Sports
Sri Lanka prevail in Super Over to register first win on the tour
In a game of massive ebbs and flows, it needed a Super Over to settle things between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the first T20I in Auckland on Sunday (April 2). In the end, the visitors held their nerve to get across the line.
The tone for the game was set in the PowerPlay by Sri Lanka after they were put into bat on a fabulous batting surface at Eden Park. Kusal Mendis’ cameo created impetus from the word go as did Dhananjaya de Silva but it was the partnership between Kusal Perera and Charith Asalanka that put the Lankans in pole position.
After a rollicking powerplay that yielded 72 runs, Perera and Asalanka ensured that the momentum wasn’t wasted by stitching a 103-run partnership off just 68 deliveries. Both got fifties and Perera batted through to control the innings from one end, even though it was Asalanka’s knock that really put the visitors in front.
New Zealand did pull things back brilliantly between overs 17-19 with some crafty death bowling but Wanindu Hasaranga’s breezy cameo meant that 18 came off the 20th over to give Sri Lanka the ideal finish to the innings.
It was a par score and the task got even more tougher for the hosts as they lost both their openers within seven deliveries of the run chase. Skipper Tom Latham played a few shots to get the innings going but when he fell, it seemed like New Zealand would slip away, despite a well-set Daryl Mitchell at the other end.
But Mitchell got excellent support from Mark Chapman as the duo went about rebuilding the chase. Slowly but steadily, New Zealand were back in it and a 24-run over from Dilshan Madushanka actually put the hosts in front.
Sri Lanka, though, hung in there with timely strikes through their spin twins, and Pramod Madushan with Dasun Shanaka also nipping a couple. Rachin Ravindra threatened to finish the game off with his audacious cameo but it was not to be. With 13 needed off the last over, Ravindra fell first ball and one more time it appeared like the game was done. Only for the final twist to emerge.
A couple of twos and as many singles later, New Zealand were left with the task of needing seven off the final delivery to win – realistically a six to tie the game. With Ish Sodhi on strike, the chance of that happening was quite low. But, the leg spinner produced an astounding hit under pressure, shuffling across early and then calmly chipping it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.
The momentum was with New Zealand heading into the Super Over but they ran into Maheesh Theekshana who unleashed a cracking set of six deliveries to go with the outstanding spell he had bowled earlier in the game. Only eight were scored and Asalanka nailed them off with two blows to give Sri Lanka their first win on the tour.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 196/5 (Asalanka 67, Perera 53, Neesham 2-30) beat New Zealand 196/8 (Mitchell 66, Chapman 33, Shanaka 2-2) in the Super Over.
(Cricbuzz)
Forced to follow on after being dismissed for 111 runs, Risinu Kithmuka scored an unbeaten half century to anchor St. Servarius’ batting line up to force a draw to their Under 19 cricket encounter against S. Thomas’ at Mount Lavinia on Friday.
The dogged knock facing 121 balls, helped the visitor post 93 for five wickets at close.
In a match dominated by the home team, Aaron David’s century was the highlight for S. Thomas’. They posted 269 for four wickets at close on day one and declared on the overnight score.
Meanwhile at Kotahena, Mevan Dissanayake top scored with 91 runs inclusive of eight fours and three sixes for St. Benedict’s to post 295 for 9 declared against Sri Dharmaloka Kelaniya.
