Sports
Nat Sciver-Brunt, Maia Bouchier plunder Sri Lanka before Charlie Dean seals series
This time, it was Nat Sciver-Brunt’s turn. Playing her 100th ODI and captaining the side after Heather Knight was forced to return to the team hotel feeling unwell, she plundered 120 off 74 balls, including a 66-ball century – which was the fastest by an England Women’s player in ODIs – to lead her side to a thumping 161-run victory over Sri Lanka in the third and final match in Leicester for a 2-0 series win.
Maria Bouchier was far more than just a bit-part character with her blistering 95 from 65 balls as the pair rescued their side from 18 for 2 with a 193-run partnership for the third wicket. Between them they set Sri Lanka a daunting target of 274 in a match reduced to 31 overs a side, after rain delayed the start by more than three hours (along with mopping-up efforts and pitch inspections). Then Charlie Dean appeared, taking a maiden international five-wicket haul to put the ending beyond doubt.
This entire tour by Sri Lanka has produced some gripping narratives. The visitors’ 2-1 upset in the T20I series, including their first victories in the format against England – ranked six places higher – was built on captain Chamari Athapaththu’s stellar year with the bat and exposed the hosts’ weakness against spin. Then followed the dream ODI debuts of young seamers Mahika Gaur and Lauren Filer in the opening match as the hosts turned things around before taking a stranglehold of the second fixture which was ultimately washed out.
Yes, this victory also came against a side ranked considerably lower than England in the 50-over format but that takes nothing away from the performance of Sciver-Brunt.
It was less than a week ago that Sciver-Brunt returned to the England side, having been rested for the T20I series after being England’s Player of the Women’s Ashes, although she helped Blaze to victory over Central Sparks with an unbeaten 66 in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy during that time. Her comeback match came in a seven-wicket win in Durham, a year after she left an England training camp in the same city to take an extended mental health break.
Just as Ben Stokes did with England Men, Sciver-Brunt has led by example in terms of enabling players to speak up when they need to care for their mental well-being. And, just as Stokes did with his 182 in the third ODI against New Zealand the previous day, Sciver-Brunt again highlighted her indispensability to any side she is part of, taking charge of the storyline after a fraught start when the visitors won the toss and opted to bowl under heavy skies.
Tammy Beaumont survived on 1 when she struck Udeshika Prabodhani hard but straight to Harshitha Smarawickrama, who fumbled the chance at deep midwicket. Achini Kulasuriya then beat Beaumont’s outside edge with an excellent ball which also just missed off stump, then tempted Beaumont to advance on the next ball, only to be caught by Hasini Perera at slip.
Bouchier, opening alongside Beaumont with Emma Lamb out with a back spasm, despatched Prabodhani over deep midwicket for six next over. Prabodhani responded by castling Alice Capsey, who managed just 6 batting in Knight’s place at No. 3, and England were struggling inside the six-over Powerplay which they ended at 28 for 2.
But by the 10-over mark that had become 72 for 2, thanks in no small part to Sciver-Brunt, who helped herself to 15 of the 16 runs conceded by Inoka Ranaweera in her first over, her back-foot drive through cover followed by a thunderous pull to the rope at deep midwicket and a monstrous six into the stands beyond long-off.
Bouchier, who made her ODI debut in Durham having played 22 T20Is, kept pace beautifully, launching a free hit of Hansima Karunaratne following a no-ball for height, over the fence with disdain at cow corner for her second maximum. She brought up her maiden 50-over fifty with the second of three fours in a row as she peppered the leg side off Oshadi Ranasinghe.
Sciver brought up her half-century in just 32 balls with four off Ranaweera and she raised England’s 150 with a nonchalant scoop to the fine leg boundary off Kavisha Dilhari, one of three fours conceded by the young off-spinner in her first over as the England batters continued picking them off at will.
Prabodhani did her best to end their union just before they reached the 200-mark in the 23rd over with one that beat Sciver-Brunt’s back-foot swipe and somehow evaded off stump. Sciver-Brunt brought up her century moments later with a single off Kulasuriya, but then Dilhari pinned Bouchier lbw to end a brilliant innings.
Sciver-Brunt didn’t flinch, peeling off three fours from the same Dilhari over and another off Ranaweera through extra cover, but she perished next ball, picking out long-off.
