Sports

Malan special guides England home in tense chase

Published

3 years ago

2023/03/3

Dawid Malan played the best innings of his ODI career to steer England to a tense three-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Mirpur and further his case for inclusion in their World Cup defence in India later this year.

England made tough work of a target of 210, slipping to 65 for 4 and 161 for 7 as Bangladesh’s spinners squeezed the life out of their chase. But Malan, batting at No. 3, saw them home with eight balls to spare, adding an unbroken 51 for the eighth wicket with Adil Rashid to seal the win.

Malan has been a peripheral member of England’s 50-over set-up for most of his career but has taken every opportunity that has come his way in the past nine months. He has now hit hundreds in each of the last four bilateral ODI series he has featured in; given the circumstances, this innings was the pick of them.

This fixture started barely 24 hours after the remarkable climax of England’s Test against New Zealand in Wellington, some 7,000 miles away from Dhaka. They fielded completely separate sides – though Will Jacks, an unused squad member at the Basin Reserve, flew to Bangladesh on the second day of the Test, and won his first ODI cap.

Joe Root, England’s leading scorer at the 2019 World Cup, was among those unavailable due to the fixture clash and is nailed on to bat at No. 3 when the schedule allows him to return to the ODI side. Yet Malan is also an experienced opener and, at this stage, looks as strong a candidate as any to fulfil that role alongside Jonny Bairstow.

It was not easy-going for Malan, who battled his way to 50 off 92 at the second drinks break as England desperately looked to survive, in particular against the threatening Mehidy Hasan Miraz. But he relieved the scoring pressure after the interval, crashing Mehidy over cover and then lofting him for a straight six, eventually guiding them across the line by working Najmul Hassan Shanto through midwicket.

Shanto had top-scored for Bangladesh with a gritty, 82-ball 58 from No. 3 – an innings that was not dissimilar to Malan’s. He extended his recent Bangladesh Premier League form – he was the league’s top-scorer – with his maiden ODI half-century, an overdue landmark in his 16th innings.

Bangladesh struggled to build partnerships throughout their innings, with Shanto and Mahmadullah combining for Bangladesh’s only 50-run stand. England shared wickets around, with their three seamers and three spinners both accounting for five batters between them.

Tamim Iqbal opted to bat first and made a bright start, hitting four early boundaries after surviving a chance when Chris Woakes put down a caught-and-bowled opportunity in the first over. Litton Das, his opening partner, pulled Woakes for six over square leg as Bangladesh raced to 33 for 0 in 4.4 overs, but was trapped lbw by the next ball he faced.

Shanto was also reprieved early, dropped by a sprawling Jason Roy at backward point, but hit his next two balls for four and settled into a rhythm on a slow, low pitch.Mark Wood, playing his first ODI since July 2021, bowled the final over of the initial powerplay and struck with his third ball to remove Tamim. He breached the 90mph/145kph mark with his second ball, then rushed Tamim with his third, a back-of-a-length ball which bounced appreciably; Bangladesh’s captain could only fend onto his own stumps, via his elbow.

Adil Rashid had Mushfiqur Rahim caught at deep midwicket on the slog-sweep, and Bangladesh were 106 for 4 when Shakib Al Hasan was cleaned up by Moeen Ali. Shanto continued to accumulate, but after reverse-sweeping Rashid for four, he pulled Rashid’s googly straight to Roy at short midwicket to fall for 58.

When Mahmudullah strangled Wood down the leg side, Bangladesh were in danger of being bowled out. Jacks took his maiden ODI wicket when Afif Hossain pulled tamely to mid-on, and Mehidy Hasan edged Archer behind cheaply. Taskin Ahmed hit Rashid for six and then four to ensure Bangladesh would post something competitive before he strangled Archer down the leg side, with Taijul skying a return catch to Moeen to end the innings with 16 balls unused.