Results
Thomians dominate against St. Servatius’ at Mount Lavinia
Scores
S. Thomas’ 269 for 4 decl. in 73.3 overs (Jaden Amaraweera 40, Avinash Fernando 50, Aaron David 100n.o., Reshon Soloman 56; Lasindu Ramanayaka 2/87)
St. Servatius’ 111 all out 54.4 overs (Risinu Kithmuka 26, Thathsilu Bandara 20; Minon Warnasuriya 2/14, Chamash Gunawardena 2/24, Shanil Perera 3/18, Reshon Solomon 2/09) and 93 for 5 in 36 overs (Risinu Kithmuka 51n.o.; Aaron de Silva 2/30, Shanil Perera 3/23)
Bens 295 for 9 decl., Sri Dharmaloka 87/2 at Kotahena
Scores
St. Benedict’s 295 for 9 decl. in 56.4 overs (Mevan Dissanayake 91, Vihanga Rathnayake 42, Yohan Edirisinghe 31, Ayesh Gajanayake 49; Sathindu Praboda 4/98, Tharusha Mihiranga 2/66)
Sri Dharmaloka 87 for 2 in 25 overs (Senuka Pehesara 40, Kaveen Deneth 40n.o.; Ayesh Gajanayake 2/27)
by Reemus Fernando
Pakistan marched into the final of the Under 19 Asia Cup with a clinical eight wicket win over Bangladesh in the rain-hit semi-final in Dubai, after a dominant bowling performance led by Abdul Subban set up a straightforward chase. The victory sets up a final clash against India, who won the first semi final against Sri Lanka earlier in the day.
Opting to field after winning the toss in the rain-reduced 27-overs-a-side contest, Pakistan made early inroads as Bangladesh slipped to 24 for 2 inside six overs. Captain Azizul Hakim offered brief resistance to steady the innings, but wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.
Fast bowler Subhan was the standout with the ball, picking up four wickets to dismantle the middle order. From 55 for 2 in the 13th over, Bangladesh lost five wickets for just 38 runs, collapsing to 93 for 7. The lower order struggled to rebuild, and Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 121 in 26.3 overs, with no batter able to convert a start into a big score.
In reply, Pakistan’s chase was smooth. After the early loss of opener Hamza Zahoor in the first over, Sameer Minhas anchored the innings with a composed, unbeaten 69, ensuring there were no further hiccups. He struck six fours and two sixes as Pakistan cruised to 122 for 2 with 63 balls to spare.
With this knock, Minhas took his tournament’s tally to 299 to be the highest run-getter.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 122 for 2 in 16.3 overs (Sameer Minhas 69*, Usman Khan 27; Samiun Basir 1-17) beat Bangladesh 121 in 26.3 overs (Samiun Basir 33; Abdul Subhan 4-20, Huzaifa Ahasan 2-10)by eight wickets
[Cricinfo]
Vihaan Malhotra and Aaron George’s patient half-centuries helped India beat Sri Lanka in a rain-reduced game and set up an U-19 Asia Cup final with Pakistan.
It was a game where the momentum kept changing hands. India had Sri Lanka at 28 for 3 after opting to bowl. Captain Vimath Dinsara and Chamika Heenetigala hit back with a 45-run stand, but Sri Lanka soon lost 3 for 11. A 62-run stand between Heenatigala and Sethmika Seneviratne followed, but India again turned it around in the final three overs.
In reply, India were 25 for 2 as Sri Lanka sniffed a comeback. But Malhotra and George added an unbeaten 114 runs in a partnership of two halves: the first 62 runs they added took 51 balls, while the next 52 came off 36 deliveries. It was Malhotra who swung the game India’s way when he went 4, 4, 6 off Dulnith Sigera in the 13th over. Malhotra reached his fifty off 35 balls, while George took 43 balls.
India’s win was set up after their bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 138. Kishan Singh and Deepesh Devendran struck early, while Vedant Trivedi’s direct hit ran Kavija Gamage out in the sixth over.
But Kanishk Chouhan struck twice in the 12th over, and Khilan Patel in the 13th, to force Sri Lanka to rebuild again. That brought Heenatigala and Seneviratne together. Seneviratne was the attacking of the two while Heenatigala, limping a little, was more patient. At 118 for 6 with three overs left, and with Seneviratne connecting it cleanly, Sri Lanka may have hoped to post 150. But just 20 runs amid two wickets in the last three overs applied the brakes on their scoring.
India will meet Pakistan in the final on Sunday.
Brief scores:
India Under 19s 139 for 2 in 18 overs (Vihaan Malhotra 61*, Aaron George 58*; Rasith Nimsara 2-31) beat Sri Lanka Under 19s 138 for 8 in 20 overs (Chamika Heenatigala 42, Vimath Dinsara 32, Sethmika Senevirathne 30; Henil Patel 2-31, Kanishk Chouhan 2-36) by eight wickets
[Cricinfo]
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