That brought debutant Bess Heath to the crease and she managed 21 off 14 balls, including a six over deep midwicket off Kulasuriya and a reverse-sweep for four off Dilhari, who then ended Heath’s cameo as she holed out to Karunaratne.
Gaur and Filer again combined to make inroads on the Sri Lanka line-up and when off-spinner Dean trapped Athapaththu lbw for just 12 in the ninth over, Sri Lanka were in deep trouble at 46 for 4.
Dean, called upon to lead the spin-bowling attack alongside Sarah Glenn with Sophie Ecclestone sidelined initially through workload management but now because of a shoulder injury, then produced the epilogue, snaring three wickets in five balls to all but close the book on the match. Her return catch to remove Karuanaratne was followed by Perera, Sri Lanka’s top-scorer with 32, caught behind and then an excellent delivery that turned between bat and pad and crashed into Dilhari’s off stump. Her fifth wicket came as Prabodhani dragged on and Filer sealed victory with her third, rearranging Kulasuriya’s stumps to end her breakout season on a high.
So ended England Women’s international summer, with progress made, talent unearthed, lessons learned and work still to do, all the while leaving that empty feeling that you get at the end of a real page-turner, because we won’t see the results for months to come. That’s what we’re doing here.
England 273 for 8 (Sciver-Brunt 120, Bouchier 92) beat Sri Lanka 112 (Perera 32, Dean 5-31) by 161 runs
Eshan Malinga returned career best figures of four for 46, but his impressive spell could not prevent Pakistan from breaching the 300 run mark in the curtain-raiser of the ODI tri-nation series in Rawalpindi on Sunday.
Pakistan were bowled out for 305, with former captain Salman Ali Agha leading the charge with his fourth ODI hundred.
Agha struck a fluent 107 off 90 deliveries, peppering the boundary with ten fours and a six before falling to Asitha Fernando. The Sri Lankan seamer was equally impressive, returning tidy figures of three for 39.
Agha featured in a 97 run partnership with Hasan Nawaz and at 215 for four with 13 overs remaining, Pakistan appeared poised for a formidable total. However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers clawed their way back into the contest, applying the brakes just when the hosts threatened to run away with the game.
On a surface tailor made for batting, Sri Lanka’s late fightback could prove crucial, with the visitors fancying their chances of chasing down the target.
Left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka finished with two for 67, although his figures flattered him somewhat. He was guilty of straying onto the pads far too often, offering the Pakistan batters several scoring opportunities.
Sri Lanka went into the contest with just four specialist bowlers, leaving the part timers to shoulder a fair share of the workload. To their credit, the makeshift attack rose to the occasion, sharing ten overs between three bowlers without allowing Pakistan to completely dictate terms.
Dasun Shanaka did the lion’s share of the work, sending down seven overs, while Sahan Arachchige and Kamindu Mendis chipped in with the remaining three.
Sri Lanka also welcomed back top order batter Avishka Fernando, who returned to the ODI fold after spending several years on the sidelines.
England are the third team in the tri-nation competition, which serves as valuable preparation for next year’s World Cup.
The opening three matches will be played in Rawalpindi before the tournament shifts to Lahore for the remaining fixtures, including the final.
Sri Lanka are in the midst of a marathon 50 day tour of Pakistan. Having already completed a three-match T20I series, they will turn their attention to the tri-nation tournament before playing a First Class warm-up fixture followed by two Tests.
19 Division I – Tier ‘A’ Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
The top eight teams begin their battle for the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ limited-overs title today, when Mahinda College, Galle, take on St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa, in the first quarter-final at Dombagoda.
Led by Dulsith Dharshana, Mahinda qualified for the knockout stage with wins over St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota (by five wickets), Royal College, Colombo (by six wickets) and Lumbini (by ten wickets). Their only defeat came against St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya, the only side to top 200 against them. In their other matches, Mahinda’s bowlers kept opponents to low totals.
That bowling unit, spearheaded by left-arm paceman Sadew Nethmina, appears to have peaked ahead of the crucial clash. They bundled Lumbini out for 40 in their last match, with Nethmina and Vishmitha Sathsara sharing nine wickets between them.
