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West Indies trump Sri Lanka in last-over finish
In a thrilling finish in Kimberley, West Indies came out on top as they beat Sri Lanka by three wickets with just three balls to spare.
After being sent in, Sri Lanka kept losing wickets at regular intervals. It started with Nathan Edward dismissing Vishen Halambage in the first over of the game, and having Sineth Jayawardena a little later.
Dinura Kalupahana occupied one end and stitched useful partnerships with Supun Waduge and Sharujan Shanmuganathan, but at 136 for 6, Sri Lanka were in danger of being all out under 200.
Kalupahana and Malsha Tharupathi ensured that didn’t happen by adding 51 off just 38 balls. Kalupahana lent the stability with his 53 off 83 and Tharupathi provided the impetus by scoring 42 off 38. For West Indies, seamer Raneico Smith was the most successful bowler with figures of 4 for 47.
Captain Stephan Pascal and Steve Wedder gave West Indies a breezy start of 48 in 8.1 overs before Kalupahana dismissed Pascal. Wedderburn carried on and struck 61 off 71 deliveries, which included five fours and three sixes.
West Indies seemed to be cruising at 147 for 2 but Sri Lanka fought back. They picked up four wickets in the next 37 runs. From the last 54 balls, West Indies needed 47 and had two new batters at the crease.
But Nathan Sealy first added 22 off 27 with Jewel Andrew and then an unbeaten 26 off as many balls with Tarrique Edward to ensure West Indies didn’t squander their winning position.
Brief scores:
West Indies Under 19s 232/7 in 49.3 overs (Steve Wedderburn 61, Stephan Pascal 33, Jordan Johnson 39, Nathan Sealy 27*; Dinura Kalupahana 2-39, Vishwa Lahiru 2-32, Sineth Jayawardena 2-39 ) beat Sri Lanka Under 19s 231 in 50 overs (Dinura Kalupahana 53, Supun Waduge 31, Malsha Tharupathi 42; Nathan Edwards 2-47, Raneico Smith 4-47) by three wickets
An estimated 550,000 people took part in demonstrations across France today to protest against teaching conditions in schools, rising fuel prices and the cost of living.
Marches were largely peaceful and took place in several major French cities, including Paris, where 110,000 people attended.
“We just want to study, we just want a future” one student taking part in the protest in the capital told BBC News, while another said they were ” just trying to make things change”.
But French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said some groups “at the margins of these protests” caused the situation to “degenerate”.
According to the French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, 1200 people were arrested. Officials also reported looting in cities such as Marseille, where masked 8ntruders also entered the city hall. In Lyon, the tourist office was set on fire and shops were damaged.
French President Emmanuel Macron said any vandals and looters would be “prosecuted and punished”, while Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of left-wing party La France Insoumise, said demonstrations had been calmly mobilised.
Meanwhile, firefighters are continuing to battle a blaze at Limoges City Hall after a reported break-in and arson inside the 19th-century building during protests there.
(BBC)
A large fire near a Canadian military base in Alberta has killed and injured some people, the defence minister said, without confirming the number of casualties.
The Canadian Armed Forces were working with local authorities to manage the fire and were looking into what caused it, David McGuinty said, describing the situation as “very, very active and delicate”.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney said on X that a “serious incident creating a major fire” had occurred, adding his “thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected”.
Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, where the fire broke out, is one of the country’s busiest military training bases.
The blaze “spread rapidly due to high winds” and had torn through the fences of the base, the Municipal District of Wainwright said.
McGuinty told reporters he “cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory”.
It is unclear when the fire broke out, but the district first posted about the incident at about 17:30 local time.
Local authorities have urged residents to avoid the area and give all emergency vehicles right of way.
(BBC)
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
Record 1,600 students take Russian Classical Ballet examination in Sri Lanka
Half a million people join protests in France, but some turn violent
Deadly fire breaks out at Canada military base
Showers or thundershowers will occur in most parts of the island after 1.00 p.m.
Buddhist hierarchy demands prison perks for monk convicts
Debate on NCM against Speaker postponed indefinitely
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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