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Healy plunders 158 off 98 balls in final ODI as Australia secure huge win

Published

2 weeks ago

2026/03/1

Priyan

Alyssa Healy celebrates her eighth ODI century [Cricinfo]

Alyssa Healey produced a fairytale farewell to ODI cricket with a stunning 158 from 98 balls in her final innings while Beth Mooney made an unbeaten century as Australia thumped 409 for 7 to trounce India in Hobart and ensure they can’t be beaten in the multi-format series with just the Perth Test to play.

Healy, who battled a calf issue during her innings that she put down to “getting old”, produced a vintage performance the equal of any of her best innings across a glittering career. She smashed 27 fours and two sixes in a staggering display to become just the sixth woman, and second Australian, to post two 150-plus scores in ODIs and the second fastest 150 off 95 balls. It was also the highest score in a women’s ODI in Australia, the highest anywhere against India, and she joined Johmari Logtenberg as the only other woman to score a century in their final ODI.

Mooney played the silent partner in a 145-run stand with Healy but then picked up the slack to reach her sixth ODI century in the final over off just 82 balls and finished with 106 from 84. Australia had lost 4 for 37 at the start of the last 10 but Nicola Carey smashed 34 not out off 15 to help Australia race past 400.

India’s chase never got going as regular wickets meant the required run-rate got out of control. Jemimah Rodrigues made 42 off 29 but India gave up on the chase after she fell. Alana King ripped through the middle-order to take 4 for 33. Sneh Rana top-scored at No.9 with 44 as they were bowled out for 224, 185 short of the target.

The game turned into such a procession that when India were 164 for 7, needing 246 from 18 overs to win, Healy indulged herself by bowling the first two overs of her international career.

The win completed a 3-0 ODI series sweep against the reigning world champions who knocked Australia out in the semi-final last year. It also meant Australia took an 8-4 points lead in the multi-format series with India only able to draw the series given just four points are on offer for the win in the lone Test that starts on Friday in Perth.

Healy was earlier supported well by Georgia Voll who made 62 from 52 in a 104-run stand. India’s bowlers had a difficult day with Shree Charani becoming only the third woman to concede 100-plus runs in an ODI innings. She was one of three bowlers to concede more than 80 runs in the innings, doubling the number of India bowlers to have ever conceded that many.

Extraordinarily, Healy’s innings began by facing a maiden from Renuka Singh after she had walked through a guard of honour from India having been sent into bat. A trademark pull shot off Kashvee Gautam got her innings going. She added two more boundaries before receiving a slice of luck off Renuka when an lbw shout was given not out but DRS revealed it was umpire’s call on hitting leg stump.

The close call sharpened her focus. She played with great control to reach 50 off 49 balls.

Voll outpaced her skipper, continuing the crisp ball-striking she showed during her century in the second ODI on the same surface on Friday.

After some early edges found the rope she cruised to 48 before chipping Gautam to cover where Harmanpreet Kaur dropped a straightforward chance diving forward after misjudging the flight.

Voll reached 50 off 42 three balls later and thumped two more boundaries off Charani. But the return of Rana forced an error. First ball Voll jumped down to whip over midwicket and miscued wastefully to long-on with Harleen Deol holding on.

Healy felt her calf cramp not long after and started unfurling a full array of pulls, sweeps, glides and lofted drives over cover and mid-on. She had another slice of luck when Rana missed a difficult chance at short fine that went untouched to the fence.

Healy reached her eighth ODI century, the equal second-most for an Australian woman, off just 79 balls. Her assault on Charani immediately after was vicious. She took 23 off an over including four strikes over the off-side ring and a slog sweep over long-on. She followed that with another slog sweep off Deepti Sharma that landed in the dugout.

She needed just 16 balls to go from 100 to 150. A double century looked on, but her calf was clearly a problem. After a dazzling display of conventional strokeplay she attempted a bizarre premeditated reverse paddle sweep to a rank full toss from Rana and was bowled behind her back with 13.3 overs left in the innings.

Mooney’s innings mirrored Healy’s in many ways. She was 2 off 12 and before accelerating to reach 50 off 53. But her second fifty took just 29 balls as she showcased her incredible 360-degree skills.

She only struck 10 boundaries and one six but no two boundaries went in the same zone as she faced just two dot balls in her last 40 to finish off the innings alongside Carey, who thumped 22 from Charani’s last over including a stunning reverse sweep for six over point.

India’s chase started brightly with Pratika Rawal and Rodrigues racing to 62 inside eight overs after the early loss of Smriti Mandhana. Australia’s 19-year-old debutant Lucy Hamilton was driven repeatedly by Pratika and lapped relentlessly by Rodrigues. But Pratika was adjudged lbw to Annabel Sutherland, with ball tracking showing it was only just clipping leg. Rodrigues then fell to Ash Gardner, top edging a sweep to Hamilton at short fine.

India completely stalled thereafter with Deol run out after a mix-up and Harmanpreet trapped plumb lbw to King. It was the first of three lbw’s for Australia’s legspinner. She also clean bowled Richa Ghosh to continue her love affair with Bellerive Oval.

