NEWS » on Oct.dddddddddddd 2 at 70,000-seat Qualcomm. .

Over the past few years, visitors to Zimbabwe have faced an unwelcome prospect: little to gain, everything to lose.The decreasing value of a tour of Zimbabwe can be seen in its most consistent marker. As India visited in three of the last four years, the teams they selected became ever weaker. In 2013, five first-XI players were rested. This year, as many as 17 players who were in Indias previous limited-overs squads were left at home.Sri Lankas situation on this tour is slightly different in that the five first-choice players back home were all injured, and so this is the strongest possible side. Yet, the players coming in still faced the prospect of gaining little at best, and, at worst, kissing goodbye to future selections at the highest level. The way they have gone about their business has not suggested that this has been weighing on their minds.The first Test brought a maiden century for Kusal Perera, and a first Test hundred in a decade for Upul Tharanga. But with Zimbabwe dropping six catches as they felt their way back into top-flight cricket, and both batsmen benefiting from the foundation laid by Sri Lankas openers, neither century was one to seal debates on their long-term future.The situation was different when Dhananjaya de Silva walked to the crease on the first day of the second Test. Sri Lanka were 112 for 4, and under pressure for the first time in the series. I think we dropped our guard a little bit yesterday morning and we found ourselves in a spot of bother, Graham Ford, Sri Lankas coach, said after day two. Some of our batters came in under pressure, and it was pleasing to see the composure in the way they absorbed the pressure that we needed them to.Zimbabwe had enjoyed a little bit of luck in taking three wickets prior to lunch. It wasnt necessarily luck that they deserved, but after the first Test, it could be argued that it was luck they were due. When they came out after lunch, the hosts seemed to have acknowledged that and decided to make the most of it. Bowlers who were so errant in the first session ramped up the pressure on de Silva and Tharanga, with the first 18 overs of the session yielding just 44 runs. We started off badly in the first session, but I think we pulled it back quite nicely as the day wore on, Hamilton Masakadza said.De Silva looked the perfect batsman for the circumstances. Although the pitch had even bounce, it remained on the slow side. Zimbabwe were playing the waiting game - a game that flashier batsmen than de Silva might well have lost. Instead, he remained compact, his neat technique never allowing him to get ahead of himself. Crucially on this surface, his range of strokes made it difficult for Zimbabwe to bowl in one place and block him up. By the end of the first day, he had an unbeaten hundred, having feasted on the spinners during the evening session. A Cricviz analysis showed the balance in his strokeplay: 51 runs off the front foot, 49 off the back foot; 51 on the off side, 49 on the leg side.Hes known as the Ice Man in our dressing room because he showed such composure and handled real pressure against Australia - they were one of the best attacks in world cricket and he showed that he was up for Test match cricket, Ford said. Theres that side to it, but he also seems to have a lot of time. We saw he plays the short ball pretty well - he can dispatch it - and has good technique. There are lots of positives there when you add all of that together, so hes a real find for Sri Lankan cricket.While de Silva looks to have set up his stall for the foreseeable future, adding depth to a batting department that is coming to terms with the retirement of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, Asela Gunaratnes case may be slightly different. Already 30 years old, Gunaratne is classified as an allrounder, but his bowling is never likely to be used on more than a part-time basis in Test cricket. As Sri Lanka toiled for 10 wickets on the last day of the first Test, Herath never once tossed him the ball.But 186 runs in three innings for two dismissals is difficult to argue with. In the first Test, Sri Lanka were 351 for 5 when Gunaratne came to the crease. In the second Test, the score was 255 for 5. With Gunaratne marshalling the tail, they have added 435 runs for the last five wickets over the course of two first innings. Angelo Mathews will walk back into the Test side when Sri Lanka head to South Africa next month, but it will be difficult to keep Gunaratne off the plane.Its good to see the form that the batsmen have shown, Ford said. Before the series, we knew that some of the fringe players had some talent but hadnt seen much opportunity. Now, theyve put their hands up and scored runs, so to see some depth in our batting department is really encouraging and important.On the little to gain dilemma, he added: The batsmen can only do what they can do, which is go out and score runs. If the wicket is flat, theres nothing they can do about it.Sri Lankas greatest challenge may yet come over the final three days of this match, as they face an improving Zimbabwe side on another flat pitch. Ford believes it will take some turn, but with fewer favours from Zimbabwes batsmen - and the umpires, now that DRS is in place - a lot of hard work lies ahead. So far, Sri Lankas batsmen have ticked all the boxes. Now, its over to the bowlers.NMD For Sale . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. NMD Outlet . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. https://www.cheapnmdoutlet.com/ . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. NMD Wholesale . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. NMD Store . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs.OAKLAND (10-3) at SAN DIEGO (5-8)Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE -- Pick-emRECORD VS. SPREAD -- Oakland 8-5, San Diego 7-6SERIES RECORD -- Raiders lead 62-50-2LAST MEETING -- Raiders beat Chargers 34-31, Oct. 9LAST WEEK -- Raiders lost to Chiefs 21-13; Chargers lost to Panthers 28-16AP PRO32 RANKING -- Raiders No. 4, Chargers No. 25RAIDERS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (6), RUSH (7), PASS (5).RAIDERS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (30), RUSH (26), PASS (27).CHARGERS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (11), RUSH (23), PASS (6).CHARGERS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (17), RUSH (6), PASS (25).STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Raiders need win to clinch first playoff berth since 2002, when they advanced to Super Bowl in San Diego before being routed 48-21 by Tampa Bay. ... This could be final Raiders-Chargers game in San Diego as Chargers chairman Dean Spanos is strongly considering move to Los Angeles after failing to get voter approval for new downtown stadium to replace aging Qualcomm Stadium. ... This could come close to Chargers first sellout of 2016, thanks to large number of Raiders fans that annually turn out. ... Chargers beest crowd this season was 60,641 against New Orleans on Oct.dddddddddddd 2 at 70,000-seat Qualcomm. ... Raiders 10 victories this season are more than Chargers nine victories in two seasons. ... Raiders QB Derek Carr looks to bounce back from perhaps worst game of career, 17 for 41 for 117 yards in 21-13 loss to Chiefs, posting career-low 49.1 rating. ... Chargers coach Mike McCoy is 27-34 in four seasons. Chargers have lost 20 of last 29 games. ... San Diego has lost 11 of its last 12 AFC West games dating to 2014. ... Chargers QB Philip Rivers tries to bounce back from five-turnover performance at Carolina, including three INTs. ... Chargers RB Melvin Gordon, 3 yards shy of first 1,000-yard season, unlikely to play due to hip injury ... Fantasy Tip: Chargers TE Antonio Gates still three TD catches shy of breaking Tony Gonzalezs NFL record for tight ends, 111, so might be worth benching.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '