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Southee’s stunner gets Nissanka after Phillips’ counterattack puts New Zealand 35 ahead
William O’Rourke once again proved to be the most threatening of New Zealand’s bowlers, finding sharp bounce and movement off a hard length. He was duly rewarded for his efforts when Tim Southee soared to his right from second slip to complete an outrageous one-handed grab, and send Nissanka back for 2.
O’Rourke troubled Karunaratne as well, finding an edge that failed to carry to second slip, while he also had a close lbw shout on the stroke of lunch as Karunaratne was reprieved by an inside edge.
Much of the action in the session, though, had taken place inside the first hour as a Test of ebbs and flows turned over yet another fascinating chapter. It saw Sri Lanka storm back into the game with a flurry of wickets, before Glenn Phillips led a stunning counter-charge.
When it was all settled, New Zealand’s first-innings lead stood at 35 after they were bowled out for 340, with Prabath Jayasuriya rediscovering his best form to end with figures of 4 for 136, while Ramesh Mendis too offered a much improved showing and finishing with 3 for 101.
It’s an outcome Sri Lanka would have snapped up if it were offered to them at the start of the day, one which New Zealand had begun 50 runs behind with six wickets in hand. But by the innings’ close, you wouldn’t have begrudged them a feeling of mild disappointment at having given the visitors so many.
New Zealand, by contrast, would be grateful for each of those 35 runs, having lost five wickets for 50 runs inside the first hour of play.
Tom Blundell was the first to go, as replays confirmed a glove through to first slip off an attempted reverse sweep. That came in just the fourth over of a morning in which Sri Lanka had started brightly, sticking to consistent lines and lengths, and forcing the New Zealand batters to make things happen.
For the most part, New Zealand were up to the task – particularly Daryl Mitchell , who seemed in imperious form as highlighted by a disdainful loft down the ground off Lahiru Kumara. Mitchell’s footwork was also positive, very much in line with the approach New Zealand had utilised to such devastating effect on day two.
But the lifeline Sri Lanka were seeking arrived courtesy an ill-advised single to cover. Phillips called for the single, but Mitchell, by then on 57, was marginally slow off the mark, and that was all it took to find him inches short at the striker’s end. With Mitchell at the crease, Sri Lanka were staring at a deficit potentially beyond 100, but suddenly they scented blood.
With a second new ball in tow, Mitchell Santner didn’t last much longer, edging behind one off Jayasuriya, as the delivery skid through second ball. Tim Southee didn’t fare much better, going back to a good-length ball and having his off stump pegged back – also by Jayasuriya. An arm-ball from Ramesh Mendis trapped Ajaz Patel lbw, and just like that, New Zealand were nine down while still being one run behind Sri Lanka’s total.
When Phillips was given out lbw off Jayasuriya just one ball later, Sri Lanka thought they had completely turned the game on its head. But a review showed the ball to be missing leg stump. Phillips took this lifeline and ran with it, as over the next five-and-a-bit overs, he took the majority of the strike and plundered 35 runs, including some monster hits down the ground off Jayasuriya.
Sri Lanka were relegated to waiting for the last two deliveries of each over to bowl to No. 11 Will O’Rourke, and it was indeed one of those deliveries that did the trick, as he ended up being the last man to fall, beaten on the outside edge and finding his off stump rocked. Phillips was left stranded unbeaten on 49 off 48 balls.
Brief scores: (Day 3 lunch)
Sri Lanka 32 for 1 (Dimuth Karunaratne 23*, Dinesh Chandimal 2*, William O’Rourke 1-11) and 305 trail New Zealand 340 (Tom Latham 70, Daryl Mitchell 57, Prabath Jayasuriya 4-136) by three runs
Kusal Mendis crashed 124 off 114, Sri Lanka ‘s seamers took three wickets apiece, and Sri Lanka surged to a series win, defeating Bangladesh by 99 runs in the deciding ODI.
The centrepiece of Sri Lanka’s batting was the 124-run partnership between Kusal and Charith Asalanka who made 58 off 68. Bangladesh’s bowlers did well either side of that partnership, particularly at the death, conceding only 62 off the last 10 overs.
But Sri Lanka’s 285 for 7 was too much, and Sri Lanka’s bowlers too penetrative. Bangladesh never really seemed to be on top of the chase, 20 for 2 in the fourth over, then 62 for 3 in the 14th. Towhid Hridoy made a half-century, but the required rate kept climbing, and Bangladesh could not mount a substantial enough partnership. They were all out for 186 in the 40th over.
Asitha Fernando was again the best of Sri Lanka’s bowlers, finding three wickets for 33 runs off seven overs, as he continued to target the stumps, as he has done all tour. Dushmantha Chameera attempted the shorter lengths, but found success with the fuller ones, bowling Hridoy with an especially memorable seaming delivery. He finished with 3 for 51 off eight overs. Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage took two apiece.
Bangladesh will be proud of their bowling to the top order – they had Sri Lanka 100 for 3 at the end of the 21st over. And they also claimed four wickets in the last 10. But in between, Kusal and Asalanka put serious meat on the bones of this Sri Lanka batting effort.
