Latest news with #Lankans
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
South Africa stepped up when it mattered in turbulent path to World Test Championship final
'It's an opportunity to do something special,' says stalwart batter Aiden Markram on the Proteas' bid for the mace. South Africa's journey to the World Test Championship (WTC) final has been a rollercoaster that they hope ends with the mace in their hands when they take on Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground this week. It's been a two-year journey that began terribly, with South Africa losing three of their first four matches. Two were against New Zealand when the Proteas sent a weakened side to the Land of the Long White Cloud at the start of 2024, because, in a calendar clash, their best players were contractually obliged to play in the SA20. The other loss was against India at Newlands Cricket Ground on the New Year's Test in 2024, when the Proteas lost by seven wickets in one of the strangest matches in cricket history. The match lasted only 107 overs – less than two days – the shortest completed Test match. South Africa were skittled for 55 and 176 in their two innings. Opener Aiden Markram scored 106 in the second innings. The second-highest score was 15 by Kyle Verreynne, with, in the entire match, only four other SA batters reaching double figures. It was an unbelievable knock, but a match Markram surprisingly barely recalls. His memory of the matches South Africa won in the WTC cycle is a lot better, and those he speaks of with pride. 'The Sri Lanka game at Kingsmead was quite special,' Markram told Daily Maverick at Lord's. '[We were] cruising, we lost a few poles and emotions were all over the place, then Marco [Jansen] and KG [Rabada] got us over the line. That was a really cool game.' That match was at the start of the previous home Test summer that ended with the Proteas' sealing a spot in the WTC final. The Proteas' tails were between their legs after being bundled out for 191, before Jansen's seven wickets in 6.5 overs, which saw the Lankans dismissed for 42. South Africa went on to win by 233 runs. Leadership While most in the team have fond memories of their two-wicket win over Pakistan at Centurion on the Boxing Day Test last year, when Rabada and Jansen's 51-run ninth-wicket partnership secured their place in the WTC final, Markram takes pride in what happened after. 'The last one against Pakistan, after we had qualified, to test the character of the team if they're still going to be up for it, if they're still down to win,' he said. 'Pakistan pushed us all the way at Newlands. We bowled plenty of overs where we were in the dirt nicely there and the guys found a way to win, by 10 wickets. Another box ticked by South Africa was winning a series in the subcontinent for the first time in 10 years after crushing Bangladesh by seven wickets and then an innings and 273 runs in their two-match series last year, before they played Sri Lanka. 'The Bangladesh tour was huge,' Markram said. 'Winning in the subcontinent for the first time in however many years. There's been really good things that have happened along the way for us to get here now.' Markram was the captain on that Bangladesh tour, after regular skipper Temba Bavuma re-injured his elbow. The powerful opening batter has taken his role as a senior member of the side and part of the leadership group seriously as he tries to help the youngsters stepping in. 'It is very individual,' Markram said. 'I'm there to be a sounding board for Temba, who's leading the way and to bounce ideas off each other on the park from a tactical point of view. 'But off the field, it's really important for me to be there for the younger guys, for the guys coming through, the guys that maybe haven't experienced things and to let them know it's never [quite] as difficult as it seems. Being there for them in that regard and just making sure mentally they're in a really good space.' On coach's support While the past two years have been a whirlwind for the national side, it's been particularly up and down for Markram. The 30-year-old is South Africa's third-highest run scorer in the current WTC cycle with 572 (one hundred and three fifties). Only Bavuma and David Bedingham have scored more. But his Test career was at a crossroads just before the cycle got under way. South Africa's final series before Shukri Conrad took over as head coach was against Australia at the back end of 2022. Markram was dropped from the Test squad that toured Down Under. When Conrad took the helm three months later, Markram was called straight back into the side, with the coach declaring him the best opening batter in the country, having worked with him since he was 19 in the SA Academy side. 'Any player will tell you that when a coach backs you like that, it helps you go out there and puff your chest out and believe in yourself and try to perform,' Markram said. 