Sports

Suryavanshi’s 31-ball 86 gives India 2-1 series lead

Published

1 year ago

2025/07/3

Priyan

Vaibhav Suryavanshi goes airborne during his fast-paced innings [Cricinfo]

Indian 14-year-old breakout star Vaibhav Suryavanshi hit the third fastest half-century in India Under 19s history off an astonishing 20 balls to set up victory over England in this third Youth One-Day International at Northampton and go 2-1 up in the five-match series.

Suryavanshi showed the prowess which earned him worldwide headlines earlier this year when he made the second fastest century in IPL history. Striking six fours and nine sixes in the run-chase, Suryavanshi was in total command as he made a scintillating 86 from just 31 deliveries, flaying England’s bowlers to all corners.

Such was his rate of scoring that, by the time he was dismissed, India were already 111 for two after only eight overs, and, with Vihaan Malhotra showing exquisite timing in a knock of 46 (34 balls. seven fours, one six), India looked on course for a quick victory. However, Malhotra’s wicket was the first of three to fall for 30 in six overs before an unbroken, positive partnership of 75 in 11.1 overs between Kanishk Chouhan (43) and RS Ambrish (31) saw India home with 33 balls to spare.

For England, Somerset keeper-batter Thomas Rew continued his sparkling form, cracking an unbeaten 76 off just 44 balls to help England post 268 for six. Rew followed up his 131 on Monday, smiting nine fours and three sixes in a match reduced to 40 overs a side after morning rain.

Kent’s Ben Dawkins made 62 off 61 balls (8 fours, 1 six), his highest score in Youth ODIs to give England a solid platform in an opening stand of 78 with Isaac Mohammed (41).

But while Hampshire’s Ben Mayes made 31, England suffered a mini collapse, losing four for 35 runs in 6.3 overs before Rew and Ralphie Albert (21) staged a 60-run stand in 8.2 overs. Rew then wrapped up the innings, hitting 21 off the penultimate over.

Earlier, Dawkins started positively, twice driving Henil Patel through cover point, while Mohammed was given an early reprieve when he was dropped at mid-off. Mohammed then upper cut two sixes as Deepesh Devendran’s third over went for 17 runs before bringing up England’s 50 off 38 balls.

Chouhan (3 for 30) reined back scoring, just six coming off his first three overs, while fellow off-spinner Malhotra had Mohammed caught behind.

Dawkins powered Naman Pushpak over wide long-on before running a sharp two to bring up England’s 100 off 15.3 overs, while Mayes swung Ambrish through midwicket to celebrate the 50 partnership with Dawkins off 47 balls.

Mayes was dropped in the deep on 20, but Pushpak broke through with the googly, bowling Dawkins as he went back to cut. Chouhan removed Mayes, also bowled going back to the spinner, before Rocky Flintoff (16) top edged Chouhan to wide long-on.

Rew inside-edged his first ball but didn’t look back, taking consecutive boundaries off Pushpak, sweeping and driving through extra cover.

While Chouhan struck again, Joe Moores flicking to wide mid-on, Rew kept up the momentum, forging a partnership with Albert and deploying the sweep against Pushpak once more.

Rew marked England’s 200 in style, moving outside off-stump to swing Patel over fine leg for a massive six. He then collected three boundaries off the next four deliveries, bringing up the 50 partnership off 37 balls in the process.

After Albert was caught at midwicket, Rew made the most of the 20 balls remaining, moving outside off to upper cut Ambrish over short third man to reach his half-century.

In a productive penultimate over, Rew smashed Devendran with the breeze over midwicket for six before edging through the vacant slip area, punching through cover and scooping for six.

Suryavanshi began forcefully, powering Minto over long-off and picking up Morgan for consecutive sixes over backward square, the first flying out of the ground.

Minto was fortunate to grab the first wicket, skipper Abhigyan Kundu punching a full toss to a diving Mayes at point, but Suryavanshi continued to attack, taking 17 off one Morgan over, including consecutive sixes over deep cover to bring up India’s 50 off only 4.4 overs. He duly reached his half-century with his fifth six before dispatching another over the changing rooms into the car park before rocking back and sending yet another over extra cover.

Suryavanshi swung spinner Albert legside to bring up the 50 partnership with Malhotra off just 16 balls, his partner contributing just five of them. But Suryavanshi’s remarkable innings ended when he pulled a Wade slower ball to Moores at backward square leg. Maulyarajsinh Chavda then fell without scoring, cutting Wade straight to backward point where Moores took a good diving catch.

