Sports
Rohit’s cameo in vain as Bangladesh seal series
INDIA TOUR OF BANGLADESH, 2022
Bangladesh completed a sensational win to clinch the ODI series 2-0 after a clinical performance with the ball in defence of 271, a total that came on the back of more batting heroics from Mehidy Hasan who finished with his maiden ODI hundred. A late cameo from Rohit Sharma, who finished with an unbeaten 51 went in vain as Bangladesh kept alive their stellar home record – they haven’t lost a home ODI series since October 2016.
With the ball, Bangladesh were helped by timely strikes from Ebadot Hossain who also started the wicket glut when he had Virat Kohli chopping on. Kohli had stood in as opener for Rohit who had injured his left hand while fielding.
Rohit, who eventually walked in at No. 9, delayed the inevitable and stretched the chase into the final over after managing to hit four sixes against Ebadot Hossain and Mahmudullah. India needed 20 off the last over against the experienced Mustafizur Rahman. Rohit stretched it until only six was needed off the final ball but Mustafizur kept it full enough to prevent Rohit from getting under.
Before it came down to Rohit, however, India had been propped up by a 107-run stand for the fifth wicket between Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel. India had slipped to 65/4 at one stage as Bangladesh kept chipping away regularly before Iyer and Patel managed to counterattack in clinical fashion. The latter kickstarted the proceedings hitting the left-arm spinners for three sixes while Iyer joined in later. Iyer, however, fell in the process of taking on Mehidy Hasan and holed out to deep midwicket, which was soon followed by Axar chipping Ebadot to cover. At 189/6, India were still a far way away from the target but managed to mount a challenge eventually thanks to a stunning cameo from Rohit, even as they fell short by five runs.
Bangladesh’s 271 came on the back of a spectacular comeback staged by Mehidy Hasan and Mahmudullah after being reduced to 69/6 at one point. The duo put on a partnership of 147 to help Bangladesh fight back with the bat for the second game in a row, while Mehidy registered his maiden ODI ton as well.
After opting to bat, Bangladesh had slipped up early after Mohammad Siraj struck twice with big off cutters getting rid of both Anamul Haque and Litton Das. Umran Malik added to the damage getting rid of Najmul Hossain Shanto with a 151kph delivery that uprooted the offstump. Pushing Bangladesh further down was Washington Sundar who picked up three wickets in two overs including the big ones of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.
Losing six for 69, Bangladesh were in a precarious position when Mehidy joined Mahmudullah. The duo took chances early, with Mahmudullah in particular surviving a couple of chances that did not go to hand. Mehidy got going after the spinner, cutting Axar Patel for a couple of boundaries and then lofting Washington Sundar for a six.
The fifty run partnership came off 62 balls after which the duo stepped on the accelerator. Bangladesh raced away through the middle overs with both getting to their fifties in quick succession before Mahmudullah was dismissed for 77, caught behind against Umran Malik. India had another chance to keep a check on the scoring rate at this point, but Mehidy Hasan went ballistic in the end overs, hitting 34 by himself in the last four overs, including two sixes in the final over that got him to his maiden ODI hundred off the final ball of the innings.
Brief Scores:
Bangladesh 271/7 (Mehidy Hasan 100*, Mahmudullah 77; Washington Sundar 3-37) beat India 266/8 (Shreyas Iyer 82, Axar Patel 56, Rohit Sharma 51*; Ebadot Hossain 3-45) by 5 runs
(Cricbuzz )
When my good friend Nimal Welgama requested me to pen a few lines about Sir Gary Sobers as I had the privilege of playing for Sri Lanka against the mighty West Indies as they were known then, I was wondering whether I can do justice to this awesome cricketing all rounder.
