Suryakumar leads India to victory over Sri Lanka in T20 series opener
Suryakumar, chosen as leader over Hardik Pandya, put on a key stand of 76 with wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who scored 49.
By EasternEyeJul 28, 2024
New captain Suryakumar Yadav hit a half-century to se t up a 43-run victory for India in the first of three T20 internationals against Sri Lanka on Saturday.
Suryakumar, 33, scored 58 off 26 balls at Kandy's Pallekele in his first match as T20 skipper, marking the start of a new era for India in the format after their T20 World Cup win last month.
India posted 213-7 and then bowled out Sri Lanka for 170. Spinner Axar Patel struck twice in one over, taking the key wicket of Pathum Nissanka for 79.
Nissanka seemed to be setting up the chase, but Sri Lanka lost nine wickets for 30 runs and were bowled out in 19.2 overs.
"We practised here for two-three days and we knew how the wicket would play," said Suryakumar, who was named player of the match. "We never thought it would go away from us, given we won the World Cup. Fortunately, there was no dew."
India have started fresh in T20 cricket after Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirements from the format following their World Cup win in Barbados.
Suryakumar, chosen as leader over Hardik Pandya, put on a key stand of 76 with wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who scored 49.
Fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana took four wickets, including those of Suryakumar and Pant, but could not stop India from crossing 200 after a sloppy fielding effort by the home team.
Charith Asalanka, the new Sri Lanka T20 skipper, elected to field first after winning the toss.
Both teams have new coaches, with Gautam Gambhir joining India and Sanath Jayasuriya in an interim role for Sri Lanka.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 40 off 21 balls, and Shubman Gill, who made 34, gave India an explosive start with a partnership of 74 in the first six overs.
The openers departed in the space of two deliveries, with Dilshan Madushanka taking down Gill and leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga getting Jaiswal stumped with his first ball.
Suryakumar steadied the innings and attacked with eight fours and two sixes in partnership with Pant.
Pathirana, known as "Baby Malinga," trapped Suryakumar lbw after his 22-ball fifty. He then bowled Pandya and Pant.
In reply, Sri Lanka started strongly with an 84-run stand between Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, who made 45 off 27 deliveries.
Nissanka continued the charge, despite losing Mendis in the ninth over, and hit seven fours and four sixes in his 48-ball knock.
Patel, a left-arm spinner, bowled Nissanka and then dismissed Kusal Perera in the same over. Sri Lanka collapsed from 140-1 to 163-7.
"We could've done better (with the bat)," said Asalanka. "It (6-5 batting-bowling combination) is an experiment, but this is the way we should go in the future."
The second match of the series will take place on Sunday at the same venue.
MINISTER for equalities, Seema Malhotra, this week hosted a race equalities meeting at Downing Street and pledged to work for a fairer society, ahead of Black History Month, observed in October.
Ethnic minority leaders and representatives from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the British Business Bank, the West Midlands Combined Authority, the National Police Chiefs' Council and Avon and Somerset Police attended a meeting of the Race Equality Engagement Group (REEG) on Monday (29).
Its chair is Baroness Doreen Lawrence.
Malhotra said, “No one should be held back or denied opportunities because of their race.
“I am committed to working closely with the group to remove barriers, strengthen accountability and help create a fairer society for communities up and down the country.”
Improving access to investment for ethnic minority led businesses and the Police Race Action Plan were on the agenda for the meeting.
“The Race Equality Engagement Group is working to ensure ethnic minorities' voices are heard having their say on the issues that matter most to them. I look forward to working with members to bring about real and lasting progress on race equality,” said Lawrence.
“Collaboration between ethnic minority communities and the government is crucial in this current climate.”
The REEG, set up in March, aims to strengthen the government's links with ethnic minority communities.
An Equality (Race and Disability) Bill is set to be introduced to address mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers, which the government believes would be a significant step towards greater workplace equality.
Black History Month is marked in October and celebrates the contribution of black and ethnic minority leaders, activists and pioneers.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
A JUDGE has described how vulnerable young girls were let down by local authorities in northern England as he jailed seven members of a child sexual exploitation gang for between 12 to 35 years on Wednesday (1).
The men, all of south Asian descent, exploited at least two vulnerable white teenage girls in Rochdale, near Manchester, using them as "sex slaves".
