Latest News
Stokes’ maiden World Cup ton lifts England to 339
A typically well-paced century from Ben Stokes (108 off 84 balls), the all-rounder’s maiden three-figure knock in World Cups and his 129-run stand with Chris Woakes (51 off 45 balls) took England to a strong total against Netherlands in Pune on Wednesday (November 8). A rollicking 74-ball 87 from Dawid Malan had put England en route for a big score but as has been the norm with them in the tournament, they nosedived from 133/1 to 192/6 before Stokes and Woakes combined to turn the tables.
On yet another good-looking batting surface at the MCA Stadium, England captain Jos Buttler chose to bat although the recent trend at the venue had a chasing bias to it. Malan’s strokeplay and his effortless ease in timing the ball was on display in the first Powerplay even as Jonny Bairstow endured another failure in this World Cup. Netherlands’ bowlers were erratic with the new ball and gave a lot of width to Malan on both sides. The left-hander took full toll as he raced away in the company of Joe Root who looked fidgety right through his stay. The fact that he got bowled off his patented reverse ramp shot sums up Root and England’s fortunes at the moment.
Till that happened, the 85-run stand between Malan and Root had put England firmly on course for a bare minimum of 350 if not 375. Root’s dismissal was soon followed by Malan who ran himself out to miss out on a well-deserved ton. Harry Brook and his skipper were both unable to get going as they felt due to the pressure created by Netherlands’ bowlers. It was almost like both batters wanted to score too quickly from the get-go when in reality, getting in would have given them the chance to make up considerably at the back end. Stokes did just that in his trademark fashion as he soaked up the pressure from one end with aplomb.
Moeen Ali fell cheaply but Woakes hung in there with Stokes to steadily do the rebuilding job. That it is a very good track for strokemaking was evident from how briskly they started their partnership despite the match situation. Runs came at a good clip without many risks although Stokes was lucky to be dropped at fine leg, albeit a very tough chance. Once the left-hander got into his 60s, he switched gears and pounded the short boundaries comfortably. Woakes doesn’t have the same powergame but he also dished out a few eye-catching strokes.
Netherlands’ death bowling came back to haunt them once more. It was a deja vu of their contest against Australia where Glenn Maxwell had smashed the fastest World Cup century of all time. The seamers wilted under the onslaught and gave away far too many runs in the slog overs. 124 runs came in the final 60 deliveries and that’s a monumental stat, given that a score in the 310-320 range would have had the Dutch quietly confident. Not that this score is a bridge too far but even with the batting friendly conditions and dew, it will take some doing.
Brief scores:
England 339/9 in 50 overs (Ben Stokes 108, Dawid Malan 87, Joe Root 28, Chris Woakes 51; Aryan Dutt 2-67, Logan va Beek 2-88, Bas de Leede 3-74) vs Netherlands
Four persons including a Budhist monk died and 32 others were injured when two SLTB buses collided head on at Weerawila at arond 12 noon today (18).
Three of the deceased were women. 22 of the injured were admitted to the Hambanthota Hospital while 10 others have been admitted to the Debarawewa hospital.
Families have gathered outside a drug treatment centre in the Afghan capital, Kabul, looking for their loved ones after it was hit in a Pakistan air strike, which Taliban authorities said killed 408 people.
The attack on Kabul’s Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital took place at about 9pm local time (16:30 GMT) on Monday.
[Aljazeera]
African football’s governing body has stripped Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title they won in a chaotic final two months ago and declared Morocco the champions.
In a stunning decision, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on Tuesday that its appeals board ruled that Senegal is “declared to have forfeited” the match, a 1-0 victory. The result, it said, was now “being officially recorded as 3-0” in favour of host nation Morocco.
At the January 18 final in Rabat, Senegal’s players walked off the pitch, led by coach Pape Thiaw, in protest against a penalty awarded late in regulation time to Morocco.
When play resumed after a delay of about 15 minutes, Morocco forward Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved. In extra time, Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal that saw Senegal become champions of Africa for the second time.
The heated final also saw supporters trying to storm the field, players scuffling on the sidelines, reporters from the two countries fighting in media areas, and a bizarre sequence in which Moroccan ball boys tried to seize a towel being used by Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy – in an apparent bid to distract him and help their team win the continental title.
At a disciplinary hearing in January, CAF imposed fines of more than $1m as well as bans for Senegal and Morocco players and officials, but it had left the result untouched.
The case could go to a further appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
[Aljazeera]
SriLankan Airlines Alerts Customers to Social Media Scams
Four dead 32 injured in head on collision at Weerawila
JMSDF ship OONAMI concludes goodwill visit
Cabinet nod to amend Central Cultural Fund Act No. 57 of 1980
’National Namal Uyana’ declared as a National Heritage
Establishment of Supervisory Committees for restoring economic activities.
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News7 days agoHistoric address by BASL President at the Supreme Court of India
-
Sports7 days agoThe 147th Royal–Thomian and 175 Years of the School by the Sea
-
Business3 days agoBrowns EV launches fast-charging BAW E7 Pro at Rs. 5.8 million
-
Life style4 days agoFrom culture to empowerment: Indonesia’s vision for Sri Lanka
-
News7 days agoPower sector reforms jolted by 40% pay hike demand
-
Latest News4 days agoQR code system will be implemented for fuel with effect from 06.00 a.m. today (15th)
-
Opinion6 days agoM. D. Banda: Memories of Appachchi – II
-
News2 days agoAustralian HC debunks misleading travel risk claims for Sri Lanka