Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 2 wickets in super four match yesterday (14) to enter the final of Asia Cup.
This is the 11th occasion that Sri Lanka qualified for the final.
Accordingly, the Sri Lankan team will meet the Indian team at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday (17) for the Asia Cup.
Mohammad Rizwan (86 not out) and Iftikhar Ahmed (47) put up a 108-run stand to steer Pakistan to a commanding 252 for 7 after rain reduced the match to 42-overs a side contest.
However, Kusal Mendis (91) led a valiant batting display alongside Charith Asalanka (49 not out) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (48) as Sri Lanka overhauled the target in 42 overs.
After losing Fakhar Zaman early, Pakistan’s batsmen have steadied Pakistan’s innings and is turning out to be a worry for Sri Lanka. But it was once again the youngster Dunith Wellalage got the prized wicket of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam. Maiden ODI fifty for Abdullah Shafique making full use of the opportunity he got .
Mohammad Nawaz (12) was dismissed by Maheesh Theekshana on the last ball before the break. Mohammad Rizwan scored 22.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first in a rain-curtailed match.
Sri Lanka made an early inroads as Fakhar Zaman was bowled out cheaply, Babar and Shafique building the Pakistan’s innings.
Due to intermittent rains, the match was limited to 42 overs for both sides according to the The Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method.
The Pakistan team scored 252 runs for 7 wickets at the end of 42 overs.
Mohammad Rizwan strengthened Pakistan’s scoreboard with 86 runs.
His innings included 2 sixes and 6 fours.
Abdullah Shafique scored 52 runs in 69 balls with 2 sixes and 3 fours for Pakistan.
Matheesha Pathirana managed to take 3 wickets for 65 runs.
A gazette extraordinary has been issued containing the names of Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chairpersons, and Vice-Chairpersons of several local government institutions.
The names have been gazetted based on recommendations sent to the National Election by political parties and independents groups that secured a majority in local government bodies at the recently concluded Local Government (LG) election.
Accordingly, the Election Commission has taken steps to publish the names from among the political parties and independent groups that secured a majority at the Local Government election held recently.
The names of the elected and nominated members for the respective local authorities, following the Local Government election were also published in the government gazette based on the respective administrative districts.
As per the gazette notification issued by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government on February 17, 2025, the term of office of local government bodies is scheduled to commence on June 2, 2025
Prevailing showery condition in the southwestern part of the island is expected to reduced gradually from today (01st)
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.
Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando, sentenced this week to jail for 20 and 25 years, respectively, have been assigned duties in the printing section at the Welikada prison, sources said.
Both of them are being held together away from the main section of the prison’s ‘chapel’ section, where prisoners serving life sentences and those convicted of murder and rape are held. The prison’s printing section prints its own documentation.
Prison sources said that in placing them in relevant wards to serve their jail term, the authorities had taken into consideration the security of the two convicts, as they might have had political enemies.
Mr Aluthgamage was handed a 20-year term of rigorous imprisonment, while Mr Fernando was given a 25-year term of rigorous imprisonment by a High Court trial-at-bar after being found guilty of causing a Rs 53 million loss to the state.
They were accused of importing carrom boards and checkers boards through Sathosa during the 2015 presidential elections and distributing them to clubs.
Their lawyers said yesterday they were awaiting the certified copy of the judgement to prepare the appeal papers. The appeal will be considered by the Supreme Court.
(sundaytimes.lk) (This story, originally published by sundaytimes.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)