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Sri Lanka slotted in Group ‘B’ alongside Ireland, Scotland, Oman, the UAE

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World Cup qualifiers

1996 champions Sri Lanka have been slotted in group ‘B’ for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier that will take place in Zimbabwe between 18 June and 9 July.

The ICC revealed the fixtures for the crucial three-week tournament on Tuesday, with Sri Lanka to face daunting opponents in Group B, with the island nation scheduled to play against Ireland, Scotland, Oman and the UAE.

Sri Lanka finished in 10th place on the Super League standings – one spot behind the West Indies – and will be looking for a top-two finish in Zimbabwe to ensure they maintain their excellent record of having participated in each edition of the World Cup.

Dasun Shanaka’s charges will need to be at their best if they are to book a spot at this year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, with only the top-two sides from the 10-team tournament earning a ticket to the 50-over showcase in India at the end of the year.

On the other hand, the West Indies are drawn in Group A alongside tournament hosts Zimbabwe, European side the Netherlands, emerging Asian nation Nepal and the ever-improving USA.

The West Indies too have been to all 12 editions of the World Cup, while Zimbabwe are the next most successful side at the qualifier having participated in nine tournaments to date.

Nepal, USA and Oman have never made it through to the World Cup and will be looking to book their first appearance via a top-two finish at the qualifier.

Each team will play four matches during the group stage of the qualifier, with the top three sides from each group then progressing through to the Super Six stage.

All points won in the groups will be carried over to the Super Six stage apart from those gained against the bottom two from each group.

Teams will then play a further three matches against sides from the opposing group during the Super Six stage, with the top two teams at the completion of the Super Six stage earning a place in the World Cup and the qualifier final in Harare on 9 July.

Qualifier Fixtures

Sunday, 18 June
Zimbabwe v Nepal, Harare Sports Club
West Indies v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club

Monday, 19 June
Sri Lanka v UAE, Queen’s Sports Club
Ireland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Tuesday, 20 June
Zimbabwe v Netherlands, Harare Sports Club
Nepal v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club

Wednesday, 21 June
Ireland v Scotland, Queen’s Sports Club
Oman v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Thursday, 22 June
West Indies v Nepal, Harare Sports Club
Netherlands v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club

Friday, 23 June
Sri Lanka v Oman, Queen’s Sports Club
Scotland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Saturday, 24 June
Zimbabwe v West Indies, Harare Sports Club
Netherlands v Nepal, Takashinga Cricket Club

Sunday, 25 June
Sri Lanka v Ireland, Queen’s Sports Club
Scotland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Monday, 26 June
Zimbabwe v USA, Harare Sports Club
West Indies v Netherlands, Takashinga Cricket Club

Tuesday, 27 June
Sri Lanka v Scotland, Queen’s Sports Club
Ireland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club

Thursday, 29 June
Super 6: A2 v B2, Queen’s Sports Club

Friday, 30 June
Super 6: A3 v B1, Queen’s Sports Club
Playoff: A5 v B4, Takashinga Cricket Club

Saturday, 1 July
Super 6: A1 v B3, Harare Sports Club

Sunday, 2 July
Super 6: A2 v B1, Queen’s Sports Club
Playoff: A4 v B5, Takashinga Cricket Club

Monday, 3 July
Super 6: A3 v B2, Harare Sports Club

Tuesday, 4 July
Super 6: A2 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club
Playoff: 7th v 8th Takashinga Cricket Club

Wednesday, 5 July
Super Six: A1 v B2, Harare Sports Club

Thursday, 6 July
Super Six: A3 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club
Playoff: 9th v 10th Takashinga Cricket Club

Friday, 07 July
Super Six: A1 v B1, Harare Sports Club

Sunday, 09 July
Final, Harare Sports Club

අයර්ලන්තය, ස්කොට්ලන්තය, ඕමානය, එක්සත් අරාබි එමීර් රාජ්‍යය සමඟින් ශ්‍රී ලංකාව ‘බී’ කාණ්ඩයට ඇතුළත් විය.

