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Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama set Pakistan daunting target

Published

3 years ago

2023/10/10

Priyan

Samarawickrama and Mendis guided Sri Lanka expertly (Cricbuzz)

Sparkling centuries from Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama helped Sri Lanka post 344/9 in Hyderabad on Tuesday (October 10). Mendis set a record enroute his stunning ton as he brought up three figures off just 65 balls – the fastest by a Sri Lankan in World Cups. He found support at the start from opener Pathum Nissanka who hit a crisp fifty.

Pakistan actually made a great start after Sri Lanka opted to bat first. Kusal Perera nicked one behind while attempting to cut Hasan Ali and departed for a duck in just the second over. But Mendis wasted little time to get going as he took on the Pakistan attack in the powerplay. The men in green could have easily sent him packing early in his innings had Imam-ul-Haq managed to hold on to a chance gifted by Mendis when he was batting only on 18. Nissanka at the other end hammered Ali for a six and a four to keep Sri Lanka rolling. At one point, Nissanka was way ahead of Mendis as he kept finding the boundary regularly to race to 43.

Mendis managed to catch up soon with his partner however as both the batters managed to get to their fifties in the same over. Shadab Khan finally gave Pakistan a much-needed breakthrough by getting rid of Nissanka but the relief didn’t last long. Mendis and Samarawickrama stunned their opposition as both the batters hit a six each off Haris Rauf. Mendis absolutely feasted on the Pakistan attack as the flurry of boundaries continued with even Shaheen Afridi failing to control the flow of runs. At the halfway mark, Sri Lanka were 181/2 before Mendis hit Ali over the ropes to bring up a stunning hundred.

Mendis hit the same bowler for two more sixes and almost managed a hat-trick of sixes before getting caught near the boundary for a 77-ball 122. For a brief moment, Pakistan appeared to fight back with Charith Asalanka departing for just 1 but Samarawickrama’s presence kept Pakistan on their toes. He brought up a fifty off just 43 balls and helped Dhananjaya de Silva settle down at the other end by ensuring the run rate didn’t drop.

After 41 overs, Sri Lanka were 294/4 and a score close to 375 was very much on the cards. However, Pakistan did pull things back at the death by striking at regular intervals. Nawaz opened his account with de Silva’s wicket and Afridi did the same a few overs later when he removed Dasun Shanaka. At the other end, Samarawickrama managed to bring up a century for the very first time in his ODI career but his dismissal with two overs still remaining ensured Pakistan conceded just nine runs in the final two overs. Despite that effort at the death, 345 is an imposing target for a side whose openers are battling for form.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 344/9 in 50 overs (Kusal Mendis 122, Sadeera Samarawickrama 108; Hasan Ali 4/71) vs Pakistan

(Cricbuzz)

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Spinners make it two in two for England

Published

3 hours ago

2026/06/17

Priyan

England's performance with the ball helped them set up the win [Cricbuzz]

England’s spin attack, led by Sophie Ecclestone’s three-wicket haul, secured their second win in as many games as they beat Ireland at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Tuesday (June 16). Unlike their demolition job over Sri Lanka in the tournament opener, England were made to work hard for these two points as they stuttered in a tricky run chase before prevailing by four wickets.

Already under pressure coming into this fixture on the back of their loss to Scotland, Ireland were asked to bat first. England didn’t take too long to strike as Amy Hunter got castled by Linsey Smith after she attempted to sweep a delivery too early. In the very next over, Gaby Lewis timed a scoop to perfection but hit it straight to the fielder. Ireland continued to crumble inside the Powerplay as it was now Charlie Dean’s turn to strike. After six overs, Ireland were 38/3 with their hopes firmly pinned on Orla Prendergast again to revive them.

While Prendergast continued to bat in fine fashion, Ecclestone came back into the attack to strike and pin Ireland further down. In a bigger blow, the batting side went on to lose the big wicket of Prendergast as she chopped one on to her stumps. At 57/5 after 10 overs, Ireland needed a miracle to storm back into the contest. While Leah Paul and Alice Tector hung in for a while, it was a cameo from Louise Little that actually dragged Ireland beyond 100. Little smashed four boundaries in the final over of the innings after Ecclestone struck twice in the penultimate over.

