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Van Beek’s Super Over fireworks put West Indies’ World Cup hopes on the line

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Logan van Beek scored 30 runs in the Super Over (pic ICC)
“I can’t really explain it,” Player of the Match Logan van Beek said. Netherlands, chasing 375 against West Indies, were deep in trouble with 205 required from the remaining 125 balls with only six wickets in hand. Who would have known they would end up getting 204 of them in a frenetic finish that would force the game into a Super Over?
And if you thought that was enough excitement for the day, van Beek bashed 4, 6, 4, 6, 6, 4 to smash the record for most runs in a one-over eliminator. In reply, West Indies lost two wickets for eight runs, and that was it. Netherlands took two vital points into the Super Six of the World Cup Qualifier, leaving West Indies with nothing to carry forward after being beaten by both Netherlands and Zimbabwe. The two-time World Cup champions are now teetering, their hopes of making the World Cup proper hanging by a thread.
Before van Beek batted like a free spirit, it was Teja Nidamanuru and his captain Scott Edwards who made that finish possible, adding 143 for the fifth wicket to give Netherlands hope from the most helpless of situations. That stand consumed only 90 deliveries. West Indies stormed back, though, taking 3 for 14 in a hurry to leave Netherlands needing 30 from the last two overs.
At the crease was none other than van Beek. The first three legal balls of the 49th over, bowled by Roston Chase, disappeared for 4, 6, 4. Nine needed off six balls. Four more from van Beek. But there was a twist. With one to get from the last ball, he swiped to mid-on, where Jason Holder tumbled to his right to grab the ball. It would be given out only after the third umpire made sure Alzarri Joseph hadn’t overstepped.
Van Beek hit 28 at a strike rate of 200 during the run chase after Nidamaduru belted 111 off just 76 balls, with 11 fours and three sixes. Edwards, meanwhile, smashed 67 from 47. Not only did they find boundaries at will, they also made the West Indies fielders look ragged, converting ones into twos and twos into threes. Every run counted towards a remarkable Super Over win.
The game was set up by West Indies’ centurion Nicholas Pooran. After half-centuries from Brandon King and Johnson Charles laid a solid foundation, Pooran added 108 with Shai Hope for the fourth wicket in less than 13 overs.
Pooran was on 7 off 17 balls at one stage. He then took Saqib Zulfiqar for a four and a six in the 35th over. In the 39th, he targeted the same bowler with a six and four again, before reaching his fifty in the 40th with another run of boundaries off Vivian Kingma.
West Indies added 118 in the last ten overs. Pooran reached his second century of the World Cup Qualifier in the penultimate over, before Keemo Paul took over, ransacking Aryan Dutt for 20 in the final over to propel West Indies to 374. Who knew even that wouldn’t prove enough?

Brief Scores:

West Indies 374/6 in 50 overs (Nicholas Pooran 105*, Brandon King 76; Saqib Zulfiqur 2-43) vs Netherlands 374/9 in 50 overs (Teja Nidamanuru 111, Scott Edwards 67; Roston Chase 3-77). Match Tied, Netherlands win in Super Over

(Cricinfo)



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Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended till 1600 hrs on Tuesday [09]

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The Level III RED landslide warnings issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale by the landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] have  been extended till 1600 hrs on 09th December 2025.

Accordingly,
The LEVEL III RED warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Hatharaliyadda, Yatinuwara, Ududumbara, Pathahewaheta, Medadumbara, Pasbage Korale, Deltota, Poojapitiya, Ganga Ihala Korale, Panvila, Gangawata Korale, Udapalatha, Harispattuwa, Kundasale, Minipe, Doluwa, Thumpane, Akurana, Udunuwara and Pathadumbara in the Kandy district, Kegalle, Galigamuwa, Mawanella, Bulathkohupitiya, Aranayaka, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana and Warakapola in the Kegalle district, Mawathagama, Mallawapitiya and Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, and Naula, Wilgamuwa, Pallepola, Ambanganga Korale, Laggala Pallegama, Ukuwela, Rattota, Matale and Yatawatta in the Matale district have been extended.

