Warner fails after two lives in rain shortened second day. – By TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports editor) Australia limped to 106 for 2 off 47 overs when bad light followed by rain, brought a halt to the second day’s play which was subsequently abandoned.  David Warner playing his last Test,  survived two lives but was unable to capitalise on his good fortune to be snapped up at first slip for 34. A clearly disappointed Warner left the SCG to a standing ovation from the 30,000 plus crowd. His close buddy and opening partner for many years, Usman Khawaja figured in their 22nd 50 run partnership before Warner departed.   Khawaja who has had tremendous success at the SCG appeared set for a half century until Pakistan’s batting hero Aamir Jamal bowling with venom, forced him to edge one to the slips for a painstaking 47. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith ...

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Cummins five wicket hat-trick fails to give Australia a decisive edge as Pakistan tail wags. – By TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports editor)   Pat Cummins continued his heroics with the ball while destroying the myth about the SCG being a spin friendly track. While Nathan Lyon toiled fruitlessly on a bouncy track, the Pakistani batters were treated to another barrage of short stuff that had them ducking and weaving as Australia’s four-prong pace attack peppered them from the first over. The three Test series has been a bouncer war immaterial of the venue, and the batters on both sides will carry battle scars from it that will linger. Pakistan fought back gallantly after the early setbacks to post a competitive score and see to be on top at this stage.  Only Mohammed Rizwan, Aamir Jamal, Barbar Azam and Salman Aghar Ali batted with a degree of confidence while ...

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Australia Day Source : “Dæhæna” for January 2024. Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet and raising of the Union Flag by Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove in New South Wales. In present-day Australia, celebrations aim to reflect the diverse society and landscape of the nation and are marked by community and family events, reflections on Australian history, official community awards and citizenship ceremonies welcoming new members of the Australian community. It is an official public holiday in every state and territory. With community festivals, concerts and citizenship ceremonies, the day is celebrated in large and small communities and cities around the nation. Australia Day has become the biggest annual civic event in Australia. Courtesy: https://en.wikipedia.org/ ...

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Renowned medical practitioner turned music maker Dr.KANCHANAMALA RANASINGHE – By Sunil Thenabadu An evening of music, ‘Sanda Pahan Re’, a collection of new songs sung by Kanchanamala Ranasinghe will be performed at 7 pm on January 7, at Lionel Wendt Theatre, Colombo. A medical practitioner by profession, Dr.Kanchanamala Ranasinghe, currently domiciled in Australia, will perform at ‘Sanda Pahan Re’ with her 16 new songs and guest performances will be by musician/guitarist Nalaka Anjana Kumara. He is scheduled to sing three songs in addition to his instrumental presentation. ‘Sanda Pahan Re’ musical show will be presented by award winning lyricist, renowned writer Narada Wijayasuriya and choreography by Geeth Premachnadra and Swarnamali. All the original songs performed at ‘Sanda Pahan Re’ are penned by veteran lyricists Rathna Sri Wijesinghe, Lucian Bulathsinghala, Sunil R.Gamage, Yamuna Malini, Bandula Nanayakkarawasam, Narada Wijesuriya, Nayanasena Wanninayake and a number of budding new lyricists. Veteran and talented musicians ...

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Paceman hold the key to a titanic struggle at the MCG – Cummins, Hamza and Afridi hold the key. Lyon will have a say on uneven track. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) Pat Cummins led from the front grabbing five wickets, and then Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith staved off a brilliant Pakistan fightback to steer Australia to safety and possibly victory in the second Test at the MCG. Cummins absolute control with the ball saw Pakistan fall 54 runs short of Australia’s first innings total of 318 before Pakistan staged a dramatic comeback grabbing four for 16 sending shock waves through the home team. Mir Hamza and Shaheen Shah Afridi were lethal in Australia’s second stint removing Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, David Warner and Travis Head leaving Australia in total confusion. Hamza and Afridi grabbed three wickets each to give Pakistan a glimmer of hope ...

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Australia and Pakistan in ding dong battle in a MCG Test cliff- hanger. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports editor) Pakistan’s bowlers made the Test series interesting by rolling Australia for 318 as seven wickets fell for 133 throwing open the challenge to their batters to take the Boxing day contest to a real fight.  Pakistan’s pace quartet were sharp, mostly accurate and deserved greater success if they held onto their chances which would have made Australia’s tally much less than it was. Also erratic bowling at times cost them precious runs that could have made it interesting. The extra bounce gave away too many runs over the wicket-keeper to the boundary.  Australia for once, looked all at sea as they struggled to come to grips with a focused Pakistan attack that appears to have new belief in themselves.  Pakistan in reply looked set to take control as ...

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Hussey and Larsen to be inducted in the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame The Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Committee, together with Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA), has announced Michael Hussey and Lyn Larsen AM as inductees into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. Hussey and Larsen become the 62nd and 63rd inductees into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, established in 1996. Media Opportunity: Australian Cricket Hall of Fame inductee Michael Hussey and Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Chair Peter King will be available to media this morning at 8.15am AEDT at the Dennis Lillee Statue at the MCG. Lyn Larsen will be available for interviews upon request. VNR: Click here to download vision and photos of Australian Cricket Hall of Fame inductee Lyn Larsen. Michael Hussey Michael Hussey was a prolific batter for Australia and Western Australia and as renowned for his incredible ability ...

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OBITUARY – PRASANNA NIMAL WIKRAMANAYAKE. KC (11 August 1933 – 20 December 2023) – By Hugh Karunanayake Nimal Wikramanayake, KC, eminent lawyer and the only Asian born Kings Counsel in Australia, passed away on 20 December at a private nursing home where he was recuperating following surgery. He celebrated his 90th birthday just a few months ago. Born in Colombo as the second son to EG(Guy) Wikramanayake, a leading counsel in Colombo in his day, Nimal schooled at S Thomas College, Mount Lavinia. On leaving school, unlike his elder brother Ranji a well known endocrinologist  in Sydney, Nimal chose to follow in the footsteps of his forefathers. His paternal grandfather Edward Beauchamp was a lawyer himself, but it was Edward Beuchamp’s two sons Eric Bird, and Emil Guy, who created legal history by being granted silk, the only instance in Sri Lanka of two brothers being appointed Kings Counsel. Nimal’s ...

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BAMBALAPITIYA FLATS IN THE SWINGING SIXTIES ‘N’ SEVENTIES – By Asiff Hussein Source : Ceylon Then / Sri Lanka Now Bambalapitiya Flats was the place to be back then, as any good ole’ Bamba boy or girl will tell you. Built in the 1950s, the 16 blocks of buildings between Galle Road and the Indian Ocean comprised of two to four storeys built in such a way that the balconies gave a splendid view of the sea to the west. The blocks back then were colour coded for easy identification, with gelati colours like yellow, orange, pink, sky blue, lime green, and sandstone brown giving life to the scheme, especially in the evening when the golden orange orb of the sun set in the sea and bathed the flats with a beautiful sundown glow. The flats were meant to nurture community life with all sharing a common space that included a ...

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