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Kamindu 93* takes Sri Lanka past 400 despite Phillips’ strikes
The weather had darkened, and there was more turn on offer for the spinners, but Sri Lanka’s dominance continued just the same as they extended their first innings total to 402 for 5, at lunch on day two.
The 96 runs in the session came at the cost of Angelo Mathews and – just on the stroke of lunch -Dhananjaya de Silva. While that late wicket might have given New Zealand some cause for optimism, with Kamindu Mendis still around unbeaten on 93 – and striking at 72.65 – there is also cause for serious concern.
Glkenn Philips was New Zealand’s sole bright spark in yet another taxing session, as he accounted for both wickets to fall. The first to go was Mathews, having added 10 to his overnight tally, was set up by Phillips’ nagging lines and lengths, and subtle variations in pace.
Throughout his innings, Mathews had struggled to get Phillips away – playing out 45 dots in the 55 deliveries he had faced off the off spinner – and that frustration eventually told as he top-edged an attempted sweep off one that Phillip’s had held up slower in the air.
That wicket, however, didn’t bring much respite, with de Silva happy to take on Phillips from the get-go, launching him for a six down the ground to show his intent. But while he was kept quiet by the impressive Ajaz Patel, the left-right combination ensured that runs kept flowing.
De Silva’s partnership with Kamindu became the fifth-straight fifty-plus stand of the innings – at 74 – when de Silva’s aggression against Phillips finally let him down. Looking to get low and flat bat a sweep in the V, the Lankan captain managed only to get a top edge that Tom Blundell did well to get under and keep hold of.
That was an uplifting end to the session for the hosts, but worryingly for them, Kamindu has shown few chinks in his armour at the other end. Fresh off becoming the first batter to rack up fifty-plus scores in each of his first eight Tests, he was busy charging towards a fifth Test century.
Off just the fifth ball he faced in the day, he produced a cover drive of true quality off Will O’Rourke. And it was O’Rourke on the receiving end again a couple of overs later, as Kamindu cut one commandingly in front of square.
His other two boundaries came off Mitchell Santner – one a slog sweep to deep midwicket, the other a reverse behind backward point. The highlight of his batting, though, has been his rotation of strike, with only the excellent Phillips able to keep him quiet for any length of time.
Brief scores: [Lunch]
Sri Lanka 402 for 5 (Kamindu Mendis 93*, Angelo Mathews 88, Dhananjaya de Silva 44; Glenn Phillips 3-65) vs New Zealand
A complete performance from UAE’s bowling unit kept their semi-final hopes alive at the 2026 Women’s T20 Asia Cup, skittling Indonesia for 73 and then completing the chase with six wickets to spare. They now have to beat Bangladesh on September 8 and also hope other results go their way.
UAE were on top right from the first ball courtesy offspinner Suraksha Kotte, who starred with 3 for 16. Kotte struck with the first two balls of the innings, dismissing Indonesia opener Maria Corazon and No. 3 Ni Luh Dewi for first-ball ducks. UAE captain Esha Oza (2 for 11) then dismissed the other opener Rahmawati Pangestuti in the fourth over.
Indonesia captainN8 Puu Ayu Nanda Sakarini top-scored with a lone hand of 39 off 52 balls, with four fours and a six, accounting for 53.4% of Indonesia’s runs. But with little support, they could not find a way back in and were bowled out for 73.
Slow left-arm spinner Heena Hotchandani (2 for 6) and seamer Samaira Dharnidharka (1 for 12) also got among the wickets. Legspinner Vaishnave Mahesh struck twice in the 20th over to clean up the tail.
UAE openers Theertha Satish and Oza put on 17 for the first wicket. After losing Theertha in the fifth over, Oza hit two boundaries in each of the sixth and eighth overs. No. 3 Rinitha Rajith then hit three fours off Sofia Velic in the ninth over.
A brief wobble followed for UAE as they slid from 62 for 1 to 68 for 4. Oza fell for a 29-ball 30 at the start of the 11th over to Ni Ariani and Velic grabbed two wickets in the 12th. However, with only six runs needed, UAE wrapped up the chase at the start of the 14th over, the tournament hosts securing two points with 41 balls to spare. This was also Indonesia’s final match of the campaign, bowing out with losses in all three games.
Scores:
UAE Women 75 for 4 8n 13.1 overs (Esha Oza 30, Rinitha Rajith 22; Ni Riani 1-10, Sang Maypriani 1-17, Sofia Velic 2-25) beat IndonesiaWomen 73 in 19.4 overs (N8 Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini 39, Desi Wulandari 12; Suraksha Kotte 3-16, Heena Hotchandani 2-06, Esha Oza 2-11, Samira Dharnidarkha 1-12 ) by six wickets
(Cricinfo)
Latest News
Sun directly overhead Moratuwa, Kesbewa, Handapangoda, Idalgashinna, Yudhaganawa, Kotiyagala and Panama about 12.08 noon today (05)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is
overhead today (05) are Moratuwa, Kesbewa, Handapangoda, Idalgashinna, Yudhaganawa, Kotiyagala and Panama about 12.08 noon
Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando have been ruled out of Sri Lanka’s upcoming T20I series against England, with the SLC saying that the two were “still undergoing rehabilitation” after injuries picked up at the 2026 Lanka Premier League.
The update came just over a day after the two were named in the 16-member squad, with Kusal retained as captain of both the T20I and the ODI sides.Charith Asalanka, who had returned to the vice-captain’s position for the series, will now lead the side in the T20Is. Though Kusal hasn’t been ruled out of the ODIs just yet, were he to miss out, Asalanka, as the designated vice-captain, might step in there too.
Kusal has been out of action since July 19 with a right hamstring injury, while Binura hasn’t played since August 5, SLC putting his absence down to a back injury.
Pavan Rathnayake, the 24-year-old top-order batter, has replaced Kusal in the T20I touring party, while Dilshan Madushanka, the fast bowler who was in the squad for the Tests against India recently but didn’t get to play, has come in for Binura.
(Cricinfo)
Malaysia declares emergency in Sarawak as haze from Indonesia worsens
UAE keep semi-final hopes alive after convincing win over Indonesia
Sun directly overhead Moratuwa, Kesbewa, Handapangoda, Idalgashinna, Yudhaganawa, Kotiyagala and Panama about 12.08 noon today (05)
Showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Uva, Central and Eastern provinces and in Polonnaruwa and Mullaittivu districts after 2.00 p.m
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Dengue cases surpass 96,000 this year
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