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Rohit ton in vain after Pathirana four-fer

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Matheesha Pathirana picked up four wickets.

Chennai Super Kings overcame Mumbai Indians in a hard fought contest that saw a number of remarkable individual contributions on either side. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube hit fifties for CSK while MS Dhoni marked his presence at the end. For Mumbai Rohit Sharma smashed a ton but it was Matheesha Pathirana’s four-wicket haul that turned out to be a big difference-maker.

Pathirana delivers the body blows

Up against a power-packed batting line-up, CSK’s chance of a comeback lay in picking up wickets. Their best bet was slinger Pathirana, who had replaced Maheesh Theekshana for this game. Pathirana made immediate impact coming in in the eighth over first getting Ishan Kishan to clip to the midwicket fielder. A ball later, he had Suryakumar Yadav caught at third man where Mustafizur Rahman did exceptionally well to keep his balance and the ball in the play. The wickets, particularly the first one, came at a much-needed juncture after Rohit and Kishan had put on 70 in the first-seven overs. But Pathirana wasn’t done with just that. He came back at the death and bagged both of MI’s big-hitters – Tim David and Romario Shepherd – which robbed them off crucial boundaries at the back-end.

Rohit’s ton goes in vain

Rohit had seen through the innings from the first ball, first setting the ball rolling inside the powerplay with some innovative batting that put pressure on the likes of Mustafizur and Ravindra Jadeja. Through the middle overs, he managed to stitch together a crucial 60-run stand with Tilak Varma after that wobble. But with Pathirana striking once again through the end overs, MI fell behind even as Rohit collected a hundred in the final over.

A middle-overs choke

With MI needing 77 off the last six overs, Shardul Thakur and Tushar Deshpande found the cutters into the pitch highly effective. The duo bowled two overs for just five runs even with Rohit Sharma batting in the 70s. Thakur also accounted for the wicket of Hardik Pandya in the period, making the equation even tougher and putting pressure on the batters to follow with CSK managing the follow-up overs adeptly.

For CSK, the batting innings progressed on a more even course with a final take-off elevating them further

A mixed bag in the powerplay

CSK opted to throw up a surprise by changing up their batting order. Ajinkya Rahane came up to open instead of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Rahane, a designated pace-hitter, threw a spade in the works for MI who then opted to open with the offspin of Mohammad Nabi. The change-up however did not bring about the desired impact for CSK. Rahane lasted just eight balls before he chipped a catch off Gerald Coetzee. However Ruturaj came in next and got going straightaway hitting Coetzee for two fours and a six. The powerplay saw CSK get 48 but lose a wicket.

Dube, Gaikwad take charge

Rachin Ravindra’s promise did not last long as he was out caught behind on review against Shreyas Gopal. But this brought in Shivam Dube alongside Gaikwad who was finding his feet. With spin now being taken out of the attack given Dube’s reputation as a spin hitter, the middle-order batter unleashed other skills. He started off by picking three boundaries off Pandya and then two more off Romario Shepherd. Gaikwad, meanwhile, worked his way to his 16th IPL fifty and set up the innings for a big finish. Dube carted Shepherd for back-to-back sixes and a four as the duo picked up 22 in an over to up the ante before Akash Madhwal was meted out similar treatment as Dube raced to a 28-ball fifty.

A roaring finish

The 90-run stand from the duo helped CSK maintain a good run-rate through the middle overs but it threatened to come undone at the death when they lost a couple of wickets. Gaikwad holed out against his counterpart Pandya after a 40-ball 69 while Daryl Mitchell struggled to match the tempo from the get-go, hitting only one boundary in a 14-ball 17. As he became Pandya’s second wicket in the final over, CSK were in danger of finishing well before 200. However, MS Dhoni walked in and turned back the clock smashing a hat-trick of sixes as Pandya missed his lengths woefully. His four-ball 20* powered CSK past 200 and eventually proved to be the decisive margin of victory.

