Virat Kohli's rampant India overwhelm Sri Lanka, take 4-0 lead with 168-run win

Agencies
September 1, 2017

New Delhi, Sept 1: On Mahendra Singh Dhoni's landmark 300th ODI match, a rampant Indian team overwhelmed hosts Sri Lanka to extend the lead in the five-match series to 4-0 on Thursday. Batting first at the Colombo's historic R. Premadasa Stadium, India rode on Kohli and Rohit Sharma's hundreds to post a record 375 for 5. Then dismissed Lanka for a paltry 207 to inflict Lasith Malinga's side a humiliating 168-run defeat.

Chasing an improbable target, Lanka lost seventh successive match against India in the tour. They have already suffered a series whitewash in the three-match Test series, which was once again a first for India in overseas tour in a series of three or more matches. Then came those three ODI matches, which India, more or less, convincingly won leading up to today's irrelevant match.

But Dhoni, considered as one of India's greatest cricketers and probably the greatest ever captain, playing his 300th match, the focus was entirely on the 36-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman from Ranchi. And his team-mates didn't disappoint him.

As he promised in the run up to the match, skipper Kohli made three changes, bringing in Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, and Manish Pandey, with the pacer making his international debut. And it was a dream debut for the 25-year-old as he got the first Lanka wicket, that of a dangerous looking Niroshan Dickwella in the third over itself.

Yes, it was one moment Dhoni fans will talk about for some time. Thakur managed to get faintest of nicks from Lankan opener's glove, but umpire turned down India's appeal. Then, came Dhoni's famous 'DRS' act. The former India captain convinced Kohli to go for the review, and it returned positive. It was just the beginning of yet another procession of Lankan wickets.

For Lanka, former skipper Angelo Mathews played a gem of an innings amid the ruin. His 70 off 80 balls was laced with ten hits to the boundary For the record, he did managed to post fighting but fleeting partnerships with Milinda Siriwardana (39 off 43) and Wanidu Hasaranga (run-a-ball 22).

India's total was the highest posted by any visiting team in an ODI match in Sri Lanka, bettering their own record of 363 for 5 at the same ground in 2009.

Earlier in the day, Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first. But in-form Shikhar Dhawan departed in the second over itself, thus bringing the skipper in the centre.

Kohli (131 off 96 balls) then hit his 29th ODI hundred and his 219-run second-wicket stand with Rohit Sharma (104 off 88 balls), helped India post an imposing total. In the process, Kohli also became the first player to post 10 double-hundred stands in ODI cricket. He now stand third in the all-time list of most ODI hundreds, only behind Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting.

Kohli then became Malinga's 300th ODI wicket. It was indeed one moment worthy of celebration for the the Lankan legend, who was standing as the captain of a bettered team. The series has seen the ageing star fading, but Slinger whoed exmplary gumption in leading a side, which he called a young one.

For Sharma, who hit back-to-back hundreds, it was his 13th ODI hundred. While Kolhi was on song, Rohit complemented his skipper. After a worrying mid-innings crisis, the arrival of Manish Pandey and Dhoni helped India end the innings on a strong footing. Both returned undefeated, with Pandey scorign his second ODI half-century, while Dhoni was happy to compliment his partner reach the mini-landmark in the last ball of the innings.

Indian bowlers joined tha party later in the day, with chinaman Kuldeep Yadav leading the hunt with two wickets. In a disciplined bolwing display, the spinner conceded only 31 runs while accounting  the wickets of last two wickets to wrap up the match.

Pacers Japrit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya also contributed with two wickets each, while Thakur and Axar Patel returned with a wicket each.

The fifth and final match will be played at the same venue, on Sunday (September 3). Then, the two teams will engage in a lone T20I match before winding up the long series, which witnessed India thumping the hosts.

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News Network
May 9,2020

May 9: Filipina weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz noticed live-streamed concerts were collecting money for coronavirus relief and was struck by inspiration: why not raise funds with an online workout?

