Cricket

Sri Lanka's women's cricket team emerged victorious in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024, defeating Scotland by a commanding 68 runs in the summit clash. The triumph secured their spot in the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh.Batting first, Sri Lanka posted a formidable total of 169/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu led the charge with a scintillating century, smashing 102 runs off just 63 deliveries. Her innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, peppered with boundaries and sixes.Scotland's bowlers struggled to contain Athapaththu's onslaught, with only Abtaha Maqsood managing to pick up a wicket. However, fortune smiled upon Athapaththu in the 17th over when she survived a close call. An inside edge saw the ball touch the stumps, but the bails remained intact, much to the dismay of Scotland's wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce.Chasing a challenging target of 170, Scotland's openers Saskia Horley and Megan McColl started brightly, but their momentum was halted by the early dismissals of Horley and McColl. Skipper Bryce also fell cheaply, leaving Scotland in disarray at 23/4.Priyanaz Chatterji attempted to revive Scotland's chase with a brisk 30, but her efforts were in vain as Sri Lanka's bowlers maintained a tight grip on the game. Udeshika Prabodhani emerged as the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets, including the crucial scalp of Chatterji.In the end, Scotland were restricted to 101/7, falling well short of Sri Lanka's total. The victory not only secured Sri Lanka's place in the Women's T20 World Cup but also earned them a spot in Group A alongside Australia, New Zealand, India, and Pakistan.

Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu led her team to a resounding 68-run victory over Scotland in the final of the Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi, securing their place in Group A of the World Cup proper.Athapaththu's blistering 102 off 63 balls, studded with 13 fours and four sixes, propelled Sri Lanka to a formidable total of 169 for 5. She shared a crucial 106-run partnership with Nilakshika Silva (26*).Scotland's chase faltered early as they lost opener Saskia Horley to a run-out in the third over. Left-arm medium pacer Udeshika Prabodhani then struck twice in the fourth over, dismissing Sarah Bryce and Katherine Fraser to leave Scotland reeling at 13 for 3.Sri Lanka's spinners tightened the screws, with Priyanaz Chatterji (30) offering the only resistance. However, the Scottish batters struggled to keep up with the required run rate, eventually falling 68 runs short.Prabodhani finished with impressive figures of 3 for 13, while fellow spinner Inoka Ranaweera claimed 1 for 13.The victory marks a significant achievement for Sri Lanka, who will now face the likes of Australia, India, New Zealand, and Pakistan in Group A of the World Cup. Scotland, on the other hand, will be part of Group B alongside South Africa, England, West Indies, and Bangladesh.Both Sri Lanka and Scotland had already secured their spots in the T20 World Cup proper after defeating UAE and Ireland, respectively, in the semifinals.

Sri Lanka Women's cricket team secured a thrilling 15-run victory over United Arab Emirates in the semi-final of the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi. This triumph not only earned them a spot in the main event in Bangladesh later this year but also a place in Tuesday's final against Scotland.Batting first, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 149 for 6, thanks to a solid innings from Vishmi Gunaratne, who top-scored with 45 runs off 44 deliveries. Gunaratne shared a 52-run opening partnership with Chamari Athapaththu, who contributed 21 runs. After Athapaththu's dismissal, the middle order accelerated the scoring, adding 43 runs in the final three overs. Nilakshika Silva's quickfire 18 off 10 balls, including three boundaries, helped boost the total.In response, UAE's chase got off to a shaky start as Inoshi Fernando dismissed Theertha Satish for a duck. However, Esha Oza emerged as a beacon of hope for UAE, smashing 66 runs off 44 balls, including two fours and four sixes. Her aggressive batting kept UAE in contention for an upset.Khushi Sharma (22) and Kavisha Egodage (16) provided valuable support to Oza, but Sri Lanka's bowlers managed to break through the UAE resistance. Athapaththu dismissed Egodage, while Udeshika Prabodhani bowled Oza in the next over. The run-out of Heena Hotchandani triggered a collapse, with UAE losing three wickets for just seven runs in 12 balls.Athapaththu claimed another wicket, removing Samaira Dharnidharka for 5. Vaishnave Mahesh fought valiantly for UAE, scoring 13 not out off eight balls, but the asking rate proved too daunting. Sri Lanka's bowlers held their nerve, restricting UAE to 134 for 7, securing a hard-fought victory.

