Sports

Sri Lanka back quicks in Mohali Test

Published

4 years ago

2022/03/4

Today’s first Test against India will be Sri Lanka’s 300th Test match and the venue that is hosting this game will be I.S. Bindra Stadium in Mohali, one of the cities in the state of Punjab.

The ground has been named after one of cricket’s most powerful men – I.S. Bindra – a former President of Board of Control for Cricket in India. A former Secretary of Indian President Zail Singh, Bindra was the President of Punjab Cricket Associating from 1978 to 2014. He along with Jagmohan Dalmiya were responsible for successfully hosting the 1987 and 1996 World Cups.

Mohali has hosted two World Cup semi-finals. It was here Australia recorded a come from behind victory against West Indies in the 1996 semi while India beat Pakistan in another thrilling encounter in the 2011 semi-final.

While there were other prominent Indian stadiums like Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, Chidambaram Stadium in Madras and Wankhede in Bombay, Mohali was chosen to host the 1996 semi-final given the influence of Bindra in cricket circles.

Mohali has been hosting international cricket only since 1993 and before that games were played in Punjab in the neighbouring city of Chandigarh. Sri Lanka played a Test match there in 1990.

The state of Punjab has produced several cricketers and the most prominent of them are Yuvraj Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu. The latter is now a Member of Parliament.

Before partition, Punjab was a big state under the British rule with Muslim Punjabis living in West Punjab and Hindu Punjabis mostly occupying the east. With the state’s capital Lahore going to Pakistan, east Punjab needed a capital and hence Chandigarh emerged.

The Sikh community dominate the region of Punjab representing nearly 60 percent of the population. It’s the only Sikh majority state in India.

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U19 World Cup: Adnit ton powers USA to seven wicket win

Published

7 mins ago

2026/01/27

Priyan

Adnit Jhamb hit an unbeaten 116 off just 93 balls [Cricinfo]

Adnit Jhamb produced an excellent, unbeaten century as USA romped to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Scotland in the 16th place playoff at the Harare Sports Club. Chasing 237, Jhamb’s masterful 116 off 93 balls, studded with 17 boundaries and a six, steered his side home with 68 balls to spare.

Earlier, Scotland posted 236 after electing to bat, with opener Theo Robinson top-scoring with a patient 83 off 101 deliveries. Robinson found support from Manu Saraswat (41) as the pair added crucial runs in the middle overs. However, USA’s bowling attack, led by Ritvik Appidi’s four-wicket haul, kept chipping away at regular intervals. Jake Woodhouse’s late cameo of 28 off 21 balls provided some late impetus, but Scotland were eventually bundled out in the final over.

The chase began steadily with openers Amrinder Gill (35) and Sahil Garg (16) putting on 39. Jhamb entered at 96 for 2, who built on the foundations and steered USA on the path of victory. He found an able ally in captain Utkarsh Srivastava (52 off 52), and the duo stitched together a match-winning 129-run partnership for the third wicket. Scotland’s bowlers had no answers as Jhamb continued his onslaught, with Ollie Jones’ twin strikes proving mere consolations.

Brief scores:
Scotland Under 19s 236 in 50 overs (Theo Robinson 83, Manu Saraswat 41; Ritvik Appidi 4-54) lost to USA Under 19s 239/3 in 38.4 overs (Adnit Jhamb 116*, Utkarsh Srivastava 52; Ollie Jones 2-46) by seven wickets

[Cricbuzz]

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U19 World Cup: Sri Lanka keep semifinal aspirations alive with four wicket win

Published

16 mins ago

2026/01/27

Priyan

Dimantha Mahavithana gave Sri Lanka a steady start in their chase [Cricbuzz]

Sri Lanka kept their semifinal aspirations alive with a nervy four-wicket victory over Afghanistan in a low-scoring Super Sixes contest at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. Chasing a modest 194, the Islanders wobbled at regular intervals before Chamika Heenatigala’s composed unbeaten 22 guided them across the line with 19 balls remaining.

Afghanistan, electing to bat first, laboured to 193 all out in 49.5 overs on a challenging surface. Opener Osman Sadat anchored the innings with a gritty 61 off 107 balls, but lacked support as wickets tumbled at the other end. Azizullah Miakhil’s 43 and a blistering cameo from Roohullah Arab (22 off 13) provided some late momentum. Sri Lanka’s bowling was disciplined throughout, with Kugathas Mathulan, and Viran Chamuditha claiming two wickets apiece to restrict Afghanistan’s total.

The chase began disastrously as Chamuditha fell for one in the first over, but Dimantha Mahavithana (37) and Senuja Wekunagoda (43) steadied the ship with a 55-run partnership. However, Afghanistan’s spinners struck back, with Roohullah Arab’s economical spell (2 for 23) keeping the pressure on. When Wekunagoda departed at 130/5, Sri Lanka still needed 64 runs with five wickets in hand.

Enter Heenatigala and Dulnith Sigera, who added a crucial 52-run stand to swing the momentum decisively. Sigera’s 30 off 45 balls eased the pressure before he holed out with 12 runs still required. Heenatigala, the Player of the Match who earlier claimed 1 for 19 with the ball, remained unbeaten to seal a vital victory.

Brief scores:
Afghanistan Under 19s 193 in 49.5 overs (Osman Sadat 61; Viran Chamuditha 2-20, Kugathas Mathulan 2-62) lost to Sri Lanka Under 19s 194/6 in 46.5 overs (Senuja Wekunagoda 43, Dimantha Mahavithana 37; Roohullah Arab 2-23) by four wickets

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U19 World Cup: Dominant England swat aside Bangladesh

Published

24 mins ago

2026/01/27

Priyan

Thomas Rew celebrates the player of the match award [Cricbuzz]

England made a strong start to the Super six stage with a dominant bowling performance leading to a crushing win over Bangladesh at the Queens Sports Club. Bangladesh, who opted to bat, were restricted to a meager 136 with every English bowler ticking the wickets column. The target was then chased down inside 25 overs courtesy captain Thomas Rew’s unbeaten half century.

Bangladesh’s struggles began as early as the third ball when Sebastian Morgan dismissed Zawad Abrar after the latter had struck the opening ball of the game for a four. The pair of Rifat Beg and Mohammad Azizul Hakim Tamim then stitched on a 46-run stand off 64 balls for the second wicket but once Beg fell for a 36-ball 31, Bangladesh slipped into a free fall. The next highest partnership was 18 and only one other batter – Mohammad Abdullah – even crossed 20. For England, Morgan finished with 3 for 28 while Ralphie Albert and Manny Lumsden claimed a brace.

England too lost an opener – Joseph Moores – early but Ben Dawkins managed five boundaries in his knock of 26. Rew then joined Ben Mayes to put on 78 off just 68 for the third wicket, all but closing the game out. Mayes fell for 34 but the skipper held firm to finish unbeaten on 59 off 50 balls to take his team over the line. The result helped England put one foot into the semifinals while Bangladesh are not out of contention.

Brief scores:
Bangladesh 136 in 38.1 overs (MD Rifat Beg 31; Sebastian Morgan 3-28, Manny Lumsden 2-18) lost to England 137/3 in 24.1 overs (Thomas Rew 59*, Ben Mayes 34; AL Fahad 2-37) by seven wickets.