Sports
Yupun to skip World Championships to recover in time for Asian Games
Italy-based sprinter Yopun Abeykoon will skip the forthcoming World Championships and will look forward to recovering to do well at the Asian Games.
“I have decided to withdraw from the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. My concentration is to give my best for the Asian Games in September,” said Yupun in a statement issued yesterday.
“Times have been tough during the past few months mentally and physically, as you know that I have been going through a crucial recovery period and the situation is slowly turning out on the positive side.
This decision has been crucial to me as I had to choose between two races I have been waiting to compete in since the beginning of this year,” the highest-ranked Sri Lankan athlete said.
As of yesterday, Abeykoon was in the 39th position in the ‘Road to Budapest 2023’ rankings in the men’s 100 metres. (RF)
New Zealand kept their ODI record against Pakistan spotless as they eased to a 43 run win to seal a 3-0 series sweep.
After a nearly-two-hour delay to the start because of a wet outfield owing to overnight rain in Mount Maunganui, Michael Bracewell and Rhys Mariu’s half-centuries got New Zealand up to 264 in 42 overs. Pakistan made a slow start amid a freak injury to Imam-ul-Haq and while there were contributions right down the order led by a Babar Azam half-century, New Zealand never let Pakistan get on top of the asking rate. Five more wickets for Ben Sears saw New Zealand regularly chip away as Pakistan folded for 221.
For the third successive game, Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and decided to put New Zealand in. Naseem Shah came in for the concussed Harris Rauf and had an immediate impact, squaring Nick Kelly up to get an early wicket. But New Zealand consolidated with a 78-run stand between Mariu and Henry Nicholls, even if it wasn’t quite as explosive as New Zealand have been in the first powerplay this series.
Sufiyan Muqeem was introduced somewhat late in the game, but struck almost immediately, getting a fluid Mariu out for a half-century as he tried to sweep. But New Zealand continued to work their way through the innings sedately, building one partnership after another; five of the top six scored between 26 and 59. Tim Seifert and Daryl Mitchell combined for another 61-run stand as they geared up to give the lower-middle order a platform for a big finish.
It was captain Bracewell who made good on that platform in a blistering innings. He started slowly after coming in with just under 11 overs to go, but when he launched Mohammed Wasim over fine leg in the 34th over, it would be the first of a half-dozen sixes off his bat. Akif Javeed bore the brunt of the punishment, plundered for 18 in the following over as Bracewell hared towards his half-century. It would come in the final over of the innings with a fifth six of the innings against Akif; he would smash one more before Akif finally got his man off the last ball of the innings. It was his fourth wicket, but having smashed 59 off 40, Bracewell had what he wanted from his knock.
New Zealand’s quicks were tight up top once more and strangled Pakistan early, but the early stages of the game were defined by the injury to Imam. He nudged Will O’Rourke and set off for a single, but the throw at his end bounced up awkwardly and ended up lodging itself in the grill of Imam’s helmet. Imam went down immediately as the physio raced on. Extensive treatment followed as it became clear Imam would struggle to continue. He would be bandaged and wheeled off on a stretcher, with Usman Khan his concussion substitute.
Abdullah Shafique and Babar were steady through the early stages of the chase, but never as brisk as was required of them. Shafique’s innings was typically punctuated by quality shot-making, a pick-up of O’Rourke towards midwicket perhaps the highlight, but 33 off 56 was a truer indicator of how few and far between such aggression was. He failed to get on top of a short ball from Sears to give Jacob Duffy a comfortable catch in the deep; by now, the asking rate was approaching eight.
Usman’s innings ended with a moment of brilliance in the field from Bracewell – of the sort that has become their hallmark. Usman looked uncomfortable against the short ball as ever and skied one off Muhammad Abbas. Bracewell dashed in from midwicket, and it always looked like the ball would land just short, but a dive at full stretch saw him pluck the ball inches off the ground.
In a dagger blow to Pakistan, Babar followed swifty after, clipping one to deep midwicket immediately after bringing up his half-century. It became something of a theme for the innings; each of the top seven reached double-figures without making a more meaningful contribution to the chase. The captain Rizwan was the most proactive, looking good through a breezy 32-ball 37, but with wickets falling at the other end, Pakistan needed a bit more meat on the bones of that innings. But Duffy cleverly changed his pace and drew a miscue from him, leaving Pakistan a further 96 to win in just 56 with the top half back in the hut.
In the second game, the bottom half had bailed Pakistan out of an embarrassing defeat, primarily led by Faheem Ashraf. There would be no rescue act from the allrounder this time, Bracewell striking as he sliced to Seifert who took a sharp catch, and Naseem was only good for a brief cameo before the returning Sears put a stop to it.