The highlight of Kusal’s innings was his severity on length. Anything short was punished, and though the seam bowlers tried repeatedly, they could not get their bouncers high enough to really test him. He used his short-arm-jab pull to devastating effect, hitting both spinners and quicks through square leg with spectacular timing. Seven of his 18 fours came behind square on the leg side. And all up 82 of his runs (66%) came on the legside. Sweeps of various description – the hard flat one, the paddle, and the slog sweep, were also productive shots for him.
There was never a time in the innings when Kusal seemed to be in discomfort. He eased through the powerplay, hitting 25 off 26 in that period, and though there was a little slowing down as he approached fifty, the same cannot be said of his getting to triple-figures. It took him six balls to scamper through the nineties. He got there off the 95th ball he faced.
Asalanka was not in such good touch by comparison, but nevertheless found ways to make runs. He manufactured sweeps against the spinners at times, and used his feet to find lengths that he could score off. He too was stronger on the legside, finding six of his nine boundaries in that direction.
Bangladesh’s bowlers hit back nicely after that partnership, though. It was Taskin Ahmed that separated them, even if not with an especially good ball. He sent down a low full toss, and Asalanka miscued his attempted six over wide long-on, sending it into the hands of Mehidy Hasan Miraz at mid-on instead. Kusal hit one more boundary, and was out playing a tired hoick off Shamim Hossain in the 46th over.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers hunted as a pack in the chase. Asitha had Tanzid Hasan caught behind in the third over, Chameera got Najmul Hossain Shanto playing on to his stumps with one that jagged in the fourth, and then the spinners imposed themselves. Wellalage and Hasaranga took two wickets apiece, making breakthroughs through the middle overs. Sri Lanka had Bangladesh 124 for 5 at the start of the 28th over.
The spinners having exposed the lower order, Sri Lanka’s quicks came back to wipe out the innings. Aside from Hridoy, no Bangladesh batter crossed 30.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 285 for 7 in 50 overs (Pathum Nissanka 35, Kusal Mendis 124, Charith Asalanka 58; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2-48, Taskin Ahmed 2-51) beat Bangladesh 186 in 39.4 overs (Parvez Hossain Emon 28, Towhid Hridoy 51, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 28, Jaker Ali 27; Asitha Fernando 3-33, Dushmantha Chameera 3-51, Dunith Wellalage 2-33, Wanidu Hasaranga 2-35) by 99 runs
[Cricinfo]
Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have been greeted by King Charles and Queen Camilla as the French president starts a three-day state visit to the UK.
The Macrons were greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales as they arrived at RAF Northolt in west London on Tuesday, before they met the King and Queen on a dais built in Windsor town centre.
It is the first state visit by a French president since 2008, and the first by a European Union leader since Brexit.
Several issues are expected to be discussed between Macron and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during the visit, including how to stop small boats crossing the Channel.
[BBC]
Kusal Mendis crashed 124 off 114 balls to continue his excellent form, and Charith Asalanka struck 58 as he joined Kusal for a dynamic fourth-wicket stand worth 124 off 117 balls.
Either side of that partnership, however, Bangladesh had strong showings. They had Sri Lanka 100 for 3 in the 21st over and conceded only 63 runs in the last ten overs. Though Sri Lanka’s 285 for 7 is a substantial total, they had been well-placed to push for a 300-plus score, given they’d been 222 for 3 after 40 overs, with two set batters at the crease.
But Bangladesh kept striking, varying speeds intelligently, as Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked two wickets, while Shamim Hossain took one at the death. Sri Lanka managed only five boundaries through the last ten overs.
Mehidy returned the best overall figures of 2 for 48, having dismissed Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage. Shamim got the prize wicket of Kusal in the 46th over. Had he survived till the end, Sri Lanka may have added at least 20 to their total.
The highlight of Kusal’s innings was his severity on length. Anything short was punished, and though the seam bowlers tried repeatedly, they could not get their bouncers high enough to really test him. He used his short-arm-jab pull to devastating effect, hitting both spinners and quicks through square leg with spectacular timing. Seven of his 18 fours came behind square on the leg side. And all up, 82 of his runs (66%) came on the legside. Sweeps of various descriptions – the hard flat one, the paddle, and the slog sweep – were also productive shots for him.
There was never a time in the innings when he seemed to be in discomfort. He eased through the powerplay, hitting 25 off 26 in that period, and though there was a little slowing down as he approached fifty, the same cannot be said of his getting to triple figures. It took him six balls to scamper through the nineties. He got there off the 95th ball he faced.
Asalanka was not in such good touch in comparison, but nevertheless found ways to make runs. He manufactured sweeps against the spinners at times and used his feet to find lengths that he could score off. He too was stronger on the legside, finding six of his nine boundaries in that direction.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 285 for 7 in 50 overs (Pathum Nissanka 35, Kusal Mendis 124, Charith Asalanka 58, Wanidu Hasaranga18*; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2-48, Taskin Ahmed 2-51) vs Bangladesh
[Cricinfo]
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