ලෝක කුසලාන සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ තරඟ

1996 ජූනි 18 සිට ජූලි 9 දක්වා සිම්බාබ්වේහිදී පැවැත්වෙන ICC පිරිමි ලෝක කුසලාන ක්‍රිකට් සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ තරගය සඳහා 1996 ශූර ශ්‍රී ලංකාව ‘බී’ කාණ්ඩයට ඇතුළත් කර ඇත.

ICC විසින් අඟහරුවාදා තීරණාත්මක සති තුනක තරඟාවලියේ සවි කිරීම් හෙළිදරව් කරන ලද අතර, ශ්‍රී ලංකාව B කාණ්ඩයේ භයානක ප්‍රතිවාදීන්ට මුහුණ දීමට සිදු වන අතර, දිවයින ජාතිය අයර්ලන්තය, ස්කොට්ලන්තය, ඕමානය සහ එක්සත් අරාබි එමීර් රාජ්‍යයට එරෙහිව තරඟ කිරීමට නියමිතය.

ශ්‍රී ලංකාව සුපර් ලීග් ශ්‍රේණිගත කිරීම්වල 10 වැනි ස්ථානයට පත්ව ඇත – බටහිර ඉන්දීය කොදෙව්වන්ට වඩා එක් ස්ථානයක් පිටුපසින් – ලෝක කුසලානයේ සෑම සංස්කරණයකටම සහභාගී වීමේ විශිෂ්ට වාර්තාවක් ඔවුන් පවත්වා ගැනීම සහතික කිරීම සඳහා සිම්බාබ්වේ හි පළමු-දෙකක් අපේක්ෂා කරනු ඇත.

මෙවර අයිසීසී පිරිමි ක්‍රිකට් ලෝක කුසලානයේ ස්ථානයක් වෙන්කර ගැනීමට නම් දසුන් ශානකගේ චෝදනා උපරිමයෙන් තිබිය යුතු අතර, කණ්ඩායම් 10කින් සමන්විත තරගාවලියේ ඉහළම කණ්ඩායම් දෙකට පමණක් ඉන්දියාවේ පැවැත්වෙන ඕවර 50 ප්‍රදර්ශන සඳහා ප්‍රවේශ පත්‍රයක් ලැබේ. වසර අවසානයේ.

අනෙක් අතට, බටහිර ඉන්දීය කොදෙව්වන් තරඟාවලියේ සත්කාරක සිම්බාබ්වේ, යුරෝපීය පැත්ත නෙදර්ලන්තය, නැගී එන ආසියාතික රාජ්‍යයක් වන නේපාලය සහ දිනෙන් දින දියුණු වෙමින් පවතින එක්සත් ජනපදය සමඟ A කාණ්ඩයට ඇද ඇත.

බටහිර ඉන්දීය කොදෙව් කණ්ඩායමද ලෝක කුසලානයේ වාර 12ටම සහභාගී වී ඇති අතර සිම්බාබ්වේ මේ දක්වා තරඟාවලි 9කට සහභාගී වී ඇති සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ තරඟාවලියේ මීළඟ සාර්ථකම කණ්ඩායමයි.

නේපාලය, ඇමරිකා එක්සත් ජනපදය සහ ඕමානය කිසි විටෙක ලෝක කුසලානයට පිවිසී නැති අතර සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ තරගයේ පළමු ස්ථාන දෙක හරහා ඔවුන්ගේ පළමු පැමිණීම වෙන්කරවා ගැනීමට බලාපොරොත්තු වේ.

සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ වටයේ කාණ්ඩ අදියරේදී සෑම කණ්ඩායමක්ම තරග හතරක් ක්‍රීඩා කරනු ඇති අතර, සෑම කාණ්ඩයකින්ම ඉහළම කණ්ඩායම් තුන පසුව සුපර් සික්ස් අදියර දක්වා ඉදිරියට යයි.

