Tuesday, February 7, 2023
No 1 epaper in Sri Lanka
  • News
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Foreign
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Political Analysis
  • Inside Politics
  • EPAPERPDF
  • සිංහලSINHALA
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Foreign
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Political Analysis
  • Inside Politics
  • EPAPERPDF
  • සිංහලSINHALA
No Result
View All Result
Mawratanews.lk | Sri Lanka Latest Sinhala News and Headlines
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Rain threatens as Australia launch T20 World Cup defence

October 20, 2022
in News
A A
Rain threatens as Australia launch T20 World Cup defence

Rain threatens to derail the Twenty20 World Cup when big guns enter the fray this weekend, with Australia’s opener against New Zealand and an India v Pakistan blockbuster both at risk of being washed out.

Parts of Australia are facing a third straight La Nina weather event with a wetter-than-average summer expected, and downpours are forecast for Sydney and Melbourne from Friday through to next week.

Aaron Finch’s Australia begin their title defence against New Zealand at a sell-out Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday evening — a repeat of the 2021 final in Dubai where Mitchell Marsh’s unbeaten 77 powered them to an eight-wicket win and maiden crown.

But the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a “very high (90 percent) chance of showers” and potentially thunderstorms, with no reserve days for group games. They only come into play for the semi-finals and final.

It looks equally gloomy for Sunday in Melbourne where India face Pakistan in a hotly-anticipated clash with up to 100,000 fans in the cavernous MCG and tens of millions more tuning in to watch.

A minimum of five overs a side is required to constitute a match.

The weather could also cause havoc in Hobart where games are scheduled for Friday and Sunday, although England’s opener against Afghanistan in Perth on Saturday has a fine weather forecast.

Australia have a golden opportunity to become the first back-to-back T20 world champions, enjoying the advantage of being the only winners of cricket’s shortest format to have a crack at defending the title at home.

But they begin their campaign on the back of a 2-0 series loss to England this month and with Finch admitting they were “tired” after a gruelling build-up.

Despite the tough lead-in, pace spearhead Pat Cummins insisted they were better placed after defying the odds to win last year’s title.

‘Better prepared’ –
“I think in some ways we are even better prepared,” he said this week. “We have played a lot more and we have drawn on the experiences from last year.

“In saying that, T20 is a very fickle format. You look around and there are probably four or five teams that realistically could win it.”

Kane Williamson’s New Zealand enter the competition in mixed form, having lost to South Africa and Pakistan, but recently enjoying victories against Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Fast bowler Tim Southee is under no illusions that Australia will be a tough opponent, should their game go ahead.

“You can’t give them a sniff. They are a class side,” he said.

England are in the same six-team group as Australia and New Zealand and loom as potentially their biggest challenger, having dominated white-ball cricket in recent years.

Jos Buttler’s men suffered a blow on Wednesday when pace bowler Reece Topley was ruled out of the tournament with an ankle injury, with fellow left-armer Tymal Mills promoted from his previous status as travelling reserve.

They were already without injured star batsman Johnny Bairstow, with only two teams from each of the two groups making the semi-finals.

India head into their clash with Pakistan as world number one, but without any major silverware since their 2013 Champions Trophy triumph.
They are without injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and key all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, but skipper Rohit Sharma said the squad was strong enough to cope.

“The bowlers, who have come with us in the World Cup, have played enough matches,” he said, with Mohammed Shami taking Bumrah’s place.

Pakistan are fresh from winning a T20 tri-series in New Zealand and welcome back pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who recovered from a knee injury.

“The boys are confident,” said skipper Babar Azam.


(Curtesy yahoo sports)

Share50Tweet32SendShare13
Previous Post

Russia’s “scorched earth tactics” won’t help Putin win the war, German chancellor says

Next Post

T20 World Cup 2022 Points Table Group A: Sri Lanka, Netherlands qualify for Super 12 as UAE beats Namibia

MORE NEWS

Two UNP candidates join Sajith on the Kegalle SJB stage!
News

Two UNP candidates join Sajith on the Kegalle SJB stage!

February 7, 2023
Over 650 Indian delegates to attend Tata Conference in Colombo
News

Over 650 Indian delegates to attend Tata Conference in Colombo

February 7, 2023
A 17-year-old boy broke into the house of former Colombo Crime Division DIG Lugoda and stole 17 lakh rupees worth gold!
News

A 17-year-old boy broke into the house of former Colombo Crime Division DIG Lugoda and stole 17 lakh rupees worth gold!

February 7, 2023
Political Failure and Economic Crisis: Case Study of Sri Lanka
News

Political Failure and Economic Crisis: Case Study of Sri Lanka

February 7, 2023
A file in Rajitha’s bribery case has gone missing!
News

A file in Rajitha’s bribery case has gone missing!

February 7, 2023
They tried to fire me after I investigated the coal scam! I was kicked out of the Parliamentary Finance Committee when I asked for more! For the first time, Dr. Harsha reveals! VIDEO
News

They tried to fire me after I investigated the coal scam! I was kicked out of the Parliamentary Finance Committee when I asked for more! For the first time, Dr. Harsha reveals! VIDEO

February 7, 2023
Load More
Leave Comment

Free Newsletter

Register for our weekly epaper for latest news updates.

MORE NEWS

Two UNP candidates join Sajith on the Kegalle SJB stage!
News

Two UNP candidates join Sajith on the Kegalle SJB stage!

February 7, 2023

Two candidates contesting from the UNP in  Kegalle got into SJB ...

Read more
Over 650 Indian delegates to attend Tata Conference in Colombo

Over 650 Indian delegates to attend Tata Conference in Colombo

February 7, 2023
A 17-year-old boy broke into the house of former Colombo Crime Division DIG Lugoda and stole 17 lakh rupees worth gold!

A 17-year-old boy broke into the house of former Colombo Crime Division DIG Lugoda and stole 17 lakh rupees worth gold!

February 7, 2023
Political Failure and Economic Crisis: Case Study of Sri Lanka

Political Failure and Economic Crisis: Case Study of Sri Lanka

February 7, 2023
Sri Lanka Esports elects new board, gears up for exciting future of Esports in the country

Sri Lanka Esports elects new board, gears up for exciting future of Esports in the country

February 7, 2023
JAAF re-appoints Chairman Sharad Amalean & Executive Committee at 19th AGM

JAAF re-appoints Chairman Sharad Amalean & Executive Committee at 19th AGM

February 7, 2023
Load More

One of the best Sri Lanka Latest News Website and Sinhala language newspaper with Sunday editions, published by Free Media Independent Networks Pvt Ltd.

Browse by Category

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Foreign
  • Gurudawa
  • My Serendib
  • News
  • Politics
  • Rajya Rahas
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized

Latest news

Two UNP candidates join Sajith on the Kegalle SJB stage!

Two UNP candidates join Sajith on the Kegalle SJB stage!

February 7, 2023
Over 650 Indian delegates to attend Tata Conference in Colombo

Over 650 Indian delegates to attend Tata Conference in Colombo

February 7, 2023

Free Newsletter

Register for our weekly epaper for latest news updates.

Copyright © 2019 -2021 Free Media Independent Networks Pvt Ltd, All Rights Reserved. Solution by hodama.net

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Foreign
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Political Analysis
  • Inside Politics
  • EPAPER
  • සිංහල

Copyright © 2019 -2021 Free Media Independent Networks Pvt Ltd, All Rights Reserved. Solution by hodama.net

Go to mobile version