Sports

Ashwin four-for helps India gain healthy lead

Published

5 years ago

2020/12/19

A valiant, unbeaten 73 from skipper Tim Paine was not enough for Australia to prevent conceding a lead for the first time in a day-night Test. India finished 53 ahead thanks to a collective bowling effort led by R Ashwin’s four-wicket haul.

Australia staged a fightback with Paine stitching together important stands with the lower order that saw Australia move from 111/7 at one stage to 191 all out. The skipper first started to counter attack with the help of Mitchell Starc (16) before taking on the lead role. Driving, sweeping and reverse-sweeping his way to a quick fifty, Paine provided the right reply to Australia’s predicament despite the inherent risk it carried. Australia benefited through dropped chances that were a consistent feature through the innings, but did not manage to nullify the advantage Ashwin had given India earlier.

Ashwin’s rhythm was set in his first over of the series when he had Steve Smith nicking to slip against a quicker, straighter one. After a mighty sprint in celebration, Ashwin settled down to produce a top-class spell. He had Travis Head beaten in flight to have him caught and bowled and then troubled debutant Cameron Green through his 24-ball stay before a Virat Kohli stunner at mid-wicket gave Ashwin his third of the innings.

While Marnus Labuschagne rode his luck, having been dropped twice, over the course of his 46, he found little support from the other end. The luck finally ran out in the final session when Umesh Yadav trapped him LBW with one keeping low. Yadav raised India’s hand again by getting Pat Cummins caught off a snorter in the same over before Paine managed to land a few counter punches.

Earlier India had managed to land some counter punches themselves after starting the day in timid fashion, being bowled out in just 25 balls.

Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah started with consistent lines outside off that enabled four maiden overs on the trot against Australia’s new-look opening pair of Joe Burns and Matthew Wade. Both batsmen countered the lines with disciplined leaving although India went a touch too wide and short at times.

With the opening stand looking steady, Australia looked set to take control of the opening session. However, Jasprit Bumrah in his second spell corrected his lines by attacking the stumps more often. It resulted in both openers being trapped LBW, with DRS decisions supporting the umpire’s call on both occasions.

These blows had helped offset Australia’s advantage in the first session where they picked up the last four Indian wickets for just 11 runs. R Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha were looked upon by their team to extend their stand and get India close to 300. However, Ashwin fell first nicking Pat Cummins’ delivery in the first over of the day without adding to his overnight score. Saha, off the first ball he faced in the day, chased a wide one from Mitchell Starc to nick behind as well, thus kick-starting the collapse. A wildly swinging Umesh and less than comfortable Shami provided no resistance in the first innings.

However, India ended the day in stark contrast with nightwatchman Jasprit Bumrah seeing out eleven balls and remaining unbeaten after Prithvi Shaw was bowled for the second time in the match to ensure that India’s advantage did not get dented any further.

Brief Scores:

India 244

(Virat Kohli 74, C Pujara 43, A Rahane 42; M Starc 4-53, Pat Cummins 3-48)and 9/1 (Pat Cummins 1-6)lead Australia 191 all out (Tim Paine 73*, Marnus Labuschagne 47; R Ashwin 4-55, Umesh Yadav 3-40) trail by 62 runs

(Cricbuzz)

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Sports

Bangladesh take 187 run lead in Galle Test

Published

13 hours ago

2025/06/21

Thilina Walpola

Kamindu Mendis anchored Sri Lanka’s innings before being dismissed by a peach of a delivery from off-spinner Nayeem Hasan.

Bangladesh kept their noses in front with a spirited showing on day four of the first Test in Galle on Friday, finishing strongly at 177 for three in their second innings. With a lead of 187 and plenty of batting left in the shed, the visitors will fancy their chances of setting Sri Lanka a tricky fourth-innings target on a wearing pitch.

A target in the vicinity of 250 could prove a tall order for the hosts, who were rattled by the guile of off-spinner Nayeem Hasan earlier in the day. Bangladesh, chasing only their second-ever win over Sri Lanka in 28 attempts, have history within touching distance.

The cornerstone of their resistance in the second innings was a 68-run stand for the third wicket between opener Shadman Islam and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto. With both batsmen negotiating spin confidently, Sri Lanka were forced to turn back to pace. It was the bustling all-rounder Milan Rathnayake who broke the stand, trapping Shadman plumb in front for a fluent 76 — his sixth Test half-century.

Veteran campaigner Mushfiqur Rahim, fresh off a first-innings century, joined his captain and the duo ensured there were no further hiccups, putting on an unbroken 49-run partnership for the fourth wicket to put their side firmly in the driver’s seat heading into the final day.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s bowlers set the tone with a probing effort that denied Sri Lanka a first-innings lead. Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan was the pick of the bunch, weaving a web around the batters with his bounce and bite to claim a richly deserved five-wicket haul. He got the ball to talk, often making it spit and grip off the surface and the Sri Lankan batters were left groping.

In contrast, Sri Lanka’s spin twins — Prabath Jayasuriya and debutant Tharindu Ratnayake — failed to hit the right notes. Though both bagged a wicket apiece, they lacked venom. Jayasuriya, in particular, looked pedestrian with the Bangladeshi batsmen using their feet to good effect and blunting his left-arm spin with minimal fuss.

Captain Dhananjaya de Silva tried rotating his bowlers, but the bite was missing. On a pitch where Nayeem looked like he was bowling with a wand, Sri Lanka’s spinners seemed to be rolling pies.

Galle is a result-oriented venue — the last draw here came a dozen years ago — and with the pitch showing signs of wear and tear, all three results remain on the table. But make no mistake, it’s Bangladesh who hold all the aces.

Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka resumed on 368 for four and still 127 runs adrift. However, any hopes of taking the lead were dashed as they lost Dhananjaya de Silva (19) and Kusal Mendis (5) in quick succession. The pendulum swung back Sri Lanka’s way thanks to an enterprising 84-run partnership between Kamindu Mendis and Milan Rathnayake. But just when the hosts looked poised to nose ahead, Bangladesh came roaring back.

The game turned on its head after lunch, with the visitors striking thrice in the space of ten deliveries for just one run. The prize scalp was that of Kamindu Mendis, who played a gem of an innings for his 87. He was undone by a peach from Nayeem — one that pitched on a length, spat off the surface, kissed the edge and was safely pouched by the keeper.

Sports

Track and field team leaves for Thailand

Published

14 hours ago

2025/06/21

Thilina Walpola

Sri Lanka track and field team were schedule to leave for Thailand in the evening on Friday. The eight-member team will take part in the Thailand Open Athletics Championship from June 21 to 25.

Seated (from left) Lt. Col. Ranjith Hennayake (Team Manager), Saman Kumara Gunawardana (Secretary, Sri Lanka Athletics), W.K.L.A. Nimali (800m), Safreen Ahmed (Triple Jump), Shantha de Silva (Treasurer SLA), Anura Bandara (Coach)

Back row (from left) Amasha de Silva (100m), Wathsala Hapuarachchi (100m hurdles), Rusiru Chathuranga (800m), Ayomal Akalanka (400m hurdles), V. Vakshan (1500m and 5000m), Madushani Herath (Long Jump and Triple Jump)

Sports

Akesha, Dinara guide Sri Lanka to Billie Jean King Cup Asia Oceania Group III victory

Published

14 hours ago

2025/06/21

Thilina Walpola

Sri Lanka won the Billie Jean King Cup Asia Oceania Group III tennis tournament as the hosts beat Turkmenistan 2-0 in the final at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts.

Sri Lanka secured a Group II spot by vertue of their victory in the Group III final.

Akeesha Silva and Dinara de Silva won their singles matches against their Turkmenistan counterparts to avoid a doubles match.

Akeesha beat Aynur Movlyamova 6-0, 6-2 in the first singles match.

Dinara completed the victory with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Ilima Guseynova. (RF)