Rahul Kumar (27) hooked Alex Green behind square for six, sharing a stand of 46 with Malhotra, who played his first ultra-aggressive shot when he climbed into a free hit from Wade. His downfall came with a chip back to Albert. Kumar departed when he backed out of a pull and edged to gully, while Harvansh Singh Pangalia (11) was caught on the crease and bowled by Green.

Despite England pressing hard, Chouhan was dropped in the outfield on 20 and 30 and India’s seventh-wicket pair showed few nerves as they knocked off the remaining runs.

Brief scores:
India U19s 274 for 6 in 34.3 overs (Vaibhav Suryavanshi 86, Vihaan Malhotra 46, Rahul Kumar 27, Kanishk Chouhan 43*, RS Ambrish 31*; Alexander Wade 2-51) beat England U19s 268 for 6 in 40 overs (Thomas Rew 76*, BJ Dawkins 62, Issac Mohammed 41, Ben Mayes 31, Ralphie Albert 21; Kanishk Chouhan 3-30) by four wickets

[Cricinfo]

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Sports

Malinga’s career best effort fails to stop Pakistan crossing 300

Published

5 hours ago

2026/10/19

Thilina Walpola

Pakistan were looking for a big total at 215 for four with 13 overs remaining, but Sri Lanka’s bowlers struck back to reduce them to 305 in the curtain-raiser of the tri-nation tournament in Rawalpindi yesterday

Eshan Malinga returned career best figures of four for 46, but his impressive spell could not prevent Pakistan from breaching the 300 run mark in the curtain-raiser of the ODI tri-nation series in Rawalpindi on Sunday.

Pakistan were bowled out for 305, with former captain Salman Ali Agha leading the charge with his fourth ODI hundred.

Agha struck a fluent 107 off 90 deliveries, peppering the boundary with ten fours and a six before falling to Asitha Fernando. The Sri Lankan seamer was equally impressive, returning tidy figures of three for 39.

Agha featured in a 97 run partnership with Hasan Nawaz and at 215 for four with 13 overs remaining, Pakistan appeared poised for a formidable total. However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers clawed their way back into the contest, applying the brakes just when the hosts threatened to run away with the game.

On a surface tailor made for batting, Sri Lanka’s late fightback could prove crucial, with the visitors fancying their chances of chasing down the target.

Left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka finished with two for 67, although his figures flattered him somewhat. He was guilty of straying onto the pads far too often, offering the Pakistan batters several scoring opportunities.

Sri Lanka went into the contest with just four specialist bowlers, leaving the part timers to shoulder a fair share of the workload. To their credit, the makeshift attack rose to the occasion, sharing ten overs between three bowlers without allowing Pakistan to completely dictate terms.

Dasun Shanaka did the lion’s share of the work, sending down seven overs, while Sahan Arachchige and Kamindu Mendis chipped in with the remaining three.

Sri Lanka also welcomed back top order batter Avishka Fernando, who returned to the ODI fold after spending several years on the sidelines.

England are the third team in the tri-nation competition, which serves as valuable preparation for next year’s World Cup.

The opening three matches will be played in Rawalpindi before the tournament shifts to Lahore for the remaining fixtures, including the final.

Sri Lanka are in the midst of a marathon 50 day tour of Pakistan. Having already completed a three-match T20I series, they will turn their attention to the tri-nation tournament before playing a First Class warm-up fixture followed by two Tests.

Sports

Mahinda face St. Sebastian’s in opening quarter-final

Published

5 hours ago

2026/10/19

Thilina Walpola

19 Division I – Tier ‘A’ Cricket

by Reemus Fernando

‎The top eight teams begin their battle for the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ limited-overs title today, when Mahinda College, Galle, take on St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa, in the first quarter-final at Dombagoda.

‎Led by Dulsith Dharshana, Mahinda qualified for the knockout stage with wins over St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota (by five wickets), Royal College, Colombo (by six wickets) and Lumbini (by ten wickets). Their only defeat came against St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya, the only side to top 200 against them. In their other matches, Mahinda’s bowlers kept opponents to low totals.

‎That bowling unit, spearheaded by left-arm paceman Sadew Nethmina, appears to have peaked ahead of the crucial clash. They bundled Lumbini out for 40 in their last match, with Nethmina and Vishmitha Sathsara sharing nine wickets between them.

‎St. Sebastian’s reached the knockout stage on the back of wins over Maris Stella College, Negombo, and D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo. Their match against Sri Sumangala College, Panadura, ended without a result because of rain, while they lost by two wickets to Richmond, the eventual group champions.