එක් එක් කාණ්ඩයෙන් පහළම ස්ථාන දෙකට එරෙහිව ලබා ගන්නා ලකුණු හැර කාණ්ඩවල ජයග්‍රහණය කරන සියලුම ලකුණු සුපර් සික්ස් අදියර වෙත ගෙන යනු ලැබේ.

පසුව කණ්ඩායම් සුපර් සික්ස් අදියරේදී ප්‍රතිවාදී කණ්ඩායමේ පාර්ශ්වයන්ට එරෙහිව තවත් තරග තුනකට ක්‍රීඩා කරනු ඇති අතර, සුපර් සික්ස් අදියර අවසන් වන විට පළමු කණ්ඩායම් දෙක ලෝක කුසලානයට සහ සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ අවසන් තරගයට ජූලි 9 වැනිදා හරාරේ හි ස්ථානයක් ලබා ගනී.

සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ සවි කිරීම්

ජුනි 18 ඉරිදා
සිම්බාබ්වේ සහ නේපාලය, හරාරේ ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය
බටහිර ඉන්දීය කොදෙව් සහ ඇමරිකා එක්සත් ජනපදය, තකාෂිංග ක්‍රිකට් සමාජය

ජුනි 19 සඳුදා
ශ්‍රී ලංකාව සහ එක්සත් අරාබි එමීර් රාජ්‍යය අතර, ක්වීන්ස් ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය
අයර්ලන්තය සහ ඕමානය, බුලවායෝ මලල ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය

ජුනි 20 අඟහරුවාදා
සිම්බාබ්වේ සහ නෙදර්ලන්තය, හරාරේ ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය
නේපාලය සහ ඇමරිකා එක්සත් ජනපදය, තකාෂිංග ක්‍රිකට් සමාජය

ජූනි 21 බදාදා
අයර්ලන්තය සහ ස්කොට්ලන්තය, ක්වීන්ස් ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය
Oman v UAE, බුලවායෝ මලල ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය

ජුනි 22 බ්‍රහස්පතින්දා
බටහිර ඉන්දීය කොදෙව් සහ නේපාලය, හරාරේ ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය
Netherlands v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club

ජූනි 23 සිකුරාදා
ශ්‍රී ලංකාව සහ ඕමානය, ක්වීන්ස් ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය
Scotland v UAE, බුලවායෝ මලල ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය

ජුනි 24 සෙනසුරාදා
සිම්බාබ්වේ සහ බටහිර ඉන්දීය කොදෙව්, හරාරේ ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය
Netherlands v Nepal, Takashinga Cricket Club

ජුනි 25 ඉරිදා
ශ්‍රී ලංකාව සහ අයර්ලන්තය, ක්වීන්ස් ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය
ස්කොට්ලන්තය සහ ඕමානය, බුලවායෝ මලල ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය

ජුනි 26 සඳුදා
සිම්බාබ්වේ එදිරිව ඇමරිකා එක්සත් ජනපදය, හරාරේ ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය
බටහිර ඉන්දීය කොදෙව් සහ නෙදර්ලන්තය, තකාෂිංග ක්‍රිකට් සමාජය

ජුනි 27 අඟහරුවාදා
ශ්‍රී ලංකාව සහ ස්කොට්ලන්තය අතර, ක්වීන්ස් ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය
අයර්ලන්තය සහ එක්සත් අරාබි එමීර් රාජ්‍යය, බුලවායෝ මලල ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය

ජුනි 29 බ්‍රහස්පතින්දා
සුපිරි 6: A2 v B2, Queen’s Sports Club

ජූනි 30 සිකුරාදා
සුපිරි 6: A3 v B1, Queen’s Sports Club
තරගය: A5 v B4, Takashinga Cricket Club

ජූලි 1 සෙනසුරාදා
සුපිරි 6: A1 v B3, හරාරේ ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය

ජූලි 2 ඉරිදා
සුපිරි 6: A2 v B1, Queen’s Sports Club
තරගය: A4 v B5, Takashinga Cricket Club

