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New Zealand deliver at the death to keep England to 282
Despite going into the World Cup opener with a weakened bowling attack, New Zealand managed to keep England to 282/9 in Ahmedabad after delivering at the death. New Zealand didn’t have the services of Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee for this contest and as a result, packed their XI with multiple players who could bat. At one stage, it did appear like England would easily breach 300 following a fruitful partnership between Jos Buttler and Joe Root. But a resilient New Zealand fought back in style on what appears to be a very good batting surface.
Jonny Bairstow started off in typical fashion by flicking just the second ball of the World Cup for a six and followed it up with a four as England managed to knock off 12 runs in the first over. That was followed by a maiden from Matt Henry who posed problems early on with the new ball. Dawid Malan found the going tough and eventually perished as he edged Henry behind to the wicketkeeper. Root stunned New Zealand by bringing out his famous reverse ramp pretty early in his innings against Trent Boult to fetch a six before Mitchell Santner snapped Bairstow, who got out in tame fashion while attempting to chip one over extra cover.
Harry Brook, getting an opportunity in place of the injured Ben Stokes, ensured England’s run rate didn’t dip. He targeted fellow World Cup debutant Rachin Ravindra and smashed him for a couple of fours before pulling one over deep midwicket for a six. But the lack of experience in the format showed up for the youngster as he played one shot too many to give Ravindra a wicket.
The plan to bring in a left-hander early by promoting Moeen Ali over Buttler didn’t work either. Glenn Phillips, bowling his first over, castled the Moeen for 11 to further dent England. The defending champions finally received a boost in the form of skipper Buttler as he combined with Root to revive England. While Root was content rotating strike and batting deep, Buttler teed off after consuming 15 deliveries initially for just 8. The skipper smashed Ravindra straight over his head for a six and dished out a similar treat to James Neesham.
At the end of 33 overs, England set themselves up for a big finish at 187/4. However, another twist was in store when Henry returned to get the big fish. In his attempt to guide one down to third man, Buttler edged behind to fall for 43. Liam Livingstone was next as he ended up chipping Boult to a fielder at the deep. England’s deep batting lineup did give them hope especially Root well settled at one end. But Phillips returned to breach his stumps to stun the men in blue.
Even though England had a long batting lineup, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes just couldn’t do enough at the death. Woakes mistimed one off Santner and Curran edged the impressive Henry behind to fall for 14. Mark Wood and Adil Rashid added 30 vital runs off the last 26 deliveries to push the total beyond 280. But with New Zealand also going into this contest with a batting heavy lineup, they will fancy their chances of kick starting another World Cup campaign with a win.
Brief scores:
England 282/9 in 50 overs (Joe Root 77, Jos Buttler 43; Matt Henry 3/48, Glenn Phillips 2/17) vs New Zealand
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/
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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]
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