England struggled for fluency in the chase, and lost Roy in the first over as he chipped to mid-off while looking to hit Shakib over his head. Phil Salt’s scratchy innings came to an end when Taijul’s arm ball skidded into his leg stump via his pad and when James Vince was stumped charging the same bowler, England were in trouble at 45 for 3. Soon after, Malan survived a tight lbw shout on review, with ball-tracking predicting Taijul’s offbreak would have clipped leg stump rather than hitting it flush.

Tamim attacked just before the first drinks break, bringing Taskin back into the attack and posting Shanto at slip in the 17th over. He was rewarded immediately, as Jos Buttler steered a back-of-a-length ball straight to the close catcher, bringing Jacks in at No. 6 on debut. Jacks, playing his first List A game since 2019, struggled early on but a flurry of boundaries took scoring pressure off Malan, who was battling hard against Mehidy’s offbreaks.

But Jacks holed out to midwicket for a flashy 26, and when Mehidy’s final ball skidded into Moeen’s stumps after a 38-run stand with Malan, England were wobbling. Woakes chipped Taijul to mid-on with 49 runs required and three wickets left, but Rashid proved the perfect foil for Malan. He calmly rotated the strike as Malan opted to attack; with Mustafizur Rahman proving expensive, Tamim eventually ran out of options as England snuck home.

Brief scores:

England 212 for 7 (David Malan 114*, Taijul Islam 3-54) beat Bangladesh 209 (Najmul Hassan Shanto 58, Jofra Archer 2-37, Mark Wood 2-34) by three wickets

(Cricinfo)

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Sports

Croospulle stars as Sri Lanka ‘A’ clinch one-day series against Kiwis

Published

30 mins ago

2026/04/9

Sahan Weerasooriya

Croospulle with a stunning hundred helped Sri Lanka ‘A’ clinch the second One-Dayer against New Zealand ‘A’ at Suriyawewa yesterday.

A stunning hundred by opening bat Lasith Croospulle helped Sri Lanka ‘A’ to post a commanding 368 for nine in their allotted 50 overs and then restrict New Zealand ‘A’ to 158 for three and a secure a 44 run win [DLS method] at Suriyawewa yesterday. The win helped Sri Lanka to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

The star for Sri Lanka ‘A’ was the former Maris Stella College, Negombo cricketer Lasith Croospulle as he smashed 103 off just 76 balls hitting 13 fours and six sixes as the hosts piled up the runs.

Croospulle has represented Sri Lanka in one T20I and performances such as these are sure to earn him a regular spot in the white ball sides.

The middle order then ensured that they didn’t spoil the good work of the top order with captain Sahan Arachchige and Sonal Dinusha posting half-centuries.

Arachchige smashed 76 in 68 balls with five fours and two sixes while young Sonal Dinusha put the bowling to the sword during the death overs. His 93 came off 77 deliveries with six fours and four sixes.

Dinusha, who has already made his Test debut and impressed many with his electric fielding could have gone on to post his hundred but sacrificed his wicket in a bid to score quick runs.

With the World Cup less than a year away and the selectors keeping a close eye on the second string, performances like these are sure to get their attention.

Rain reduced the game to 28 overs and New Zealand were given a revised target of 203 but they only managed 158 for three to hand Sri Lanka a comfortable win.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ had won the first game by 140 runs in Galle. Saturday’s third one-dayer will be a dead rubber.

The teams will stay back at Suriyawewa for two further weeks where the two match unofficial Test series will be played.

The composition for the four day games is set to change with Pasindu Sooriyabandara set to lead the side.

Sports

St. Joseph’s book final berth as Akash leads spin attack

Published

31 mins ago

2026/04/9

Sahan Weerasooriya

Vigneswaran Akash

St. Joseph’s College secured a place in the final after their spinners, spearheaded by Sri Lanka Under-19 spinner Vigneswaran Akash, overcame determined resistance from the Prince of Wales College tail to claim first innings points in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ tournament semi-final at the D.H.H. Ground, Madampella on Wednesday.

‎The final day began with an early breakthrough when spinner Vishwa Peiris struck in the very first over to dismiss overnight centurion Thusindu Deemantha. Deemantha, who had already batted for more than three sessions, anchored the Cambrians’ innings with remarkable determination while chasing St. Joseph’s imposing first innings total of 354.