They were repeatedly raped over a five-year period starting in 2001, a court heard.
Jurors heard they were forced to have sex "with multiple men on the same day, in filthy flats and on rancid mattresses".
"They were passed around for sex - abused, humiliated, degraded and then discarded," judge Jonathan Seely said on passing sentence.
The longest sentence of 35 years went to market stallholder Mohammed Zahid, 65.
The father-of-three gave free underwear from his lingerie stall to both teenagers, alongside money, alcohol and food, expecting in return regular sex with him and his friends.
The Manchester resident was found guilty of 20 offences including rape, indecency with a child, and attempting to procure unlawful sexual intercourse from a girl.
Fellow Rochdale market traders Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, and Kasir Bashir, 50, both of Oldham, received jail terms of 27 years and 29 years, respectively.
Both were convicted of offences including rape and indecency with a child.
Bashir, who absconded before the trial began and is believed to have fled abroad, was sentenced in absentia.
Taxi drivers Mohammed Shahzad, 44, Naheem Akram, 49, and Nisar Hussain, 41, all of Rochdale, were convicted of multiple counts of rape and received sentences ranging from 19 to 26 years.
A final offender, 39-year-old Roheez Khan, of Rochdale, was jailed for 12 years for a single count of rape.
The men sentenced on Wednesday were prosecuted as part of Operation Lytton, a police investigation launched in 2015 into historical child sexual exploitation in Rochdale.
Police probes into historic child sexual exploitation in Rochdale have so far led to the conviction of 32 offenders, including the seven sentenced on Wednesday, according to the police.
The perpetrators have collectively been jailed for more than 450 years.
Handing down the jail terms, Seely said the two victims "were highly vulnerable, both had deeply troubled backgrounds and were known to the authorities".
Seven men jailed for more than 170 years for Rochdale child sexual exploitation
"They were highly susceptible to the advances of these men and others, and both were sexually abused by numerous other men," he noted.
"Both were seriously let down by those whose job it was to protect them."
A jury hearing their four-month trial in Manchester found all seven guilty in June of rape and dozens of other offences, after both victims gave evidence in court.
Social services and police have apologised for their past failings surrounding the victims.
Liz Fell, specialist prosecutor in the case, thanked both victims for their "strength and dignity throughout what has been a lengthy and challenging legal process".
"Their determination to see justice done has been fundamental to securing these convictions," she said, noting the defendants had failed to show the "slightest remorse".
Sharon Hubber, director of children’s services at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Rochdale Borough Council is in a very different place to where it once was more than a decade ago, and our work to improve our safeguarding practice and our response to child sexual exploitation has been recognised in every Ofsted inspection since 2014.
“We will not be complacent however, and we remain committed to doing all that we can with our partners to protect and support victims and survivors.
“We also continue to provide a safe and supportive environment to anyone affected by non-recent abuse or exploitation to ensure people get the right support that they need.”
EA to be acquired by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners
Shareholders to receive £166 per share, 25% above market value
Deal marks largest all-cash sponsor take-private investment ever
EA to remain headquartered in California under CEO Andrew Wilson
Transaction expected to close in early 2027
EA agrees to £43bn all-cash takeover
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA), the studio behind blockbuster franchises such as FIFA, Battlefield, and The Sims, is set to go private after agreeing to a £43 billion acquisition by an investor consortium made up of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.
Shareholders will receive £166 per share in cash, a 25% premium on EA’s recent market price. PIF, which already owns 9.9% of the company, will roll its stake into the deal. Once completed, EA will no longer be listed on public markets.
Largest all-cash take-private in history
The deal is the biggest all-cash sponsor-led take-private transaction ever. The consortium has said it will use its experience in gaming, technology, and sports to support EA’s growth and innovation, aiming to create new opportunities for players worldwide.
Executives react
EA chief executive Andrew Wilson said the acquisition recognises “the extraordinary work” of the company’s teams and will help the studio “unlock new opportunities globally.”
Turqi Alnowaiser of PIF highlighted the fund’s commitment to gaming and esports, while Silver Lake co-CEO Egon Durban praised EA’s strong revenue growth and cash flow. Jared Kushner, CEO of Affinity Partners, called EA “an extraordinary company with a world-class management team and bold vision for the future.”
