Category Archives: close finsihes

February 17, 2019 · 2:47 am

A Sporting Appraisal from Faf du Plessis

Liam Brickhill, in ESPNCricinfo, ….http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26010989/test-cricket-be

His team ended up on the losing side in one of the most dramatic finishes in recent memory, but after South Africa’s one-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in the first Test at Kingsmead, captain Faf du Plessis insisted: “This is what Test cricket should be.”

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 13: Faf du Plessis of South Africa during day 1 of the 1st Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Kingsmead Stadium on February 13, 2019 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

ALSO READ: Five great knocks in one-wicket wins

“It should show people, whether it’s three or four or five days, that it is still the number one format if you see games of cricket like this,” du Plessis said. “It’s incredible the amount of times the game goes to the opposition and then comes to you and goes back. It’s always that to and fro. It’s great to be part of an amazing Test match.”

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Filed under close finsihes, cricket and life, cricketing records, Sri Lanka Cricket, unusual statistics

February 16, 2019 · 3:51 pm

Topsy-Turvy: Sri Lanka’s Insane Triumph in Durban

Liam Brickhill, in ESPNcrcinfo, 16 February 2019, where the title is “Kusal Perera’s epic 153* leads Sri Lanka to insane victory”

A see-sawing Test match reached an incredible finale on the fourth afternoon at Kingsmead as Kusal Perera and Vishwa Fernando put on a record-breaking 10th wicket stand to see their team home in an atmosphere of almost unbearable tension.

Sri Lanka’s last pair came together with 78 still needed and victory virtually assured for South Africa, but as Vishwa clung limpet-like to the crease Kusal slugged, slapped and swiped his way to the target. Along the way, both men reached their highest Test scores – Kusal finishing on 153, while Vishwa’s more modest – but no less vital in the final analysis – contribution was 6 not out.

Kusal Perera showed guts in tough conditions Getty Images

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Filed under close finsihes, cricket and life, cricketing records, memorable moments, performance, Sri Lanka Cricket

January 13, 2019 · 1:48 am

Thrilling Last Over Victory snatched by SL Under 19 Team

 Karuppiah Ramakrishnan in Sunday Observer, 13 January 2019

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2019/01/13/sports/sri-lanka-u-19-snatch-victory

A brilliant all-round show helped Sri Lanka Under-19 thrash Australia Under-19 by three wickets in their youth Test match at the SSC ground yesterday. The Sri Lankans reached the required target of 112 runs in the last over of the day with just two balls to spare. Rohan Sanjaya and Sandun Mendis played major roles in the second innings to wreck the Australian line up by taking four wickets each. The visitors were bowled out for 151 runs in the second innings with Jarrod Freeman making 52.

Australia under-19 batsman Ian Carlisle is bowled by Sandun Mendis (not in picture) Pictures by Saman Mendis

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Filed under Australian cricket, close finsihes, performance, spinning art, Sri Lanka Cricket, Under 19 cricket

November 23, 2018 · 2:49 pm

New Zealand snatch Victory from the Jaws of Defeat

Michael Roberts

I was fortunate enough to turn on the live TV channel during the fourth innings when it commenced and then again–after an interruption –when three Pakistani wickets were down. I have enough cricket to know that implosions are possible, but would not have dared to place a bet on such a process. Not uncommonly in cricket, such transformations occur when a great catch is taken or a rn-out from batsmen error or super fiielding efforts take place.

Sure enough this moment came when Asad Shaafiq and Babar Azam messed up theri communication and Asad ended up at Babar the batsman’s end. It was terrible running –prtly a poor initial gesture from Babar but far too precipitate a reaction from Azad. Since the ball was turned to short fine-leg it ws Asaad’s call so perhaps the blame lies mostly with him.

 Neil Wagner roars after taking a wicket AFP Continue reading →

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Filed under close finsihes, cricket and life, memorable moments, New Zealand cricket, patriotic excess, performance

August 9, 2018 · 4:58 am

Magic! Sri Lanka’s ODI Triumph: Three Explanations

ONE = Andrew Fidel Fernando in ESPNcricinfo, 9 August 2018 =“Test-match line and length worked for us – Thisara”

With six overs left in the rain-hit fourth ODI, the ball was wet, and South Africa were ahead of the game, with 43 runs to get, and five wickets in hand. So what did Sri Lanka do? They bowled as if they were playing a Test.

