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Latham and Young centuries hand New Zealand thumping victory

Published

2 years ago

2025/02/20

Priyan

Tom Latham and Will Young paced their centuries perfectly [Cricinfo]

Pakistan had to wait for nearly three decades for a global tournament to return to their country, but New Zealand spoiled their party on the opening day of the Champions Trophy, handing the co-hosts a 60-run loss in Karachi. In a short, sharp tournament, where each team plays just three group-stage games, a defeat like this might jeopardise Pakistan’s chances of making the semi-finals. Will Young and Tome Latham were the architects of their team’s victory, both batters scoring outstanding hundreds to set up the dominance that followed but there was also a little bit of luck.

Two balls into the game, Fakhar Zaman suffered an injury while chasing a cover drive from Young and was forced off the field for large parts of the first innings. As result of the time spent off the field, Fakhar, whose big hitting is exactly what was necessary for a big chase, could not open the batting in their pursuit of 321. And when he came out to bat at No. 4 – Pakistan were 22 for 2 in ten overs at the time – he was visibly hampered while running between the wickets. New Zealand’s offspinners, Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips, kept hiding the ball away from his reach and made life even more difficult for him. Fakhar’s tortured stay eventually ended when Bracewell bowled him with a non-turner for 24 off 41 balls.

Just like Fakhar, most of the Pakistan batters failed to get out first gear, including Babar Azam who needed 81 balls for his fifty. New Zealand’s attack was depleted by the injuries to Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears, but their spinners made up for that on a pitch that offered turn and variable bounce. The spinners were so good that New Zealand didn’t need Nathan Smith, their third seamer, until the 31st over. By then Pakistan’s asking rate had almost touched ten an over.

New Zealand were also depleted by the injury-enforced absence of Rachin Ravindra, but Young and Latham scored tone-setting hundreds before Glenn Philllips provided an electric finish. In all, New Zealand plundered 113 off their last ten overs to finish with 320.

That total, however, had looked so far away when New Zealand were reduced to 40 for 2 in the ninth over and then 73 for 3 in the 17th over. That’s when Young got together with Latham to repair the early damage and then boss the middle overs.

Young has spent much of his international career on the fringes. He might not have played this game had Ravindra been fit and despite his maiden international hundred away from home, he might make way for Ravindra once the allrounder recovers. In Kane Williamson’s absence, Young had emerged as the Player of the Series in New Zealand’s historic 3-0 sweep of India in India but was left out for Williamson in New Zealand’s very next Test against England at home. However, whenever Young gets an opportunity, he’s ready to take it, like he demonstrated once again on Wednesday.

After Devon Conway was undone by a carrom ball from mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed for 10 and Williamson fell for his first single digit ODI score in six years, in the next over, Young reined himself in and saw off challenging spells from Abrar and Naseem Shah.

Young brought up his third fifty-plus score in nine innings in Pakistan and converted it into a century. He got there in 107 balls in the 35th over, with Ravindra warmly applauding him from the dressing room.

As for Latham, he rattled off his own hundred off 95 balls and remained unbeaten on 118 off 104 balls. It capped a remarkable turnaround for him after he had come into the tri-series final on the back of three ducks, stretching back to the Auckland ODI against Sri Lanka in January. After being assisted by multiple reprieves on his way to 56 in the tri-series final against Pakistan, Latham reminded the world of his full range. He played a variety of sweeps, including the reverse, off a variety of lengths to disrupt Pakistan’s spinners. Fifty-two of his 118 runs came square or behind square on the leg side.

After Young holed out for 107, Latham forged 125-run partnership with Phillips for the fifth wicket off just 74 balls. Having been on 10 off 18 balls, Phillips surged to his fifty off his next 16 balls. He had launched Shaheen for back-to-back sixes and then when he shaped to ramp Haris Rauf over short third, he ended up toe-ending it to the fielder for 61 off 39.

