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Rabada, Rahul star on rain-hit opening day
Kagiso Rabada and KL Rahul starred on a rain-hit opening day in Centurion as India dragged themselves to 208/8 by stumps. Rabada put South Africa completely on top with a five-fer but Rahul’s crucial fifty while rallying with the lower order ensured India went past 200 before rain arrived, bringing an early end to the day’s play.
Even though Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma got off to a positive start by fetching three boundaries inside the first four overs, South Africa didn’t take long to strike in the morning session. Rabada opened his account by removing Rohit with a short ball before debutant Nandre Burger put India under the pump with the wickets of Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. Losing their top order inside 12 overs, India needed a stable partnership to bail them out.
Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer then managed to ride their luck as they both survived dropped chances to hit some vital boundaries either side. They added 67 for the third wicket to guide India to safety by lunch but South Africa didn’t allow the momentum to shift. Post lunch, Rabada struck in the very first over once play resumed by breaching Iyer’s defence. While that was a massive wicket. Rabada put India in further trouble by getting rid of the big fish.
Kohli, who was looking in very good touch batting on 38, edged one behind as Rabada bowled a peach. With half the side back in the pavilion inside 31 overs, India’s hopes rested on Rahul, donning a new role in the format batting in the middle order, and on R Ashwin who had been picked in place of the injured Ravindra Jadeja. Rabada continued to make inroads though as he first dismissed Ashwin before completing his five-fer by getting rid of Shardul Thakur, who showed plenty of promise while he was batting out in the middle.
With no other option left, Rahul opened up as he first hit Burger for a four and a six off successive deliveries to get to his fifty. Marco Jansen at the other end opened his account by castling Jasprit Bumrah but Rahul continued to fetch crucial boundaries and looked in ominous touch at one stage. But before he could cause more damage, rain arrived.
Brief scores:
India 208/8 in 59 overs (KL Rahul 70*, Virat Kohli 38, Shreyas Iyer 31, Shardul Thakur 24; Kagiso Rabada 5/44, Nandre Burger 2-50) vs South Africa
(Cricbuzz)
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Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended
The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the Level III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale until 1600hrs on 11th December 2025.
Accordingly,
The LEVEL III RED landslide warnings issued to the the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Medadumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Pathadumbara, Doluwa, Panvila, Gangawata Korale, Ududumbara, Akurana, Yatinuwara, Harispattuwa, Deltota, Thumpane, Poojapitiya, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Minipe and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Aranayaka, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana, Bulathkohupitiya and Mawanella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Mawathagama and Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, and Rattota, Laggala Pallegama, Ukuwela, Matale, Wilgamuwa, Pallepola, Naula, Yatawatta and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Warakapola, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Polgahawela and Alawwa in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale East, Walapane, Thalawakele, Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale West, Nildandahinna, Mathurata, Ambagamuwa Korale, Hanguranketha and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district. and Kolonna, Godakawela and Kahawaththa in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Divulapitiya, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, and Kiriella, Eheliyagoda, Balangoda, Kaltota, Openayake, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Elapatha, Pelmadulla and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.
The handover of 35 tonnes of Russian Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka, recently affected by the cyclone «Ditwah», took place at Katunayake today (10th December)
The shipment was welcomed at the Katunayake airport by Ambassador of Russia Levan Dzhagaryan, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).
Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan: said “This delivery is a reflection of long-term friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka and reaffirms Moscow’s commitment to support countries in a difficult humanitarian situation.”
The supplies brought by the EMERCOM (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations) aircraft comprised a movable 60 kW electric power station, Pumping equipment for water drainage, Summer tents (10-person capacity) and Food supplies (sugar, vegetable oil, rice)
The total cargo weight is 35 metric tonnes. The aid will be distributed among the most affected regions.
Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee has named a 15-member squad to participate in the upcoming ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup (50 Over).
The team will depart for the United Arab Emirates today [0 December 2025] and has been placed in Group B, alongside Nepal, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
Showers will occur at times in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Central, and Uva provinces
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UK pledges £1 mn in aid for Ditwah victims
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Opposition Leader discusses with Russian Ambassador more emergency relief
Heavy rainfall forecast for some places in Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces today
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