A disciplined bowling effort from Sri Lanka, backed up by Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne’s unbeaten 94-run stand helped Sri Lanka beat Thailand by ten wickets and coast into the semi-final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 .
Batting first, Thailand’s innings never found a high gear as they were restricted to 93 for 7 in their 20 overs. Athapaththu and Gunaratne then made light work of the target, as they romped home with 51 balls to spare. The win meant Sri Lanka topped Group B with three wins on the bounce, and will now face Pakistan in the semi-final on Friday.
Sri Lanka had made as many as four changes from their previous game against Malaysia, bringing back the experienced Hasini Perera, Udeshika Prabodhani, Sugandika Kumari and Achini Kulasuriya into the playing XI.
Barring the toss, not much went Thailand’s way. They lost Nattaya Boochatham off the first ball of the game, and it all went downhill from there. Opener Nannapat Konchroenkai was the only Thailand batter who looked settled against the Sri Lankan bowlers as she carried her bat through the innings, finishing on 47 off 53 balls. Only three Thailand batters reached double digits, while five of the Sri Lanka bowlers picked up at least one wicket.
In reply, Athapaththu and Gunaratne were circumspect early on, but opened up their shoulders after the powerplay. Athapaththu remained unbeaten on 49, and during the course of her knock, became the highest run-scorer of the current edition of the Asia Cup, while Gunaratne remained 39 not out.
Sri Lanka couldn’t have asked for a better start, with Achini Kulasuriya, one of the four changes in the Sri Lanka unit, starting with the most perfect yorker that snuck under Boochatham’s bat and crashed into off stump. Aphisara Suwanchonrathi then got back-to-back fours in the first over, but fell soon after mistiming Inoshi Priyadharshani to mid-on.
Koncharoenkai brought out a pristine cover drive against Priyadharshani before sending another classy drive past Udeshika Prabodhani, with Thailand ending the powerplay on 28 for 2. But while Koncharoenkai still got the odd boundary in, Phannita Maya, coming in at No. 4, simply failed to rotate the strike.
Maya took 14 balls to get off the mark, as Thailand’s innings stalled after the powerplay. Her innings came to an end on a painful 18-ball 2 courtesy of a stunning effort from Kavisha Dilhari, who hared across from mid-off, then dived full-stretch to complete the catch inches off the turf.
By the time ten overs were done, Thailand had already faced seven overs of dot balls, and slipped to 42 for 3.
Chanida Sutthiruang started her innings by deftly placing Athapaththu, but fell off her third ball by chipping a simple return catch to Dilhari. Thailand went five overs from 11 to 15 without finding the fence, and lost Suleeporn Laomi and Suwanan Khiaoto in the process as they found themselves stuck on 54 for 6 after 15 overs.
Thipatcha Putthawong and Koncharoenkai’s seventh-wicket stand of 28 turned out to be the highest of the game as Thailand tried to muster a few runs in the back end. They did score 39 in the last five overs, including 13 off the final, but 93 was never going to be enough.
Barring a dropped catch from Hasini Perera, Koncharoenkai’s 47* was largely flawless as she carried the Thailand innings all by herself. But Thailand’s 70 dot balls came back to haunt them.
Sri Lanka required just 16 runs to qualify for the semi-final, and 48 to top group B. They didn’t break much of a sweat to achieve that. Both Athapaththu and Gunaratne took a bit of time to settle in. Sutthiruang, the medium pacer, got loads of swing early on but lacked control, and the openers picked her away.
Athapaththu got going by depositing Boochatham over deep midwicket before going after her again in her next over for a six and four. Gunaratne’s first four came by nurdling a friendly Sutthiruang full toss past short fine leg, before she cut the same bowler through point as Sri Lanka reached 40 for 0 after six overs.
