The Australians showed their resilience once again in the manner the side picked itself up from the mat at the Kensington Oval on Sunday. In the process, they did pass on some hope to India who looked completely down and out after their defeat to West Indies.
Seemingly down for the count at 67 for five in the 11th over, Australia, following a remarkable turnaround, outplayed Sri Lanka by a massive 81 runs in a Group `F' Super Eights match of the ICC World Twenty20.
Man of the Match Cameron White (85*) and the left-handed Michael Hussey (39*) orchestrated the Aussie revival with the willow with an unbeaten 101-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Australia finished at a challenging 168 for five.
Then, Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson bounced out the Sri Lankans on a typical Barbados surface with pace and lift.
With two victories in as many games and backed by a healthy net run-rate, Australia is virtually through to the semifinals. Sri Lanka, with a win in two games, may have to endure some moments of anxiety against India.
When the Sri Lankans chased, the Australian quicks were on fire. The in-form Mahela Jayawardene could not connect a pull off left-arm speedster Nannes properly and was held in the deep. Kumar Sangakkara fell to the hook trap laid by Tait and soon Sanath Jayasuriya swung across a fullish delivery from Nannes, missed, and was adjudged leg-before.
Tillekaratne Dilshan, waded into Shane Watson but his uppish cut off left-arm quick Johnson was sensationally held by a diving White at point. Sri Lanka was struggling at 48 for four. Australia closed out the match ruthlessly.
Australia gathered a whopping 81 runs in the final six over as White, supported splendidly by Michael Hussey, put his foot on the accelerator.
Perhaps, White's most memorable stroke was an effortless off-drive for a six when Mendis flighted one. And left-arm paceman Chanaka Welegedara was muscled over the sightscreen by the imposing White.
At the other end, the canny Michael Hussey rotated the strike with deft placements – the right-left combination disrupted the line of the bowlers – and the runs began to flow. The smart left-hander can clobber the ball as well and on one occasion got under a low ball for a fierce straight hit for a six off slinger Lasith Malinga.
The Sri Lankans missed the experience and craft of off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in the second half of the innings. Muralitharan has flown home after aggravating a groin injury.
Friday, May 7, 2010
6:54 PM
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Mahela Jaywardene's superb form at the World Twenty20 continued as he made an unbeaten 98 in Sri Lanka's 57-run win over the West Indies in the Super Eights on Friday.
The opener's innings at the Kensington Oval was the centrepiece of Sri Lanka's total of 195 for three - the best by any side this tournament.
But the West Indies helped last year's losing finalists greatly by missing six chances during a wretched fielding display as they lost for the first time this tournament.
Jayawardene, given two reprieves, faced 56 balls with four sixes and nine fours as he followed up his 81 against New Zealand and 100 against Zimbabwe with another dominant innings. Jayawardene's average for the tournament is 139.5.
Jayawardene was joined in a stand of 166, the second best in all Twenty20 internationals by captain Kumar Sangakkara, who made 68 after being dropped on 0 and then again on 27.
West Indies lost two wickets early on as Shivnarine Chanderpaul and hard-hitting captain Chris Gayle both fell cheaply, with Sri Lanka holding their catches as the hosts slumped to 23 for two.
The innings never really recovered from that double blow and West Indies limped to 138 for eight off 20 overs.
Ramnaresh Sarwan (28) and Dwayne Bravo (23) were the only batsmen to pass 15 in an innings where extras was the third-best contributor with 17.
Spinner Ajantha Mendis took three wickets for 24 runs from his four overs and paceman Lasith Malinga three for 28.
Senior spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, back in the side after recovering from a groin injury which officials feared might end his participation in this tournament, took none for 26 from four overs but his presence in the team was a huge boost to Sri Lanka regardless of his figures in this match.
After Sanath Jayasuriya fell cheaply, having being promoted back to his old opening slot, Gayle set the tone for what followed by dropping rival skipper Sangakkara, on nought, when he grassed a slip chance, despite getting both hands to the ball after an edge off paceman Jerome Taylor
Left-hander Sangakkara, who won the toss, was given another let-off when Kieron Pollard failed to hold a tough caught and bowled chance.