Since then the Olympic silver-medallist -- and strong contender for her country's first Games gold -- has made enough money to buy food packs for hundreds of hard-hit families in the Philippines.

Diaz has done it all from Malaysia, where she was training to qualify for the now-postponed Tokyo Olympics when much of the world locked down against the virus in March.

"I thought (distribution) would be impossible because I'm not physically present," Diaz, 29, told news agency.

"It's a good thing that I have trusted friends and trusted family members who understand why we need to do a fundraising."

That circle of supporters has handed out the packages, which include vegetables, eggs and rice, to more than 400 families.

The food was bought with donations from about 50 people who joined sessions that lasted up to three hours, and gave them a rare chance to train with an elite athlete.

Diaz rose to fame in 2016 after snagging a surprise silver in the 53 kilogramme category in Rio, becoming the Philippines' first female Olympic medallist and ending the nation's 20-year medal drought at the Games.

Two years later, she won gold at the Asian Games in Indonesia.

However, her quest to qualify for Tokyo is on hold ahead of the Games' rescheduled opening in July 2021.

"I thought all the hard work would soon be over... then it was extended," she said. "But I'm still thankful I can still continue with (the training) I need to do."

Still, the lockdown broke her daily training regimen, keeping her away from weights for 14 days for the first time in her career.

"I felt like I was losing my mind already. I've been carrying the barbell for 18 years and all of a sudden it's gone. Those were the kinds of anxiety that I felt," she said.

But she got access to some equipment, and with her coach's urging, got back to work. She was relieved to find her strength was still there.

Instead of a Tokyo berth, the past months have been about a different kind of accomplishment for Diaz: helping her countrymen get through the coronavirus crisis.

Rosemelyn Francisco's family in Zamboanga City, Diaz's home town, is one of the first to get help from the athlete's initiative, and is deeply grateful.

Her family was not wealthy to begin with, and the pandemic has cost her husband his construction job.

"The food she donated has all everything we need, including eggs," said Francisco, 27.

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News Network
April 27,2020

Lahore, Apr 27: Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal has been banned from all forms of cricket for three years for failing to report spot-fixing offers, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced Monday.

Umar, who turns 30 next month, pleaded guilty to not reporting the fixing offers which led to his provisional suspension on February 20 this year.

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News Network
June 20,2020

Jun 20: Bengaluru FC (BFC) have signed Brazilian striker Cleiton Silva for a one-year deal, the ISL club said in a statement on Saturday.

As per the agreement, BFC have the option of extending Silva's contract for another year.

The 33-year-old, who started his career with Brazilian side Madureira, moved to Thailand where he spent the better part of the decade playing for Muangthong United and Suphanburi, apart from stints in Mexico and China.

Silva, who also operates on the wing, became the first foreign player to reach the 100-goal mark in Thailand and finished top scorer of the Thai League 1 for two seasons. He also tops the charts of the all-time leading scorers of the League.

His biggest success came at Muangthong where he racked up 57 goals in 79 appearances and won three major trophies in as many seasons at the club.

The Brazilian, who was in talks with the Blues last season before the deal didn't materialise, said he was glad to have finally made the move.

"I've signed with Bengaluru FC because I want to be a champion and this is a club that is always after titles. I have that opportunity once again at BFC. I want to make the club and its fans happy. I have been following the club for some time now because we were in talks a while ago. And I liked what I saw. I am looking forward to making my way to Bengaluru and am excited to meet my new teammates, the fans and embrace the city," said Silva.

Silva, thus, became BFC's first new foreign signing of the season after the club had handed extended deals with Juanan Gonzalez, Dimas Delgado and Erik Paartalu.

Bengaluru FC coach Carles Cuadrat said Silva's addition was an important one, given his penchant for scoring.

"Cleiton has a proven track record when it comes to scoring and this is an area we needed to strengthen on the squad. The goals aside, he even has an eye for a quality final pass and we're looking forward to working with him," he said.

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