Fernando trumps Pooran in Sri Lanka's 23-run win over West Indies
Chester-le-Street, Jul 1: Nicholas Pooran's sensational century went in vain as Avishka Fernando set up Sri Lanka's thrilling 23-run win over West Indies with a maiden hundred in an inconsequential World Cup match here Monday.
Sent into bat, Sri Lanka's top-order fired in unison with Fernando hitting a 103-ball 104, the first century for the Island nation in this world cup. His innings was studded with nine fours and two sixes.
Opener Kusal Perera too chipped in with a 51-ball 64 as Sri Lanka posted an imposing 338 for six.
In reply, Pooran blasted a 103-ball 118 laced with 11 hits to the fence and four sixes to keep West Indies in the hunt.
He starred in three crucial partnership, adding 61, 54 and 83 with Jason Holder (26), Carlos Brathwaite (8) and Fabian Allen (51) respectively to take West Indies close to pulling off an incredible chase.
But Angelo Mathews dismissed Pooran in the 48th over as WI could only score 315 for nine in their stipulated 50 overs.
After this win, Sri Lanka are now placed at the sixth spot on the points table with eight points from eight matches. The 1996 champions will now take on India in their final World Cup match on July 6.
West Indies, who are also not in the race for the semifinals, are at the ninth position and will complete their World Cup engagements after a clash with Afghanistan on July 4.
Defending the total, Lasith Malinga struck twice early to leave West Indies at 22 for two in five overs.
Opener Chris Gayle (35) and Shimron Hetmyer (29) shared a 49-ball stand but frittered away their starts.
Skipper Jason Holder then added 61 runs with Pooran but he too was holed out at mid on as WI lost half their side for 145 in the 29th over.
Pooran played a few big hits but an unfortunate run-out at the other end saw Carlos Brathwaite return back to the pavilion.
Pooran and Allen (51) then produced some lusty blows to reduce the equation to 57 runs off 36 balls.
However, another run-out ended the 83-run stand.
Earlier, Fernando played the role of sheet anchor, stitching 85 runs with Kushal Mendis (39) and then sharing 58 and 67 with Angelo Mathews (26) and Lahiru Thirimanne (45 off 33), respectively, as Sri Lanka went beyond 250 for the first time in the tournament.
With both teams already out of contention for a semifinal spot, Sri Lanka played with freedom as openers Karunaratne and Perera amassed 91 runs for no loss in 15 overs.
After skipper Holder removed his West Indies counterpart Karunaratne (32), Perera too was back after getting run out.
Mendis and Fernando then took Sri Lanka close to 200 before a remarkable caught-and-bowl effort by left-arm spinner Fabian Allen, in the 32nd over, ended the former's stay.
Mathews came up with an enterprising 20-ball 26 before a perfect yorker by Holder sent him back in the 40th over.
Fernando and Thirimanne then joined hands to help Sri Lanka cross the 300-mark.
Fernando completed his hundred in the 48th over but soon holed out to Allen off Cottrell's bowling.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Israel launches first airstrike on Lebanon since ceasefire, accusing Hezbollah of breaching truce
Beirut, Nov 28: The Israeli military on Thursday said its warplanes fired on southern Lebanon after detecting Hezbollah activity at a rocket storage facility, the first Israeli airstrike a day after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took hold.
There was no immediate word on casualties from Israel's aerial attack, which came hours after the Israeli military said it fired on people trying to return to certain areas in southern Lebanon. Israel said they were violating the ceasefire agreement, without providing details. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said two people were wounded.
The back-to-back incidents stirred unease about the agreement, brokered by the United States and France, which includes an initial two-month ceasefire in which Hezbollah members are to withdraw north of the Litani River and Israeli forces are to return to their side of the border. The buffer zone would be patrolled by Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers.
On Thursday, the second day of a ceasefire after more than a year of bloody conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon's state news agency reported that Israeli fire targeted civilians in Markaba, close to the border, without providing further details. Israel said it fired artillery in three other locations near the border. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
An Associated Press reporter in northern Israel near the border heard Israeli drones buzzing overhead and the sound of artillery strikes from the Lebanese side.
The Israeli military said in a statement that “several suspects were identified arriving with vehicles to a number of areas in southern Lebanon, breaching the conditions of the ceasefire.” It said troops “opened fire toward them” and would “actively enforce violations of the ceasefire agreement.”
Israeli officials have said forces will be withdrawn gradually as it ensures that the agreement is being enforced. Israel has warned people not to return to areas where troops are deployed, and says it reserves the right to strike Hezbollah if it violates the terms of the truce.
A Lebanese military official said Lebanese troops would gradually deploy in the south as Israeli troops withdraw. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media.
The ceasefire agreement announced late Tuesday ended 14 months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that began a day after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza, when the Lebanese Hezbollah group began firing rockets, drones and missiles in solidarity.
Israel retaliated with airstrikes, and the conflict steadily intensified for nearly a year before boiling over into all-out war in mid-September. The war in Gaza is still raging with no end in sight.
More than 3,760 people were killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon during the conflict, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The fighting killed more than 70 people in Israel — over half of them civilians — as well as dozens of Israeli soldiers fighting in southern Lebanon.
Some 1.2 million people were displaced in Lebanon, and thousands began streaming back to their homes on Wednesday despite warnings from the Lebanese military and the Israeli army to stay out of certain areas. Some 50,000 people were displaced on the Israeli side, but few have returned and the communities near the northern border are still largely deserted.
In Menara, an Israeli community on the border with views into Lebanon, around three quarters of homes are damaged, some with collapsed roofs and burnt-out interiors. A few residents could be seen gathering their belongings on Thursday before leaving again.