South Africa's summer of cricket in 2024-25 promises to be a thrilling affair, with the Proteas hosting Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and England for a total of 17 international fixtures. The schedule includes five Test matches, three T20Is, and nine ODIs, ensuring a packed calendar of high-octane cricket.The Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan will form part of the World Test Championship, with the matches taking place in Durban, Gqeberha, Centurion, and Cape Town. Notably, the Wanderers in Johannesburg will miss out on hosting a Test for the second consecutive summer, leaving insiders puzzled about the decision.The women's Test against England will be played in Bloemfontein, marking the first women's Test in South Africa in over two decades. Kingsmead and St George's Park will host the Sri Lanka series, while SuperSport Park and Newlands will stage the Tests against Pakistan.The Pakistan tour will also feature three T20Is and three ODIs, with the Boxing Day Test scheduled for SuperSport Park and the New Year's Test at Newlands. The men's team will then have a break before the start of the SA20 league in February.The women's team will face England in three T20Is, three ODIs, and a Test. The Black Day ODI will raise awareness about gender-based violence, while the Test will be a historic occasion for South African women's cricket.The exact dates for the fixtures are yet to be confirmed, but the schedule promises a summer of unforgettable cricket action for fans in South Africa.

South Africa's women's cricket team secured an unassailable 1-0 lead in their three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka after a dominant seven-wicket victory in Kimberley. Laura Wolvaardt's third century as captain, and sixth overall, propelled the Proteas to the highest successful chase in a women's ODI at the venue.Wolvaardt's 110* and Marizanne Kapp's 80* formed the backbone of South Africa's chase, as they shared a 143-run partnership for the fourth wicket. The Sri Lankan bowlers struggled to contain the duo on a pitch with low bounce, allowing the Proteas to reach their target with 14 balls to spare.Earlier, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 229 thanks to Chamari Athapaththu's 51. However, South Africa's bowlers, led by Ayabonga Khaka (3-28) and Nadine de Klerk (3-23), kept the visitors in check.The victory not only gives South Africa a series lead but also solidifies their position in second place in the ICC Women's Championship standings. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, remain outside the automatic qualification zone for the 2025 World Cup.Wolvaardt's century was a significant milestone, making her South Africa's leading run-scorer in ODI cricket. The Proteas captain has now amassed 2,753 runs in 94 matches, surpassing Lizelle Lee's previous record.The match was also marked by a lightning delay, with the players taken off the field for a brief period due to approaching thunderstorms. However, the chase resumed shortly after, and Wolvaardt guided South Africa to victory.

Sri Lanka's pace attack has dominated the first Test against Bangladesh, taking all 20 wickets in Sylhet. This marks the first time since 1986 that a Sri Lankan pace attack has achieved this feat. The victory has boosted Sri Lanka's confidence, but they face a different challenge in Chattogram, where the pitch is typically more favorable for batting and spinners.Bangladesh will be buoyed by the return of Shakib Al Hasan, who is their most experienced bowler on the Chattogram deck. Shakib has claimed 64 wickets in 19 Tests at this venue, the most by any bowler. Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz are also formidable spinners for Bangladesh.Sri Lanka's main spinner, Prabath Jayasuriya, has limited experience overseas, while Ramesh Mendis, who could be brought in as a second frontline spinner, has even less experience away from home.Despite their impressive victory in Sylhet, Sri Lanka have never lost a Test in Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh will be confident in Chattogram, especially with Shakib in their ranks.

The 2024 Women's Asia Cup, scheduled from July 19 to 28 in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, promises to be an exciting spectacle in the T20 format. The tournament has expanded to eight teams, including hosts Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UAE, Nepal, Thailand, and Malaysia.Unlike the previous edition, the teams will be divided into two groups. Group A comprises India, Pakistan, UAE, and Nepal, while Group B features Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Malaysia. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on July 26, followed by the title clash on July 28.The tournament will serve as a crucial warm-up for teams ahead of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September. India, the defending champions and most successful team with seven titles, will be eager to retain their crown.The Asia Cup will also showcase the growing talent pool in women's cricket in Asia. The inclusion of female umpires, as in the previous edition, is a testament to the ACC's commitment to promoting women in the sport.The tournament schedule is as follows:* July 19: Pakistan vs Nepal, India vs UAE* July 20: Malaysia vs Thailand, Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh* July 21: Nepal vs UAE, India vs Pakistan* July 22: Sri Lanka vs Malaysia, Bangladesh vs Thailand* July 23: Pakistan vs UAE, India vs Nepal* July 24: Bangladesh vs Malaysia, Sri Lanka vs Thailand* July 26: Semi-finals* July 28: FinalThe Asia Cup will provide a platform for players to showcase their skills and compete against the best in Asia. It will also be an opportunity for fans to witness the growth and development of women's cricket in the region.