ජූලි 3 සඳුදා
සුපිරි 6: A3 v B2, හරාරේ ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය

අඟහරුවාදා, ජූලි 4
සුපිරි 6: A2 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club
තරඟාවලිය: 7th v 8th Takashinga Cricket Club

බදාදා, ජූලි 5
සුපර් සික්ස්: A1 v B2, හරාරේ ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය

බ්රහස්පතින්දා, 6 ජූලි
Super Six: A3 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club
තරගය: 9 වැනි සහ 10 වැනි තකාෂිංග ක්‍රිකට් සමාජය

ජූලි 07 සිකුරාදා
සුපර් සික්ස්: A1 v B1, හරාරේ ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය

ජූලි 09 ඉරිදා
අවසාන, හරාරේ ක්‍රීඩා සමාජය

அயர்லாந்து, ஸ்காட்லாந்து, ஓமன், ஐக்கிய அரபு எமிரேட்ஸ் ஆகிய நாடுகளுடன் இலங்கை அணி ‘பி’ பிரிவில் இடம்பிடித்துள்ளது.

உலகக் கோப்பை தகுதிப் போட்டிகள்

ஜூன் 18 முதல் ஜூலை 9 வரை ஜிம்பாப்வேயில் நடைபெறவுள்ள ஐசிசி ஆடவர் உலகக் கோப்பை தகுதிச் சுற்றில் 1996 சாம்பியன்களான இலங்கை அணி ‘பி’ பிரிவில் இடம்பிடித்துள்ளது.

ஐசிசி செவ்வாயன்று முக்கியமான மூன்று வார போட்டிகளுக்கான போட்டிகளை வெளிப்படுத்தியது, குழு B இல் இலங்கை கடினமான எதிரிகளை எதிர்கொள்ளும், தீவு நாடு அயர்லாந்து, ஸ்காட்லாந்து, ஓமன் மற்றும் ஐக்கிய அரபு எமிரேட்களுக்கு எதிராக விளையாட திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.

சுப்பர் லீக் தரவரிசையில் இலங்கை 10வது இடத்தைப் பிடித்தது – மேற்கிந்தியத் தீவுகளுக்குப் பின் ஒரு இடம் – மேலும் உலகக் கோப்பையின் ஒவ்வொரு பதிப்பிலும் பங்கேற்று சிறந்த சாதனையைத் தக்கவைத்துக்கொள்வதை உறுதிசெய்ய ஜிம்பாப்வேயில் முதல் இரண்டு இடங்களைப் பிடிக்கும்.

இந்த ஆண்டு ஐசிசி ஆடவர் உலகக் கோப்பையில் இடம் பிடிக்க வேண்டுமானால், தசுன் ஷனக்கவின் குற்றச்சாட்டுகள் சிறந்ததாக இருக்க வேண்டும், 10 அணிகள் கொண்ட போட்டியில் முதல் இரண்டு அணிகள் மட்டுமே இந்தியாவில் 50 ஓவர் ஷோகேஸுக்கான டிக்கெட்டைப் பெறுகின்றன. ஆண்டின் இறுதியில்.

மறுபுறம், மேற்கிந்தியத் தீவுகள் குழு A இல் போட்டியை நடத்தும் ஜிம்பாப்வே, ஐரோப்பிய அணி நெதர்லாந்து, வளர்ந்து வரும் ஆசிய நாடான நேபாளம் மற்றும் எப்போதும் முன்னேறி வரும் அமெரிக்காவுடன் சமநிலையில் உள்ளன.

மேற்கிந்தியத் தீவுகளும் உலகக் கோப்பையின் அனைத்து 12 பதிப்புகளிலும் பங்கேற்றுள்ளன, அதே நேரத்தில் ஜிம்பாப்வே தகுதிச் சுற்றில் இன்று வரை ஒன்பது போட்டிகளில் பங்கேற்று வெற்றிகரமான அணியாக உள்ளது.

நேபாளம், அமெரிக்கா மற்றும் ஓமன் ஆகிய நாடுகள் உலகக் கோப்பைக்கு ஒருபோதும் முன்னேறவில்லை, மேலும் தகுதிச் சுற்றில் முதல் இரண்டு இடங்களைப் பெறுவதன் மூலம் தங்கள் முதல் தோற்றத்தை பதிவு செய்ய விரும்புகின்றன.

தகுதிச் சுற்றின் குழுநிலையின் போது ஒவ்வொரு அணியும் நான்கு போட்டிகளில் விளையாடும், ஒவ்வொரு குழுவிலிருந்தும் முதல் மூன்று அணிகள் சூப்பர் சிக்ஸ் நிலைக்கு முன்னேறும்.

ஒவ்வொரு குழுவிலிருந்தும் கீழே உள்ள இரண்டு புள்ளிகளுக்கு எதிராகப் பெறப்பட்ட புள்ளிகளைத் தவிர, குழுக்களில் வெல்லும் அனைத்து புள்ளிகளும் சூப்பர் சிக்ஸ் நிலைக்கு கொண்டு செல்லப்படும்.

சூப்பர் சிக்ஸ் கட்டத்தின் போது அணிகள் எதிரணி குழுவில் உள்ள அணிகளுக்கு எதிராக மேலும் மூன்று போட்டிகளில் விளையாடும், சூப்பர் சிக்ஸ் கட்டத்தின் முடிவில் முதல் இரண்டு அணிகள் உலகக் கோப்பையிலும், ஜூலை 9ஆம் தேதி ஹராரேயில் நடக்கும் தகுதிச்சுற்று இறுதிப் போட்டியிலும் இடம் பெறும்.

தகுதி நிலைகள்

ஞாயிறு, 18 ஜூன்
ஜிம்பாப்வே v நேபாளம், ஹராரே ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்
வெஸ்ட் இண்டீஸ் எதிராக அமெரிக்கா, தகாஷிங்கா கிரிக்கெட் கிளப்

திங்கள், 19 ஜூன்
இலங்கை மற்றும் ஐக்கிய அரபு எமிரேட்ஸ், குயின்ஸ் ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்
அயர்லாந்து v ஓமன், புலவாயோ தடகள கிளப்

செவ்வாய், 20 ஜூன்
ஜிம்பாப்வே v நெதர்லாந்து, ஹராரே ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்
நேபாளம் v அமெரிக்கா, தகாஷிங்கா கிரிக்கெட் கிளப்

புதன், 21 ஜூன்
அயர்லாந்து v ஸ்காட்லாந்து, குயின்ஸ் ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்
ஓமன் VUAE, புலவாயோ தடகள கிளப்

வியாழன், 22 ஜூன்
வெஸ்ட் இண்டீஸ் v நேபாளம், ஹராரே ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்
நெதர்லாந்து எதிராக அமெரிக்கா, தகாஷிங்கா கிரிக்கெட் கிளப்

வெள்ளிக்கிழமை, 23 ஜூன்
இலங்கை V Oman, Queens Sports Club
ஸ்காட்லாந்து v UAE, புலவாயோ தடகள கிளப்

சனிக்கிழமை, 24 ஜூன்
ஜிம்பாப்வே வெஸ்ட் இண்டீஸ், ஹராரே ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்
நெதர்லாந்து v நேபாளம், தகாஷிங்கா கிரிக்கெட் கிளப்

ஞாயிறு, 25 ஜூன்
இலங்கை மற்றும் அயர்லாந்து, குயின்ஸ் ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்
ஸ்காட்லாந்து எதிராக ஓமன், புலவாயோ தடகள கிளப்

திங்கட்கிழமை, 26 ஜூன்
ஜிம்பாப்வே எதிராக அமெரிக்கா, ஹராரே ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்
வெஸ்ட் இண்டீஸ் v நெதர்லாந்து, தகாஷிங்கா கிரிக்கெட் கிளப்