Lakmal takes flight– AFP/Getty

It sounds like an odd move, but in the situation, it turned out to be an inspired one. South Africa had David Miller – one of the cleanest strikers in the world – at the crease, and another batsman to come. Yet they could muster no more than 39 from those 36 deliveries, as Sri Lanka claimed four wickets and squeezed the visitors out in Pallekele. Continue reading →

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Filed under Andrew Fidel Fernando, Angelo Mathews, close finsihes, cricket and life, Firdose Moonda, Rex Clementine, Sri Lanka Cricket

August 5, 2018 · 5:35 am

Bangladesh down Windies in Last Over Thriller

Mohamed Isam in ESPNcricinfo, 5 August 2018

Another Bangladesh comeback, another major contribution from their seniors. Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal powered the visitors to a 12-run win against West Indies to bring them back level in the T20I series. Towards the end of the West Indies chase, Mustafizur Rahman and Nazmul Islam took three wickets each, but the win was set up by Tamim, who top-scored with a quickfire 44-ball 74, while Shakib complemented his half-century with figures of 2 for 19 from four overs.

Bangladesh 171 for 5 (Tamim 74, Shakib 60, Nurse 2-25, Paul 2-39) beat West Indies 159 for 9 (Powell 43, Fletcher 43, Nazmul 3-28) by 12 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

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Filed under Bangladesh cricket, close finsihes, West Indian Cricket

July 26, 2018 · 2:25 pm

Mushfiqur Rahim’s Unique Last-Over Blues

Mohamed Isam, in ESPNcricinfo, July 27 July 2018, where the title reads “

Georgetown. Dehradun. Bengaluru. Harare. These four cities, connected by a line more than 18,000km long, have one thing in common: tense chases in which Mushfiqur Rahim has been caught on the leg-side boundary in the last over.

It has now happened five times in the last seven years, and Bangladesh have lost on each occasion, heartbreakingly, from positions of strength. Georgetown was the latest entrant on this list. This time, Mushfiqur was out hitting a Jason Holder full-toss down deep midwicket’s throat, leaving the side with eight needed off the last five balls. He had batted brilliantly up to that point to score 68 off 66 balls.

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Filed under Bangladesh cricket, close finsihes, cricket and life, Hathurusingha, performance, unusual statistics, West Indian Cricket

July 17, 2018 · 2:11 pm

Bangladesh A hold nerve to defeat Sri Lanka A in close finish

ESPNcricinfo Report

Pace bowlers Khaled Ahmed and Shoriful Islam managed to get Bangladesh A over the line with a two-run win against Sri Lanka A in Sylhet. Khaled took four wickets, including that of Shehan Madushanka off the last ball, with the visitors needing three runs to win. Madushanka had already struck three sixes in his 12-ball 21, which nearly took Sri Lanka to victory at the death, but they were eventually bowled out for 278 after Bangladesh had put up 280 for 7.

Dasun Shanaka sweeps towards the leg side Associated Press

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June 27, 2018 · 5:38 am

Perera Maawatha steers Sri Lanka to Victory …. consolidating Bowling Breakthroughs

Andrew Fidel Fernando, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo, 25 June 2018, where the title reads “Kusal, Dilruwan steer Sri Lanka in nervous chase to level series,” …. with highlights here being the Editor’s imposition

The Pereras – Kusal and Dilruwan – put on a luck-filled but plucky 63-run partnership to haul Sri Lanka to victory on the fourth afternoon of the third Test. There were heart-stopping moments for Sri Lanka in this session, particularly when their best batsman Kusal Mendis was hit in front of the stumps before the team could get off the mark on the day.

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Filed under Andrew Fidel Fernando, close finsihes, cricket and life, cricketing icons, cricketing records, performance, player selections, Sri Lanka Cricket, West Indian Cricket

June 11, 2018 · 4:47 pm

That Ground-Breaking Scotland-England Match: Implications

ONE: The Statistical Story

371 – Scotland’s total, the highest by any Associate team in ODIs.The previous highest was Kenya’s 347 for 3 against Bangladesh in 1997. Scotland’s previous best was 341, against Canada in 2014. In matches between an Associate and a Full Member team, the next highest is Ireland’s 331 for 8 against Zimbabwe in the 2015 World Cup. (Afghanistan made 333 for 3 against Zimbabwe in Sharjah, but that was after they gained official Test status.)

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