Brief scores:
Australia Women 409 for 7 in 50 overs (Alyssa Healy 158, Beth Mooney 106*, Georgia Voll 62; Shree Charani 2-106, Sneh Rana 2-66) beat India Women 224 in 45.1 overs (Sneh Rana 44, Jemmimah Rodrigues 42; Alana King 4-33, Georgia Wareham 2-03) by 185 runs

[Cricinfo]

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A new curriculum will be introduced for preschools in 2027, while steps will also be taken to train teachers accordingly – PM

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/16

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that a new curriculum will be introduced for preschools in 2027, while steps will also be taken to train teachers accordingly and to regulate preschools through a regulatory authority.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing an awareness programme for preschool teachers in the Hambantota District on education reforms, held on Sunday (15) at the Ambalantota Pradeshiya Sabha Auditorium.

During the programme, preschool teachers briefed the Prime Minister about the challenges they currently face. Responding to their concerns, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated:

“The issues within the preschool system cannot be discussed separately from the broader crisis in society and in the education sector. When we assumed office in 2024, our primary challenge was to free the country from its debt burden and to establish. a sound economic indicators.

Although 2025 was a challenging year, we were able to bring the country’s economy to a certain level of stability and manage the national budget accordingly.

While we were working towards economic recovery, the war in the Middle East began, which has had certain impacts on our country as well.

A significant amount of Sri Lanka’s foreign remittances come from our fellow citizens working in the Middle East. Today, both their livelihoods and employment are under threat. In addition, a large number of tourists travelled to Sri Lanka through Middle Eastern airspace, and the closure of those air routes and airports has reduced tourist arrivals. Another issue concerns fuel transportation. This problem has affected not only Sri Lanka but many countries around the world. If the war continues for a long period, it will have further impacts on us, and therefore we must be prepared. We also need to manage the economy carefully and reduce certain expenditures.

Although we have the ability to borrow, our intention is not to weaken the country’s economy by relying on loans.

You are aware that we have begun implementing education reforms. Within that policy framework, we are also taking steps to reform preschool education. So far, the establishment of preschools and early childhood development has not been carried out in a systematic manner. Therefore, we must regulate and standardize all preschools, which is not an easy task.

First, all preschools must be formally registered. We have already prepared a curriculum for teacher training. In addition, we plan to introduce a new curriculum for preschools in 2027, provide teacher training accordingly, and regulate preschools through a regulatory authority. A recognized curriculum has also been prepared for the preschool diploma. In the future, priority for preschool teachers will be given based on these qualifications. We will also take gradual steps to enhance the professionalism of preschool teachers and establish a proper salary structure”.

The Prime Minister further stated that preschools fall under the authority of Provincial Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas, while the line ministry can only provide policy recommendations. She also emphasized that issues related to preschools should be addressed in a systematic manner through structural committees and District Development Committees.

Member of Parliament Nihal Galappaththi and other public representatives, along with preschool teachers from the Hambantota District attended the awareness program.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

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Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Anuradhapura and Vavuniya districts

Published

7 hours ago

2026/03/16

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 15 March 2026, valid for 16 March 2026.

The public is warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at
some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Anuradhapura and Vavuniya districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491

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Three more Iran football team members change minds over asylum

Published

1 day ago

2026/03/15

Priyan

One of the three has been named as Mona Hamoudi, pictured here during a match against the Philippines on 8 March [BBC]

Three more members of the Iranian women’s football delegation – who were given humanitarian visas to stay in Australia – have changed their mind and will return home.

The trio have been named by human rights activists in the Iranian diaspora as Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar, Mona Hamoudi, and Zahra Sarbali.

Concerns grew for the Iranian team after they were silent for the country’s anthem in their opening Asian Cup match against South Korea on 2 March – which led to them being branded “war traitors” in Iran.

Confirming the decisions, Australia’s home affairs minister said his government had done everything it could to ensure the women were given the chance to have a safe future in the country.

“Australians should be proud that it was in our country that these women experienced a nation presenting them with genuine choices and interacted with authorities seeking to help them,” Tony Burke said in a statement.

“While the Australian government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions.”

Iran’s sports ministry also earlier confirmed the news, first reported by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked Tasnim News Agency, in a statement.

“The national spirit and patriotism of the Iranian women’s national football team defeated the enemy’s plans against this team,” the statement says, also accusing Australia’s government of “playing in Trump’s field”.

Tasnim said the three were on their way to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to join the rest of the squad and were “returning to the warm embrace of their families and homeland after withdrawing their asylum application in Australia”.

It said they had resisted “psychological warfare, extensive propaganda and seductive offers”.

It means that, of the seven who initially said they wanted to stay in Australia, only three now remain as defectors. One of the players made the same decision to return to Iran on Wednesday.

Hamoudi and Sarbali were among the original five who refused, after giving minders the slip at the team’s hotel on the Gold Coast, south of Brisbane, last Monday and being taken to a safe house by Australian Federal Police.

Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar, a member of the team’s technical staff, was one of two more women from the group to seek asylum the next day. The other – Mohaddeseh Zolfi – changed her mind hours after being given the right to stay. She is understood to have already rejoined the team.

There was concern in Australia that members of the team and their families might face repercussions in Iran after the players refused to sing the national anthem.

One conservative commentator on Iranian state media accused them of being “wartime traitors” and called for a harsh punishment.

The team did sing the anthem in their last two games before they were eliminated on Sunday, leading critics to believe they had been told to sing by government officials accompanying them during the tournament.

The remaining Iranian players left Australia on Tuesday night local time – two days after they were knocked out of the Asian Cup.

[BBC]