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Spin Twins Mendis Embuldeniya Blow West Indies Away As Sri Lanka Sweep Series 2 0

Spin twins Mendis, Embuldeniya blow West Indies away as Sri Lanka sweep series 2-0

Twin five-wicket hauls from Lasith Embuldeniya and Ramesh Mendis swept West Indies away for a mere 132 in the second innings and helped Sri Lanka to enforce a clean sweep in a two-match long Test series.

Chasing a tough target of 297 runs, West Indies were already on the brink, having lost the top five batsmen before reaching 100 runs. The pair of Jermaine Blackwood and Nkrumah Bonner provided resilience with the bat but could only delay what was inevitable on the final day of the Test match in Galle.

Earlier on the first day, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. The top-order comprising of Pathum Nissanka and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne ratified the call with a big century opening partnership. However, their acts were not supported by the middle order and the hosts slipped to 204 all out from 106/0 to lose all the advantage.

Veerasammy Permaul and Jomel Warrican were the chief destructors for West Indies as they shared nine wickets between them with the former picking up a five-wicket haul.

The story was somewhat similar for the Windies with the bat as the top order putting up a strong performance and guiding the team past the 204-run mark. However, all batsmen including the skipper Kraigg Brathwaite wasted their hard-earned starts and could not make big scores and hence the tourists could manage a lead of only 49 runs.

The hosts were up and ready with the second bout of battle as Dhananjaya de Silva produced a wonderful century and along with Nissanka, took Sri Lanka to a big score.

They posted 345 in their second innings and Sri Lanka asked West Indies to chase 297 runs in the final innings. Their spinners, however, were too good for the conditions and the West Indies batting lineup and they could not muster any sort of big scores to challenge the hosts.

Dhananjaya de Silva was adjudged player of the match for his big hundred in the second innings while Ramesh Mendis was adjudged player of the series for his 18-wicket stint with the ball.

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Sunil Narine reveals secrets behind developing his mystery delivery

A true champion would extract opportunities even when he is on the back foot and this is what Sunil Narine did with his bowling. From being called for illegal bowling action in 2020 to being one of the most lethal weapons in Kolkata Knight Riders’ armour, from being asked to make certain tweaks in his action and don a half sleeves shirt instead of full to scalping 16 wickets in 14 matches in the 2021 edition, Narine just turned fortunes for himself. Well, that’s a classic case of how champions work. Talking about his mystery spin, the right-arm bowler revealed how he developed that art and what efforts did it take in the process. “Yeah, it’s something I have been working on for years now. So, it’s not like it’s just yesterday. I have been working on it. I have always asked batsmen what if they see, if they don’t see,” he said in a short film “The Comeback King” that was released on Thursday. “It’s tough knowing that the games are going on and I’m just bowling, I’m just trying to be ready for the committee to look over. My main purpose was to be ready for when that time comes and they clear it that I will be able to go out there and perform,” he added. Former New Zealand coach and KKR head coach lavished praise on Narine and explained how it was next to impossible to negotiate such a delivery. “The interesting thing is, I believe, that he developed this new delivery. His ability to run in with his hand behind his back. People would say we can’t play him. He’s almost too good.” Harbhajan Singh also hailed the way Narine made a comeback and stamped his authority. “You know the champions always come back stronger.”

Cricket was never easy for, had to work for everything: Sunil Narine

West Indies spinner Sunil Narine has opened up about being called for illegal bowling action and how the right-hander coped up with it to make a comeback. “It (being called for illegal bowling action in 2020) was tough! But at the end of the day, cricket was never easy for me. I had to work for everything I have. So, it was just like another stepping stone where I had to dig deep, work hard and come out on top,” Narine said in a short film “The Comeback King” that was released on Thursday. KKR MD and CEO Venky Mysore suggested that Narine had become even more effective after tweaking his bowling action. “The outcome was as rewarding as it could get, Narine continued his wizardry despite all the odds. There are very few, if any, who have had to modify their activities, come back and be as effective. I think he has been more effective.” Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said that it was a difficult phase for the spinner and he has overcome a lot in his career. “It was a difficult phase for him, and he has overcome a lot (in his career). Perhaps, the officials haven’t understood the ramifications of the decisions that they were putting down on paper, it had a significant impact on Sunil,” said McCullum. Narine played an important role in KKR’s decent run in the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier league where they ended as the runners up. The Caribbean cricketer scalped a total of 16 wickets in 14 matches that he played for the franchise in the season during the course.

IND vs NZ | 2nd Test: Virat Kohli dismissed for duck on Test return via a controversial DRS decision

Virat Kohli has been dismissed for a duck in his return to Test cricket as Ajaz Patel ripped through the Indian top and middle order on the first day of the second Test between India and New Zealand. Batting in the 30th over, Kohli appeared to have nicked an inside edge into the pad in the final ball against Ajaz Patel, but the on-field umpire judged it an out. Kohli straightaway went for the review but there was no conclusive evidence to suggest that the ball hit the pad first. Different camera angles were referred to, but the margin of error was so less that the third umpire had to stick with the decision on the field. Patel was on the top of his game and dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli in the same over to leave India struggling at 80/3. Virat Kohli has been dismissed for a duck in his return to Test cricket as Ajaz Patel ripped through the Indian top and middle order on the first day of the second Test between India and New Zealand. Patel was on the top of his game and dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli in the same over to leave India struggling at 80/3. He has got all three wickets including the opener Shubman Gill. India were strong at the start as the duo of Gill and Mayank Agarwal stitched an 8o-run partnership for the first wicket. However, as soon as Gill was dismissed, India were reduced to 80/3 in no time. India are without Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja in this game and the wickets of Kohli and Pujara have once again put pressure on Shreyas Iyer, who struck a magnificent century and a fifty on his Test debut in the last game. On the other end, Mayank Agarwal is going strong and has held the one end together.

Marnus Labuschagne doesn't need leadership role to lead, eager to dominate Ashes series with bat

Marnus Labuschagne has risen through the ranks on the back of a truckload of runs batting at number three position for Australia and it was his outstanding batting numbers that put him in the reckoning when the selectors were looking for a replacement once Tim Paine was to leave. However, Paine left the side and captaincy on a sudden and unceremonious note leaving Australian selectors to scramble quickly for leadership options with an all-important Ashes series knocking at the door. As things panned out, they nominated Pat Cummins, who was a long time deputy to Paine for the captaincy role while Steve Smith regained some of his reputation and place in the leadership group. Discussing how things progressed and his takeaways from the process, Labuschagne rejected the idea that he was disappointed at not being appointed as the captain. Instead, he outlined his role with the bat in hand said that his leadership doesn’t depend on having a formal role or title with the side. He offered all his and other senior players’ support to Cummins and Smith and expected the duo to produce “fabulous” results for the Australian Test team. "No, I wasn’t disappointed," Labuschagne told reporters. “I think there are two very good leaders and very good candidates. (Cummins) is going to do a fabulous job and he’s got plenty of support with Steve as his vice-captain and all the senior players of the group.” "My job right now is to concentrate on scoring runs consistently for Australia and I’m happy for that to be my role for now. You don’t need the title to still be a leader in the group." Labuschange established himself in Australia’s Test team in the last Ashes series played in England when they needed someone to calm the storm after injury to Steve Smith and he has not looked back since. He will remain Australia’s go-to man with the bat alongside David Warner and Smith in the upcoming Ashes series scheduled to start on December 08.