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De Kock, van der Dussen tons power South Africa to strong total
Hundreds from Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen propelled South Africa to a total of 357/4 in the World Cup fixture against New Zealand in Pune. It was the eighth consecutive time South Africa went past the 300-run mark while batting first this year.
After losing the toss, South Africa came up against one of Trent Boult’s better spells with the new ball in this World Cup and lost the wicket of Temba Bavuma in the process. The South Africa captain looked comfortable against Matt Henry, hitting a couple of crisp drives and a six against the pacer, but couldn’t get behind a cover drive against Boult and edged to slip instead.
That’s when van der Dussen joined de Kock in the middle, the duo going on to add 200 runs for the second wicket – the highest partnership for South Africa against New Zealand in ODIs for any wicket. While at it, de Kock brought up his fourth hundred in this World Cup edition, also his 21st overall in ODIs.
It wasn’t the most fluent knock from de Kock who survived a tough dropped catch by Glenn Phillips at backward point while on 12. But he still got to his hundred off 103 balls and looked increasingly in control of his batting out there. His partner at the crease, van der Dussen through rode his fair share of luck en route to his second hundred in this World Cup, and his sixth overall in the format.
Van der Dussen was dropped twice in the same Jimmy Neesham over when he was on 68 and 72, but strolled along thereafter to bring up his hundred off 101 balls. He was bowled by Tim Southee on 133 in the 18th over but his 118-ball knock helped provide South Africa the much needed final flourish.
Thanks to de Kock and van der Dussen, South Africa scored as many as 190 runs in the second PowerPlay (11-40 overs), setting base for the big hits in the death overs. And they arrived from van der Dussen himself alongside David Miller, who hit 2 fours and 4 sixes in his 30-ball 53. It took a brilliant catch from Daryl Mitchell in the deep to dismiss him in the final over.
South Africa ended up adding 119 runs in the final ten overs and what made matters more challenging for New Zealand was the unavailability of Matt Henry. The fast bowler hurt his right hamstring in his second spell and was confirmed to not return to bowl again in this game.
Brief Scores:
South Africa 357/4 in 50 overs (Rassie van der Dussen 133, Quinton de Kock 114; Tim Southee 2-77) vs New Zealand
Israeli air strikes are continuing in Gaza ahead of the ceasefire agreement and hostage deal with Hamas, which comes into effect on Sunday, subject to the Israeli cabinet’s approval.
The strikes killed 73 people overnight, following the announcement of the deal, Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defence agency reported.
Victims include 12 people who were living in a residential block in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City, the health ministry said.
The Israeli Defence Forces initially said “a fallen projectile” had been identified in southern Israel on Thursday, but later said it had been wrongly identified.
Israel has previously launched air strikes in the run-up to ceasefire arrangements taking effect, most recently in Lebanon, where heavy bombing hit the capital, Beirut, just hours before the ceasefire there in November.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to ratify the Gaza ceasefire agreement in parliament on Thursday, but his office alleges Hamas has “reneged” on parts of the agreement, prompting a “last-minute crisis”.
It adds the cabinet will not convene until Hamas has accepted “all elements of the agreement”.
A senior Hamas official told the BBC that his movement was committed to the agreement announced by the mediators and that the head of its delegation, Khalil al-Hayya, had officially informed Qatar and Egypt of its approval of all the terms of the agreement.
Two hardline right-wing ministers, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, have long threatened to quit the government coalition if the ceasefire goes ahead.
That could prompt fresh elections in Israel, but their resignations will not block the deal if Netanyahu wants it to happen, observers say.
The prime minister of Qatar – which mediated negotiations – has called for “calm” on both sides before the start of the first six-week phase of the ceasefire deal.
This will see 33 hostages – including women, children and elderly people – exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Israeli forces will also withdraw to the east, away from densely populated areas of Gaza.
Displaced Palestinians will be allowed to begin returning to their homes and hundreds of aid lorries will finally be allowed into the territory each day.
Negotiations for the second phase – which should see the remaining hostages released, a full Israeli troop withdrawal and a return to “sustainable calm” – will start on the 16th day.
The third and final stage will involve the return of any remaining hostages’ bodies and the reconstruction of Gaza – something which could take years.
Achim Steiner from the United Nations Development Programme told the BBC’s Newsday programme that the reconstruction of Gaza would be a huge challenge, given the massive destruction inflicted by the war.
He said 40 million tons of “toxic” rubble needed to be removed before Gazans could return to where their houses used to be.
“This is a very complex undertaking that we are now confronted with,” he said.
Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas – which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the US and others – in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
More than 46,700 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Most of the 2.3 million population has also been displaced, there is widespread destruction and there are severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter, while aid agencies struggle to get help to those in need.
Israel says 94 of the hostages are still being held by Hamas, 34 of whom are presumed dead. In addition, there are four Israelis who were abducted before the war, two of whom are dead.
[BBC]
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China pledges continued support for Sri Lanka’s Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity, and Independence – Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China
Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, stated that China is committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.
This statement was made during a meeting between President Anura Kumar Disanayake and Zhao Leji, which took place earlier today (16) as part of President Disanayake’s four-day official visit to China.
During the meeting, Chairman Zhao warmly welcomed President Disanayake, further emphasizing that working with Sri Lanka in a continuous and cooperative manner is a key expectation of the Chinese National People’s Congress.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath; Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake; Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong; and Sri Lankan Ambassador to China, Majintha Jayasinghe, were also present at the event.
Business
$3.7 billion foreign direct investment secured during President’s first state visit to China
During President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s four-day state visit to China, Sri Lanka marked a significant milestone by securing the largest foreign direct investment to date. This significant achievement was formalized this morning (16) with the signing of an agreement between Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Energy and Sinopec, a leading Chinese international petroleum corporation.
Under this $3.7 billion investment, a state-of-the-art oil refinery with a capacity of 200,000 barrels will be constructed in the Hambantota region. A substantial portion of the refinery’s output is planned for export, further enhancing the nation’s foreign exchange earnings.
This major investment from China is expected to bolster Sri Lanka’s economic growth while uplifting the livelihoods of low-income communities in the Hambantota area. Moreover, the benefits of this project are anticipated to positively impact the overall Sri Lankan population in the near future.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake and Director General of Government Information H. S. K. J. Bandara, alongside other dignitaries were present when the agreement was signed.
Dozens killed as Israeli strikes continue ahead of Gaza ceasefire
China pledges continued support for Sri Lanka’s Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity, and Independence – Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China
$3.7 billion foreign direct investment secured during President’s first state visit to China
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