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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
The Asian Youth Games gold medallist who has run sub four minutes previously returned a time of 3:55.97 seconds to become the first athlete in his age category at these championships to run the distance under four minutes.
Achintha who has a personal best of 3:53.05 from last year was representing Prince College Ratnapura today.
In another impressive 1,500 m feat Tharushi Abhisheka of Lyceum International School, Wattala established a new meet record in the Under-20 Girls’ 1,500m as she returned a time of 4:34.59 seconds to win.
By the end of the second day of the meet seven new meet records had been established.
D. V. C. de Soysa (of Galewela Central College) Under-16 Boys’ Discus Throw – 55.83m.
D. G. Lahiru Achintha (of Ratnapura Kumara Vidyalaya) Under-18 Boys’ 1,500m – 3:55.97 secs.
W. P. Nethula Induwara (Rahula College, Matara) Under-14 Boys’ 100m – 11.70 seconds
K. V. R. Gayesha (Ira Handa Kotuwa Wewa Maha Vidyalaya, Polonnaruwa) Under-16 Girls’ High Jump – 1.70m
H. M. D. S. Herath (Maris Stella College, Thimbirigaskatuwa) Under-20 Boys’ Long Jump – 7.65m
P. M. Amaya Semindi (Vijitha Central College, Dikwella) Under-14 Girls’ High Jump – 1.58m
A rare pink diamond is going on display in France for the first time since it was stolen almost 100 years ago to the day – the last time it was shown to the public.
The nine-carat, pear-shaped gemstone known as the “Grand Condé” was pilfered in an overnight raid on the Château de Chantilly in October 1926 and concealed in a hollowed-out apple.
The diamond – one of few royal jewels to survive the French Revolution – was recovered a few weeks later when a hungry maid at the hotel in which the thieves were staying took a bite of the apple.
It will once again be on display in the Condé Museum at the Château de Chantilly until 3 January.
The museum’s director Mathieu Deldicque said that while the apple story may sounds far-fetched, it was widely covered by newspapers at the time.
Deldicque has faced questions about whether the exhibition may be tempting fate, especially given the string of heists on European cultural institutions in the past 12 months, including the daring daylight robbery of jewellery from the Louvre museum in Paris.
While he declined to reveal to CNN how much the diamond was insured for, he noted that extensive academic study into the properties of the diamond had taken place to make it uniquely identifiable.
The results of this analysis, as well as previously unseen archive material about the gem’s history and theft, form part of the exhibition, according to the museum.
Naturally occurring pink diamonds are exceptionally rare and often sell for tens of millions of dollars. The highest price ever fetched for one at auction was $71.2m (£53.6m) in 2017, according to Sotheby’s.
The exact origins of the Grand Condé remain a mystery.
It was first mentioned in 1740 in an inventory of Louis Henri de Bourbon, Prince of Condé, drawn up following his death, the Château de Chantilly said.
It then became part of the collection of Queen Marie-Amélie of Bourbon-Sicily, the wife of French King Louis Philippe I, and then her son, Prince Henri of Orléans, the Duke of Aumale.
He bequeathed it to the Institut de France, which now owns the Château de Chantilly, 50km (31 miles) north of Paris, along with thousands of artworks and manuscripts which became the Musée Condé collection.
(BBC)
Sri Lanka’s men begin this match having won an international in the past week. This is more significant than it sounds. Their 2026 has been abysmal, with the team losing 22 matches to the 10 they have won. New captain Kusal Mendis had carried his team to that victory with his 87 not out off 48 balls, after Sri Lanka’s seamers had also had an encouraging outing.
But the game was only a dead rubber, Pakistan having sewn up the T20I series already. Pakistan have hardly been lighting up 2026 either, but they have had substantially more success than Sri Lanka. They had won their most recent ODI series, against Australia, 2-1. In that series, Pakistan may even have discovered a bright young all-round talent, left-arm spinner and lower-order batter Arafat Minhas, who claimed the Player of the Series award for his seven wickets at an average of 12.28. He has been in penetrative form in the past 10 days as well, having claimed five wickets across the three T20Is against Sri Lanka. Against Australia, Pakistan had also had excellent performances from Shaheen Afridi and legspinner Abrar Ahmed. It had, in fact, been Pakistan’s bowlers who dominated in a low-scoring series.
The tri-series is important for all three sides because there is now officially less than 12 months before the World Cup, which is set to begin on October 2 next year. Sri Lanka still have plenty to figure out – their white-ball squads having been in serious flux this year, as a new set of selectors searches (often fruitlessly) for a winning combination. Pakistan have players and stratetgies to trial as well.
In the series against Australia, Babar Azam had top-scored for Pakistan, hitting 40, 16, and 69 to average 41.66 across the matches. No one will call it a return to his heyday, but it was an encouraging sign following a modest run in 2025, in which he averaged 34 across 17 innings. Sri Lanka has been one of his favoured opponents over the years, Babar having struck four of his 20 centuries against them, averaging 58.33. The tracks in Rawalpindi at least are expected to be good for batting. Can he build up some form in the one format he now plays?
Lahiru Udara has reason to feel miffed at the selectors, many think. Having hit 188 against West Indies three Tests ago, he was left out of the squad entirely for the forthcoming Test series. But with Pathum Nissanka having been ruled out of the ODIs through an ongoing hamstring problem, Udara has surged into ODI contention on the back of a good T20I innings last week. At age 32, he knows his chances at this level are numbered. With the World Cup on the horizon, there is perhaps no better format to impress in right now than ODIs.
With neither Sahibzada Farhan nor Maaz Sadaqat in the ODI squad, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman may open.
Pakistan (possible): Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Ghazi Ghouri (wk), Minhas Arafat, Shaheen Afridi (capt.), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
Sri Lanka may bring Avishka Fernando straight into the XI, with Kamil Mishara having had a run of modest scores. Sri Lanka also have some decisions to make on the spin-bowling front, although they are likely to favour Maheesh Theekshana over legspinner Sachindu Colombage.
Sri Lanka (possible): Lahiru Udara, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige/Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando
(Cricinfo)
Namal, Janaki further remanded
Achintha smashes 1,500 metres record at All Island Schools Games
Rare pink diamond goes on display in France 100 years after amateur heist
Nursery owner in China jailed for life after hundreds of children poisoned
Pakistan, Sri Lanka look to find the right mix as World Cup countdown begins
Mumbai Indians and head coach Mahela Jayawardene part ways
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