Phillips wasn’t done though. He produced the play of the day when he leapt to his left from point, stuck out one hand above his head and held onto a screamer to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan for 3 off 14 balls on the last ball of the first powerplay. Will O’Rourke had already dismissed Saud Shakeel, the makeshift opener in place of Fakhar, for 6 in the fourth over. Matt Henry, who had missed the tri-series final with a knee niggle, also kept it tight in the first powerplay, which yielded Pakistan only 22 for 2.

It was Pakistan’s lowest score in the first ten overs since March 2019 and third lowest in the history of the Champions Trophy. There would be no way back for them, despite late blows from Khushdil Shah, who hit 69 off 49 balls, and the lower order. Pakistan were ultimately bowled out for 260 in the 48th over.

In his first match at a global event as New Zealand captain, Santner came away with three wickets though he took some tap at the end. For the third time in a space of two weeks, New Zealand put Pakistan away with ruthless efficiency and embellished their status as title contenders.

Brief scores:
New Zealand 320 for 5 in 50 overs (Tom Latham 118*, Will Young 107, Glenn Phillips 61; Naseem Shah 2-63, Haris Rauf 2-83) beat Pakistan260 in 47.2 overs (Khushdil Shah 69, Babar Azam 64, Fakhar Zaman 24, Salman Agha 42; Will O’Rourke 3-47, Mitchell Santner 3-66, Matt Henry 2-25) by 60 runs

[Cricinfo]

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Nahida, Marufa help Bangladesh brush aside Indonesia

Published

5 hours ago

2026/09/1

Priyan

Marufa Akter's three overs included two wickets and a maiden [Asian Cricket Council]

A superb bowling performance led by Marufa Akter and the spin attack helped Bangladesh overcome Indonesia in their Asia Cup opener in Dubai.

Indonesia, on their Asia Cup debut, put up a spirited performance especially with the ball to restrict Bangladesh to 129 for 8. Sobhana Mostary , playing her 100th international match, top-scored with 40, while Shorna Akter injected late momentum with 31 off 18 balls. Indonesia in return were bowled out for 58, with left-arm spinner Nahida Akter finishing with figures of 3 for 15.

Indonesia make early inroads

Indonesia’s Ni Made Putri Suwandewi found swing almost immediately but Bangladesh’s openers handled the movement well to make a positive start, scoring four boundaries in the first two overs. But that did not last long as Suwandewi struck in her second over, having Juairiya Ferdous mistime an inswinging delivery towards cover point, where Ni Ariani came forward and held a sharp low catch to give Indonesia their first wicket in Asia Cup.

Mostary and Dilara Akter then found run-scoring increasingly difficult. Bangladesh managed only one boundary between the third over and the end of the powerplay, reaching 30 for 1.

Indonesia’s spinners maintained the pressure thereafter, conceding only a few boundaries and repeatedly forcing Bangladesh’s batters to manufacture their shots. The partnership between Mostary andDilara struggled to gather momentum and was eventually broken when Ariani had Dilara caught for 27 off 31 balls. Bangladesh reached 58 for 2 at the halfway stage.

Shorna shines, Indonesia sparkle

Bangladesh’s first six came only in the 13th over thanks to Mostary. But her attempt to accelerate was checked soon after as 16-year old legspinner Sofia Velic, on her international debut, dismissed captain Nigar Sultana. Mostary was then left with the responsibility of guiding Bangladesh towards a competitive total, but Indonesia continued to restrict the scoring. Ni Luh Dewi struck twice in the 17th over to remove Mostary for 40 and Ritu Moni, leaving Bangladesh in further trouble.

Shorna briefly changed the momentum, hitting a six and a four, but Indonesia’s bowling ensured Bangladesh could not fully capitalise. Indonesia too dropped as many as three catches but the reprieves did not make much of an impact.

Ariani produced a dramatic finish to the innings, picking up two wickets as Bangladesh slipped from 105 for 3 to 129 for 8. They lost five wickets for 21 runs in just 17 balls, with Shorna, who had looked Bangladesh’s most fluent batter late in the innings, stranded at the non-striker’s end for much of the final over.

