Lankans poised for World Cup semi-final berth
Elmo RODRIGOPULLE in West Indies
The Sri Lankan cricketers after their thrilling two-run win over
England at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium here, are nicely poised to
enter the last four in the 9th Edition of the World Cup.
They now have 6 points and two more points with a triumph over either
Australia, New Zealand or Ireland will see them in the semi-finals.
Incidentally Sri Lanka entered the semi-finals of the previous World
Cup led by Sanath Jayasuriya, but were unfortunate to lose to Australia,
who went on to take the championship honours thrashing India in the
final in Hohnessburg.
The game against england was another heart stopper.
After struggling gamely to make 235 after being sent in the Lankan
bowlers had the England batting groggy and on the ropes at 133 for six
and when they were moving in for the knockout, Paul Nixon and Ravi
Bopara evaded the punches, and almost knocked the Lankans with a near
match winning stand of 87, when Nixon going for a big one was out.
That was the moment the victory signals shone for Sri Lanka and
dimmed for England. With three runs required for an England victory,
Dilhara Fernando who was asked to bowl the death over, ran in fast to
deliver the last ball, but failed to bowl and the umpire declared it a
dead ball.
I am sure that was a tactic by Fernando to disturb the batsman’s
concentration or to see which way the batsman was going to direct his
stroke.
Fernando ran in and then sent a scorching yorker, that spread-eagled
the batsman’s stumps to give the Lankans a two-run win and did not the
Lankans do the jig, embrace Fernando and cheer him lustily back to the
pavilion.
Fernando did the sign of the cross, thanking the almighty for helping
him bring Sri Lanka a vital victory in their quest of the World Cup
2007.
Had not the Lankans lost to South Africa in Guyana, they would have
by now booked their slot in the semi-finals.
Now what the Lankans have to do is to keep going the way they are
doing. In Mahela Jayawardena Sri Lanka is having one if not the best
captain in the ongoing World Cup. He leads from the front. When the
going is good or bad, he keeps his cool which rubs off on his team
mates.
He is a brilliant reader of the game and situations and knows which
bowler and when to introduce him according to the situation. His batting
too has improved which has given him the all-important confidence.
Richie Benaud the former great Australia captain has said that
captaincy is 90 per cent luck and 10 per cent skill. Like in life luck
is very important and Jayawardena has plenty of this.
The present team is the best combination available and it is hoped
that no tinkering will take place, that could upset the team spirit and
rhythm. The Lankans now have a near 7-day break to rest and put right
the little niggles they have.
However they should not be complacent, but come back for the crunch
games against New Zealand, Australia and Ireland having recharged their
batteries.
Leading World Cup wicket-takers
Player C M Wkts B/B Avg.
S Malinga (SRI) 6 15 4/54 14.26
G McGrath (AUS) 5 12 3/14 13.00
M Muralitharan (SRI) 6 12 3/34 18.75
C Langeveldt (RSA) 5 12 5/39 19.33
G Hogg (AUS) 5 11 4/27 16.36
D Powell (WIS) 6 11 2/24 19.18
A Flintoff (ENG) 4 9 4/43 14.44
A Hall (RSA) 5 9 3/48 21.44
S Bond (NZL) 4 8 3/31 10.50
S Styris (NZL) 5 8 4/43 15.50
C Vaas (SRI) 6 8 2/19 19.50
B Rankin (IRL) 5 8 3/32 20.87
S Tait (AUS) 5 8 2/43 25.75
D Bravo (WIS) 6 8 3/42 27.12
D Vettori (NZL) 5 8 3/39 28.50
AFP
Leading World Cup run-makers
Player C M I Runs HS 100s 50s
M Hayden (AUS) 5 5 395 158 2 1
G Smith (RSA) 5 5 332 91 0 4
J Kallis (RSA) 5 4 328 128 1 2
S Jayasuriya (SRI) 6 6 303 115 2 0
M Jayawardene (SRI) 6 6 288 85 0 3
S Fleming (NZL) 5 5 280 102 1 2
R Ponting (AUS) 5 4 262 113 1 1
S Styris (NZL) 5 4 258 87 0 3
M Clarke (AUS) 5 4 241 93 0 2
K Pietersen (ENG) 5 5 227 60 0 3
S Chanderpaul (WIS) 6 6 227 102 1 1
C Silva (SRI) 6 6 222 59 0 3
P Collingwood (ENG) 5 5 215 90 0 2
A Gilchrist (AUS) 5 5 211 59 0 2
U Tharanga (SRI) 6 6 202 64 0 2
AFP
Antigua, Friday |