In the meantime,

LEVEL II AMBER warnings have  been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Ella, Lunugala, Welimada, Haputhale, Passara and Haldummulla in the Badulla district, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Alawwa and Polgahawela in the Kurunegala district, Ambagamuwa Korale, Hanguranketha, Mathurata, Norwood, Kothmale West, Nuwara Eliya, Thalawakele, Nildandahinna, Walapane and Kothmale East in the Nuwara Eliya district, and Kahawatta, Godakawela and Kolonne in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I YELLOW warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Yakkalamulla and Elpitiya in the Galle district, Attanagalla, Mirigama and Divulapitiya in the Gampaha district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, and Eheliyagoda, Opanayake, Kalawana, Imbulpe, Kaltota, Kiriella, Kuruwita, Nivithigala, Ayagama, Pelmadulla, Balangoda, Elapatha and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district

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President chairs Nuwara Eliya District Special Coordinating Committee Meeting

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A special District Coordinating Committee meeting, convened to review the damage caused to the agricultural sector in the Nuwara Eliya District due to Cyclone Ditwah and to discuss the urgent measures required, was held this morning (08) at the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with the participation of the relevant responsible officials.

Due to adverse weather conditions, 1,421 hectares of vegetable cultivation in the Nuwara Eliya District has been damaged. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed the relevant officials to take the necessary measures to provide compensation to farmers without delay.

Officials stated that although there has been crop damage, the reduction in the vegetable harvest in the Nuwara Eliya District would be around 25%. They added that Nuwara Eliya district would be able to meet the daily demand, but a decrease in the daily demand has been observed.

Officials further pointed out to the President that the reason for this decline is the spread of false information claiming a vegetable shortage in the Nuwara Eliya District and that prices have excessively increased.

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Starmer to host Zelensky for Ukraine talks in London

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UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London today [Monday] amid a continuing deadlock in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

Zelensky will attend the talks in Downing Street alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said on Sunday that Ukraine’s security and self-determination would be “at the heart” of the leaders’ discussions in London. He said that US-led talks were at a “really pivotal moment”.

After three days of discussions in Miami, US President Donald Trump’s outgoing Ukraine envoy said that a deal to end the war was “really close” but hinged on Russia’s co-operation.

Negotiations remain stuck on issues including the size of Ukraine’s army after the conflict with Moscow ends and Russian control of the Donbas.

“If we get those two issues settled, I think the rest of the things will work out fairly well,” US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told Reuters. “We’re almost there.”

Monday’s in-person talks are the latest attempt by Ukraine’s European allies to carve out a role in the ongoing efforts to end the war.

Confirming the meeting on Sunday, Downing Street said the leaders would “focus on the ongoing peace negotiations and next steps”, without providing details.

The White House has been pushing Kyiv and Moscow to agree to a multi-point plan to end the war but there has been little sign of a breakthrough, despite both sides engaging with the process.

The latest US-Ukraine talks concluded over the weekend – with Zelensky saying he was “determined” to continue working with the US after speaking to Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

European leaders have pushed back against early versions of the US-led peace plan, which has since been revised after criticism it was too favourable towards Russia.

It has sought to win US support for its own proposals, including a European-led security force to police any peace deal in Ukraine, an idea that has been rejected by Moscow.

The original version of the US plan faced criticism from Ukraine and its allies for accepting Russian demands including on Nato involvement, restrictions to Ukraine’s army and control of the eastern Donbas region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has in turn rejected the revisions.

Despite blows to Russia’s economy and heavy losses on the battlefield, Putin has been unwilling to compromise on key points.

He has said Russia would take the Donbas by force if Ukraine did not cede control of the region, 85% of which is currently held by Russia.

“Either we liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories,” Putin said in an interview with India Today.

While talks continued, Russia launched another large aerial bombardment on targets across Ukraine overnight into Sunday.

Twenty-four hours earlier, Russia had launched 653 drones and 51 missiles on Ukraine, triggering air raid alerts across the country.

Macron was among the European leaders to offer his “full solidarity” to Ukraine amid the attacks and that he would “continue efforts with the Americans” to secure peace.

Meanwhile, the US National Security Strategy, which was unveiled last week, did not consider Russia to be a threat to Europe.

Moscow responded that the strategy was consistent with its own vision and was a “positive step” forward.

With further diplomatic negotiations on the horizon, EU officials have urged the US to keep historic ties between the two continents intact.

“This is the only reasonable strategy of our common security,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in response.

[BBC]

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