A target of 119 should have been a cakewalk for a side that posted 219 in their first game. But on this surface, England were made to work hard. Danni Wyatt-Hodge picked up a few boundaries but Aimee Maguire gave Ireland massive hope with her double strike in the fifth over. Both the England openers found Lewis on the field to depart early and in the final over of the Powerplay while Prendergast bowled a third straight over and was rewarded with Alice Capsey’s wicket. England finished the Powerplay with 35/3 – which meant they were on the same boat as Ireland at this stage.

The experienced duo of Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt then got together to put the chase back on track. Sciver-Brunt picked up a boundary each off the next three overs and Knight got going with a sweep behind square that carried England to a strong position at the halfway mark. After 13 overs, England were coasting at 95/3 before Ireland found some hope again. Prendergast came back for her final over and broke the partnership with Knight’s wicket.

With only 9 runs needed, Sciver-Brunt decided to walk back retired out after feeling some tightness in her calf. While the England skipper after the game revealed that it was just a precautionary measure, the fact that it was the same calf that has recently troubled her will concern England going forward. Just three balls after she walked off, England lost the wicket of Danielle Gibson as well to a needless run out which caused unnecessary panic in the dugout. However, Dean hit one over the covers for a vital boundary to calm the nerves down before securing the win in the following over.

scores:
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

[Cricbuzz]

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Messi hat-trick fires holders Argentina to win over Algeria at World Cup

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/17

Priyan

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal [Aljazeera]

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]

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US sprinter Noah Lyles sets world best 150m time at Golden Spike meet

Published

5 hours ago

2026/06/17

Priyan

United States sprinter Noah Lyles has set the world’s best-ever time over the rarely-run 150 metres race, clocking 14.67 seconds at the Golden Spike meet in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava.

The 28-year-old Lyles on Tuesday beat the previous best of 14.72 set by Kishane Thompson of Jamaica in Florida in April.

At Ostrava, Lyles beat Sinesipho Dambile of South Africa with 14.78, while Australian teenager Gout Gout finished third in 14.96.

“Was there ever any doubt? Was there ever any doubt? We came for a show,” an elated Lyles told Czech TV.

Earlier this month, Lyles took a comfortable win at the Wanda Diamond League meet in Rome with a 9.88 in the 100m, his fastest since clinching gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The high-energy, anime-loving showman has had strong indoor and outdoor performances throughout the year so far, and was named on this year’s Time100 list of the most influential people.

Dutch star Femke Broeders-Bol had to bow to in-form Swiss Audrey Werro in her outdoor debut in the 800m.

The 26-year-old Broeders-Bol has switched from 400m hurdles, in which she had won two world gold medals, and clocked an impressive 1 minute 57.13 seconds for second place.

“It was so cool, I love racing in Ostrava. It was tough, but I enjoyed it,” she said.

Broeders-Bol has also claimed multiple medals as the anchor leg in 4x400m relay teams, notably a gold in the mixed event in the Paris Olympics.

She ran her first 800m since 2017 in February, clocking a national record of 1 minute 59.07 seconds before withdrawing from the rest of the indoor season to nurse a foot injury.

The 22-year-old Werro won in 1 minute 54.45 seconds, half a second behind her personal best from March, after shedding Broeders-Bol with 200 metres to run.

“It was a really crazy run, but the time is very good, so I’m really happy,” Werro said.

Having set the eighth best time ever, she stayed over a second behind the oldest world record in athletics of 1:53.28 set in 1983 by Jarmila Kratochvilova of then-Czechoslovakia, who watched the race from the stands.

South Africa’s 20-year-old Bayanda Walaza won the men’s 100m as he equalled his personal best of 9.94 seconds, beating Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon with 9.99 seconds.

US favourites Ronnie Baker and Jordan Anthony were demoted to the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, with times well over 10 seconds.

[Aljazeera]