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Zimbabwe outplay UAE, Sri Lanka blow away Scotland

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Zimbabwe players celebrate after their 8 wicket win over UAE (ICC)

Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka registered comfortable wins in matches seven and eight of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi under the Tolerance Oval and Zayed Cricket Stadium lights on Saturday.

Zimbabwe bounced back from a disappointing loss to Vanuatu on Thursday by registering a comfortable, eight-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) while Sri Lanka lived up to their “tournament favourites” reputation with a 10-wicket drubbing of Scotland.

UAE vs Zimbabwe

The UAE won the toss and opted to bat first, but just as in their tournament opener against Ireland, they failed to fire with the bat. The tournament hosts lost three wickets inside the first six overs, but the innings was steered back on track courtesy of a 52-run, fourth-wicket partnership between Kavisha Edodage (23) and top-scorer, Heena Hotchandani (32 off 33 balls, three fours).

Both batters fell in quick succession and after their departure, the UAE’s lower-order struggled to get going in the death overs. Rinitha Ranjith’s much needed 19 off 11 balls (two fours) helped her side pass the 100-run mark.

Zimbabwe’s bowlers maintained their discipline with the ball for most of the UAE innings. Josephine Nkomo (player of the match) was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets for 11 runs in four overs. She took wickets both with the new ball and in the death overs with her impressive seam bowling. Audrey Mazvishaya helped maintain their momentum with her own two wickets for 25.

Zimbabwe were rarely troubled in their chase. Opener, Sharne Mayers, fell for 13 after a 22-run opening partnership. Wicketkeeper-batter Modester Mupachikwa (22) added 43 runs for the second-wicket with Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano.

After Mupachikwa’s dismissal in the 10th over, Mugeri-Tiripano saw her side home in the company of skipper Mary-Anne Musonda who scored an unbeaten 26 off 23 balls (three fours). Mugeri-Tiripano scored a brisk, unbeaten 36 from 26 with the help of four fours. Zimbabwe completed the chase with 27 balls to spare, Suraksha Kotte was the only wicket-taker for UAE.

Scotland vs Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field first and the decision reaped rich rewards as the Scotland’s batters failed to create momentum from the start of their innings. After losing opener Darcey Carter for a duck in the opening over, Scotland kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Player of the match in the win against Thailand, Inoshi Priyadharshani, produced another quality spell. The off-spinner took three wickets in her four overs, conceding a mere 11 runs. Kavisha Dilhari, later named the player of the match, also made life tough for Scotland’s batters with her off-spinners, she took four wickets in 3.2 overs.

Lorna Jack top-scored with 24 runs, while captain, Kathryn Bryce, contributed an enterprising 22 off 19 balls (five fours) but failed to make the most of her promising start.

In reply, captain Chamari Athapaththu, smashed an unbeaten 59 off 35 balls (10 fours, one six) as Sri Lanka cruised past the target in 10.1 overs. Athapaththu played in her typically aggressive manner as the Scotland bowlers searched but found no answers. The bowlers were also let down by a below-par fielding effort, including dropped chances as Athapaththu played her shots.

Athapaththu’s opening partner Vishmi Gunaratne dropped anchor on the other end, her captain leading from the front with some swashbuckling shots. Sri Lanka are now poised for a semi-final spot from Group A with matches against Uganda and USA to follow next week.

Scores in brief:

Match 7:

Zimbabwe beat UAE by eight wickets

UAE 105 for 9 in  20 overs (Heena Hotchandani 32, Kavisha Edodage 23; Josephine Nkomo 4-11, Audrey Mazvishaya 2-25)

Zimbabwe 106 for 2in 15.3 overs (Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 36 not out, Mary-Anne Musonda 26 not out; Suraksha Kotte 1-13)

Player of the match – Josephine Nkomo

Match 8:

Sri Lanka beat Scotland by 10 wickets

Scotland 94 all out in 18.2 overs (Lorna Jack 24, Kathryn Bryce 22; Kavisha Dilhari 4-13, Inoshi Priyadharshani 3-11)

Sri Lanka 95 for no loss in 10.1 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 59 not out, Vishmi Gunaratne 24 not out)

Player of the match – Kavisha Dilhari

(ICC)



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Subarman’s six fer helps Jaffna Hindu win 14th Battle of the Hindus by 64 runs