Bangladesh's Khaled Ahmed's botched attempt to run out Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis at the non-striker's end has become a viral sensation on social media. The incident occurred on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test between the two teams in Sylhet on Sunday.In the 63rd over of Sri Lanka's innings, Ahmed attempted to catch Mendis off guard by attempting a run out at the non-striker's end. However, his throw missed the stumps by a whisker, leaving Mendis unscathed.The video of the incident has gone viral on social media, with many fans expressing amusement and disbelief at Ahmed's failed attempt.On Day 3, Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva became the third pair in Test history to score a century in both innings, as Sri Lanka set up a daunting 511-run target for Bangladesh.The visitors were all out for 418 in their second innings at Sylhet, with Mendis making 164 runs to go with his 102 in the first innings and De Silva, who also scored 102 runs in the first innings, adding 108.The Chappell brothers, Greg and Ian, of Australia achieved the feat against New Zealand in March 1974, before Misbah-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali emulated it against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014.The pair, who shared 202 runs in Sri Lanka's first innings total of 280 runs, put on 173 runs together this time -- on their way to becoming the third and fourth Sri Lankans to score centuries in both innings against Bangladesh.Mehidy Hasan Miraz broke their partnership, before finishing with 4-74 for Bangladesh.Resuming on 119-5, the visitors lost nightwatchman Vishwa Fernando (four) early to Khaled Ahmed, before de Silva and Mendis took control.De Silva brought his century into the game with a single off Mehidy, before he gave Bangladesh their first chance as Nahid Rana dropped him off Shoriful Islam on 101.Mehidy ensured the drop did not hurt the team more, soon ending de Silva's innings, with Zakir Hasan taking the catch at short midwicket.Mendis put away a full toss of Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto to bring his own hundred off 171 balls just before the tea, when Prabath Jayasuriya was batting with him for 13.Mehidy removed Prabath Jayasuriya, who made 25, and Lahiru Kumara off successive deliveries to give Bangladesh some relief.Mehidy could have grabbed his fifth wicket if Liton Das did not drop Mendis on 133.Mendis protected last man Kasun Rajitha to add 52 runs in the final wicket pair, piling misery on Bangladesh.Mendis hit Taijul Islam for three sixes in an over to reach his 150 and help the lead exceed 500 runs. Taijul dismissed Mendis finally to wrap-up Sri Lanka's innings.Sri Lanka have never lost a Test series to Bangladesh.The second and final match of the series will be played in Chittagong from March 30.

Sri Lanka's emphatic 328-run victory over Bangladesh in the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium has propelled them up the World Test Championship (WTC) rankings. This triumph marks their eighth away Test win over Bangladesh, maintaining their undefeated record in the format against the hosts.Prior to this match, Sri Lanka languished at the bottom of the WTC standings with zero points, while Bangladesh occupied the fourth spot with 12 points and a points percentage of 50. However, Sri Lanka's resounding victory has earned them 12 points in three games, boosting their points percentage to 33.33. This surge has lifted them above South Africa (25%) and England (17.50%), tying them with Bangladesh in sixth place.The first Test result has triggered a reshuffle in the WTC table. The West Indies have ascended to fifth place with the same points percentage as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh but a superior points tally (16). Pakistan, with a points percentage of 36.66, has moved up to fourth place with 22 points.On Day 4 of the match, Mominul Haque displayed remarkable resilience against Sri Lanka's formidable bowling attack. His steadfast batting kept the Sri Lankan bowlers at bay and helped Bangladesh navigate the first session. However, wickets continued to fall at the other end, limiting Bangladesh to a score of 182 and sealing a 328-run defeat in the first Test.Sri Lanka's victory has not only bolstered their WTC standing but also instilled confidence within the team. They will be eager to maintain their momentum in the second and final Test of the series, which commences on May 23rd at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.