Sports
Labuschagne, Warner blaze tons in Australia’s romp to 2-0 lead
Two days can make a lot of difference. At the same Mangaung Oval that saw a 222-plays-225 contest 48 hours ago, Australia turned up the batting oomph to post a gargantuan 392 before burying their hosts under this mountain of runs to take a 2-0 series lead in the ODI series, reinforcing their credentials as one of the early favourites at next month’s World Cup. This was still a mostly experimental side from the five-time champions but they still packed enough punch to pummel their hosts to the tune of 123 runs. Leading their batting charge was Marnus Labuschagne with a second straight demonstration of why he should also be on the plane to India. He hit 124 off just 99 balls with David Warner dovetailing brilliantly with his 20th ODI ton. Adding the gloss to the performance was a four-fer from the continually impressive Adam Zampa, who took 4 for 48 from nine overs of excellent legspin bowling to douse South African hopes.
The visitors turned up on a true batting surface with an aggressive approach. This was predicated on the fact that they fielded one proper bowler less. They handed debuts to Aaron Hardie and Tim David while Nathan Ellis came on for Josh Hazlewood. Incidentally, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma made three changes — Shamsi, Anrich Nortje and Andile Phehlukwayo in for Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee and Keshav Maharaj — of his own and opted to field.
Very early it became apparent that this wasn’t going to conform to the script of the opening game. The pace and carry was true and batters could hit through the line. The first two overs of the innings saw as many five boundaries struck with Head hitting four of them, including three off Kagiso Rabada’s first over. After his lead pacer went for 20 from his first two overs, Bavuma was quick to ring in a bowling change but after giving away just three runs from his opening over, Nortje was taken apart for 17 in his second with both Head and Warner hitting a six each
After eight overs, Australia had raced off the blocks to 71/0 and the South Africa captain turned to spin for respite. None of it was forthcoming as Warner put away two short deliveries from Aiden Markram before playing a pleasing inside-out loft over extra cover to complete a 12-run initiation. In the next over, Head launched two more sixes off Nortje to race to a 26-ball half-century and give his side a PowerPlay score of 102/0 — the highest in ODIs in South Africa.
South Africa caught a break eventually in the 12th over when Head mishit a loft off Shamsi, South Africa’s best bowler of the evening, and saw David Miller complete an excellent catch running back from mid-on. The left-arm legspinner struck for a second time a ball later when Mitchell Marsh missed an attempted reverse sweep and was dismissed LBW courtesy a DRS review.
After a 109-run opening partnership, Australia had lost two in two. But that was no reason to dial down the tempo of the innings. Labuschagne joined Warner and instantly displayed the kind of nimble footwork that was on show two nights ago when he arrived to the series as a ‘Concussion Substitute’. His battle against Shamsi had a bit of an edge to it with the batter looking to pull out the sweeps and the bowler not shy of returning words. At the other end, Warner, surprisingly, took a less dramatic route to a half-century and then marked the milestone by launching Phehlukwayo for a six.
By the 27th over, this third-wicket pair had given Australia their second century stand of the innings. Warner raced away to 93 off 77 while Labuschagne had serenely motored along to a run-a-ball 49. The veteran opener completed his 20th ODI century with a four and a trademark leap in the middle of a 16-run over from Shamsi that saw Labuschagne hit a six and four of his own. The right-hander followed that up by taking Nortje for three more fours in the following over. Such was Labuschagne’s acceleration post his half-century that he was already on 85 off 67 when Warner eventually fell – bowled to a ball that kept low – for 106.
Labuschagne eventually got to his second ODI ton off just 80 balls and shared another quickfire 83-run partnership with Josh Inglis, who added to the mayhem with a 37-ball 50. South Africa did, however, come back well in the final phase of the innings, with Shamsi taking two more wickets to finish with excellent returns of 4 for 61 and put the lid somewhat on the big hits. Australia managed only 134 for 6 from the final 18 overs, but the 48 fours and 9 sixes their batters achieved meant the score was only just shy of the rather ridiculous 400-mark.
