Latest News
Clinical Pakistan keep World Cup hopes alive; Bangladesh knocked out
A complete all-round performance from Pakistan enabled them to register a crushing seven wicket win against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday (October 23).
The game was set up by Pakistan’s pace trio who shared eight wickets between them to skittle Bangladesh out for 204. Comeback-man Fakhar Zaman then blazed his way to a 74-ball 81 and his rapid century stand with Abdullah Shafique (68 off 69 balls) allowed Pakistan to get a huge net-run -rate boost. Meanwhile, the defeat has officially knocked Bangladesh out of the tournament.
With a not-so-threatening target to chase, it was Pakistan’s game to lose, given that the pitch had started to ease out under lights. The ball was coming onto the bat nicely and with Eden’s quick outfield, Zaman couldn’t have asked for better conditions on his return. Two imperious cross-batted sixes against Taskin Ahmed signalled his intentions and he was on a six-hitting spree even after the first Powerplay was over. His partner Shafique was relatively subdued but dished out his own set of classy strokes as the opening pair made short work of Bangladesh’s bowling unit.
Runs started to come at breakneck speed especially after the first ten overs and it was evident that Pakistan would want to finish the game quickly. Zaman and Shafique played to the plan perfectly as the platform was set for a brisk finish. Both of them along with skipper Babar Azam perished in a bid to hasten the finish, gifting Mehidy Hasan three scalps in the process but the result was never in doubt. Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed gave the final touches to the game as Pakistan prevailed with 105 balls to spare. It was a ruthless run chase from Babar’s men although the job was virtually done at the halfway mark by their bowlers.
Opting to bat, Bangladesh produced another underwhelming performance with the bat. Shaheen Afridi dented them early with the twin strikes of Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto to set the tone for Pakistan. Haris Rauf then joined in with the big breakthrough of Mushfiqur Rahim to have Bangladesh tottering at 23/3. A crisp 79-run stand between Litton Das and Mahmudullah promised to put Bangladesh on course towards a strong score but once that partnership was broken, the innings went into a shell. Mahmudullah looked in good touch, as did Litton but Bangladesh needed one of them to bat very deep into the innings.
After their dismissals, the innings stagnated and while Shakib Al Hasan did get a start, his stay at the crease was very scratchy. Pakistan’s pacers were relentless as they hit the right lengths to trouble Bangladesh’s batters. Apart from Afridi and Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr also sent in a searing set of spells with his reverse-swinging final set being the highlight. There was no respite for Bangladesh who only got past 200 thanks to Mehidy’s cameo towards the end. The score was never going to trouble Pakistan who polished off the chase with ease.
Brief scores:
Bangladesh 204 in 45.1 overs (Mahmudullah 56, Litton Das 45; Shaheen Afridi 3-23, Mohammad Wasim Jr 3-31) lost to Pakistan 205/3 in 32.3 overs (Fakhar Zaman 81, Abdullah Shafique 68; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 3-60) by seven wickets
Hamas has told Al Jazeera Arabic that the group’s delegation has delivered its approval of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement to mediators. Israel has yet to announce a response to the proposal.
Nevertheless, Israeli forces have stepped up attacks on Gaza, bombing a school-turned-shelter and several homes across the Strip, and killing at least 62 people over the latest 24-hour reporting period.
The Gaza Government Media Office has also released a list of guidelines for residents amid talks of a looming ceasefire in the territory.
- Avoid spreading rumours and unconfirmed information for the safety of our Palestinian people and families.
- Be careful while moving and only rely on official sources for information about the return of displaced people to their homes in Gaza City and the North Governorate.
- Stay away from devastated areas that are seeing heavy bombardment.
- Avoid destroyed homes that had been bombed.
- Stay away from unexploded bombs and war remnants and inform authorities immediately about them immediately.
- Be careful with daily movement and avoid large gatherings.
[Aljazeera]
India Women 435 for 5in 50 overs (Pratika Rawal 154, Smriti Mandhana 135, Richa Ghosh 59, Tejal Hasbnis 29; Orla Prendergast 2-71) beat Ireland Women 131 in 31.4 overs (Sarah Forbes 41, Orla Prendergast 36; DeeptiSharma 3-27, Tanuja Kanwar 2-31)by 304 runs
On a record-shattering day in Rajkot, India registered their biggest win in ODI cricket. They beat Ireland by 304 runs in the third and final match of the series, thus completing the whitewash. Their previous biggest win was also against Ireland, in 2017, when they had beaten them by 249 runs in Potchefstroom.
Batting first, India piled up 435 for 5, their highest ODI total, going past the 370 for 5 they made in the previous game. Overall, this was the fourth-highest total in women’s ODIs.
Stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana led the way by smashing the fastest ODI hundred by an India batter. She reached the mark in 70 balls, breaking Harmanpreet Kaur’s record by 17 balls. In her 135 off 80 balls, Mandhana hit 12 fours and seven sixes. Her opening partner, Pratika Rawal, reached her maiden ODI hundred in 100 balls and went on to compile 154 off 129. Only two India batters have a higher individual score in the format: Deepti Sharma (188) and Harmanpreet (171*).
Mandhana and Rawal added 233 for the first wicket, the third-highest opening stand for India in ODIs. The floodgates had opened as early as the third over when Rawal hit Orla Prendergast for three fours. By the end of the sixth over, she had moved to 29 off 25 with the help of six fours.
Mandhana did not have much strike till then. She even got a life in the seventh over when wicketkeeper Christina Coulter Reilly, standing up to Arlene Kelly, failed to grab an outside edge. Mandhana was on 12 off 13 at that point but took over the aggressor’s role after that, hitting Kelly for two fours in that over. In the seamer’s next over, Mandhana hit her for two sixes and a four.
Mandhana and Rawal brought up India’s hundred in the 13th over. This was their fourth century stand in just six innings they have opened together.
Soon after that, Mandhana reached her fifty, off just 39 balls. Rawal followed suit; hers coming off 52 balls. It was her fourth 50-plus score in six ODIs.
Mandhana was now batting on a different plane. It felt more like a free-wheeling centre-wicket practice than a contest as she tried to dispatch as many balls to the boundary as possible. Ireland’s wayward bowling and poor ground fielding helped her further. Such was her dominance that she left Rawal well behind. When she brought up her hundred, off 70 balls, Rawal was only on 72 off 69.
Mandhana was dismissed when she failed to clear short fine leg against Prendergast. But there was no respite for Ireland as Richa Gosh, promoted to No. 3, took over the baton and scored 59 off 42. She and Rawal added 104 in 12 overs.
Rawal opened up after her hundred and raked in 54 off the next 29 balls she faced. Today’s innings took her ODI run tally to 444 – no batter has scored more in her first six innings.
By then, there was more interest in if India could reach 400. They got there with four overs to spare, and then got some more.
With Renuka Singh rested, Titas Sadhu and Sayali Satghare opened the bowling for India. Both picked up a wicket each with the new ball but also conceded 15 extras in the first seven overs. India’s fielding was also as poor as their counterparts, with Mandhana dropping a skier from Sarah Forbes off Deepti at extra cover.
Forbes and Prendergast made India pay for their mistakes and took the side to 85 for 2 after 14 overs. Tanuja Kanwar broke the 64-run stand by dismissing Prendergast. The batter tried to steer her towards deep third but failed to connect and was bowled. It was Kanwar’s first wicket in ODIs. Three overs later, Forbes was run out going for a quick single.
Ireland capitulated after that. From 100 for 3, they were all out for 131. Deepti was the most successful bowler for India, with figures of 3 for 27. Kanwar chipped in with 2 for 31 and two batters were run out.
Brief scores:
BEIJING, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — China will actively support Sri Lanka in focusing on economic development and the two countries should jointly foster new highlights in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, as well as cooperation in modern agriculture, digital economy and marine economy, Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Wednesday.
China’s efforts in further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization will bring new opportunities for Sri Lanka’s development, Xi said when holding talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is in China for a state visit.
Noting that China and Sri Lanka enjoy a traditional friendship, Xi said bilateral relations have maintained healthy and stable development over the past 68 years, setting an example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between different countries.
With joint efforts, China and Sri Lanka have continuously promoted strategic cooperative partnership featuring mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship. High-quality Belt and Road cooperation and cooperation in various fields have achieved fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, Xi said.
The two countries should have a keen grasp of bilateral relations from a strategic perspective and jointly build a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future, he said.
Hamas approves proposal for Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel
Thai Pongal celebrated at the Prime Minister’s office
Mandhana and Rawal’s tons fire India to record win
-
News2 days agoSri Lanka’s passport third strongest in South Asia
-
Latest News6 days agoMembers of Parliament Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam elected as Co-Chairs of the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative
-
Business7 days agoDialog becomes a signatory of UN Women’s Empowerment Principles
-
Opinion3 days agoTribute to late Commander (MCD) Shanthi Kumar Bahar, RWP Sri Lanka Navy
-
Sports4 days agoDialog celebrates Chamari Athapaththu’s ICC nominations and outstanding achievements
-
News4 days agoBritish conductor at Khemadasa anniversary concert on Jan. 25
-
News7 days agoLasantha’s family says Shani can complete probe into murder
-
Editorial7 days agoTell bus mudalalis where to get off