Guard is escorting M/T Sophia to the US for final disposition.”
The US Southern Command also posted a video showing a helicopter circling over a vessel.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that “in two pre-dawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back meticulously co-ordinated boarding of two ‘ghost fleet’ tanker ships”.
She said both seized vessels “were either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it”.
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