MUMBAI: Sri Lanka showed why the World Cup favourites tag sits pretty next to them as they thrashed New Zealand by 112 runs in the day-night clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.
The result enabled them to top Group A with nine points from six games. Sri Lanka now can't finish lower than second spot in the table and that too is possible only if Pakistan beat Australia in Colombo on Saturday.
More than the win, what will delight the co-hosts is the fact that their key players are back in top form ahead of the quarterfinals. After winning the toss and batting first, the 1996 champs were led by an inspired ton from skipper Kumar Sangakkara (111, 128 balls, 11x4, 2x6) and a stylish 66 (90 balls, 6x4) from vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene. Their 145-run third-wicket alliance enabled them to recover from a shaky 19 for 2 in 4.3 overs to a match-winning total of 265-9.
With the ball, Muttiah Muralitharan showed the spin and drift of old times and mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis too proved difficult to negotiate as New Zealand, going well at 82-2 at one stage, just collapsed in a heap as a result of the M&M magic.
The game belonged to the Sri Lankan skipper though. He has been in great touch right through the World Cup and Friday's 111 saw the southpaw top the run-getter's tally with 363 at a Bradmanesque average of 121. He was also brilliant behind the stumps, effecting a smart stumping off the bowling of Muralitharan to get rid of the young Kane Williamson.
Apart from scoring runs, it was the manner in which he took the responsibility of guiding the innings after openers Upul Tharanga (unfortunately run out at the bowler's end) and Tillakaratne Dilshan were packed off early. The way he controlled the powerplay overs was educative, especially for teams like India, who tend to try and do too much in them.
It was Sangakkara's first World Cup hundred and his first ton in 63 ODIs after his hundred against Bangladesh in June 2008 in the Asia Cup at Karachi.
Murali injures knee, hamstring
While Sri Lanka were thrilled after their 112-run shellacking of New Zealand in their last Group A encounter of the World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday, they were a touch worried over key bowler Muttiah Muralitharan's fitness. Murali injured his knee and hamstring while going for an impossible second run and got run out. Man of the match and Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara, though, appeared confident about Murali's availability for the quarterfinal next Sunday. "He will be fine. We are heading back home now and it's important that we give him a rest. He has hurt his knee and hamstring, but he should be fine for the quarters." That Murali picked up 4-25 in eight overs despite his injury proves that he will be fine with some rest.
Ever since he took the charge of the Sri Lankan team from Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara has believed in leading from the front. The 33-year-old has been in golden touch in this tournament and he carried that form against New Zealand. He turned out to be a Man Friday for the Lankans. It was his first century since June 2008 and came after a long gap of 63 innings. Sangakkara's 11th hundred may not be a fluent one but he will cherish this as it came in a winning cause. It was a perfect One-day knock from the Sri Lankan captain, who fought adversities with utmost calmness and then showed his natural flair. His 128-ball 111 contained 12 fours and two big sixes.
How many times in their illustrious careers, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene have stepped up and taken Sri Lanka to safety. Even they would have forgotten the counting! However, for spectators, it's always a treat to watch these two stalwarts batting together. On Friday, Sri Lanka had lost early wickets of in-form Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga with just 19 runs on the board. The Wankhede wicket was offering some assistance to the bowlers. The duo put their heads down; gave due respect to good balls and after getting their eye in, dispatched bad deliveries with class and authority. Their 145-run third-wicket stand set up the game for Sri Lanka, who posted enough runs for their bowlers to defend.
toi
The result enabled them to top Group A with nine points from six games. Sri Lanka now can't finish lower than second spot in the table and that too is possible only if Pakistan beat Australia in Colombo on Saturday.
More than the win, what will delight the co-hosts is the fact that their key players are back in top form ahead of the quarterfinals. After winning the toss and batting first, the 1996 champs were led by an inspired ton from skipper Kumar Sangakkara (111, 128 balls, 11x4, 2x6) and a stylish 66 (90 balls, 6x4) from vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene. Their 145-run third-wicket alliance enabled them to recover from a shaky 19 for 2 in 4.3 overs to a match-winning total of 265-9.
With the ball, Muttiah Muralitharan showed the spin and drift of old times and mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis too proved difficult to negotiate as New Zealand, going well at 82-2 at one stage, just collapsed in a heap as a result of the M&M magic.
The game belonged to the Sri Lankan skipper though. He has been in great touch right through the World Cup and Friday's 111 saw the southpaw top the run-getter's tally with 363 at a Bradmanesque average of 121. He was also brilliant behind the stumps, effecting a smart stumping off the bowling of Muralitharan to get rid of the young Kane Williamson.
Apart from scoring runs, it was the manner in which he took the responsibility of guiding the innings after openers Upul Tharanga (unfortunately run out at the bowler's end) and Tillakaratne Dilshan were packed off early. The way he controlled the powerplay overs was educative, especially for teams like India, who tend to try and do too much in them.
It was Sangakkara's first World Cup hundred and his first ton in 63 ODIs after his hundred against Bangladesh in June 2008 in the Asia Cup at Karachi.
Murali injures knee, hamstring
While Sri Lanka were thrilled after their 112-run shellacking of New Zealand in their last Group A encounter of the World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday, they were a touch worried over key bowler Muttiah Muralitharan's fitness. Murali injured his knee and hamstring while going for an impossible second run and got run out. Man of the match and Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara, though, appeared confident about Murali's availability for the quarterfinal next Sunday. "He will be fine. We are heading back home now and it's important that we give him a rest. He has hurt his knee and hamstring, but he should be fine for the quarters." That Murali picked up 4-25 in eight overs despite his injury proves that he will be fine with some rest.
Ever since he took the charge of the Sri Lankan team from Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara has believed in leading from the front. The 33-year-old has been in golden touch in this tournament and he carried that form against New Zealand. He turned out to be a Man Friday for the Lankans. It was his first century since June 2008 and came after a long gap of 63 innings. Sangakkara's 11th hundred may not be a fluent one but he will cherish this as it came in a winning cause. It was a perfect One-day knock from the Sri Lankan captain, who fought adversities with utmost calmness and then showed his natural flair. His 128-ball 111 contained 12 fours and two big sixes.
How many times in their illustrious careers, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene have stepped up and taken Sri Lanka to safety. Even they would have forgotten the counting! However, for spectators, it's always a treat to watch these two stalwarts batting together. On Friday, Sri Lanka had lost early wickets of in-form Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga with just 19 runs on the board. The Wankhede wicket was offering some assistance to the bowlers. The duo put their heads down; gave due respect to good balls and after getting their eye in, dispatched bad deliveries with class and authority. Their 145-run third-wicket stand set up the game for Sri Lanka, who posted enough runs for their bowlers to defend.
toi
No comments:
Post a Comment