Austrailia Vs SiriLanka

Sri Lanka-Australia match abandoned due to rain
COLOMBO: The day-night match between Sri Lanka and Australia in the World Cup Group A has been called off due to rain here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday. The heavy rain disappointed a sell-out 35,000 crowd who were robbed of a potentially... COLOMBO: The day-night match between Sri Lanka and Australia in the World Cup Group A has been called off due to rain here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday. The heavy rain disappointed a sell-out 35,000 crowd who were robbed of a potentially thrilling match between co-hosts Sri Lanka and defending champions Australia. The match was shaping up well until heavy rain, coupled with thunderstorms, forced the teams from the field. The match was later abandoned. The no-result gave both teams one point each, leaving Pakistan at the top of Group A with six points from three matches. Australia have five points from three matches and Sri Lanka have five points from four. Rain stopped play in the 33 rd over when Sri Lanka were batting after their captain won the toss. After a delay of two and a half hours, play was finally abandoned as a no result with each side being awarded a point each. Sri Lanka had scored 146 runs for three wickets in 32.5 overs when play was halted. Kumar Sangakkara was unbeaten on 73 and Thilan Samaraweera on 34 not out. Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan opened the innings but Dilshan was dismissed by Shaun Tait in the second over of the match for 4. Later in the seventh over, Sri Lanka lost other opener Tharanga as Brett Lee got him out for 6. Now, Sri Lanka were reeling at 23-2 when Sangakkara and Jayawardene got together and took their team out of trouble. However, Jayawardene was run out for 23 when Sri Lanka reached 75. Then Sangakkara was joined by Thilan Samaraweera and both added 71 runs for an unbeaten fourth wicket partnership before the rain halted the match. Sri Lanka named all three spinners, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath, in their side. They left out paceman Nuwan Kulasekera from the line-up which beat Kenya by nine wickets on Tuesday, bringing in left-arm spinner Herath on a brownish pitch which is expected to turn. Australia remained unchanged from the side which beat New Zealand last week. Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath. Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke, David Hussey, Cameron White, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait.

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Wasim, Waqar honoured by Malinga prais

Wasim, Waqar honoured by Malinga prais

Wednesday, March 02, 2011 Ujju Bhai

COLOMBO: Pakistan pace legends Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis said on Wednesday they were honoured to hear that their devastating armoury of yorkers had inspired record-breaking Lasith Malinga. The 27-year-old Sri Lankan took a career-best 6-38, including a hat-trick - his second in World Cups after he famously took four-in-four against South Africa at Guyana in 2007 - in Tuesday's crushing nine-wicket win over Kenya. Malinga later admitted he learnt the art of bowling yorkers after watching Wasim and Waqar in his childhood. "I take this as a compliment from the most destructive bowler in the world today," Wasim said. "Malinga..

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Wasim, Waqar honoured by Malinga praise

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Wednesday, March 02, 2011 Ujju Bhai

COLOMBO: Pakistan pace legends Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis said on Wednesday they were honoured to hear that their devastating armoury of yorkers had inspired record-breaking Lasith Malinga.

The 27-year-old Sri Lankan took a career-best 6-38, including a hat-trick - his second in World Cups after he famously took four-in-four against South Africa at Guyana in 2007 - in Tuesday's crushing nine-wicket win over Kenya.

Malinga later admitted he learnt the art of bowling yorkers after watching Wasim and Waqar in his childhood.

"I take this as a compliment from the most destructive bowler in the world today," Wasim said.

"Malinga is intelligent, awkward and that's what makes him one of the most difficult bowlers to face."

Wasim, one of the greatest left-arm pacemen ever to play the game, said Malinga's round arm action adds beauty to his bowling.

"It's one of the spices of modern day cricket and I think with age on his side, his never-say-die attitude will take him to places in the years to come," said Wasim, who took 414 Test and 502 ODI wickets during his career.

Waqar, currently Pakistan's coach, praised Malinga as one of the best.

"He is one of the best bowlers in this tournament. The Kenyans were not the toughest side, but still he bowled straight every time with the yorkers, it was amazing," Waqar said.

Waqar, remembered also for his toe-crushing yorkers, said it was pleasing to watch a bowler like Malinga.

"It reminds you of your own good days. As long as he doesn't do it against us I am happy," said Waqar of Malinga, who missed Pakistan's 11-run win over Sri Lanka, due to a back strain.

Waqar said Malinga's action helps him get the reverse swing.

"It is also pleasing to know that he has learnt by looking at me or Wasim, but I also think that his action is such that it suits reverse swing which is the key.

"Everybody knows how to do it (reverse swing) now, everybody knows how the ball goes, but not many people can do it. He has a unique action, has got a slingy action and that is why it's more effective."

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Ireland clinch dramatic win over England

Ireland clinch dramatic win over England

Wednesday, March 02, 2011  Ujju Bhai

Ireland 329 for 7 (K O'Brien 113) beat England 327 for 8 by three wickets Kevin O'Brien played the innings of his life in one of the most famous upsets of all time © Getty Images Enlarge Kevin O'Brien stunned England with the fastest hundred in World Cup history as Ireland secured their greatest victory with a monumental three-wicket triumph in Bangalore. O'Brien clubbed a magnificent 113 off 63 deliveries as Ireland earned the highest World Cup run-chase with four balls to spare. After he'd added a match-changing 162 with Alex Cusack, John Mooney joined him to play the innings of his life and.