It was always going to be a steep ask from the Proteas to keep up with the scoreboard pressure. But they did make a fist of it in the early running when Quinton de Kock and Bavuma added 81 runs in 9 overs before the keeper-bat fell to a sharp return catch from Nathan Ellis for 45. The introduction of Zampa then put the brakes on the chase with the ace legspinner trapping Bavuma LBW for 46 while attempting a paddle sweep and then having Aiden Markram caught. When Rassie van der Dussen dragged a Hardie delivery on to his stumps, the game appeared to have been settled.
But Heinrich Klaasen kept South Africa in the game with a series of superb strikes, especially off the bowling of Head. Zampa returned to castle him with a skidder. David Miller kept the flame of the chase flickering for some more time but when he became the fourth South African batter to get out in the 40s, the writing was on the wall. The final rites were read in the 42nd over.
Brief scores:
Australia 392/8 in 50 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 124, David Warner 106; Tabraiz Shamsi 4-61) beat South Africa 269 in 41.5 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 49, David Miller 49; Adam Zampa 4-48) by 123 runs
(Cricbuzz)
by Rex Clementine
The Niroshan Dickwella experiment has proved short lived, with the national selectors deciding to move on and handing a maiden Test call up to 22-year-old Anjala Bandara, who is expected to take over the wicketkeeping duties for the two match Test series against Pakistan.
Dickwella’s recall after more than three years in the wilderness had raised quite a few eyebrows. The selectors defended their decision, arguing that he remained the finest wicketkeeper in the country. Few disputed that claim. The concerns, however, were never about his glovework but rather his ability to shut out the noise, keep his emotions in check and maintain discipline off the field. True to form, India’s fielders managed to get under his skin in the second innings of the Galle Test and the left-hander duly lost patience and threw his wicket away.
A fellow left-hander, Bandara’s journey to the national side has been anything but conventional. He first emerged from the little known Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya in Matale before being snapped up by St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota. He eventually found his way to Mahanama College for his Under-19 cricket and now turns out for Colombo Cricket Club.
While Bandara has been prolific with the bat, boasting a formidable First Class average of 65, his work behind the stumps remains a work in progress. The selectors, however, believe he has made sufficient strides to be thrown into the deep end of Test cricket.
“We had a special programme for Anjala. In fact, we sent him to Mahesh Gunathilaka, one of the finest wicketkeepers produced by the country. He has worked on a few areas and we feel he is ready for Test match cricket,” Chairman of Selectors Kapila Wijegunawardene told The Island.
Wijegunawardene also confirmed that Pasindu Sooriyabandara would open the batting in Pakistan.
The former Royal College batter made his Test debut as a concussion substitute against India in Galle after Dinesh Chandimal was injured, but his introduction to the highest level was hardly a fairytale as he departed for a first ball duck. He made amends in the second Test, however, with impressive knocks of 80 and 92, showing that his baptism by fire had done little to dent his confidence.
Although Pathum Nissanka has been included in the squad, his availability remains subject to fitness. The prolific opener had been expected to return for the tri-nation series in Pakistan beginning later this week, but his recovery from the hamstring strain that ruled him out of the T20 series has taken longer than anticipated.
The Pakistan series will also mark Kusal Mendis’ first assignment as Test captain. His predecessor, Dhananjaya de Silva, who stepped down from the leadership, retains his place in the squad, although whether he makes the playing XI is another matter.
With competition for middle order places heating up, the former captain could find himself in a straight shootout with Kamindu Mendis for one of the remaining berths. It is an intriguing selection headache, particularly given that Dhananjaya was leading the side only a few weeks ago.