Mumbai Indians will travel to Mullanpur to take on Punjab Kings on April 18 while the Chennai Super Kings will be in Lucknow on April 19 for their next fixture against the Super Giants

Brief Scores:

Chennai Super Kings

206/4 in 20 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 69, Shivam Dube 66*)

Mumbai Indians

186/6 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 105*; Matheesha Pathirana 4-28)



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Ireland surge ahead despite Muzarabani’s heroics

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Blessing Muzarabani and Trevor Gwandu dragged Zimbabwe to a first-innings lead [Zimbabwe Cricket]

Ireland and Zimbabwe continued to zigzag with the flow yet again in Bulawayo but it was the visitors who were better placed at the end of the day. barry McCarthy’s toil and versatility combined with Andy McBrine’s consistency provided them with the hope of capturing a substantial lead.

Blessing Muzarabani thought otherwise. His inspired 67-run stand for the tenth wicket with Trevor Gwandu took Zimbabwe from a position of danger into the comforts of a slender lead. But it was a sign of the pitch easing out, something Ireland’s top order didn’t waste.

Peter Moor dispatched Muzarabani, who didn’t bowl consistent lines, as Ireland raced to 42 for 0 in seven overs. Richard Ngarava got one to angle away to ensure Moor’s 33 didn’t grow to become a good score, but his partner, Andy Balbirnie, joined Curtis Campher to ensure Ireland went to stumps unscathed.

Brief scores:
Ireland 260 and 83 for 1 in 21 overs  (Andy Balbirnie 32*,  Peter Moor 30; Richard  Ngarava 1-25) lead Zimbabwe 267 in 86.1 overs (Nick Welch 90, Blessing Muzarabani 47; Barry  McCarthy 4-75, Andy McBrine 3-59) by 76 runs

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Malintha bags ten wickets as St. Sebastian’s book semi-final ticket

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by Reemus Fernando 

A painstaking knock of 49 runs by Kaveesha Perera and a valuable half century by Navod Fernando helped St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa pull of exciting four wickets victory over St. Anthony’s College Katugastota in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket quarter-final at Gajaba Regiment Ground Saliyapura, Anuradhapura on Friday.

It was a huge turnaround for the Sebs after conceding a first innings deficit of 51 runs. Tournament’s highest wicket taker, Malintha Silva’s six wicket haul in the second innings was the turning point as Sebs dismissed St. Anthony’s for 103 runs. Malintha collected a match bag of ten wickets.

Chasing 149 runs for victory St. Sebastian’s lost three wickets for 40 runs but Navod Fernando’s 58 runs and Kaveesha’s 131-ball 49 helped them ease nerves and reach the target with a session to spare.

Now St. Sebastian’s will meet the winners of the match between St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s in the semi-final on 12, 13 and 14 at Samadi Ground Anuradhapura.

In the other quarter-final, first innings points were enough for Royal to advance to the semi-final.

Despite having a huge first innings lead, Royal decided not to enforce the follow-on. They posted 248 runs thanks to an unbeaten 122 runs by Vimath Dinsara. In their second essay S. Thomas’ were 186 for three wickets at close.

Now,  Royal will wait for a decision by a SLSCA committee to see who would be their semi-final opponents from the Mahanama-Trinity match. The quarter-final between Mahanama and Trinity did not last the full distance after Mahanama disputed a move by the ground staff to roll the wicket earlier than the scheduled time and pulled out. Trinity were ahead in the first innings. The committee were scheduled to meet in the morning on Saturday (8) to take a decision.

Match Details 

At Gajaba Regiment Ground Saliyapura, Anuradhapura 

Scores
St. Anthony’s 204 all out in 70 overs (Sanuka Kalpana 41, Charuka Ekanayake 24, Kevan Fernando 89n.o.; Risinu Prabesh 2/21, Malintha Silva 4/60) and 103 all out in 35.4 overs (Okitha Fernando 29, Charuka Ekanayake 21, Kevan Fernando 28; Malintha Silva 6/54, Shenas Hashein 3/23)

St. Sebastian’s 159 all out in 67 overs (Ushen Silva 33, Ryan Dissanayake 33, Navod Fernando 34; Charuka Ekanayake 3/66, Dinura Ganegoda 3/20, Kevan Fernando 2/09) and 00 for 1 overnight 149 for 6 in 51.1 overs (Kaveesha Perera 49, Navod Fernando 58; Charuka Ekanayake 2/33, Ryan Gregory 2/24, Sadew Amarakoon 2/22)

