AUSTRALIA BOUNCE BACK TO CRUSH SRI LANKA TO EAT HUMBLE PIE – By Sunil Thenabadu Source : info-rain Australia bounce back with first win Openers Kusal Janith Perera and Pathum Nissanka made 125 runs stand   Australia executed a superb all round performance which guided them to an easy five wickets win over Sri Lanka in their World Cup cricket fixture played at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Cricket Stadium at Lucknow yesterday. It was very unexpected batting performance by Sri Lanka team who made 125 for no loss at one stage but were reduced to 209 all out in 43.3 overs. Australia chase their 210 runs target in 35.2 overs with loss of only five wickets. After losing two early wickets for 24 runs opener Mitchell Marsh 52 in 51 balls with 9 fours, wicket-keeper Josh Inglis who scored 58 in 59 balls with 5 fours and a ...

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Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrema fireworks count for nothing as the tail let’s Pakistan cruise past. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports editor) Sri Lanka’s batting continues to flourish on the back of brilliant Kusal Mendis but they were unable to shake off a tenacious Pakistan who overhauled a competitive target to post a six wicket win.  Sri Lanka should have capitalised on a great start set up by Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrema but the lower order buckled once more reaching 344 for 9 wickets in their 50 overs. Pathum Nissanka was back in form while Kusal Perera failed again before Mendis and Samarawickrema took charge racing to centuries suggesting a winnable 400 run target. But the familiar sight of a limp tail resurfaced to see them fall well short of all expectations.  Pakistan were a dominant force allround, underlining why they were ranked number on in ...

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Sri Lanka stutter in warm up games but may still provide some fireworks.  – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports editor) Sri Lanka made an inauspicious start to the World Cup losing both warm-up games to Bangladesh and Afghanistan and the writing on the wall about their chances of success seems dismal to say the least.  Just recently they overcame both these teams in the Asia Cup before making the final against India.  But the preparation since has see both Asian neighbours step up their campaigns while Sri Lanka’s course appears at this stage to be heading backwards.  Both losses were convincing, by seven wickets to Bangladesh and six wickets to Afghanistan,  and throws up concerns about the composition of the team that has failed to deliver with and without Skipper Dasun Shanaka who seems to be the focus of attention rather than the team’s overall performance.  Apart from ...

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ICC World Cup squads announced Source:Dailynews The ten countries have finalised their squads for the ICC Cricket World Cup on Thursday (28). The matches will commence from October 5. India team led by Rohit Sharma will be looking to become the fourth consecutive host nation to win the tournament, a run which began when they lifted the trophy themselves in 2011. Defending champions England, welcome back Ben Stokes, who has come out of ODI retirement as his side look to retain the trophy, while Kane Williamson will be hoping to win his fitness battle having been named to lead 2019 runners-up New Zealand. Last edition’s runner-ups, New Zealand will meet England in the opening game at Ahmedabad on October 5 and the final will be played at the same venue on November 19. Each team will play nine group stage matches before the semi-finals and all teams are expected to ...

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Asia Cup At Khettarama: Disaster! Comedy! …. Hara-Kiri?-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Given the humid and rainy conditions, why the Sri Lankan management chose to bat on winning the toss is a major issue for deate after the collapse for 5 runs in  the face of some excllent seam and swing bowling from Siraj, Bumrah and Pandya. ...

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Asalanka and Mendis lead Sri Lanka charge to Asia Cup final after heart stopper against Pakistan. – By TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.(Elanka Sports Editor) Charith Asalanka provided heroics that will be long remembered as Sri Lanka scrambled into the Asia Cup final after a heart stopping last ball victory over Pakistan in Colombo.  The plucky allrounder set Sri Lankan hearts ablazing when he smashed a four and two in the last two balls when all seemed lost, and the country erupted in wild celebration as they beat fancied Pakistan and the odds pre tournament.  Asalanka was 49 not out after edging the last two balls past the wicket keeper for four and to midwicket for two to clinch a place for his country in the final.  Earlier, Pakistan’s batters negotiated the the Sri Lanka quicks with caution. They were in a perilous 130 for 5 in the 28th over. But ...

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Sadeera, Matheesha and Asalanka star in big win-by Rex Clementine at Pallekele Matheesha Pathirana finished with four wickets as Sri Lanka bowled out Bangladesh for 164 at Pallekele yesterday. Source:Island There were doubts about how Sri Lanka’s depleted bowling attack will go about things in the Asia Cup, but the backup bowlers came up with a splendid performance in their opening encounter yesterday at Pallekele helping Sri Lanka to a seven wicket win over Bangladesh. Hometown boy Matheesha Pathirana was sensational finishing with four wickets providing early breakthroughs and then coming back for a last spell to destroy the tail as Bangladesh were bowled out for 164 runs with five overs to spare. Sadeera Samarawickrama then smashed a half-century to help Sri Lanka to a comfortable win with 11 overs to spare. He was joined by Charith Asalanka, who posted an unbeaten 62. ...

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Pumped up Sri Lanka burst Dutch bubble. Shanaka’s men annihilate Netherlands in emphatic fashion in qualifying final. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE Dasun Shanaka and Sri Lanka basked in the glory of a complete whitewash of the qualifiers with a comprehensive thrashing of the Netherlands in the final at Harare.  The Sri Lankans showed remarkable fight when their backs were against the wall as the went on to remain unbeaten and throwing out a warning that they are up for the fight against the best.   Maheesh Theeksheena and Dilshan Madushanka ensured that Sri Lanka’s modest total of 233 all out in 47.5 overs was defendable, when they routed the Dutch for 105 in only 23.3 overs making the decider a cakewalk.  Theeksheena followed his four wicket haul against Zimbabwe with another similar effort and Madushanka grabbed another three and with Wanindu Hasarsnga De Silva two more to his remarkable ...

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Sri Lanka win by 8 wickets against the West Indies at the cricket World Cup Qualifier games Source : ICC Cricket Wold Cup Website  West Indies: 243 Sri Lanka: 244/2 Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets (with 34 balls remaining) Pathum Nissanka (104), Dimuth Karunaratne (83), Maheesh Theekshana (4 for 34) ...

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Sri Lanka qualify for ICC Cricket World Cup-by Shehan Daniel Source:Dailymirror Sri Lanka qualified for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, after beating Zimbabwe by nine wickets in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and securing a place in the final of the ongoing qualifying tournament. Chasing a target of 166, Sri Lanka were anchored by Pathum Nissanka, who scored 101 off 102,  his second ODI century.  That Sri Lanka had a relatively subpar score to chase was thanks to spinner Maheesh Theekshana and left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka, who shared seven wickets between them.  ...

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