Lankan Lions

Lankan Lions Let's break the mould and chat cricket with a fresh twist, where facts reign supreme over fleeting feelings.
(522)

On this day in 2003, West Indies wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs and No. 11 batsman Fidel Edwards managed to save their team ...
08/11/2025

On this day in 2003, West Indies wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs and No. 11 batsman Fidel Edwards managed to save their team from a defeat against Zimbabwe after batting for over 30 minutes and 12 overs.

This event took place during the 1st Test of the West Indies tour of Zimbabwe, held in Harare. Zimbabwe, batting first, posted an impressive total of 507/9 despite being at 58/3 at one point. This recovery was driven by outstanding performances from their lower and middle-order batsmen. Heath Streak, batting at No. 8, scored an unbeaten 127, while No. 9 Andy Blignaut contributed 91 runs. Additionally, young Tatenda Taibu scored 83, and Stuart Matsikenyeri added 57 runs.

In response, the West Indies scored 335, with notable contributions from Daren Ganga (73) and Wavell Hinds (79). Zimbabwe declared their second innings at 200/7, setting a target of 373 for the West Indies. The West Indies lost wickets regularly and were struggling at 103/5. A crucial 68-run partnership for the 6th wicket between Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ridley Jacobs provided some stability. However, the team continued to lose wickets and found themselves at 204/9 with about half an hour remaining in the day.

At this critical juncture, Jacobs and Edwards faced a determined Zimbabwe attack for 12 overs, managing to survive until the end of the match. Edwards remained unbeaten on 1 off 33 deliveries, while Jacobs was not out on 60, ensuring a draw in an exciting game of Test cricket. Heath Streak was named the man of the match for his century and bowling figures of 4 for 102. Additionally, Zimbabwe spinner Ray Price achieved career-best figures of 10 for 161, making a significant effort to secure what would have been Zimbabwe’s 6th Test victory.

On this day in 1999, India produced one of their most dominant ODI performances against New Zealand in Hyderabad. After ...
08/11/2025

On this day in 1999, India produced one of their most dominant ODI performances against New Zealand in Hyderabad. After the visitors had posted their then-highest total of 349 in Rajkot three days earlier, India responded emphatically by scoring 376 for 2 — their own highest total at the time.

The innings was built around a record-breaking 331-run partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, the highest stand for any wicket in ODIs at that point. Dravid compiled a fluent 153 off 153 balls, while Tendulkar’s unbeaten 186 came in just three balls fewer.

New Zealand’s bowlers had no answers, with Chris Drum conceding 85 runs from nine overs. India scored 90 runs in the final six overs and went on to win by 174 runs, leveling the series and marking one of their most memorable batting displays of the decade.

08/11/2025

It was a moment etched in World Cup folklore. England captain Mike Gatting, usually the picture of calm and control, chose the most unexpected shot at the most crucial time — the reverse sweep. Facing Allan Border’s first delivery, with England cruising at 137 for 2 in the 1987 World Cup final, Gatting crouched low and went for glory.

The ball brushed his shoulder, looped behind him, and Greg Dyer pulled off a sharp catch. In an instant, promise turned to panic. England’s chase unraveled, wickets tumbled, and Australia seized control. What looked like a sure English victory turned into heartbreak — as Australia lifted their maiden World Cup by just seven runs.

On this day 33 years ago, Martin Crowe pulled off an extraordinary feat that perfectly captured his class and endurance....
08/11/2025

On this day 33 years ago, Martin Crowe pulled off an extraordinary feat that perfectly captured his class and endurance. In Harare, he smashed 94 off just 87 balls in the second ODI against Zimbabwe — a blistering knock that came less than 24 hours after he had scored a magnificent 140 in the first innings of the second Test at the very same ground.

Yes, you read that right — the ODI was sandwiched between the first and second days of the Test match! Yet Crowe showed no signs of fatigue, only flawless timing and relentless hunger for runs. When the Test resumed, he added another 61 in the second innings, steering New Zealand to a commanding victory by 177 runs.