At Samadi Ground Anuradhapura 

Scores
Royal 301 all out in 102.4 overs (Hirun Liyanarachchi 22, Rehan Peiris 82, Ramiru Perera 81, Yasindu Dissanayake 58; Kavindu Dias 2/69, Abheeth Paranawidana 2/66, Minon Warnasuriya 2/37) and 50 for 2 overnight 248 all out in 63.5 overs (Isula Geeganage 47, Vimath Dinsara 122n.o, Ramiru Perera 25; Abheeth Paranawidana 3/63, Aaron de Silva 3/48)

S. Thomas’ 120 all out in 58.2 overs (Dineth Goonewardene 28, Sachitha Gunasinghe 33; Sehandu Sooriyaarachchi 5/31, Ranuka Malaviarachchi 2/39) and 186 for 3 in 39 overs  (Sadew Soysa 57, Jaden Amaraweera 46,  Dineth Gunawardana 44n.o., Mithila Charles 34n.o.)

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Sri Lanka’s lower order fight back but Australia in control

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Dinesh Chandimal batted superbly but there was little support from the rest of the batters before Kusal Mendis joined him with a half-century on day one of the second Test against Australia in Galle

Rex Clementine in Galle

Sri Lanka’s lower middle order showed some character and resilience, digging in to mount a spirited fightback, ensuring the hosts reached 229 for nine at stumps on day one of the second Test against Australia in Galle on Thursday. However, Australia were firmly in the box seat despite losing a big toss as Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon took three wickets apiece.

After making a steady start in the morning, Sri Lanka found themselves in choppy waters as Australia’s bowlers came roaring back, ripping through the middle order. From a promising 93 for one, the hosts nosedived to 127 for five, leaving the innings on shaky ground.

Amidst the ruins, Dinesh Chandimal stood tall, waging a lone battle with a defiant, back-to-the-wall 74, peppered with six boundaries and a towering six. Just as he looked set to take Sri Lanka to safer shores, Alex Carey produced a moment of brilliance behind the stumps, smartly stumping him and sending alarm bells ringing in the Sri Lankan camp.

Their lower order hasn’t exactly set the world alight in recent months, often folding without much resistance. But on this occasion, the only remaining recognized batter, Kusal Mendis, found a willing ally in off-spinner Ramesh Mendis.

Recalled to the side for this crucial clash, Ramesh played the perfect supporting act, adding a vital 65-run stand for the seventh wicket with his namesake. The Australians threw everything but the kitchen sink at them, but the duo held firm, negotiating the sharp turn and extra bounce with aplomb.

While Ramesh was rock-solid in defense, Kusal took a more aggressive route, pouncing on anything loose. The tourists, frustrated by their inability to break the stand, eventually turned to the second new ball, and Steve Smith’s gamble paid dividends as Mitchell Starc delivered with immediate effect.

Steaming in at speeds north of 145 kmph, Starc was relentless, hitting a nagging line and length. His persistence bore fruit when Ramesh, after a gritty stay, edged one behind. The left-arm quick struck again off the very next delivery, with Prabath Jayasuriya feathering one to the slip cordon, leaving the Aussies sniffing a collapse.

With Starc on a hat-trick, Nishan Peiris walked in under immense pressure. The Australian fans, who far outnumbered the locals, were on their feet, anticipating history, but Peiris dead-batted the hat-trick ball, much to their disappointment.

Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis kept the scoreboard ticking and reached his well-earned half-century with a single to long-off. As Sri Lanka’s last recognized hope, he carried the weight of their innings on his shoulders, with 250 looking like a competitive total in these conditions.

Hundreds of Australian supporters have traveled to Galle, with former players Geoff Marsh and Merv Hughes leading large touring contingents. The Galle stands were awash with yellow, with the tourists making their presence felt.

Earlier in the day, there was a moment of celebration for Sri Lankan cricket as Dimuth Karunaratne was felicitated for reaching the milestone of 100 Test matches, becoming only the seventh Sri Lankan to do so. The veteran opener, who will hang up his Test boots after this match, received a warm ovation from the crowd.

Sri Lanka rang in three changes following their humiliating innings-and-242-run defeat in the first Test, bringing in Pathum Nissanka, Ramesh Mendis, and Lahiru Kumara at the expense of Oshada Fernando, Asitha Fernando, and Jeffrey Vandersay.

Australia, meanwhile, made just one tweak, handing a debut to Cooper Connolly in place of Todd Murphy.

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