In this particular game Sir Gary fell short of scoring his usual hundred. Sir Gary had a flair for unique stylishness which no other cricketer matched and it came naturally to him. He wore his shirt open all the way down to the navel perhaps to keep himself cool from the hot weather one encounters when playing cricket.He walked into bat leaning forward slightly with a gait that that had confidence written all over it.I had the good fortune of viewing on a video clip of an innings of 230 plus he made in a Match against Australia against a formidable attack headed by fearsome Dennis Lillee where he tore the the bowling to shreds.This innings was described by probably the greatest batters of all time Sir Donald Bradman as the best innings he has witnessed live.A tribute difficult to ignore. I wish to conclude by saying that Sir Garfield Sobers was an all rounder of exceptional ability which void will be hard to fill.
by Anura Tennekoon ✍️
Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to lift Spain to their second World Cup title with a 1-0 win im extra time over 10-man Argentina in the final.
Torres’s deserved winner on Sunday came 16 years and eight days after Andres Iniesta also scored in extra time to lift the Spaniards to their first World Championship with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands.
It came on La Roja’s 20th shot in the contest against defending champions Argentina that failed to manage any to that point and struggled to wrest possession away from their superior Iberian opponents.
That was true at even strength and became more difficult when La Albiceleste’s numbers were reduced when Enzo Fernandez’s late challenge on Pau Cubarsi left referee Slavko Vincic no choice but to produce a second caution just before the end of normal time.
Spain remain the only nation ever to win a European Championship and World Cup in successive tournaments, having now done so a second time. They are also the first World Cup champions ever to concede only once across an entire tournament.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina failed to earn a title for the first time in three major tournaments, having also captured the 2021 and 2024 Copa Americas either side of their 2022 World Cup triumph.
The 39-year-old eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi finished the competition with eight goals and four assists, but had little time on the ball in the final until Spain finally took the lead. And he never seriously looked like he would lift his side to another great moment as he has so many times in the last two World Cup cycles.
Emi Martinez made 11 saves for La Albiceleste, who fell short in their bid to be the first consecutive World Cup champions since Brazil won the 1958 and 1962 titles.
What had felt so difficult for the first 105 minutes suddenly looked easy after 37 seconds of play in the second period of extra time.
Pedro Porro curled in an out-swinging cross from the left to the back post, Nico Williams won the header and nodded it back into space, and Torres hammered a half-volley at last past the flailing Martinez.
It was his only goal of the tournament, making him the seventh player to score during a tournament in which his side never trailed.
Asked about his goal, Torres said after the game: “Honestly, I didn’t think too much. I just saw the ball coming to me, and I just shot with the power of all the Spanish people.”
The win made Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, at 65, the oldest coach ever to lead a team to the World Cup title
“We are world champions,” de la Fuente said. “It was together we reached this stage.”
There was some pushing and shoving after the final whistle, which was quickly cleaned up, and Spain commenced their celebration as most Argentina players sat on the turf in disbelief.
Cooler heads prevailed, and Spain’s players lined up minutes later to form an honour guard of sorts for Argentina’s squad to walk through on their way to the stage for the runner-up medals.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted that Spain were the better team.
“They were the better side – that’s the truth – but I’ll cherish the memory of them [his side], of what they achieved, and of the value of making it this far,” Scaloni said.
“We have to place immense value on this, because it takes so much effort.”
(Aljazeera)
HONOUR MCA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2026
Sampath Bank powered by a 53 ball 79 by Adithya Siriwardena and excellent bowling performance led by Chamath Dilsara, Dulaj Ashen and Hansaja Bandara registered their third win in the MCA Champions league cricket tournament sponsored by HONOUR mobile phones by crushing MAS Intimates by 131 runs at the Colts Cricket Club Ground on Saturday.
Batting first Sampath Bank powered by Adithya’a 79 and notable scores from Chamara Dilsara [34], HansajaBandara [42] and 20 plus scores from Gajitha Kotuwegoda ,Abhishek Anandakumara and Dumindu Sewmina posted 284/8 in their allocation of 50 overs after which the bowlers led by Chamath Dilsara restricted MAS Intimates to 153.
Scores:
Sampath Bank
284/8 in 50 overs (Hansaja Bandara 41, Adithya Siriwardena 79; Ruvin Senevirathne 2-41)
MAS Intimates
153/10 in 36.1 overs (Maheesha Sithum 39; Dulaj Ashen 2-13, Chamath Dilsara 3-21, Hansaja Bandara 2-15)
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