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WI vs SL | Day 3: Visitors turn fortunes after batsmen script comeback for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka made a fine turn around on the third day of the first Test against West Indies in Antigua after they took a lead of 153 runs in the second innings before the stumps were called. 

The visitors wrapped up West Indies first innings quickly on Day 3 after the hosts just managed to add three more runs in their overnight score of 268/8. Sri Lanka later concluded the day’s proceedings at 255/4 nullifying the lead that the Kraigg Brathwaite-led side had taken in the first innings. 

Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal scalped a five-wicket haul while Vishwa Fernando and Chameera picked up a couple of wickets each during the course. 

The visiting team then had a disappointing start to the second innings after West Indies had an early success. The Sri Lankan side lost captain Dimuth Karunaratne cheaply for 3 but Lahiru Thirimane and Oshada Fernando turned the tables for them and the two put up a stand of 162 runs for the second wicket. 

Fernando missed out on a hundred after getting undone by Kyle Mayers. The right-handed batsman was caught behind by Joshua de Silva after edging one from Mayers. 

Thirimane notched up 76 before getting cleaned up by Kemar Roach on a length delivery coming into the left-hander. 

Sri Lanka then saw a fall of wickets in quick succession before Dhananjaya de Silva and Pathum Nissanka came in for the rescue. De Silva concluded the day’s play at 46* while Nissanka was unbeaten at 21. 

Roach and Mayers were the two West Indies bowlers among the wickets. Sri Lanka were earlier bundled out for 169 in the first innings while West Indies managed to score 271, courtesy a half-century from Cornwall. 

Mayers later admitted that a couple of early wickets on Day 4 will help them get back on track in this clash. 

“I think the wicket is a good one. It’s flattened out nicely,” Mayers said.

“Obviously they had the upper hand today but the game is still evenly poised. We’re still in the game. All we need is two early wickets tomorrow and then we’re in with a chance.”

West Indies would now be looking to get some early breakthroughs to prevent Sri Lanka from posting a big total on the board. De Silva and Nissanka, on the other hand, would seek to build on the partnership they have got. The two batsmen are pretty well set in the middle.  

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IND W vs RSA W | Match Report: Shafali Verma packs a punch as India earn consolation win after series loss

The Indian team that took the field today at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium in Lucknow was totally different from the rest of the teams that played the rest seven games in the eight-match long tour of South Africa women. The players, mostly the same, at least from the last two games, had a different spark altogether in their body, the best among them being Shafali Verma. The 17-year-old hit a 30 ball 60 to make light work of the 113 run target set by the South Africans. The Rohtak born was so fast in her approach that she started the chase by hitting the best Proteas women bowler Shabnim Ismail for 18 runs in the very first over, only dealing in boundaries. It got even worse for South Africa as Shafali’s partner and India team skipper Smriti Mandhana too got into the attack and before Ismail or her Sune Luus could make sense of what had hit them, the Indians were off and running away with the game. The team fifty came up in just 26 balls and then the hundred in 55 balls. Although Shafali was removed, but not before hitting five sixes and seven fours in her innings. Mandhana continued the attack and got the team past the winning one in the 11th over only three consecutive fours to finish off the innings. She remained unbeaten on 48 off 28, while Harleen Deol, her partner was also not out on four. The 24-year-old Mandhana hit seven fours in her innings. Earlier in the day, India finally won a toss in the T20I series and decided to field first. Complimenting that decision was Rajeshwari Gayakwad, who with her left arm spin choked the South African batting line of runs and picked up three crucial wickets, breaking the backbone of Luus’ side. Hadn’t it been for the death over hitting from Lara Goodall (25 off 17) and Sinalo Jafta (16 off 9), it wouldn’t looked impossible for South Africa to even cross the 100 mark. Along with Gayakwad, Radha Yadav, Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy and Simran Dil Bahadur too picked a wicket each. Harleen remained the only Indian bowler not to have taken a wicket in the innings. South Africa, even after losing this game went on to win the series 2-1 and added another feather to their already shining cap, having decimated Indian eves in the preceding ODI series 4-1. This also ended the South Africa Women’s India tour.