செவ்வாய், 27 ஜூன்
இலங்கை மற்றும் ஸ்காட்லாந்து, குயின்ஸ் ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்
அயர்லாந்து V UAE, புலவாயோ தடகள கிளப்

வியாழன், 29 ஜூன்
சூப்பர் 6: A2 v B2, குயின்ஸ் ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்

வெள்ளிக்கிழமை, 30 ஜூன்
சூப்பர் 6: A3 v B1, குயின்ஸ் ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்
பிளேஆஃப்: A5 v B4, தகாஷிங்கா கிரிக்கெட் கிளப்

சனிக்கிழமை, 1 ஜூலை
சூப்பர் 6: A1 v B3, ஹராரே ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்

ஞாயிறு, 2 ஜூலை
சூப்பர் 6: A2 v B1, குயின்ஸ் ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்
பிளேஆஃப்: A4 v B5, தகாஷிங்கா கிரிக்கெட் கிளப்

திங்கள், 3 ஜூலை
சூப்பர் 6: A3 v B2, ஹராரே ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்

செவ்வாய், 4 ஜூலை
சூப்பர் 6: A2 v B3, குயின்ஸ் ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்
பிளேஆஃப்: 7வது எதிர் 8வது தகாஷிங்கா கிரிக்கெட் கிளப்

புதன், 5 ஜூலை
சூப்பர் சிக்ஸ்: A1 v B2, ஹராரே ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்

வியாழன், 6 ஜூலை
சூப்பர் சிக்ஸ்: A3 v B3, குயின்ஸ் ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்
பிளேஆஃப்: 9வது v 10வது தகாஷிங்கா கிரிக்கெட் கிளப்

வெள்ளிக்கிழமை, 07 ஜூலை
சூப்பர் சிக்ஸ்: A1 v B1, ஹராரே ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்

ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை, 09 ஜூலை
இறுதி, ஹராரே ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் கிளப்

Cricket

Dulani’s sparkling century powers Sri Lanka to thrilling victory

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Imesha Dulani stole the spotlight with a sensational unbeaten century as Sri Lanka Women chased down a formidable target of 177 to register a convincing six-wicket victory over Pakistan Women in the first T20I worked off at Dambulla international Stadium.

Pakistan looked set for victory after posting a competitive 176 for 7 in their 20 overs. Captain Muneeba Ali gave the innings early momentum with a fluent 42 off 24 balls, while Shawaal Zulfiqar anchored the innings superbly with a brilliant 63 from 41 deliveries, striking 10 fours and a six. Eman Naseer added a valuable 21, while Ayesha Zafar and Saira Jabeen played aggressive cameos in the closing overs to push Pakistan to an above-par total.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Kavisha Dilhari leading the way with two dismissals. Chamudi Praboda, Sugandika Kumari and Kawya Kavindi chipped in with one wicket apiece, while disciplined fielding produced two crucial run-outs.

The chase belonged entirely to Dulani, who delivered the innings of the match. Displaying confidence, composure and a wide range of attacking strokes, she remained unbeaten on 101 from just 64 balls, smashing 17 boundaries and a six. Her innings combined elegance with controlled aggression, ensuring Sri Lanka stayed ahead of the required rate throughout the chase.

Captain Chamari Athapaththu provided the ideal platform with a sparkling 39 off 22 balls, adding 78 for the opening wicket before Nashra Sandhu broke the partnership. Although Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals in the middle overs, Dulani remained firmly in control, rotating the strike effectively before accelerating when it mattered most.

Kavisha Dilhari contributed 11 valuable runs, while Nilakshika Silva remained unbeaten on nine as Sri Lanka reached 177 for 4 in 19 overs, sealing victory with six balls to spare.

Pakistan spinner Nashra Sandhu finished with two wickets, but she could do little to halt Dulani’s memorable knock.

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Cricket

Feroza, Sidra guide Pakistan Women to comfortable win

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Pakistan Women produced a composed batting performance led by Gull Feroza and Sidra Amin to register a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Women in the opening ODI of their tour after successfully chasing 211 with seven overs to spare.