Another interesting inclusion is Eshan Malinga, who has largely been regarded as a white ball specialist. The selectors have now opened the door for him in the longest format, offering the young quick an opportunity to prove that his skills extend beyond the limited overs game.
by Reemus Fernando
Richmond College are all but through to the quarter-finals of the Under-19 Division I Tier A Limited Overs Tournament after a nine-run win over Maris Stella College, Negombo, under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method at the Army Grounds in Karandeniya on Monday.
It was Richmond’s third straight victory, and it puts them at the top of Group ‘B’ with one match remaining.
Batting first, Richmond posted 171 for nine in their allotted 50 overs, with Bevin Jayawardana top-scoring with a patient 55 off 88 balls. Punal Hansajith contributed 24 off 39 deliveries, while Risinu Rupasinghe made 22 and Ravinu Randinu added 18.
Maris Stella’s Malan Kadigamuwa led the bowling effort with three wickets for 37 runs in nine overs, while Rosel Perera claimed two wickets for 31 runs in his 10-over spell.
In reply, Maris Stella reached 127 for six in 42 overs against a revised DLS target of 136. Richmond therefore secured victory by nine runs under the method.
Punal Hansajith and Tenusha Nimsara claimed two wickets each to keep the Maris Stella batting line-up in check. Hansajith conceded just 20 runs in nine overs, while Nimsara gave away 14 runs in seven overs, with both bowlers maintaining tight control.
For Maris Stella Kavith de Silva scored 29 off 46 balls, while Gaveesha Induwara remained unbeaten on 24 off 38 deliveries. Manuja Nayanajith added 23 off 55 balls, and Yumeth Sathmira contributed 16.
In their previous encounters bowlers domnated for Richmond to beat Sri Sumangala College Panadura and St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa comfortably.
Sri Sumangala were dismissed for 106 runs with Hiruk Akalanka, Tenusha Nimsara and Punal Hansajith claiming two wickets apiece. Akalanka returned figures of 2 for 21 in six overs, while Nimsara took 2 for 21 in five overs, including one maiden. Hansajith also claimed two wickets, conceding 24 runs in 5.3 overs. Hiruka Akalanka then lead the chase with a knock of 45run (in 46 balls with5fours and 2 sixes) to seal a six wickets win.
The match against St. Sebastian’s saw Tenusha Nimsara hog the limelight, taking a five-wicket haul to restrict the Moratuwa outfit to 115 runs.
Richmond had a few anxious moments in reply but got home with two wickets in hand.
In Group ‘A’ the contest is still open with S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia slightly ahead of others after Jaden Amaraweera scored a cracking 76 off 75 balls (7x4s, 4x6s) to lead them to six wickets win over Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa (153/8 in 50 overs) on Monday. S. Thomas’ (200/9 in 50 overs) had a DLS tie against Trinity (126?4 in 36) and their other match ended in a no decision.
While Mahinda were leading Group ‘C’ by Monday, Nalanda completed their quota of first round matches unbeaten in Group ‘D’.
Diversified conglomerate CIC Holdings PLC (CSE: CIC) has partnered with Sri Lankan national athlete Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage as his Official Nutritional & Wellness Partner, supporting his journey towards the 2028 Olympic Games and his ambition to bring home Sri Lanka’s first ever Olympic gold medal.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment that extends beyond conventional sports sponsorship, with CIC standing alongside Rumesh through the years of preparation.
Rumesh Tharanga has established himself among the world’s leading javelin throwers following a landmark 2026 season. He set a Sri Lankan national record of 92.62 metres in Rome, claimed the Commonwealth Games title and became Sri Lanka’s first Diamond League champion. He strengthened his position as the world’s No. 1 ranked men’s javelin thrower by winning gold at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest with a 91.09 metre final round throw. Most recently, he won Sri Lanka’s only gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 by winning the men’s javelin throw
For more than six decades, CIC has been part of the lives of Sri Lankans through its presence across agriculture, healthcare and wellness, personal care and other sectors. The partnership extends this longstanding role of nurturing Sri Lankan lives to supporting the journey of an athlete pursuing an ambition with significance for the entire nation.
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