What happens next
The deal has been approved by EA’s board and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approval and shareholder consent. Funding will come from a mix of consortium equity and £16 billion in debt financing. EA will remain based in Redwood City, California, with Wilson staying on as CEO.
About EA
EA is a leading developer and publisher of video games for consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. Its portfolio includes some of the industry’s most recognisable brands, such as EA SPORTS FC, Apex Legends, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies. In fiscal 2025, the company posted £5.9 billion in revenue.
Keep ReadingShow less
Manpreet Jatana, 34, and Jaskiret Singh Uppal, 36, appeared at the Old Bailey criminal court on Tuesday (30), charged with the murder of Penelope Chandrie. (Photo: iStock)
A COUPLE charged with the murder of their three-year-old daughter nearly two years ago have been accused of "deliberately starving" the toddler at a court hearing in London.
Manpreet Jatana, 34, and Jaskiret Singh Uppal, 36, appeared at the Old Bailey criminal court on Tuesday (30), charged with the murder of Penelope Chandrie.
The couple is additionally charged with manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of a child, and abandoning a child or causing them unnecessary suffering or injury, media reports said.
Judge Lynn Tayton remanded both the accused to custody until the next hearing on December 16, when they will enter their pleas of guilty or not guilty to determine if the case progresses towards sentencing or a jury trial.
Police found Penelope's "very emaciated" body wrapped in a sheet in December 2023, the court heard. An examination of her body found the cause of death was malnutrition.
Pathological findings indicated “starvation over a prolonged period of many months culminating in fatal ketoacidosis”, the prosecution was quoted as saying.
Jatana and Uppal mistreated their daughter over an “extended period of time” and “deliberately starved” her, leading to her death, the reports said.
The family's vegetarian diet is said to have mainly consisted of yoghurt, lentils and butter, and police officers also found their home in west London to be in poor condition.
Earlier, the Metropolitan Police said emergency services were called to a residential address on Pennine Way in Hayes on the evening of December 17, 2023, where the child was found.
The child's death remained under investigation over the years until Jatana and Uppal were arrested and charged last month.
Keep ReadingShow less
Activision has announced that players will need TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
Black Ops 7 beta requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot on PC to enforce strict anti-cheat measures.
Activision encourages cheaters to test the beta, using the opportunity to strengthen its RICOCHET Anti-Cheat system.
Any account banned for cheating in the beta will face permanent bans across all Call of Duty titles.
Stricter PC requirements for fair play
Activision has announced that players will need TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled on their PCs to participate in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 beta and at launch. Similar to Battlefield 6, these security features prevent modified hardware and unauthorised software from compromising the game.
The beta opens on 2 October for early access players and 5 October for open beta participants. Activision recommends enabling TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in advance to ensure readiness.
Anti-cheat measures and RICOCHET upgrades
The RICOCHET Anti-Cheat system has been upgraded for Black Ops 7, combining hardware-level verification with advanced detection of cheats, including aimbots and wall hacks. Activision explained that these new measures include remote verification via Microsoft Azure servers, providing stronger validation than local PC checks.
“Cheaters will try to test the limits during the Beta. That’s exactly what we want because #TeamRICOCHET is here, watching, learning, and removing them as they appear,” Activision said.
Any account banned during the beta will be permanently barred across all Call of Duty games, from Modern Warfare to future releases.
Challenges for PC players
Enabling Secure Boot can be technically demanding for some players, as it involves accessing the BIOS, converting Windows drives to GPT format, and updating firmware. To assist, Activision has released guides for the top 10 motherboard manufacturers to simplify the process.
Despite these hurdles, the company emphasised that TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are non-negotiable foundations of its layered anti-cheat system, designed to maintain a fair and secure gaming environment for all players.
Call of Duty has long struggled with cheating, particularly in Warzone. Activision has spent years combating cheaters, including legal action against cheat developers. The Black Ops 7 beta provides a controlled environment to observe and block cheaters before the full launch, ensuring the integrity of competitive play.
“This creates a tougher environment for cheats to operate in and ensures that the protections these features detect cannot be bypassed or spoofed,” Activision said, highlighting the system’s most advanced anti-cheat protections to date.