St. Sebastian’s reached the knockout stage on the back of wins over Maris Stella College, Negombo, and D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo. Their match against Sri Sumangala College, Panadura, ended without a result because of rain, while they lost by two wickets to Richmond, the eventual group champions.
St. Sebastian’s boast a strong batting line-up, with Hirusha Perera, Navinu Fernando, Lashen Fernando, Thivanka Fernando and Meshone Ferdinando all making notable contributions in the group stage. Skipper Koshendra Fernando is expected to lead the bowling attack with his spin, supported by Adeesha Lakshan, Lashen Fernando and Risinu Prabesh.
Teams
Mahinda (from):
Dulsith Darshana (Captain), Sadew Nethmina (Vice Captain), Randula Mabarana, Manitha Rajapaksha, Sehas Ashinsa, Kaveesha Githmal, Thiyon Helika, Kavindu Nimsata, Gesandu Bisas, Vishmitha Sathsara, Buddhima Tharupathi, Naviru Nishitha, Nihindu Sesitha, Anuga Palliyaguru, Senuja Vehan, Kevin Geemitha, Bakshara Jayarathne.
Officials: Denuwan Rajakaruna (Head Coach), Sandaru Nethmina (Asst. Coach), Y. Nishantha Kumara (Master in Charge)
St. Sebastian’s (from): Koshendra Fernando (Captain), Meshone Ferdinando, Nisila Dimath, Navinu Fernando, Hirusha Lochana, Lashen Fernando, Thejan Bandara, Chamath Wellalage, Risinu Prabesh, Sanoj Perera, Deneth Keshara, Adeesha Lakshan, Dilena Fernando, Thiwanka Fernando, Shenas Hashein, Pathiv Vehan, Dineepa Wickramsooriya.
Officials:
Lahiru Kanishka (Head coach), Nishantha Fernando (Asst. Coach), Sandaru Tharusha Perera (Master in Charge)
The other three quarter finals will be played on Tuesday as per the below schedule.
Mahanama Colombo V St. Joseph’s Darley Road at Mattegoda
Nalanda Colombo V St. Anthony’s Katugastota at Campbell Place
Richmond Galle V Wesley Colombo at Weeraketiya
Several big names fell at the first hurdle, including last year’s finalists Royal College, Colombo, as well as S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, Trinity College, Kandy, and St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya. Royal and St. Peter’s were in the same group and finished behind Mahinda and St. Anthony’s. S. Thomas’ were in Group ‘A’, where Mahanama and Wesley edged out the rest to book their places.
by Reemus Fernando
Asian Junior Championship medallist Mihinsa Dewmini Abeyratne broke a ten-year-old meet record to win the Under 20 high jump at the All Island Schools Games Athletics Championship at Diyagama on Sunday.
The President’s College, Embilipitiya, athlete cleared 1.75 metres, equalling her personal best, to erase the record of Poornima Gunarathne of Leeds International, Panadura. Gunarathne’s mark of 1.74 metres had stood since 2016.
Trained by retired sports officer Gamini Dias, Mihinsa was expected to achieve something special this season after setting a personal best of 1.75 metres at the same venue earlier this year. She followed that with a bronze medal at the Asian Junior Championship in Hong Kong.
Hers was one of six meet records to fall by the time this report was filed on day three of the meet.
In the girls’ category, Lyceum International School, Wattala, and Ave Maria Convent, Negombo, set new marks in relay events. In a closely contested Under 14 4×100 metres final, Lyceum clocked 51.35 seconds to erase Musaeus College’s 2019 record. Ladies’ College, who finished second in 51.52, also bettered the previous mark.
Ave Maria Convent edged Nimala Maria Balika in another tight finish to win the Under 16 girls’ 4×100 metres in a new meet record of 49.49 seconds. Nimala Maria Balika also bettered the old record.
In the boys’ category, Sadeesh Denuwan of Halmillaketiya MV stole the limelight with a new meet record of 11.22 seconds in the Under 14 80 metres hurdles. Maneesha Samarasinghe of Lyceum International, Wattala, set a new record of 13.09 seconds in the Under 16 100 metres hurdles.
Lyceum International, Wattala, also set a new meet record of 3:13.76 in the Under 20 4×400 metres relay.
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