Sangakkara eventually holed out having faced 49 balls with three sixes and five fours.
Jayawardene, enjoying a new lease of life as a Twenty20 opener, showed his class early on when he advanced to loft fast bowler Taylor for six over long-on.
But he too was given a couple of lives, with left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn the unfortunate bowler on both occasions.
Jayawardene, on 65, was well beaten by a Benn delivery, only for occasional wicketkeeper Andre Fletcher to miss the stumping.
And, in the same over, Jayawardene had added only one to his score when a top-edge was skied behind but neither Fletcher nor short third man Wavell Hinds went for the catch and the ball fell safe.
No-one has yet made two Twenty20 international hundreds but the unselfish Jayawardene refused to hog the strike in the last over as Tillakaratne Dilshan ended the innings with a four.
Both teams are back here on Sunday, with the West Indies playing India and Sri Lanka facing Australia, who thrashed the Indians by 49 runs earlier Thursday.
Fri May 7 13:30 GMT 15th Match, Group F - Australia v India
Fri May 7 17:30 GMT 16th Match, Group F - Sri Lanka v West Indies
Sun May 9 13:30 GMT 19th Match, Group F - India v West Indies
Sun May 9 17:30 GMT 20th Match, Group F - Australia v Sri Lanka
Tue May 11 13:30 GMT 23rd Match, Group F - India v Sri Lanka
Tue May 11 17:30 GMT 25th Match, Group F - Australia v West Indies
Each team will get 2 points for a win and 1 point for NR.
In case of a tie (i.e. both teams score exactly the same number of runs at the end of their respective innings), a super-over decides the winner. This is applicable in all stages of the tournament.
The ranking in a groupd will be decided based on following criteria:
Higher number of points
If equal, higher number of wins
If still equal, higher net run rate
If still equal, lower bowling strike rate
If still equal, result of head to head meeting.
Top 2 teams from the group will qualify for semi-finals.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
10:05 PM
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Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, South Africa’s Graeme Smith and Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara have joined the ICC-promoted AIDS awareness campaign in the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup.
An ICC statement read, “Leading cricketers including Kumar Sangakkara, Graeme Smith, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Stafanie Taylor have united during the ICC World Twenty20 2010 to show their support for cricket's global efforts to combat HIV.”
The ICC, UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Global Media AIDS Initiative have initiated the Think Wise partnership for promotion of AIDS awareness and reduce stigma and discrimination. Under this a series of community activities have been organized during the T20 tournament.
Zimbabwe's inexperience got exposed in rain today, as they squandered a chance to go through to Super 8 group of World T20.
In the end, it may seem that Zimbabwe did not have luck, but they knew what they had to do. However, Zimbabwe's batsmen never seemed to realize that they are standing on a pot of gold. All they needed was to have a mad dash to 44 but in the end fell short by 15. It was senseless sweeps by Taibu and company to fine short leg for singles that frustrated everyone except Lankans and Zimbabwe players. Taibu in particular should not have been there in the center purely on merit. It's been Chigumbura who has done the damage in their warm up games and was fit to try and achieve the target. Taibu seemed unaware of the task and was simply going through the motions (of a test match).
Credit must go to Mahela who scored maiden century in World T20 to take Lanka to 173. Zimbabwe came out to bat but the innings lasted only 1 over when rain forced suspension of play. When Zimbabwe came out again, the match was shortened to 11 over, and Zimbabwe had to score less than 100 in remaining 10 overs. However, they should have realized that the match can end with minimum 5 overs bowled in the innings.
It started raining again towards end of 3rd over, but Zimbabwe never made an attempt to reach target of 45, nor tried to ensure that 5th over of the match is not completed. In the end, Sri Lankan players were already running towards dressing room as last bowl of 5th over was being bowled. For Zimbabwe, it was "Baby's day out".
Sri Lanka's campaign in the Twenty20 World Cup today suffered a blow with off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan being ruled out of the entire tournament due to a groin strain.
Muralitharan sustained the injury during his side's two-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the tournament opener here on April 30.
Team physiotherapist Tommy Simsek said Muralitharan has sustained a grade one strain on his right adductor muscle and will need up to three weeks' rest.
No replacement for 38-year-old spin wizard has been named by Sri Lankan team management. He took two wickets for 25 runs against New Zealand.
Muralitharan has more international wickets than any other cricketer with 792 in 132 Tests and 512 in 334 ODIs. He has 13 wickets in 10 Twenty20 Internationals.
Sri Lanka take on Zimbabwe today in a must-win encounter to have any chance of advancing to the Super Eight stage.
New Zealand (NZ) will play Sri Lanka (SL) in the opening match of ICC World T20 2010 at Providence Stadium here on Friday.
Last year’s runner up Sri Lanka will try to start the T20 World Cup 2010 campaign on winning note whereas Black Caps will also endeavour for positive start in the third edition of mega T20 extravaganza, beginning tonight at 1800 hrs (GMT).
As far as Sri Lankan team is concerned, islanders are in good form and evenly balanced. Almost entire Sri Lanka team has been arrived here after good outing in IPL season three.
Key batsman for Sri Lanka: skipper K Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, S Jayasuriya, T Dilshan, Angelo Mathews.
Lashit Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and Muttaiah Murlitharan are in good form and could be dangerous on slow Caribbean pitch.
It is expected that Mahela Jayawardene, who smashed unbeaten maiden ton in IPL, will open Sri Lankan innings against Kiwis.
On the other hand, New Zealand are known for making major upsets in big occasions. Riding high on good all-rounders, Black Caps are in the fray for title.
Brandom McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Rose Taylor, Martin Guptill will be key batsmen for New Zealand. Daniel Vettori-led bowling department has been looking weaker than Sri Lankans but they are able to turn the table.
Whatever the result will be, full entertainment is guaranteed when two top teams lock horns in the ICC World T20 opener this evening.
In the second match of round robin stage, host West Indies will clash with Ireland. The match will start at 2200 hrs GMT.
Sri Lanka National Team is scheduled to leave tomorrow for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup to be held in West Indies.
The team will have a photograph session at Sri Lanka Cricket Headquarters and receive religious blessings before their departure in the evening.
Sri Lanka is playing in Group B with New Zealand and Zimbabwe. The team, which includes the newly-elected ruling party MP Sanath Jayasuriya, will play its first warm-up match against South Africa on April 28 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to play the first match of the tournament against New Zealand on April 30 in Guyana.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
7:24 AM
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Sri Lanka cricket selectors have included the veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and uncapped Dinesh Chndimal for the Twenty20 World Cup tournament in West Indies.
Chandimal who has been promising in domestic T20 arena is the only uncapped player in the 15-member Sri Lanka squad for the ICC World Twenty20.
Sanath Jayasuriya is the oldest member of the team at 40. He will be turning 41 in June.
Sri Lanka will be Group B with New Zealand and Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka will play against New Zealand in the opening match in Providence, Guyana, on April 30.
Squad: Kumar Sangakkara (Captain), Muttiah Muralitharan (Vice Captain), T.M. Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Anjelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Chanaka Welagedara, Chamara Kapugedara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chinthaka Jayasinghe
The Sri Lankan selectors are said to have narrowed down their list of 31 probables to 20 prior to naming the final 15 man squad for the ICC T20 World Cup to be played in April 2010.
List of probables are as follows:
Upul Tharanga
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Sanath Jayasuriya
Kumar Sangakkara
Mahela Jayawardena
Dinesh Chandimal
Chamara Kapugedera
Angelo Mathews
Thissara Perera
Muttiah Muralitharan
Suraj Randiv
Ajantha Mendis
Dilhara Fernando
Lasith Malinga
Chanaka Welegedara
Nuwan Kulasekera
Isuru Udana
Jeewan Mendis
Jeewantha Kulatunga
Chinthaka Jayasinghe
Players to miss out from the initial 30 are: Nuwan Soyza, Chamara Silva, Kaushal Silva, Kaushal Weeraratne, M. Pushpakumara, Lahiru Thirimanna, Lahiru Thirimanna, Malinga Bandara, Farveez Mahroof, Suranga Lakmal, Thilina Thushara.