Both batters notched up a gear after the powerplay. Athapaththu thumped Onnicha Kamchomphu over long-on in the ninth over, while Gunaratne struck her for a six and four each. Athapaththu then took on Maya as Sri Lanka raced towards their target. Their win came in the 12th over via a bye. Athapaththu, for her unbeaten 49 and 1 for 15 with the ball, was named Player of the Match.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka Women 94 for 0 (Chamari Athapaththu 49*, Vishmi Gunaratne 39*) beatThailand Women 93 for 7 in 20 overs (Nannapat Koncharoenkai 47*, Thipatcha Putthawong 13; Achini Kulasuriya 1-20, Sugandika Kumari 1-22, Inoshi Priyadarshani 1-10, Kavisha Dilhari 2-13, Chamari Athapaththu 1-15) by ten wickets
Thousands took to the streets across the US on Saturday to protest over recent actions by President Donald Trump.
Known as “50501”, for “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement”, the demonstrations were intended to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolutionary War.
From outside the White House and Tesla dealerships and at the centres of many cities, protesters expressed a variety of grievances. Many called for the return of Kilmar Ábrego García, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador.
Political protests are becoming more common in the US – the “Hands Off” demonstrations in early April drew tens of thousands in cities across the country.
The most recent polling from Gallup suggests 45% of voters approve of Trump’s performance in the first quarter of his term, which is more than the 41% who approved during the same period in his first administration.
Still, it is lower than the average first-quarter rating of 60% for all presidents elected between 1952 and 2020.
Saturday’s protests addressed a number of Trump actions, including those by the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) – Trump’s initiative to cut US government jobs and other spending – and the administration’s unwillingness to bring about the return of Abrego Garcia, a citizen of El Salvador.
Gihad Elgendy told CNN he joined the protest at the White House to criticise the deportation of Ábrego García. He believes Trump “could easily pressure El Salvador to bring him back”.
The protests were generally reported as peaceful, although Representative Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat, posted a video on X of a man holding a Trump sign and pushing through a crowd to angrily confront him.
Many demonstrators carried signs reading “No Kings,” a nod to the anniversary of the start of the country’s revolution against British rule.
During celebrations of the anniversary in Massachusetts that commemorated the battles of Lexington and Concord and the famous horse ride of Paul Revere, people held similar signs. There was also a 50501 demonstration in Boston on Saturday.
“This is a very perilous time in America for liberty,” Thomas Bassford, told the Associated Press, while in Boston with his partner, daughter and two grandsons. “I wanted the boys to learn about the origins of this country and that sometimes we have to fight for freedom.”
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya in her EasterSunday message says that the ongoing efforts to investigate the Easter Sunday attacks and uncover all truths without obstruction or delay remain a top priority of the government.
The full text of the PM’s message:
“As Christians in Sri Lanka and around the world celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we are reminded of the enduring power of hope, renewal, and compassion. Easter is a time to reflect on our shared humanity and the values that unite us faith, love, and resilience in the face of adversity. I extend my heartfelt wishes to all Sri Lankans celebrating this sacred occasion. May this Easter bring peace, strength, and spiritual renewal to you and your families.
As we mark this day of joy and reflection, we also solemnly remember the horrific events of Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019. Today, six years later, the pain remains, and so does our responsibility. We stand in solidarity with the families of the victims, with the Christian community, and with all citizens who continue to seek truth and justice.
As a government, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that justice is served. Ongoing efforts to investigate the attacks and uncover all truths without obstruction or delay remain a top priority.
Accountability, transparency, and genuine justice are essential to honouring the memory of the victims and restoring public trust. Let us move forward with strength and unity, upholding the dignity of every life and working toward a future where everyone deserves equality and justice.
It got tight for Gujarat Titans (GT) in the end , but Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 97 ensured their first successful chase of a 200-plus total in Ahmedabad. It was also the first time Delhi Capitals (DC) ended up being unsuccessful in defending a 200-plus total.
Buttler stitched partnerships of 60 withB Sai Sudarshan and 119 with Sherfane Rutherford after keeping wicket for 20 overs on a hot afternoon.
Mukesh Kumar’s wide yorker dismissed Rutherford and left GT needing ten off the final over. The tension was short-lived as Starc missed the wide yorker and Rahul Tewatia slog swept the first ball of the last over over midwicket for six. He then squeezed the next ball past the keeper for four to complete the chase with four balls to spare.
Buttler was hit on the groin early in his innings by a length ball from Starc, but he overcame that blow and cleared the boundaries.
When Axar brought Starc back in the 15th over, hoping for reverse swing from around the wicket, there wasn’t any. The lengths were good, and the line was outside off, but Buttler scythed the ball with ease, finding gaps in front of and behind point.
A change of angle made no difference. Starc went full and was driven through mid-off. A bouncer drew a top-edged pull, but it did not carry to Vipraj Nigam running in from deep backward square leg. That 20-run over brought the required rate down to nine from 11.
GT are top heavy. Their plan is for one of the top three to bat deep into the innings, and it was Buttler’s turn today on a batting-friendly pitch.
He came in early in GT’s chase of 204 after Shubman Gill had gifted his wicket looking to pinch a quick single to Karun Nair at midwicket. Buttler then set up exhibition of fours through the off side alongside Sai Sudharsan.
Axar and Vipraj came on to bowl in the powerplay but did not find turn and were taken for three sixes and a four. Sai Sudharsan got boundaries off front and back foot against Mukesh Kumar as GT scored 67 in the powerplay.
Kuldeep Yadav had Sai Sudharsan pulling to deep midwicket with his third ball. Rutherford then started slowly as the required rate rose. The mounting pressure was released when Rutherford sliced a drive against Kuldeep that sailed over long-off. Mohit Sharma was introduced in the 13th over to replicate the role he performed for GT in previous years. He started with two slower bouncers but they sat up and Rutherford pulled them for sixes.
Buttler drilled a full ball from Mohit through mid-off to bring up his 32-ball fifty.
Gill won the toss in the afternoon and put DC in to bat. With Faf du Plessis not having recovered and DC leaving out Jake Fraser-McGurk, DC paired up Abhishek Porel with Karun Nair at the top.
Porel’s boundaries in the first over – drive on the up over mid-off and help-along flick behind square – showed that the bounce on the pitch was even. Porel, though, couldn’t capitalise on the start as he fell to a full toss from Arshad Khan.
KL Rahul’s shift in approach then kept DC ticking. Rahul cut Siraj for four and pumped him down the ground for six. His innings, though, was cut short on 28 off 14 balls by an outswinging yorker from Prasidh Krishna. Nair fell for 31 off 18 balls when he glided Prasidh to deep third.
A pristine cover drive from Tristan Stubbs off Prasidh brought up DC’s hundred in the ninth over. But he and Axar were relatively sedate after that during their 53-run stand off 36 balls. They were happy to take Rashid Khan and Ishant Sharma for ones and twos.
Rashid bowled quicker and at the stumps in his first two overs. When he slowed the pace down in his third, Stubbs took him for six down the ground but then miscued a swipe across the line. Rashid ran back but couldn’t hold onto the catch near mid-on. GT reached 150 in 15 overs.
Ishant was struggling in the heat and went off the pitch after two overs. Siraj returned and removed Stubbs, who reverse-swept a yorker and the ball lobbed to short third.
GT’s death bowlers attempted a lot of yorkers with short balls peppered in between. It nearly worked at the start of the 17th over, but Rashid dropped Axar.
The DC captain could not hit a boundary in his last nine balls and was out caught behind for 39 off 32 balls. He charged at Prasidh and tried to slap a length ball over cover and got an edge. Prasidh then got rid of Nigam next ball, thanks to a brilliant diving catch from Buttler.
Ashutosh Sharma gave DC the finishing kick they were looking for. He scored a six and a four off Arshad early in his innings and hit two sixes off Prasidh later. R Sai Kishore – whose only over was the final one of the innings – went for just nine, but it was enough for GT to cross 200.
Brief scores: Gujarat Titans 204 for 3 in 19.2 overs (Sai Sudarshan 36, Jos Buttler 97*, Sherfaine Rutherford 43, Rahul Tewita 11*; Mukesh Kumar 1-40, Kuldeep Yadav 1-30) beat Delhi Capitals 203 for 8 in 20 overs (Abhishek Porel 18, Karun Nair 31, KL Rahul 28, Axar Patel 39, Ashutosh Sharma 37: Mohammed Siraj 1-47, Arshad Kahan 1-46, Prasidh Krishna 4-41, Ishant Sharma 1-19, Sai Kishore 1-09)by seven wickets
