SRI LANKA RECALL LASITH MALINGA FOR ASIA CUP
COLOMBO:
Sri Lanka’s selectors on Saturday recalled fast bowler Lasith Malinga after an year in limbo and included him in a 16-member squad for the Asia Cup. The injury-prone 35-year-old had been largely ignored since his last ODI appearance in September last year against India in Colombo when he took one wicket for 35 runs. Sri Lanka lost the match by six wickets. However, official sources said he had impressed selectors during an ongoing domestic T20 series and has now been included in the squad for the Asia Cup, opening in the United Arab Emirates in two weeks. Squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal, Danushka Gunathilaka, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Dhanajaya de Silva, Akila Dananjaya, Dilruwan Perera, Amila Aponso, Kasun Rajitha, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera and
Lasith Malinga.
Three elements have stood out in the current Test series — brilliant bowling by India’s pace bowlers, brittle batting by England’s top-order, and the home skipper struggling at an unusual No 3 spot.
India’s pacers were again battling it out on a sunny third day of the fourth Test at the Ageas Bowl on Saturday, looking to deliver the 20 wickets as they have been doing to ensure the visitors don’t have to chase too much in a fourth innings chase that is expected to be tricky on a pitch with wear and tear. England were 114/4 in their second innings midway through the second session, a lead of 87.
SOUTHAMPTON:
SHAMI DOUBLE Mohammed Shami shook England with wickets off successive deliveries either side of lunch, trapping opener Keaton Jennings (36) and having new batsman Jonny Bairstow bowled with deliveries hinting reverse swing to be on a hat-trick.
However, England skipper was flourishing after coming in at his favourite No 4 spot to be the thorn in India’s flesh. He batted with assurance after sending Moeen Ali at No 3 to deny India bowlers a chance to go at him until the 16th over. Root, forced to come at one-drop in this series, had come after the 10th over only once in the previous six overs with ball still new and moving.
India skipper Virat Kohli would be wondering what would have been if his lower order batsmen had applied better and backed centurion Cheteshwar Pujara to take the game away from England.
Instead, the visitors saw the slender lead evaporate and the ball do little with the sun beating down and the pitch turning out good for batting overall.
Shami’s double had reduced England to 92/4, raising hopes for getting into the middle and lower order batsmen —
England’s strong suit in this series — but Ben Stokes played cautiously to partner Root for the fifth wicket.
Midway through the afternoon session, it appeared England had slightly nosed ahead with a lead of around 100 with wickets in hand. England had gone to lunch at 92/3 after Shami trapped Jennings leg before with one that kept a touch
low. It ended a frustrating period for India as Jennings, fighting for his career, added 59 runs for the third wicket with Root.
Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma provided the breakthroughs after England resumed on 6/0, with KL Rahul taking juggling catches at second slip.
COOK FAILS
Bumrah had Alastair Cook