'I've come a long way with Shuks, from basically just out of school and here we are 10 years later, and it sort of feels like a full circle moment. 'He's not just backed me like that, he's backed each and every individual in the group, and I do think that brings the best out of all the players.' Now, 26 months since his recall and 28 since Conrad's appointment, South Africa are one match away from their first International Cricket Council trophy since 1998. 'You would be silly to say it's just another game,' Markram said. 'It's pretty much as big as it gets at one of the coolest venues against one of our oldest rivals. It definitely doesn't get bigger than that; that's what excites us. 'It's an opportunity to do something special at an incredible venue against a great opposition, so that's the exciting part of it.' DM
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
India take on Nepal with eye on top spot in SAFF U19 meet
The youngsters of the India and Nepal U19 teams will take field at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh, on Tuesday with focus on grabbing the top spot in Group B of SAFF U19 Championship .Having already secured a spot in the semifinal — just like their rivals on the day — Bibiano Fernandes's boys will be eager to show their superiority in the final group-stage Fernandes — back on national duty — will not let his wards take Nepal lightly despite their 8-0 thrashing of Sri Lanka in the first group game of the tournament. He knows that their Tuesday's opponents also have the capacity to produce an upset on the day, having ousted the Lankans with a 5-0 victory over them on Sunday."Both teams won their first games by big margins. But we don't read too much into the scorelines. Every match is different, and Nepal have shown that they are a strong and competitive side. They were solid against Sri Lanka and created several chances," Fernandes said at the pre-match press conference in Yupia on Monday."We've analysed their game and know they are well organised. For us, it's about sticking to our strengths, staying focused and giving our best on the day. Like I always say, at this level, every team is tough, and it comes down to who wants it more."The 48-year-old was, however, satisfied with India's performance in the opening match, especially with Danny Meitei's hat-trick, the dominance on the ball and the number of chances created by the Blue Colts. It was India's joint-highest margin of victory in a SAFF men's age-group tournament. The U20s had beaten Nepal (2022) and the U17s had defeated Maldives (2023) by the same scoreline of the goal difference, the India U19 team only require a draw to finish as toppers. They will also have the advantage in terms of rest, getting 48 hours more than Nepal to recover and prepare for the game.
News18
11-05-2025
- Climate
- News18
India Women vs Sri Lanka Women Live Score, Final: IND Look To Avenge Asia Cup Loss
India Women vs Sri Lanka Women Live Score, Final (India Women's National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka Women's National Cricket Team): The Indian women's team will bank on its smooth-functioning batting line-up to ward off a tricky Sri Lanka and win the ODI tri-series final in Colombo on Sunday, May 11. India's lone loss in this event came against the Lankans, but Harmanpreet Kaur's team has been the most dominant side, finishing at the top of the points table with three victories from four games. Sri Lanka finished second with two victories and as many defeats, while South Africa were at the bottom of the pile with just one victory in four matches. India vs Sri Lanka Women's Match: Colombo Weather Report The temperature is expected to be at 33 degrees on Sunday in Colombo, with a 40% chance of rain. There is a 24% chance of a thunderstorm as well and hence, we can have a stop-start game today. India vs Sri Lanka Women's Match: R Premadasa Stadium Pitch Report The pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is expected to offer a balanced contest between bat and ball. The pacers might not get a lot of seam movement with the new ball. The last match at this venue saw South Africa post a whopping 315 batting first and left-arm spinner Chloe Tryon's five-wicket haul bowled Sri Lanka out for 239. A lot of eyes will be on Shree Charani today. Matches Played: 33 India won: 30 Sri Lanka won: 3
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
India women's team looks to dispel tricky Sri Lanka in the tri-series final
