Asalanka to lead Sri Lanka in Australia ODI series

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka named a 16-member squad on Monday, led by Charith Asalanka for the two-match ODI series against the touring Australian team.

The first match will be on Wednesday and the second on Friday. Both matches are day games and will be played in Colombo at the Premadasa stadium.

Australia arrived in Sri Lanka last month and played two Tests and won both comprehensively.

Australia celebrated a crushing victory in the first Test, with the innings and 242-run humiliation Sri Lanka’s worst defeat in Test history.

New Zealand beat South Africa, qualify for tri-nation finals

Australia won the second Test against Sri Lanka by nine wickets in Galle on Sunday to sweep the series 2-0.

Sri Lanka squad: Charith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nishan Madushka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Mohamed Shiraz and Eshan Malinga.

On the other hand, New Zealand and South Africa have arrived in Pakistan, taking part in the tri-nation series, with the former continued their dominance in the series on Monday, defeating South Africa to win their second straight game, thus qualifying for the finals.

South Africa’s Innings

South Africa put together a great innings, spearheaded by debutant Matthew Breetzke, who became the fourth South African to score a century on debut, before setting the record for most runs scored by anyone on debut. Breetzke score 150 runs off 148 deliveries, hitting 11 fours and five sixes along the way.

Apart from Breetzke, Wiaan Mulder and Jason Smith were the highest contributers for the Proteas, scoring 64 runs and 41 runs respectively. It was the second ever half century for Mulder, and his highest score in his ODI career so far. Skipper Temba Bavuma was the only other South African to contribute a substantial amount, adding 20 runs to the total. The rest of the south African batting line-up scored a total of 11 runs.

New Zealand took a total of six wickets. Henry took two, dismissing the two debutants, Breetzke and Senuran Muthusamy. The former was dismissed in the 46th over, after he was caught out by Michael Bracewell at mid-off. Muthusamy fell in the 50th over, and was also caught out by Bracewell, this time at long-on.

Will O’Rourke also took two wickets, dismissing Bavuma in just the eighth over, after the Kiwi’s delivery skimmed the edge of the South African’s bat, before wicket-keeper Tom Latham took the catch. He then dismissed Mulder in the 49th over, who hit O’Rourke’s delivery into Daryl Mitchell’s hands at deep point.

Michael Bracewell took a single wicket, bowling Kyle Verreynne in the 27th over, after the South African tried a reverse sweep, but missed the ball completely. Smith was the only other dismissal, and he was sent off in the 25th via run out.

South Africa put up a score of 304, losing six wickets in the process.

New Zealand’s Innings

Despite the incredible effort of Breetzke and the great knock from Mulder, New Zealand were easily able to make the total, thanks to a fantastic partnership from Devon Conway and Kane Williamson.

Together the two made 187 runs off 155 deliveries. Their reign of terror came to an end in the 36th over, when Conway met an unfortunate end. Just three runs off making the sixth century of his ODI career, he was caught out by Senuran Mathusamy on a delivery from Junior Dala.

Muthusamy made the game interesting in the 39th over, taking two wickets on successive deliveries. He first dismissed Daryl Mitchell, who was caught out by Mulder. Mitchell only managed to make 10 runs off the 10 deliveries he faced, but Latham did even worse, as he was dismissed for a golden duck. It was an lbw that wasn’t given by the umpire, but South Africa appealed and the ball tracked confirmed that the off stump was saved by the Kiwi’s pads.

However, despite the scare from Muthusamy, New Zealand were able to win relatively comfortably. It was all thanks to Kane Williamson, who held steady and brought the game home. He scored 133 runs off 113 deliveries, hitting 13 fours and two sixes in the process. He ended the game in style, smashing the ball down the track for one final four in the penultimate over.

New Zealand scored 308 runs, winning by six wickets, with eight balls remaining. Williamson led the charge, supported by 97 runs from Conway, and 28 from Glenn Phillips.

As for South Africa’s bowlers, apart from Dala and Muthusamy, debutant Eathan Bosch had one dismissal as well. It was the first of the innings and came in the 10th over after Will Young hit the 26 year old’s delivery to short fine leg, where Mihlali Mpongwana took the catch.

With their second victory of the tri-nation series, New Zealand has now confirmed their place in the finals. Their opponent will be the winner of Wednesday’s contest between Pakistan and South Africa. The final will be held on Friday, February 14.