It wasn’t just a solo show either. Mark Greatbatch joined the party, scoring a half-century in the Test and following it up with another in the ODI. But it was Crowe’s stunning run spree across formats and days that stood out — a reminder of a time when class, commitment, and stamina defined true cricketing greatness.

It was a moment etched forever in World Cup folklore. Mike Gatting was not known for flamboyance or rashness — quite the...
07/11/2025

It was a moment etched forever in World Cup folklore. Mike Gatting was not known for flamboyance or rashness — quite the opposite, in fact. Conventional wisdom suggested that with England well placed in their chase, the captain would treat Allan Border’s first delivery with care. But as the ball pitched just outside off stump, something inexplicable happened. Gatting crouched low — no small effort for him — and went for the audacious reverse sweep.

It was a shot that promised brilliance but delivered heartbreak. The ball clipped his shoulder, ballooned awkwardly behind him, and a startled Greg Dyer somehow clung on. “Magic for Australia, tragic for England,” wrote ESPNcricinfo — perfectly summing up that fateful twist in the 1987 World Cup final.

At the time, England were cruising at 137 for 2, chasing 254, and Gatting was looking assured on 41, having played a key role in their semifinal win over India. But his dismissal triggered a collapse. Wickets tumbled, the asking rate climbed, and the momentum slipped away. When the dust settled, Australia had triumphed by just seven runs — their first-ever ODI World Cup crown.

Earlier in the day, David Boon’s gritty 75 had anchored Australia’s innings, while a late flourish from Mike Veletta — a rapid 45 off 31 balls — pushed them to a competitive 253. Captain Allan Border chipped in with 31 runs and then turned the screws with the ball, taking 2 for 38. A young Steve Waugh, just 22, bowled with composure beyond his years to claim 2 for 37.

On this day in 1987, before a crowd of nearly 100,000 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Australia began a legacy that would define an era — lifting the first of their six World Cup titles, born out of one bold stroke gone wrong.

Steve Waugh, then the captain of Australia, had his eye on a young tearaway from New South Wales — Brett Lee. Impressed ...
07/11/2025

Steve Waugh, then the captain of Australia, had his eye on a young tearaway from New South Wales — Brett Lee. Impressed by his raw pace and fierce energy, Waugh championed his inclusion in the national side. After biding his time on the sidelines for a couple of matches, Lee finally got his big break — a Test debut against India in 1999.

What followed was pure theatre. Bowling with venom and precision, Lee tore through the Indian batting lineup, claiming 7 wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings. In doing so, he became the first Australian since the great Dennis Lillee to take five wickets on Test debut. Just months later, he marked his ODI debut against Pakistan in 2000 — and a new era of Australian pace was officially underway.

For the next decade, Brett Lee was the face of speed. He wasn’t just fast; he was ferocious — regularly clocking above 150 km/h, unsettling batsmen worldwide. Yet, despite not quite achieving the record-shattering heights of the game’s all-time greats, Lee’s impact was undeniable. With 310 wickets in 76 Tests, he retired as Australia’s fourth-highest wicket-taker — and a fan favorite across the globe.

In ODIs, only Muttiah Muralitharan claimed more wickets than Lee during the 2000s. But numbers alone don’t capture his legacy. It was his electrifying energy, his trademark leap and fist pump after a wicket, and that ever-present smile that made millions of young fans run up to their backyard wickets trying to imitate “Binga.”

One of cricket’s fastest and most loved entertainers turns 49 today. Here’s wishing a very happy birthday to the Australian speed machine — Brett Lee.

Allan Watkins was one of the central figures in Glamorgan’s first ever County Championship triumph in 1948. That same su...
07/11/2025

Allan Watkins was one of the central figures in Glamorgan’s first ever County Championship triumph in 1948. That same summer, he became the county’s first cricketer to play in an Ashes Test — though his debut was far from ideal. He was dismissed for 0 and 7, struck painfully on the shoulder by the fearsome Ray Lindwall, and managed to bowl only four overs.

Despite that tough start, Watkins built a distinguished career as a genuine allrounder. A steady middle-order batsman, he amassed over 20,000 first-class runs, while his medium-fast swing bowling earned him 833 wickets — a true workhorse for Glamorgan and a pillar of their golden era.

His finest hour in Test cricket came on this day in 1951, when he produced a heroic performance to save England from defeat in the opening Test against India in Delhi. It was a weakened England side — without stars like Hutton, May, Compton, Laker, and Bedser — and India looked poised for a historic first Test victory after gaining a massive first-innings lead of 215.

But Watkins stood firm with immense grit and patience. Over the course of a grinding 221 overs, England battled to 368 for 6, with Indian spinner Vinoo Mankad bowling an astonishing 76 overs for figures of 4 for 58. Watkins carried his bat with a determined unbeaten 137, ensuring England escaped with a draw and etching his name into cricketing folklore.

On this day in 2016, South Africa continued their remarkable unbeaten record at the WACA with a third consecutive Test v...
07/11/2025

On this day in 2016, South Africa continued their remarkable unbeaten record at the WACA with a third consecutive Test victory in Perth. The match, however, didn’t start in their favor. Bowled out for just 242 in the first innings, South Africa watched Australia’s openers race to 158 in reply, threatening to seize full control.

Their situation worsened when Dale Steyn — who had just dismissed David Warner for 97 — left the field injured, effectively ending his participation in the series. Already missing their captain and key batsman AB de Villiers, South Africa faced an uphill battle.

But the tide turned dramatically in the second innings. JP Duminy, who had made a memorable debut at the same venue back in 2008, struck a fighting century alongside Dean Elgar. Quinton de K**k also made a vital contribution, helping South Africa post a massive target of 539.

With Steyn sidelined, 21-year-old Kagiso Rabada rose to the occasion, claiming five wickets and leading South Africa to a 177-run victory — a triumph that extended their unbeaten run at the WACA.

Sandun Weerakkody කියලා google එකේ search කරන්න. ඒකේ මුලින්ම පෙන්නන www.espncricinfo.com site එකේ player profile එකට යන්...
07/11/2025

Sandun Weerakkody කියලා google එකේ search කරන්න. ඒකේ මුලින්ම පෙන්නන www.espncricinfo.com site එකේ player profile එකට යන්න. ඒකෙ යට පෙන්නවා අදාල player අන්තිමට සෙල්ලන් කරේ කොයි කාලෙද කියලා. එතකොටවත් යට තියෙන post වගේ ඒවා දැකලා වල්ගේ පාගගෙන කෑගහන එක පොඩ්ඩක් අඩුවේවි.

So the both occasions Sri Lankan defended the Hong Kong sixes title, they’ve failed at it. Both times failed to advance ...
07/11/2025

So the both occasions Sri Lankan defended the Hong Kong sixes title, they’ve failed at it. Both times failed to advance ending at the bottom of respective groups.

Bottom line, it’s a fun tournament that should be enjoyed for pure entertainment.

07/11/2025

බොදවුනු හොන්ග් කොන්ග් සිහින

On this day in 2008, Australian offspinner Jason Krejza made a remarkable Test debut in Nagpur, taking 8 for 215 against...
07/11/2025

On this day in 2008, Australian offspinner Jason Krejza made a remarkable Test debut in Nagpur, taking 8 for 215 against India — the eighth-best figures ever by a debutant and the fourth-best by an Australian. Ironically, it also became the most runs conceded by any bowler on debut. Krejza finished the match with 12 for 358 and was named Player of the Match, even though Australia lost. Despite this sensational start, he went on to play just one more Test in his career.

Address

Colombo

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Lankan Lions posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Lankan Lions:

Shortcuts

Share

Category