After opting to bat, Sri Lanka struggled to build substantial partnerships despite several batters making useful contributions. Opener Vishmi Gunaratne gave the hosts a positive start with 28 off 38 deliveries, striking four boundaries before becoming the first of three victims for left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu.

Captain Chamari Athapaththu looked set for a bigger score, compiling an elegant 46 from 67 balls with six fours. She added 53 runs with Hasini Perera for the second wicket, but Nashra’s timely breakthrough halted Sri Lanka’s momentum.

Perera contributed a patient 35 while Kavisha Dilhari added another valuable 35 in the middle order. Nilakshika Silva remained unbeaten on 46 from 50 deliveries, ensuring Sri Lanka batted out their full quota of 50 overs to post 210 for nine.

Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack shared the workload effectively. Nashra Sandhu finished with impressive figures of 3 for 42, while Tasmia Rubab claimed 2 for 34. Umm-e-Hani, Syeda Aroob Shah and captain Fatima Sana chipped in with a wicket apiece to keep the scoring under control.

In reply, Pakistan laid the foundation through Gull Feroza, who produced a fluent 78 off 77 balls, laced with 11 boundaries. She dominated the opening stand before being trapped leg before wicket by Kavisha Dilhari after steering her side into a commanding position.

Experienced batter Sidra Amin anchored the chase with a measured 57 from 94 deliveries, rotating the strike effectively while building partnerships that kept Pakistan comfortably ahead of the required rate. Ayesha Zafar then finished the job with an unbeaten 27, while Najiha Alvi contributed a useful 13.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers found occasional breakthroughs, with Dilhari returning 2 for 37, while Inoka Ranaweera, Chamari Athapaththu and Nimasha Meepage claimed one wicket each. However, the modest target never placed Pakistan under sustained pressure as they reached 211 for five in 43 overs to take an early lead in the series.

Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka Women 210/9 (50 overs) – Chamari Athapaththu 46, Nilakshika Silva 46; Nashra Sandhu 3/42, Tasmia Rubab 2/34. Pakistan Women 211/5 (43 overs) – Gull Feroza 78, Sidra Amin 57, Ayesha Zafar 27; Kavisha Dilhari 2/37.

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Football

European Parliament Members Push for FIFA Inquiry Over Balogun Suspension Decision

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A group of European Parliament members is seeking a formal investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino following the controversial decision to allow United States forward Folarin Balogun to play after receiving a red card earlier in the tournament.

The lawmakers argue that the move raises serious concerns about FIFA’s independence and whether political influence played a role in altering a disciplinary decision during the FIFA World Cup.

Balogun, 25, was sent off in the United States’ July 1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under standard tournament regulations, the dismissal would have ruled him out of his team’s next fixture. However, FIFA’s disciplinary authorities later lifted the suspension, enabling the striker to feature in Monday’s match.

The decision came after U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly appealed directly to Infantino on Balogun’s behalf, prompting criticism from European lawmakers who say football’s governing body compromised the integrity of its own rules.

In a joint statement, Members of the European Parliament Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters and Niels Fuglsang described the decision as “a disgrace and a perversion of justice,” arguing that changing the application of red-card suspensions during an ongoing tournament undermines confidence in the sport’s disciplinary system.

The lawmakers are calling on football associations across European Union member states to urge FIFA’s Ethics Committee to examine Infantino’s conduct. They want investigators to determine whether political pressure from the Trump administration influenced the reversal of Balogun’s suspension and to assess what they describe as other possible violations of FIFA’s principle of political neutrality, including the awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize to Trump.

FIFA has maintained that the decision to overturn Balogun’s suspension was made independently by its disciplinary committee.

According to the lawmakers, support for the initiative is growing, with 35 members of the European Parliament already backing the proposal.

“The beauty of sport lies in the consistent and transparent application of its rules,” the statement said. “When political influence determines who is eligible to compete, the principle of fairness is fundamentally weakened.”

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