‎St. Sebastian’s boast a strong batting line-up, with Hirusha Perera, Navinu Fernando, Lashen Fernando, Thivanka Fernando and Meshone Ferdinando all making notable contributions in the group stage. Skipper Koshendra Fernando is expected to lead the bowling attack with his spin, supported by Adeesha Lakshan, Lashen Fernando and Risinu Prabesh.

‎Teams

Mahinda (from):

Dulsith Darshana (Captain), Sadew Nethmina (Vice Captain), ⁠Randula Mabarana, ⁠Manitha Rajapaksha, ⁠Sehas Ashinsa, ⁠Kaveesha Githmal, ⁠Thiyon Helika, ⁠Kavindu Nimsata, ⁠Gesandu Bisas, ⁠Vishmitha Sathsara, Buddhima Tharupathi, ⁠Naviru Nishitha, ⁠Nihindu Sesitha, ⁠Anuga Palliyaguru, ⁠Senuja Vehan, ⁠Kevin Geemitha, ⁠Bakshara Jayarathne.

‎‎Officials: Denuwan Rajakaruna (Head Coach), Sandaru Nethmina (Asst. Coach), Y. Nishantha Kumara (Master in Charge)

‎St. Sebastian’s (from): Koshendra Fernando (Captain), Meshone Ferdinando, Nisila Dimath, Navinu Fernando, Hirusha Lochana, Lashen Fernando, Thejan Bandara, Chamath Wellalage, Risinu Prabesh, Sanoj Perera, Deneth Keshara, Adeesha Lakshan, Dilena Fernando, Thiwanka Fernando, Shenas Hashein, Pathiv Vehan, Dineepa Wickramsooriya.

‎‎Officials:

Lahiru Kanishka (Head coach), Nishantha Fernando (Asst. Coach), Sandaru Tharusha Perera (Master in Charge)

‎The other three quarter finals will be played on Tuesday as per the below schedule.

‎‎Mahanama Colombo V St. Joseph’s Darley Road at Mattegoda

‎Nalanda Colombo V St. Anthony’s Katugastota at Campbell Place

‎Richmond Galle V Wesley Colombo at Weeraketiya

‎‎Several big names fell at the first hurdle, including last year’s finalists Royal College, Colombo, as well as S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, Trinity College, Kandy, and St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya. Royal and St. Peter’s were in the same group and finished behind Mahinda and St. Anthony’s. S. Thomas’ were in Group ‘A’, where Mahanama and Wesley edged out the rest to book their places.

‎

Sports

Mihinsa breaks Poornima’s decade-old record

Published

5 hours ago

2026/10/19

Thilina Walpola

Mihinsa Dewmini Abeyratne who established a new meet record in the Under 20 high jump event poses with her coach Gamini Dias.

by Reemus Fernando

‎Asian Junior Championship medallist Mihinsa Dewmini Abeyratne broke a ten-year-old meet record to win the Under 20 high jump at the All Island Schools Games Athletics Championship at Diyagama on Sunday.

‎The President’s College, Embilipitiya, athlete cleared 1.75 metres, equalling her personal best, to erase the record of Poornima Gunarathne of Leeds International, Panadura. Gunarathne’s mark of 1.74 metres had stood since 2016.

‎Trained by retired sports officer Gamini Dias, Mihinsa was expected to achieve something special this season after setting a personal best of 1.75 metres at the same venue earlier this year. She followed that with a bronze medal at the Asian Junior Championship in Hong Kong.

‎Hers was one of six meet records to fall by the time this report was filed on day three of the meet.

‎In the girls’ category, Lyceum International School, Wattala, and Ave Maria Convent, Negombo, set new marks in relay events. In a closely contested Under 14 4×100 metres final, Lyceum clocked 51.35 seconds to erase Musaeus College’s 2019 record. Ladies’ College, who finished second in 51.52, also bettered the previous mark.

‎Ave Maria Convent edged Nimala Maria Balika in another tight finish to win the Under 16 girls’ 4×100 metres in a new meet record of 49.49 seconds. Nimala Maria Balika also bettered the old record.

‎In the boys’ category, Sadeesh Denuwan of Halmillaketiya MV stole the limelight with a new meet record of 11.22 seconds in the Under 14 80 metres hurdles. Maneesha Samarasinghe of Lyceum International, Wattala, set a new record of 13.09 seconds in the Under 16 100 metres hurdles.

‎Lyceum International, Wattala, also set a new meet record of 3:13.76 in the Under 20 4×400 metres relay.