Bangladesh bowlers rule

Marufa began with a probing over, getting the ball to swing both ways and keeping Indonesia’s openers cautious. She broke through in her second over, having Rahmawati Pangestuti edge a full delivery to mid-on. she struck again in her next over, trapping Maria Corazon lbw with a full ball that swung sharply into her pads and beat her attempted flick. Indonesia had lost both openers early but they had made a slightly better start than Bangladesh managed during their own powerplay.

But the game shifted after the powerplay as Bangladesh’s spinners tightened the screws. Senior legspinner Fahima Khatun ended Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini’s difficult stay at the crease in the ninth over, trapping the Indonesia captain in front for just 2 off 15 balls. Sanjida Akter Meghla followed up with another wicket in the next over, trapping Dewi lbw after she missed a length ball that came into her pads.

Nahida struck in the 12th over but it was in the 14th over that Indonesia’s innings completely fell apart. Nahida first dismissed Suwandewi for 3 after a mistimed pull. Sofia Velic was then run out for 1 following a quick throw from deep fine leg, before Nahida finished the over by bowling Ariani for 2. Indonesia had slipped to eight down, and two more run-outs completed their innings as Bangladesh sealed a convincing 71-run victory.

Scores:
Bangladesh Women 129 for 8 in 20 overs (Dilara Akter 27, Sobhana Mostary 40, Nigar Sultana 10, Shorna Akter 31*; Ni Made Putri Suwandevi 1-13, Ni Ariani 3-28, Ni Luh Dewi 2-21) beat Indonesia Women 58 in 17.3 overs (Maria Corazon 12; Marufa Akter 2-06, Sanjida Akter Meghia 1-11, Nahida nahida 3-15, Fahima Khatun 1-09) by 71 runs

[Cricinfo]

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Sun directly overhead Kalpitiya, Talawa, Sinharagama, Galkadawala, Nachchaduwa, Padikaramaduwa, Gomarankalla and Verugal about 12.10 noon today (01)

Published

7 hours ago

2026/09/1

Priyan

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 (01) are Kalpitiya, Talawa, Sinharagama, Galkadawala,
Nachchaduwa, Padikaramaduwa, Gomarankalla and Verugal about 12.10 noon.

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Sri Lanka lose Women’s Champions Trophy hosting rights

Published

23 hours ago

2026/08/31

Priyan

The change in venue could significantly impact the Sri Lanka side (Cricinfo)

The inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy, scheduled for February 2027, will be moved out of Sri Lanka with the SLC set to be stripped of hosting rights. Cricinfo has confirmed that the six-team event will be played at a different venue in the same window, and it is likely to be held in India. The new hosts will be confirmed at the next ICC board meeting in October.

Sri Lanka have lost the right to stage the tournament, which was due to be their second ICC event in a year after they also co-hosted the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup, because of government interference in their board. The SLC has an interim administration, called the Transformation Committee, which was put in place by the Sri Lankan government and will oversee major board changes including to the constitution.

The ICC does not recognise politically appointed administrations and SLC representatives have not been at ICC board meetings since the Transformation Committee was put in place.

The change in venue could significantly impact the Sri Lanka side, who only qualified for the event by virtue of it being held in their country. The competition is limited to the top six teams on the ICC rankings and, as of the rankings update on Saturday, Sri Lanka are currently seventh. Australia, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa make up the top five. West Indies are sixth and would have originally missed out but if Sri Lanka do not qualify, then the Caribbean could sneak in.

This will be the second time in three years that Sri Lanka have lost out on an ICC event. In 2023, the 2024 men’s Under-19 World Cup was taken away from them for the same reasons and moved to South Africa.

In any case, while the Transformation Committee is in charge, SLC’s electoral processes stand suspended. The Transformation Committee’s official task is to reform that very electoral system, and the Sri Lanka Cricket constitution in general. According to the country’s laws, this can only be done through parliament.

The Transformation Committee has said it has produced a fresh constitution which is expected to be taken up in parliament over the next few weeks. Members of that Transformation Committee told Cricinfo that it expects for SLC elections to take place before the end of 2026, so long as the parliamentary process runs smoothly.

(Cricinfo)