Latest News
Gurbaz and Rahmat trump Mendis as Afghanistan cruise past Sri Lanka
After Afghanistan lost opener Ibrahim Zadran early in their chase of 295, Gurbaz and Rahmat played steadily and was unbeaten on 53 and 51 respectively, when rain halted the play in the 21st over. After losing an hour of play to wet conditions, Afghanistan were set a revised target of 257 in 42 overs. When the match resumed, they needed 139 runs from 21.1 overs.
The break seemed to work in Afghanistan’s favour as Gurbaz and Rahmat upped the ante to stretch their second-wicket stand to a game-changing 212. Gurbaz smashed 119 off 92 balls, hitting nine sixes and eight fours, while Rahmat slammed an 82-ball 93 with ten fours and three sixes. When both the batters retired out in the 32nd over, Afghanistan needed just 26 runs from ten overs. Najibullah Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai completed the formlities.
After Sri Lanka were sent in, Mendis single-handedly powered them to a competitive total with his stroke-filled hundred. After Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka fell in the first 13 overs, Mendis took charge, hitting 19 fours and nine sixes in his 87-ball knock. Along the way, he shared a partnership of 158 with Sadeera Samarawickrama before retiring out in the 30th over. Once Mendis departed, however, Afghanistan fought back, thanks to Mohammad Nabi’s four-wicket haul. From 240 for 2, Sri Lanka only added 54 before being bowled out in the 47th over.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan 261 for 4 in 38.1 overs (Rahamanullah Gurbaz 119, Rahmat Shah 93, Kasun Rajitha 1-18) beat Sri Lanka 294 in 46.2 overs ( Kusal Mendis 158, Sadeera Samarawickrama 39, Pathum Nissanka 30, Dhananjaya de Silva 22, Mohammad Nabi 4-44) by six wickets via DLS method (DLS parscore 256 in 42 overs)
The cut-off marks for the admission of students to Grade 06 of the schools based on the results of the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released by the Ministry of Education and can be viewed by clicking on the following link.
https://g6application.moe.gov.lk/
Latest News
President focuses on streamlining, integrating and developing the manufacturing sector for greater efficiency
A meeting between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and officials of the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development was held today (14) at the Presidential Secretariat.
Discussions focused on enhancing the efficiency, integration and development of the manufacturing sector to strengthen the national economy, as well as addressing the challenges associated with these efforts.
Key topics included government-led initial investments and proper regulation to empower small and medium-scale entrepreneurs, the establishment of local small-scale industries within investment zones and challenges related to business loans faced by small and medium-scale enterprises.
The President directed officials to expedite the release of lands allocated to the Ministry of Industry that have not been released so far.
Further discussions were held on maintaining and regulating import restrictions to strengthen local industries, prioritizing local suppliers in construction industry procurement and resolving issues in the gem and jewellery sector to ensure its full contribution to the national economy.
The President also instructed officials to swiftly implement tax exemptions for tourists to boost the gem and jewelry industry.
Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Thilaka Jayasundara and several other ministry officials attended the meeting.
[PMD]
Debutant Malki Madara’s three-for combined with two-fors from Kavisha Dilhari and Inoshi Priyadharshani set up a comfortable victory for Sri Lanka in the T20I series opener in Christchurch. Chamari Athapaththu’s unbeaten 64 off 48 balls then took the visitors home with seven wickets in hand. This was Sri Lanka’s first T20I win in New Zealand and second win overall against New Zealand in the format.
Emma McLeod (44) was New Zealand’s highest scorer but only two of her team-mates got into double figures, and there was only one partnership that stretched past 20 balls.
Despite Priyadharshani dismissing Georgia Plimmer early, the hosts got off to a decent start thanks to captain Suzie Bates’ 14-ball 21. Madara, Sri Lanka’s fourth bowling option, brought on in the fifth over, got the big wicket of Bates which dried up the scoring. The next two overs went for just five runs.
Dilhari, the seventh bowler, struck twice upon being introduced in the ninth over as New Zealand slipped from 39 for 1 to 52 for 4. Maddy Green being run out cheaply had New Zealand play with caution as illustrated by the next two partnerships which produced a combined 29 runs off 41 balls.
McLeod, who had three fours in her first five balls, finished without adding to that tally across her 46-ball innings. She was the last New Zealand batter to fall as Madara ended the innings in the penultimate over.
Athapaththu then hit seven fours and took Sri Lanka to 46 for 0 at the end of the powerplay. Jess Kerr removed Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama in successive overs while Dilhari’s innings was cut short by a run out. Sri Lanka slipped to 66 for 3 but that didn’t stop their captain from attacking.
She hit Eden Carson for four immediately after Dilhari’s exit and smacked two sixes and a four off Bree Illing, the first of the sixes brought up her fifty off 43 balls. It left the hosts no room to make an unlikely comeback as Sri Lanka romped to a victory with 35 balls to spare.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Women 102 for 3 in 14.1 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 64*, Kavisha Dilhari 12, Nilakshika Silva 12*; Jess Kerr 2-18) beat New Zealand Women 101 in 18.5 overs (Suzie Bates 21, Emma McLeod 44, Jess Kerr 10; Sugandika Kumari 1-18, Malki Madara 3-14, Kavisha Dilhari 2-18, Inoshi Priyadharshani 2-25, Chamari Athapaththu 1-10) by seven wickets
[Cricinfo]
Showers above 50mm can be expected at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara and Kurunegala districts
Batalanda Commission report tabled … finally
COPE finds fake documents submitted for emergency procurement of drugs
-
Editorial6 days agoRanil roasted in London
-
Latest News7 days agoS. Thomas’ beat Royal by five wickets in the 146th Battle of the Blues
-
Features6 days agoThe JVP insurrection of 1971 as I saw it as GA Ampara
-
Opinion5 days agoInsulting SL armed forces
-
Features6 days agoMr. JR Jayewardene’s passport
-
News3 days agoAlfred Duraiappa’s relative killed in Canada shooting
-
Features6 days agoAs superpower America falls into chaos, being small is beautiful for Sri Lanka
-
Opinion6 days agoBeyond Victory: sportsmanship thrives at Moratuwa Big Match