By now, Pakistan’s hopes of victory were realistically over, and Sears made hay, taking three off the last four wickets – including the final one – to help himself to a second consecutive five-wicket haul. There was brief drama at the end of a long day when the lights went out just as Duffy was about to deliver to Tayyab Tahir, fighting a lone if purposeless hand at the end of the innings. When the lights came back on, though, he was gone next ball, and it would be under bright lights that New Zealand sealed glory, plunging Pakistan into ever-deepening gloom as they ended a miserable tour on a feeble note.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 264 for 8 in 42 overs (Michaell Bracewell 59, Rhys Mariu 58, Daryl Mitchell 43, Henry Nicholls 31, Tim Seifert 26; Akif Javed 4-62, Naseem Shah 2-54) beat Pakistan 221 in 40 overs (Babar Azam 50, Abdulla Shafiqe 33, Mohamed Rizwan 37, Tayyab Tahir 33; Ben Sears 5-34, Jacob Duffy 2-40) by 43 runs
[Cricinfo]
Hardik Pandya claimed his maiden T20 five-fer and scored an unbeaten 16-ball 28 but was powerless to prevent Mumbai Indians’ [MI] third loss in four games. They lost to a spirited Lucknow Super Giants [LSG] side, who had Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram to thank for powering them to 203, a score that they defended by 12 runs, thanks in large part to a superb spell from 25-year-old Digvesh Rathi, who took 1 for 21.
At the 15-over mark, the contest was evenly poised: LSG stood at 146 for 3, MI at 143 for 3. Mumbai, historically strong chasers, seemed on course for a late surge. But that’s when Rathi made his mark. The legspinner delivered a crucial spell, conceding just 10 runs from his first three overs. Skipper Rishabh Pant even reserved an over of his for the death, and Rathi stood tall in the 18th, giving away just 11 against a rampaging Hardik Pandya. Across his four overs, Rathi bowled eight dots and conceded just a single boundary-proving to be the difference.
On the flip side, it was a night to forget for Impact Sub Tilak Varma. The rising star struggled to find fluency, scratching his way to 25 off 23 balls with just two boundaries. MI ultimately made the bold call to retire him out in the penultimate over, a move that underlined their desperate search for momentum.
LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS
PowerPlay: Marsh takes charge
Phase Score: LSG 69/0 (RR: 11.50; 4s/6s: 10/2)
Mitchell Marsh could have been dismissed for just 4, and Trent Boult should’ve added yet another first-over wicket to his tally. But Mumbai Indians made a crucial blunder – they didn’t appeal for a clear nick. It proved costly. The Aussie powerhouse, fondly known as ‘The Bison’, tore into MI’s bowlers with brute force and clean timing. Marsh plundered nine boundaries and two towering sixes, driving straight and through the line with disdain even as the ball offered swing and the pitch served up uneven bounce.
He faced 30 deliveries in the PowerPlay – the most by any batter in that phase in IPL history – and made every ball count, hammering 60 runs off them in a whirlwind display.
Middle Overs: Markram holds firm even as MI chip away
Phase Score: LSG 77/3 (RR: 8.55, 4s/6s: 5/4)
Marsh fell to the very first ball he faced after the PowerPlay, chipping a return catch to Vignesh Puthur. The dismissal cracked open a window for Mumbai Indians to claw back, and skipper Hardik Pandya made the most of it. He struck with a sharp short ball to remove the dangerous Nicholas Pooran for just 12. Pandya wasn’t done yet. He extended Rishabh Pant’s lean start to IPL 2025, as the LSG captain mistimed a short ball that held up on the pitch, spooning a simple catch to mid-off. In the space of just 24 balls, LSG had lost three key wickets for 38 runs and were suddenly wobbling. That’s when Markram stepped in, steadying the innings with composure and control. He found an ideal partner in Ayush Badoni, and together they stitched a crucial 51-run stand off just 31 deliveries, dragging the LSG innings back on course
Death Overs: Hardik grabs maiden T20 five-fer but LSG breach 200
Phase Score: 57/5 (RR: 11.40; 4s/6s: 6/2)
Markram completed a 34-ball half-century but LSG’s push for late runs was pegged back by Pandya’s continued excellence. The MI skipper used his cutters into the wicket efficiently and forced LSG’s batters to hit to the longer boundaries. Three such deliveries accounted for Markram, David Miller and Akash Deep as Pandya completed his maiden T20 five-fer. Between those wickets, however, LSG still found useful runs, notably from the bat of Miller, who struck three fours and a six in his 14-ball 27 to power LSG to 203 – only the second 200+ score in Lucknow.
MUMBAI INDIANS
PowerPlay: Openers fall but Naman Dhir keeps MI on track
Phase Score: 64/2 (RR: 10.67; 4s/6s: 4/4)
Mumbai Indians lost both openers early, but Naman Dhir’s explosive cameo kept the chase alive. The returning Akash Deep made an immediate impact, removing Will Jacks in his first over as the Englishman mistimed a pull to deep square. Shardul Thakur then repeated the dose, dismissing Ryan Rickelton in identical fashion. Promoted to No.3, Dhir counterpunched in style. He tore into Deep in the fourth over, smashing 21 runs with two sixes and two fours – an over that flipped the PowerPlay back in MI’s favour. Suryakumar Yadav, easing his way in, added a six of his own as Mumbai raced to 64 for 2 after six overs, with Dhir blazing his way to 35 off just 15 balls.
Middle Overs: Suryakumar keeps MI in the hunt
Phase Score: 79/1 (RR: 8.78; 4s/6s: 11/0)
MI surged to 86 for 2 in just eight overs before Digvesh Rathi broke the momentum with a crucial breakthrough. His carrom ball snuck through Dhir’s defence, drawing a faint inside-edge that crashed into the stumps and ended the batter’s sparkling 24-ball 46. The 69-run third-wicket stand had laid a strong platform, but Rathi’s tidy spell began to apply the brakes. The young spinner was impressive, conceding just 10 runs in his first three overs. Tilak Varma, in particular, struggled to get going against him, battling to find rhythm. But Suryakumar Yadav kept the scoreboard ticking, finding regular boundaries to keep the chase alive. At the end of 13 overs, MI needed 79 from 42 balls-with the game finely poised. The India T20I captain got to a 31-ball half-century with a boundary off Ravi Bishnoi and another off Akash Deep to bring the equation to 61 off 30.
Death Overs: Shardul, Avesh hold nerve in tense finish
Phase Score: 48/2 (RR: 9.5, 4s/6s: 4/1)
LSG had a chance to break the partnership but Avesh Khan and Akash Deep fluffed an opportunity to effect a run-out. The former though atoned for that gaffe when he dismissed Suryakumar for 67 (42) after the batter walked across his crease to lap a ball but hit it too square and found the fielder at deep square-leg. That brought Pandya to the middle and the MI skipper drove the first ball – a full-toss – for four. But LSG continued to stack up good overs and Rathi bowled a very good 18th over before Shardul Thakur gave away just seven in the penultimate over when MI made the decision to pull Varma out. Avesh Khan was handed 22 runs to defend in the last over. He started on the back foot, conceding a six off the first ball, but held his nerve brilliantly thereafter. He nailed his yorkers under pressure, closing out a thrilling contest and sealing LSG’s second win of the season.
Brief scores:
Lucknow Super Giants 203/8 in 20 overs (Mitchell Marsh 60, Aiden Markram 53, Nicholas Pooran 12, Ayush Badoni 30, David Miller 27; Trent Boult 1-38, Ashwani Kumar 1-39, Vignesh Puthur 1-31, Hardik Pandya 5-36) beat Mumbai Indians 191/5 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 67, Naman Dhir 46, Ryan Rickelton 10, Tilak Vaema 25, Hardik Pandya 28*; Shardul Thakur 1-40, Akash Deep 1-46, Avesh Khan 1-40, Digvesh Rathi 1-21) by 12 runs
What’s next for the teams?
Mumbai Indians will return home to take on RCB on Monday (April 7). LSG will play the following day, against holders KKR in Kolkata.
91st Battle of the Saints
Senuja Wakunugoda and experienced campaigner Yenula Dewthusa put on an unbroken 79 runs stand for the fourth wicket as St. Joseph’s reached 150 for three wickets at stumps in reply to St. Peter’s 243 runs on day two of the 91st Battle of the Saints big match at the SSC ground on Friday.
St. Joseph’s openers Abishek Jayaweera and Aveesha Samash got them off to a strong start as they added 59 runs for the first wicket. But Lashmika Perera had other ideas and took two quick wickets to trigger a mini collapse. The Joes were 71 for three wickets at one stage before Wakunugoda and Dewthusa combination guided them to safety.
Wakunugoda was unbeaten on 38 runs while Dewthusa was not out on 44 runs.
Earlier, Lashmika Perera made the Petes’ total look respectable by accelerating the run rate after his overnight partner Thareen Sanketh was beautifully bowled by Manasa Madubashana. Batting at number nine, Perera hit Nushan Perera for two consecutive fours and a six in one over and ended up as the highest scorer in the Petes’ first innings.
His knock of 58 runs included nine fours and a six.
Scores
St. Peter’s 176 for seven overnight 243 all out in 93.3 overs
(Dilana Damsara 44, Nathan David 29, Asadisa de Silva 38, Joshua Sebastian 27, Tharin Sanketh 21, Lashmika Perera 58; Manasa Madubashana 3/77, Yenula Dewthusa 2/58, Nusha Perera 2/50, Demion de Silva 2/48)
St. Joseph’s 150 for 3 wickets in 57 overs
(Abishek Jayaweera 23, Aveesha Samash 32, Senuja Wakunugoda 38n.o., Yenula Dewthusa 44n.o.; Lashmika Perera 2/31) (RF)
Discussions between Sri Lankan and Indian delegations at the presidential secretariat
Sears takes five again as New Zealand complete ODI series sweep over Pakistan
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrives at the presidential secretariat
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