Sports
Zimbabwe collapse after Ervine dismissal
By Rex Clementine
Sri Lanka’s poor fielding standards have been often a talking point but when they field well, they are able to turn games on their head as showcased by Sadeera Samarawickrama yesterday during the second ODI against Zimbabwe at R. Premadasa Stadium.
Zimbabwe were cruising along at 182 for five with 13 overs left in the game and they were looking at a total in excess of 250. Captain Craig Ervine was going great guns but all Zimbabwe’s hopes were dashed as Sadeera pulled off a stunning one-handed diving catch at extra cover off the bowling of Dushmantha Chameera.
Zimbabwe collapsed soon as they were bowled out for 208 losing the last five wickets for 26 runs. At one point they lost three wickets with the total on 202 in the space of just four deliveries.
Ervine, Zimbabwe’s most experienced batter in the absence of the injured Sean Williams, batted expertly and was looking good to post a hundred when Sadeera ended his innings. His 82 came off 102 deliveries with nine fours and one six.
Not that Sri Lanka’s fielding was top notch yesterday. Skipper Kusal Mendis failed to collect the ball cleanly after Sahan Arachchige’s third ball in the game beat the Zimbabwe captain but the stumping chance went begging.
Ervine went onto post his 20th ODI half-century and the fifth as captain.
Charith Asalanka at slip also dropped a catch with Clive Madande on four. Jeffrey Vandersay was the bowler. The leg-spinner playing his comeback game finished with two wickets.
Maheesh Theekshana was the pick of the bowlers claiming four wickets.
Dilshan Madushanka dismissed Tinashe Kamunhukamwe for a golden duck while Dushmantha Chameera picked up two wickets bowling with lot of fire.
Sri Lanka used up eight bowlers and they look to be better off playing a specialist batsman given the amount of bowling resources at their disposal.
Depending on too many ‘all-rounders’ has proved to be disastrous for Sri Lanka under the previous selection panel and sooner the current selectors give up the policy better it is.
The first game of the three-match series was washed out by rain. Conditions were overcast yesterday as well and rain was looming large. The third and final ODI will be played on Thursday. The ODI series will be followed by three T-20 games, all matches taking place in Colombo.
Ireland Women 118/9 in 20 overs (Alana Dalzelle 14, Orla Prendergast 26, Leah Paul 10, Alice Tector 10, Louise Little 26*; Lauren Bell 1-39, Linsey Smith 1-20, Sophie Ecclestone 3-22, Charlie Dean 2-11, Dani Gibson 2-10) lost to England Women 119/6 in 17.3 overs (Dani Wyatt Hodge 16, Nat Sciver-Brunt 48, Heather Knight 26; Aimee Maguire 2-23, Orla Prendergast 2-17) by 4 wickets
Lionel Messi marked his record sixth World Cup appearance with his first hat-trick at a FIFA tournament as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 to open the defence of their global crown, he also became the joint highest scorer at World Cups with the feat.
The former 38-year-old forward thought he had opened the scoring in the eighth minute in Kansas City on Tuesday when he slotted home from close range, but the offside flag was raised.
The dream start to his record-setting appearance, which will be matched by Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal against DR Congo on Wednesday, was not to be denied for long though.
A trademark, mazy run was capped by a drive on the edge of the box from that famed left foot. The power too much for Algeria keeper Luca Zidane, son of World Cup winner with France, Zinidine.
Messi doubled his tally on the hour mark with a simple tap in from a rebound off the keeper following a drive from Alexis Mac Allister.
The moment that even a player as decorated as Messi came in the 76th minute when he drilled low past the keeper from just outside the box.
The strike took Messi level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals.
His substitution came just three minutes later to a standard ovation, even old maestro seemed disappointed to be removed – and most likely rested for Argentina’s tilt at becoming only the third side to defend a World Cup title.
Algeria – the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winners – offered little, but were themselves denied an early goal when Fares Chaibi’s ninth minute strike was ruled out for offside.
Messi saw to it that there was no opening game upset to be had tat this edition, having lost their opening game at Qatar 2022 to Saudi Arabia.
Messi, who spent the majority of his club career in Spain with Barcelona before moving to French giants Paris-Saint Germain, plys his trade in US football’s Major League Soccer with Inter Miami.
Jordan and Austria open their account in the group later on Tuesday in San Francisco.
[Aljazeera]
Iran twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in an exciting World Cup clash at Los Angeles Stadium as protests against Tehran’s government and a peace deal signed to end the US-Iran war formed a charged backdrop to the match.
High security presence and protests outside the venue were among the off-field concerns surrounding the match on Monday.
And when New Zealand took an early lead through Elijah Just’s volleyed shot from inside the box, after being set up by Chris Wood, some fans critical of the Iranian government celebrated with New Zealand supporters.
Many of these anti-regime spectators also carried Iran’s pre-Islamic Revolution Lion and Sun flag, against FIFA’s rules. Several also booed Iran’s national anthem before kickoff.
But most of the crowd of more than 70,000 appeared firmly behind Team Melli, chanting “Ir-ran! Ir-ran!” and erupting when Ramin Rezaeian equalised shortly after the half-hour mark.
Rezaeian, one of several Iran players who had not played club football since February after the domestic league was suspended amid US and Israeli air strikes, reacted quickest to a blocked shot and poked the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.
Wood and Just combined again early in the second half, the New Zealand captain sliding a precise pass into the 26-year-old forward’s path before Just hammered home to restore the All Whites’ lead.
Iran responded 10 minutes later with a superb goal from Mohammad Mohebbi, who headed Rezaeian’s perfect cross in off the far post to make it 2-2.
The stalemate means all the teams in Group G have one point after Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt earlier on Monday.
New Zealand, making their third appearance at the tournament, remain without a win at a World Cup after seven matches. Iran are looking to reach the knockout round for the first time.
The match laid bare divisions among Iranian American fans, many of whom said they felt torn between pride at seeing Iran on the sport’s biggest stage, anger over Tehran’s crackdown on protesters and concern over Washington’s bombing campaign.
Before kickoff, about 300 to 500 protesters gathered outside the stadium, waving anti-government signs and flags.
Some Iranian Americans had said attending the match would imply support for Iran’s government, while others said they wanted to set politics aside and support the players.
Iran will next return to Los Angeles to face Belgium on Sunday when New Zealand take on Egypt in Vancouver.
[Aljazeera]
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