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Stokes shines again as England flex batting muscles
Ben Stokes scored his third successive fifty, and fell just 16 short of his second century of the World Cup as England flexed their batting muscles against Pakistan to post 337/9. After Jonny Bairstow’s tone-setting half-century, Stokes and Joe Root came together to rebuild the innings before Harry Brook and Jos Buttler provided the finishing touches at the death. Pakistan now have the absurd requirement of chasing the target down in 6.4 overs to advance ahead of New Zealand into the semi-final.
Jos Buttler dwarfed Pakistan’s faint chances of reaching the semis right at the toss when he opted to bat first. Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan, who spoke of the possibility of this game being his last ODI for England, made a brisk start in conditions that weren’t siding with the Pakistan bowlers. Shaheen Afridi began impeccably, bowling a maiden over to the left-handed Malan but the England duo teed off from the fourth over, where they combined to hit three fours off Haris Rauf. England went from 21/0 in 4 overs to 68/0 in 9 overs as at least one boundary came in each of those overs with Pakistan bowling all over the place.
Mohammad Wasim Jr. arrived in the post-PowerPlay period to put the brakes on the scoring and that led to a wicket for Iftikhar Ahmed, who operated from the other end. Malan attempted a risky reverse lap against the off-spinner and top-edged the ball, only for Mohammad Rizwan to react sharply even as the ball ricocheted off him and went towards the off-side. The wicketkeeper put in a dive to send the opening packing. Bairstow carried on in the company of Joe Root for a few more overs to bring up his fifty, but perished to a tame shot to covers off an innocuous looking full ball from Rauf.
Root and Ben Stokes then combined to give England a quick move-on. Stokes had the rub of the green as Shaheen Afridi dropped a return catch from the left-hander, after which the Pakistan pacer was duly punished. The next ball was hit for a four, while in his next over Stokes smashed three fours – through covers and past mid-on. Root and Stokes picked up 58 runs between the 21st and 30th over. Once Stokes got to his fifty – third consecutive – in the 34th over, he started to up the scoring rate – like he did against Netherlands in the previous game.
Stokes seemed to be struggling with his mobility a bit but went after Wasim Jr. and Agha Salman in back-to-back overs. He was setting himself up for another century until Afridi returned to bowl. The left-armer got a full ball to reverse that Stokes took a wild swipe at and missed. He walked off for a 76-ball 84 while Root followed suit in Afridi’s next over, falling for 60 off 72 after miscuing a slower delivery.
Pakistan clawed back with the two wickets but Jos Buttler and Harry Brook joined forces to swing for the fence in the death overs. Shadab Khan nearly had the England captain caught by Rauf at long-on but stepped onto the boundary skirting with the ball in his hand. Brook then took on Afridi in his last over, starting and ending a 20-run over with sixes. Two excellent efforts on the field – first a catch by Afridi and then a direct hit from Rauf – ended two fiery cameos from Brook and Buttler, but England still got 97 in the last 10 overs to post a big total.
Brief Scores:
England 337 in 50 overs (Dawid Malan 31, Jonny Bairstow 59, Ben Stokes 84, Joe Root 60, Joss Buttler 27, Harry Brook 30; Shaheen Afridi 2-72, Mohammad Wassim Jr 2-74, Haris Rauf 3-64) vs Pakistan
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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
The National Building Research Institute [NBRI] has issued Landslide Early Warnings to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura valid upto 0900 AM on 23rd May 2026.
Accordingly,
LEVEL I [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Deraniyagala, Ruwanwella and Dehiowita in the Kegalle district and Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kuruwita and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla in the Gampaha district, Horana, Bulathsinhala, Ingiriya and Palindanuwara in the Kalutara district, Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Pelmadulla, Kiriella, Elapatha, Kalawana and Nivithigala in the Rathnapura district.
LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Mirigama and Divulapitiya in the Gampaha district, Agalawatta and Mathugama in the Kalutara district, Bulathkohupitiya in the Kegalle district and Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district.
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Minor flood situation likely to occur within the next few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River
Based on the heavy rainfall currently being received in the Kalu River Basin and the analysis of water level data recorded at hydrological gauging stations maintained by the Irrigation Department within the Kalu River Basin, it is hereby warned that a Minor Flood Situation is likely to occur within the next
few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River.
The affected areas include the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ratnapura, Kuruwita, Ayagama, Elapatha, Kiriella in Ratnapura District.
The public residing in these areas, as well as motorists and passengers travelling through the affected regions, are strongly requested to act with utmost vigilance and to take all necessary
precautions. Disaster Management Authorities are requested to take necessary actions in this regard.
A considerable rainfall has occurred in the catchment areas of the Aththanagalu Oya Basin as atb5.00 AM today (22).
By analyzing the current rainfall situation and river water levels of Hydrological Stations on the Aththanagalu Oya, there is a possibility of a flood situation occuring in some low lying
areas of the Aththanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya valleys situated in Diwulapitiya, Mirigama, Attanagalla, Mahara, Gampaha, Minuwangoda, Ja-ela, Katana and Wattala Div8sional Secretaries Divisions within next 48 hours.
Owing to this situation, there is a possibility of some of the roads running through these lowlying areas being inundated at some places.
The public residing in these areas, as well as motorists traveling through these regions, are requested to exercise extreme caution regarding this situation.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
Minor flood situation likely to occur within the next few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River
Flood warning issued to low lying areas of the Aththanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya valleys
Flood warning issued to low lying areas of the Kelani River valley
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Gampaha, Kalutara and Ratnapura
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