Final Test in balance
ANTIGUA - Inclement weather and a stoic knock from Pathum Nissanka prevented West Indies from wrapping up Sri Lanka’s first innings on the third day of the second test yesterday, leaving the match firmly in the balance.
Nissanka, playing only his second test, was 49 not out when rain brought a premature close with Sri Lanka 250-8, still trailing by 104 runs.
The 22-year-old, who scored a century on debut in the first test, showed a maturity as he scored quickly to cut into the deficit and frustrate the hosts on a day hampered by rain and high winds.
Only 42 overs were possible at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua with Sri Lanka losing five wickets for the addition of 118 runs after resuming on 136-3.
They lost two wickets in the morning session with Dinesh Chandimal scoring 44 and Dhananjaya de Silva 39 as both batsmen failed to convert good starts.
Chandimal fell to a trap set by Shannon Gabriel, who tempted him into hooking a short delivery and had him caught on the deep square leg boundary.
De Silva went in more bizarre circumstances in the 79th over as part-timer Jermaine Blackwood was brought on just before the second new ball became available. His first delivery trapped De Silva lbw but it was turning sharply, which should have prompted a player review.
De Silva walked off without hesitating, however, after being given out, only to find that had he reviewed he would have been given not out as the ball would have missed his wicket.
After lunch, and in between rain beaks, Niroshan Dickwella was caught behind for 21 but only given out after a review and Suranga Lakmal (6) was caught at mid-on off Alzarri Joseph.
Dushmantha Chameera went cheaply after tea leaving Nissanka and Lasith Embuldeniya not out at the close.
The West Indies scored 354 in their first innings. The first test was drawn.
Otago drop six
WELLINGTON - The Otago Highlanders have dropped six players, including All Black Josh Ioane, for Saturday’s crunch Super Rugby Aotearoa match against the Canterbury Crusaders after they breached the team “code”, coach Tony Brown said on Wednesday. The unspecified breach could not come at a worse time for the Highlanders, who are bottom of the table after a 1-3 start to the season and have suffered a raft of injuries. Sione Misiloi, Daniel LienertBrown, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Teariki Ben-Nicholas and Patelesio Tomkinson will join fullback Ioane on the sidelines. “There’s six guys who are unavailable through letting the team down around their standards -- broke the code that we live by and it’s all around their professional habits,” Brown told reporters.
Cup finals move
PARIS - This year’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals will not be staged in Marseille due to the evolving public health situation in France, the tournament organisers’ board said on Wednesday. European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) said the decision was taken after consultation with the relevant local authorities in France to reduce cross-border travel where possible and to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission. It added that flexibility was required regarding the choice of venues for the finals on May 21 and 22.
“The 2022 finals will now be played in Marseille on May 27 and 28, 2022, with European club rugby’s blue riband weekend scheduled for London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2023,” EPCR said in a statement.
Rugby co-host
WELLINGTON - New Zealand is looking to co-host this year’s Rugby Championship with one of its southern hemisphere partners, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) boss Mark Robinson said on Tuesday, though South Africa has already indicated it is not interested in staging games.
Last year’s Rugby Championship (TRC) was held entirely in Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic although it was rebranded the “Tri-Nations” after world champions South Africa pulled out.
South Africa, which is scheduled to host the British and Irish Lions tour in July-August, does not want to be involved in co-hosting the four-nation TRC, Robinson told reporters in Wellington.
“At this stage, they have signalled that they don’t wish to host the Rugby Championship this year,” Robinson said at the nations capital
COVID-19 vaccine
MIAMI - After players at the Miami Open expressed a reluctance to get the COVID-19 vaccine the women’s tennis governing body the WTA said on Tuesday it would educate athletes and encourage them to get the shot.
After fourth round wins on Monday, Ukrainian Elina Svitolina and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka had aired concerns about how quickly the vaccines had been rolled out and said they would wait before deciding whether to get one. Svitolina added that getting the vaccine made no sense since either way players would be required to quarantine. The WTA has said it would not require players to get a vaccine but wanted to make the benefits of getting a shot clear to everyone.
“The WTA believes in and will encourage everyone to get a vaccine,” said the WTA in a statement.