Colombo, Indian women's team will bank on its smooth-functioning batting line-up to ward off a tricky Sri Lanka and win the ODI tri-series final here on Sunday. India's lone defeat in this event came against the Lankans but Harmanpreet Kaur's side has been the most dominant team, finishing at the top of the points table with three wins from four matches. Sri Lanka finished second with two wins and as many losses while South Africa were at the bottom of the pile with only one win in four games. Winning this contest will also be paramount for both India and Sri Lanka, as it would help them in the buildup to the ODI World Cup later this year. The primary reason behind India's fine run in the tournament is their excellent batting effort. With 201 runs at an average of 67, including a century against South Africa, Jemimah Rodrigues has been India's best batter here. Others like Pratika Rawal , Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma have proved to be vital cogs with timely contributions. Deepti's 93 consolidated India's position against South Africa in a league match but it was also symbolic of the stability in their lower-order. Skipper Harmanpreet hasn't had any big score to her credit so far and often failed to convert the starts into big scores. However, her 41 not out, 30 and 28 in the last three matches indicate a big knock could be around the corner. Sneh Rana has been the best bowler in the competition taking 11 wickets which included a five-wicket haul against South Africa. On their part, Sri Lanka will hope star batter Harshitha Samarawickrama continues to fire against India in key clashes as her 53 played a pivotal role in the hosts' win in a league match. The 26-year-old Samarawickrama will also draw confidence from her match-winning 69 not out against India in the T20 Asia Cup final last year, which had powered the Islanders to an eight-wicket victory. With two fifties and 177 runs in four matches, the left-handed Samarawickrama has been Sri Lanka's best batter in this series. The home captain and key all-rounder Chamari Athapaththu, with 88 runs and five wickets in four matches, hasn't been at her best so far and her contributions in the summit clash could also influence its outcome. Dewmi Vihanga has had the strongest of impacts in the competition among Lankan bowlers but the Indian batters have negated her well earlier in the tournament. Teams : India: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur , Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh , Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Arundhati Reddy, Sneh Rana, Nallapureddy Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Amanjot Kaur, Tejal Hasabnis, Shuchi Upadhyay. Sri Lanka: Vishmi Gunaratne, Hansima Karunaratne, Hasini Perera, Piumi Wathsala, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Anushka Sanjeewani , Nilakshika Silva, Chamari Athapaththu , Kavisha Dilhari, Manudi Nanayakkara, Rashmika Sewwandi, Dewmi Vihanga, Inoshi Priyadarshini, Achini Kalasuriya, Sugandika Kumari, Malki Madara, Inoka Ranaweera. Match starts at 10:00 am IST.
News18
06-05-2025
- Sport
- News18
India Women Vs South Africa Women 5th ODI Live Streaming: When And Where To Watch IND-W vs SA-W Coverage On TV And Online
Last Updated: IND-W vs SA-W 5th ODI Cricket Live Streaming Details: Fans can watch India Women vs South Africa Women ODI live on FanCode. Following a narrow defeat to Sri Lanka on Sunday, the Indian Women's Cricket team is seeking redemption in the ongoing tri-nation series, underway in Colombo The Women in Blue started their campaign on a resounding note, beating the Lankans by nine wickets in a rain-affected fixture that was reduced to 39 overs per innings. Batting first, the hosts were bundled out for 147 runs. The Indian top order appeared in sublime form as opener Pratika Rawal scored a fifty while Smriti Mandhana and Harleen Deol also performed brilliantly, scoring 43 and 48 runs. India were up against South Africa in the second game and won by 15 runs, thanks to an economical spell by Sneh Rana. The right-arm spinner bowled 10 overs and picked as many as five wickets for 43 runs as India successfully defended 276. They had momentum on their side and looked like the team to beat, until Sri Lanka managed to outshine them with a margin of three wickets on the last ball. Meanwhile, South Africa has yet to win a game in the tri-series. South Africa lost the campaign opener against India and failed to overcome Sri Lanka in a high-scoring clash. They must win the remaining two matches to seal their berth in the final. The 5th ODI between India Women and South Africa Women will be played on Wednesday, May 7, at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The match will start at 10:00 AM IST. The toss for India Women vs South Africa Women 5th ODI will take place at 9:30 AM IST. South Africa Women Squad: Laura Wolvaardt(c), Tazmin Brits, Lara Goodall, Karabo Meso(w), Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Annerie Dercksen, Nadine de Klerk, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka, Sinalo Jafta, Nondumiso Shangase, Seshnie Naidu, Miane Smit First Published:
