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Zadran ton, Rashid cameo fires Afghanistan to 291
Ibrahim Zadran became the first batter from his country to hit a World Cup century as Afghanistan posted 291/5 after electing to bat first in their clash against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. At 21 years and 330 days, Zadran became the fourth youngest World Cup centurion and batted through the innings to give the team their highest World Cup score.
Zadran stitched vital half-century stands with Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi but perhaps the most vital contribution of the innings came from the bat of Rashid Khan, who blazed an unbeaten 35 off just 18 balls to move what seemed like a middling total on a fine batting surface towards par levels.
Afghanistan have enjoyed great success in this tournament by chasing down totals, but on another muggy day in Mumbai, they chose to invert this pattern by opting to bat first. Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz began steadily, if not adventurously, to add 38 for the opening wicket before Josh Hazlewood’s short-ball ploy bore fruition. Gurbaz played a half-hearted pull and was lapped up at deep square leg.
That followed the first of three half-century stands of the innings with Zadran and Rahmat Shah putting the innings in order with a steady 83-run stand. Afghanistan’s run-rate hovered around the five-run mark without actually breaching it. When Rahmat tried to hit out against Glenn Maxwell, he holed out at long off. Zadran batted on and proceeded to stitch another sedate stand with his captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who made a 43-ball 26. There were moments of brilliance along the way, most notably Zadran’s upper-cut boundary to a Pat Cummins short ball.
Azmatullah Omarzai provided the first impetus for a charge with an 18-ball 22 after hitting a six with his first scoring shot. It was apparent that once Zadran got to his milestone with a streaky single (that turned into a two) off his 131st delivery that the final flourish would have to come from both ends. Rashid provided just the ballast required. It appeared as if his enterprise would be cut short when he holed out to deep cover but the third umpire ruled the Stonis catch in favour of the batter.
Rashid took apart Maxwell for a 16-run over and added two more sixes in the final over from Starc. Zadran flicked Starc for a six and muscled another pull off Cummins as Afghanistan added 75 from the final six overs to take their score close to the 300-run mark. Over to the bowlers now.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan 291/5 in 50 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 21, Ibrahim Zadran 129*, Rahmat Shah 30, Hashmatullah Shahidi 26, Azmatullah Omarzai 22, Rashid Khan 35*; Josh Hazlewood 2-39) vs Australia
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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