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Satharsan Subaman was named the Man of the Match for his six wicket haul
A six wicket haul including a hat trick by Satharsan Subaman helped Jaffna Hindu College beat Hindu College Colombo by 64 runs in the 14th edition of the Battle of the Hindus which ended  on Saturday. With this win Jaffna Hindu lead the 14 match series four  wins to three.
Twenty two wickets fell on the first day of the match and Jaffna Hindu resuming on their overnight score of 71//2 declared their second essay at 170/9 giving Hindu College Colombo a victory target of 252. The visitors got off to a good start anchored by a well compiled 72 runs by Suresh Kumar Midusigan and a run a ball 39 from S Sarvish, but fell short by 64 runs as Suberman ripped through the tail end.
Best Batsman – Suresh Kumar Midusigan [Hindu College Colombo] [72 runs]
Best Bowler – VishwanathanYuaraj [Hindu College Colombo] [4-27 and 4-47]
Best Fielder – T Preethikan [Jaffna Hindu College]
Man of the Match – Satharshan Subaman [Jaffna Hindu College] [6-58]
Brief scores: 
Jaffna Hindu College 172/10 in 43.5 overs (K Pareshshith 20,  A Vithushan 49; P Shri Nithushan 2-24, R Dheskar 2-39, Vishwanathan Yuvaraj 4-27) and (71/2 overnight)  170/9dec  in 54 overs ( K Pareshshith 39, A Vithushan 25,  I Shrivasthan 26, S Abhivaran 27* ; Vishwanathan Yuvaraj 4-47. R Dheskar 4-35)
Hindu College Colombo  91/10  in  32.5 overs (T Santhosh 42; Sutharsan Subaran 2-31, A Vithushan 2-16, K Nithees 4-12,) and 187/10 in 55.5 overs [T Yadushan 25, Sureshkumar  Midusigan 72, S Sarvish 39; Satharsan Subaman 6-58, K Nithees 2-75]
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Shalin and Dhanushka power George Steuart Health to MCA E division title

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George Steuart Health won the MCA E Division 25 over league cricket championship on Saturday[pic by PRIYAN DE SILVA]
An unbeaten 76 run partnership off 40 balls between  Shalin de Mel (48 off 19 balls with five sixes and 3 fours)  and Dhanushka Madushanka  (34 off 44) powered newcomers George Steuart Health to the Mercantile Cricket Association E division title at the MCA ground today [08].
George Steuart Health clinched the win defeating Ceylinco Insurance by 5 wickets with 8 balls remaining and took home the prestigious ‘DPGC Challenge Trophy’. The MCA E Divison 25 over league cricket tournament was sponsored   by the David Peris Group of Companies for the 22nd consecutive year.
Best Batsman of the Tournament- Pasindu Pathum (Janashakthi Group)
Best Bowler of the Tournament- J M Hussain (Amana Takaful)
Man of the final – Shalin de Mel ( George Steuart Health)
Man of the Tournament- Dimantha Kalugalage (Hayleys Group)
Brief scores:
Ceylinco Insurance  159/9 in 25 overs (Chamod  Sulakshana 38, Buddhika Madushan 54,  Asela Fernando 22;  Shalin de Mel 2-24, Dhanushka Madushanka 2-48, Dinal Ishen 2-16)
George Steuart Health 165/5 in 23.4 overs (Dinal Ishen 26, Dhanushka Madushanka 34*, Shalin de Mel 48*; Dasun Gunasinghe 2-17)
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Kuhnemann’s four, Webster’s late impact puts Australia on course for 2-0

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Angelo Mathews tried to hold Sri Lanka together [Cricinfo]

Sri Lanka’s hopes of setting a tricky chase faded late on day three as Beau Webster provided key contributions with the ball and in the field to inch Australia close to a series victory.

Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis had breathed life into the second Test with an outstanding 70-run partnership as Sri Lanka’s lead grew to 41 runs. But less than 30 minutes before stumps, Mathews lost his concentration on 76 and swept Nathan Lyon to fine leg, where a diving Webster completed a terrific catch.

In another masterstroke from stand-in captain Steven Smith,  Webster was handed the ball and unfurled his offspin – instead of seam – to dismiss Ramesh Mendis for a duck.

Webster almost had Prabath Jayasuriya caught and bowled first ball, while Mendis survived a huge lbw shout off Lyon that was given not out by umpire Joel Wilson. Australia unsuccessfully reviewed in an umpire’s call, but Smith’s gut instincts again proved correct when left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann was tasked with bowling the final over and he promptly dismissed Jayasuriya.

Sri Lanka lead by just 54 runs with two wickets in hand having lost 3 for 13 in the last five overs. Their chances of victory have effectively evaporated unless Mendis, who finished unbeaten on 48 having been left stranded on 85 in Sri Lanka’s first innings, can produce a miracle.