‎At that stage Prince of Wales were still more than 100 runs adrift with only four wickets in hand, but the lower order refused to surrender easily. Number seven batsman Pasan Cooray dug in with a courageous knock of 66, frustrating the Josephian bowlers for long periods.

‎However, Akash gradually tightened the screws on the tail, claiming three of Cooray’s partners before the resistance was finally broken. Cooray eventually fell to Nushan Perera, who played a crucial holding role despite taking just one wicket. Perera bowled a disciplined spell of 25 overs, conceding just over two runs per over to keep the pressure on the Cambrians.

‎Akash emerged as the pick of the bowlers with impressive figures of four wickets for 109 runs from a marathon 33-over spell.

‎As expected, the outcome of the match was effectively decided once the first innings concluded. With the semi-final berth secured, the remainder of the contest became a formality as St. Joseph’s batted through until the penultimate over of the match.

‎Opener Aveesha Samash continued his outstanding form by registering back-to-back centuries. Having scored 122 in the first innings, Samash followed it up with a brilliant 133 off 104 balls, striking 20 fours and a six as St. Joseph’s posted 238 for four in 48 overs.

‎Yenula Danthanarayana contributed 28 while Senuja Wakunegoda added a useful 48. Shehan Ashein and Matheesha Aponso claimed two wickets apiece for Prince of Wales.

‎St. Joseph’s will now wait two more days to learn their opponents for the final.

‎Meanwhile, in the second semi-final which commenced on Wednesday, Royal College ended the opening day strongly at 328 for four against Trinity College, with Dushen Udawela leading the charge with a fine century of 105. (RF)

Sports

Manimaran-Wijesiriwardena trophy at stake when Rahula Matara host Hartley Point Pedro at Uyanwatta on Friday

Published

32 mins ago

2026/04/9

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rahula defeated Hartley by seven wickets in last year's encounter played at Point Pedro.

BATTLE OF THE ENDS

The Manimaran – Wijesiriwardena Trophy will be up for grabs when Rahula College Matara host Hartley College Point Pedro for the 7th edition of the’ Battle of the Ends’ the traditional encounter between two schools situated at the Southern and Northern points of the island.

The annual encounter between these two schools was envisioned by two illustrious cricketers, Ramakrishnan Manimaran of Hartley College and Lal Wijesiriwardena of Rahula who are domiciled in Australia. The inaugural game was hosted at the Uyanwatta Stadium in 2017 and has been played continuously except from 2020 to 2022 due to the Covid 19 pandemic. The series so far has been one sided with Rahula College winning all six previous encounters.

The Rahula XI led by M.A.Nadil Sandesh will be selected from Janiru Thejana Wijayawardana, D.G.Indumin pawara Pabasara, J.K.Aayu Geesara Kaviraj, H.G.Pramuditha Nawanjana, Naviru Nethwan Abeydiwakara, Ishantha Gimhan Abesingha, M.L.Senuk Dewditha, Jayaru Kaveeshwara Ekanayake, .H.M.Eeshala Uththiya Bandara, A.A.Lithum Seunitha, R.M Chathum Geenath Rathnayaka, H.A Shewan Shanuka, H.Sandalu Hasaranga Rajapaksha, H.M.Hirun Manyuga, J.K.Divan Sri Nithish, K.B.Minidu Idusha, Dulana Mallawaraja Samarawickrama Abeysekara

The visiting Hartley College Team for this years ‘ Battle of the Ends’ is led by T Abishaan and will be selected from R Kishaaran, K Kanalventhan, S Mathushan, P Atheesh,V Venukaran, V Vishrukeethan, S Thanushanth, J Ilankeeran, R Jathushan, S Vikasan, D Blesshin, U Abinayan, T Jishnuram, A Arshaan

Hartley College will miss the services of Sri Lanka Under 19 player, Vigenshwaran Akash who moved to St Joseph’s College Colombo this season. Akash was the top scorer for Hartley in last year’s encounter which Rahula won by seven wickets.