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Sri Lanka suffer heavy defeat after records tumble
Rex Clementine in Delhi
Some serious questions were asked on Saturday (7) night in Delhi as to how Sri Lanka will fare in this ICC Cricket World Cup after South Africa posted a record 428 for five and then bowled them out to post a comprehensive 102 run win here in a one-sided game.
On a newly laid pitch and an outfield that was electric, the ball was flying and Sri Lanka simply didn’t have answers to stop the run flow as South Africa posted the highest total ever recorded in the history of World Cups.
The Proteas broke Australia’s record of 417 for five made against Afghanistan in 2015. It’s also the highest total in Delhi with the previous highest being the 330 for eight made by the West Indies in 2011.
Sri Lanka bowlers were at the receiving end yes, but if the condition in the tournament so far is anything to go by, we are going to see the 400-barrier broken on a few more occasions as well as wickets are tailor-made for the batters.
Three South Africans helped themselves to centuries. While Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen scored hundreds and shared a 204-run partnership for the second wicket, it was Aiden Markram batting at number four who took the game away from Sri Lanka scoring the fastest hundred in the World Cups getting there in 49 balls. Kevin O’Brien had reached the milestone in 50 balls against England in Bangalore in 2011.
Sri Lanka were not shaken up by the hammering. Kusal Mendis put up a splendid show and was backed up by Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka, who posted half-centuries.
Marco Jansen cleaned up Pathum Nissanka with an inswinger and then Mendis walked in and carted the South African quicks to all over the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.
The Sri Lankan vice-captain reached his half-century in 25 balls with three fours and six sixes and Kusal Perera, the aggressive batsman in the side was a mere spectator. In fact, during their 66-run stand for the second wicket, Perera contributed a mere seven in 15 balls.
Kagiso Rabada eventually had Mendis caught behind much to the relief of his team. He departed for a fabulous 76 that came off 42 balls with four fours and eight sixes.
Charith Asalanka went onto top score with 79 off 65 balls with eight fours and four sixes while captain Dasun Shanaka may have saved his place with a much-needed half-century.
Scorecard
South Africa innings
Quinton de Kock c de Silva b Pathirana 100
Temba Bavuma lbw b Madushanka 8
Rassie van der Dussen c Sadeera b Wellalage 108
Aiden Markram c Rajitha b Madushanka 106
Heinrich Klassen c Shanaka b Rajitha 32
David Miller not out 39
Marco Jansen not out 12
Extras: (lb 1, w 21, nb 1) 23
Total: (for five wickets) 428
Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Bavuma), 2-214 (de Kock), 3-264 (van der Dussen), 4-342 (Klassen), 5-383 (Markram).
Did not bat: Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj and Lungi Ngidi.
Bowling: Kasun Rajitha 10-1-90-1 (w 2), Dilshan Madushanka 10-0-86-2 (w 3) (nb 1), Dasun Shanaka 6-0-36-0, Dhananjaya de Silva 4-0-39-0 (w 1), Matheesha Pathirana 10-0-95-1 (w 13), Dunith Wellalage 10-0-81-1 (w 2)
Sri Lanka innings
Pathum Nissanka b Jansen 0
Kusal Perera b Jansen 7
Kusal Mendis c Klassen b Rabada 76
Sadeera Samarawickrama c Jansen b Coetzee 23
Charith Asalanka c sub b Ngidi 79
Dhananjaya de Silva c Bavuma b Maharaj 11
Dasun Shanaka b Maharaj 68
Dunith Wellalage c Klassen b Coetzee 0
Kasun Rajitha c Markram b Coetzee 33
Matheesha Pathirana b Rabada 5
Dilshan Madushanka not out 4
Extras: (lb 5, w 14, nb 1) 20
Total: (all out) 326
Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Nissanka), 2-67 (Perera), 3-109 (Mendis), 4-111 (Sadeera), 5-150 (de Silva), 6-232 (Asalanka), 7-233 (Wellalage), 8-291 (Shanaka), 9-322 (Rajitha).
Bowling: Lungi Ngidi 8-1-49-1 (w 2), Marco Jansen 10-0-92-2 (w 3), Kagiso Rabada 7.5-0-50-2 (nb 1) (w 2), Keshav Maharaj 10-0-62-2 (w 6), Gerald Coetzee 9-0-68-3 (w 1).
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire for the war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin said the ceasefire would run from the morning of 8 May until 11 May – which coincides with victory celebrations to mark the end of World War Two.
In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for an immediate ceasefire lasting “at least 30 days”.
While US President Donald Trump, who has been attempting to broker a truce between the two sides, said he wants to see a permanent ceasefire, the White House said.
The Kremlin announced a similar, 30-hour truce over Easter, but while both sides reported a dip in fighting, they accused each other of hundreds of violations.
Ceasefires have been attempted more than 20 times in Ukraine – all of them failed eventually, and some within minutes of going into effect.
The most recent one, over Easter, was very limited in scope and only resulted in a slight reduction in fighting, with both sidesaccusing each other of violating the truce.
In a statement on Monday, the Kremlin said Putin declared the ceasefire “based on humanitarian considerations”.
A translation of the statement said: “Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example.
“In the event of violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian side, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will give an adequate and effective response.
“The Russian side once again declares its readiness for peace talks without preconditions, aimed at eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis, and constructive interaction with international partners.”
Following its release, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha said: “If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately.”
“Why wait until May 8th?” he wrote on X. “If the fire can be ceased now and since any date for 30 days—so it is real, not just for a parade.”
He said Ukraine is ready to support a “lasting, durable, and full ceasefire. And this is what we are constantly proposing, for at least 30 days”.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was growing “increasingly frustrated with leaders of both countries”.
“He wants to see a permanent ceasefire.
“I understand Vladimir Putin this morning offered a temporary ceasefire. The president has made it clear he wants to see a permanent ceasefire first to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed.”
The latest announcement comes during what the US has descibed as a very critical week for Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
Washington has been trying to broker a deal between the two sides, but the Donald Trump administration has threatened to pull out if they do not see progress.
Putin is keen to create the impression that Russia is serious about seeking peace – and he is keen for Trump to hear that message given Ukraine has accepted Washington’s proposal for a more lasting 30-day ceasefire.
It comes after the US president expressed annoyance with Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and currently controls about 20% Ukraine’s territory, including the southern Crimea peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014.
It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people – the vast majority of them soldiers – have been killed or injured on all sides since 2022.
[BBC]
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Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 27 April 2025, valid for 28 April 2025
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
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People have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans sans ethnic or religious divisions- PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that for the first time in history, mosques in Kandy had opened their doors to accommodate the needs of devotees visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and that people have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans beyond dividing into ethnicities and religions.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a public gathering held in the Paragahadeniya area in Kurunegala.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated:
“This country is undergoing a transformation we expected,so accordingly, we must operate in new ways. People are beginning to feel that we must work towards a new transformation. We can see this change even within our ministries. These days, sometimes when we visit ministries even after 5 PM, and ask if it is possible to have discussions, the officials are always open. Today, public officials are willing to work late into the night, until 9 or 10 PM. Officials have now started working without fear.
Remarkably, for the first time in history, Muslim mosques in Kandy remained open throughout the night to accommodate pilgrims visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. They even provided space for devotees to rest. There were no ethnic or religious tensions. What we saw was respect for other ethnicities and religions. This is happening because there is now a sense of a government that represents all Sri Lankan people, not just Sinhalese, Muslims, or Tamils”.
The event was attended by the candidates for the local government election including the residents of the area.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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