Sri Lanka had earlier appeared headed for a defeat within three days. Trailing by 157 runs on the first innings, they stared down the barrel of a quick demise at 39 for 3 when Lyon claimed his 550th Test wicket after dismissing Dinesh Chandimal for 12.

Retiring Dimuth Karunaratne had fallen for 14, caught behind off Kuhnemann, bringing down the curtain on his 100 Test career.  After prolonging his last moments at the crease with a review in vain, Karunaratne received an embrace from Lyon and Chandimal before walking off to a big ovation from those at the ground, including the Australians.

It was Kuhnemann’s second wicket after he bowled opener Pathum Nissanka with a good length delivery that slid on.

Chandimal had scored a couple of 70s in this series, but needed an even bigger contribution if Sri Lanka were to turn around their dire situation. But after being pinned down, Chandimal lost his patience against Lyon and hit to mid-off, where Webster moved nimbly to take a sharp catch low down.

Mathews and Kamindu Mendis provided some resistance with a 42-run partnership having both received reprieves after missed chances by Alex Carey with the gloves.

Entering the series averaging over 70, Kamindu’s tame series ended when he chipped Lyon to mid-off but skipper Dhananjaya de Silva batted crisply in a 47-run partnership with Mathews.

They moved along with relative ease to chip away at the deficit and Mathews reached his half-century in style with a six over cover off debutant Cooper Connolly, who was used for a couple of overs.

Just when Sri Lanka’s hopes were raised, Smith seemingly dealt them a crushing blow when he completed a sensational one-handed, diving catch at slip after de Silva edged Kuhnemann.

But Mendis came out with an aggressive mindset to rattle a tiring Australia attack amid the humidity. He levelled the scores with a slog sweep off Lyon that sailed into the crowd before lifting Sri Lanka into the lead on the next ball.

Sri Lanka were having arguably their best period with the bat in the series before Mathews’ rush of blood. It was a disappointment for Sri Lanka after their best day of the series ended on a sour note.

Sri Lanka’s attempts at a fightback started when they claimed seven wickets in the morning session to bowl out Australia for 414. Jayasuriya found venomous bite with the second new ball to pick up four of his five wickets in the session.

Smith and Carey’s magnificent partnership of 259 ended less than 20 minutes into the day’s play. In another batting record for Australia in this series, it was the highest fourth-wicket partnership by a visiting pair in Sri Lanka in Tests, bettering the 258-stand between Michael Hussey and Shaun Marsh in Pallekele in 2011.

Australia resumed in a powerful position at 330 for 3, but they knew there was work to do in their bid to only bat once in this match. Carey overtook his highest first-class score of 143 in style with a firm sweep that rocketed to the boundary and he also moved past Adam Gilchrist’s 144 as the highest score by an Australian wicketkeeper in Asia.

Jayasuriya was rewarded for his attacking line and lengths when Smith’s stout defence was finally breached on 131 by a brilliant delivery that pitched on off stump and gripped off the surface. Smith walked off immediately after feathering an edge and he received a rousing ovation, but his dismissal reinvigorated Sri Lanka and brought a different complexion to the game.

Josh Inglis made his way to the crease one spot lower in the batting-order after spending time off the field during Sri Lanka’s first innings because of a back spasm. After scoring a memorable debut ton in the first Test, Inglis’ stumps were rattled on his second delivery when he played back to a full delivery that skidded on.

Carey on 156 finally succumbed to the sweep, a stroke he had been almost faultless through the innings, when he played over the top of a Jayasuriya delivery and was clean bowled.

All eyes were on Connolly, who boasted a first-class average of 61.80 from four matches but three of those was at the pace-friendly WACA ground.

Connolly has proven to be a big-game performer in his fledgling career, backing his aggressive instincts, and he got off the mark in trademark cavalier fashion with a boundary albeit off a top-edge from a full-blooded sweep.

But Connolly didn’t add to his tally and was too ambitious when he skipped down to Peiris only to slice to backward point in an ugly dismissal. Webster provided a steadying 31 and he was to have a bigger impact later in the day’s play.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 257 & 211 for 8 (Angelo Mathews 76, Kusal  Mendis 48*, Matthew Kuhnemann 4-52, Nathan Lyon 3-80) lead Australia 414 (Alex Carey 156, Steven Smith 131, Prabath Jayasuriya 5-151) by 54 runs
[Cricinfo]
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