Ireland 329 for 7 (K O'Brien 113) beat England 327 for 8 by three wickets

	Kevin O'Brien played the innings of his life in one of the most famous upsets of all time © Getty Images Enlarge

Kevin O'Brien stunned England with the fastest hundred in World Cup history as Ireland secured their greatest victory with a monumental three-wicket triumph in Bangalore. O'Brien clubbed a magnificent 113 off 63 deliveries as Ireland earned the highest World Cup run-chase with four balls to spare. After he'd added a match-changing 162 with Alex Cusack, John Mooney joined him to play the innings of his life and help write another famous chapter in Irish sport.

When the partnership was broken with 55 still needed Ireland could have lost their way, especially when O'Brien couldn't get the strike back. However, after struggling to get the ball away Mooney suddenly started locating the boundary, firstly off the outside edge but then with two nerveless drives through the covers, each coming after England had strung together a few dot balls to build pressure. He was the dominant partner in the seven-wicket stand.

Still, though, there was a final twist when O'Brien was run out in the penultimate over. Trent Johnston, however, drove his first ball, a full toss from Stuart Broad, for four as the equation came down to below a run-a-ball for the first time in the entire chase. The final over started with just three needed and off the second ball Mooney clipped Anderson through midwicket to set off epic celebrations that will take over any available Bangalore bar tonight.

O'Brien's innings was breathtaking. He entered when Ed Joyce, seemingly Ireland's last chance of making the chase a contest, was stumped off Graeme Swann to leave their run-chase floundering at 106 for 4, which soon became 111 for 5 when Gary Wilson fell lbw. But O'Brien proceeded to tear the England attack apart. He showed power reminiscent of Kieron Pollard but with a calmer head and better technique, bringing up his hundred with a tuck for two into the leg side which led to a reveal of his the purple head-do as part of Ireland's charity fundraising campaign.

He showed his intent early when he thumped Swann through the covers second-ball and the tucked into the offspinner's ninth over with two sixes over midwicket which injected life into Ireland's innings. O'Brien was on 35 off 22 balls when Ireland took the batting Powerplay and it was during those five overs that the chance of the impossible became possible as 62 runs surged onto the total.

As happened against Ryan ten Doeschate's onslaught in their opening match against the Netherlands, England's bowlers started to lose the plot during another wayward, undisciplined display. Michael Yardy went for 16 as did James Anderson whom O'Brien pulled for a huge six to take him to a 30-ball fifty. Anderson's next over went for 17 including another leg-side pull and in between whiles, even the normally reliable Tim Bresnan was dispatched, including the finest shot of O'Brien's innings when he drove a six clean over cover.

Really, though, fielding restrictions meant nothing to O'Brien and he continued on his merry way with another huge blow over midwicket to take him into the 90s. Then the whole of Ireland held their breath as O'Brien's next attempt to clear the rope sent the ball high into the night sky where Andrew Strauss made a lot of ground but then couldn't hold on.

O'Brien needed support to play his incredible innings and Cusack's role can't be understated in the amazing scenes which unfolded. He was almost lost in O'Brien's slipstream but sensibly rotated the strike until, off his 49th ball, he joined the boundary hitting by launching Collingwood over midwicket then thumped Yardy straight down the ground. Even his dismissal, run-out from backward point, was for the team cause as he ensured O'Brien stayed at the crease. Although he wasn't quite there at the end he had written himself a permanent place in Irish folklore.

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ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2010 Teams.

ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2010 Teams.

Australia

Winners of the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy for a record four times, in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007, Australia will be hoping to better its own achievement by winning the 2011 trophy.It holds a tournament record 29 consecutive World Cup matches without a loss, a streak dating back to 23 May 1999, where it lost to Pakistan during the group stage of the event.Australia begins its campaign against Zimbabwe at Ahmadabad and the team will rely on the successful captaincy of Ricky Ponting for a fifth title.With a strong line-up of players including Mike Hussey, Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson, it will be one of the favourites to win the title.

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Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the hosts of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. It made its CWC debut in 1999 when it surprisingly defeated Pakistan by 62 runs in England.Arguably the greatest moment in its cricketing history came when it defeated India at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 and Shakib Al Hasan’s men will be looking for more scalps in 2011.The side will depend on the all-round skills of Hasan and fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza, while batsman Tamim Iqbal is expected to be one of the most exciting batters at the event.

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Canada

Canada qualified for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 after finishing as runners-up to Ireland at the ICC CWC Qualifier 2009 in South Africa.It first featured in the tournament in 1979 and its greatest moment of glory came in 2003 when it beat Full Member Bangladesh by 60 runs in South Africa. John Davison also broke the record in that tournament for the fastest century in CWC history.The side will depend on Rizwan Cheema, Umar Bhatti, wicket-keeper Ashish Bagai and all-rounder Sunil Dhaniram for a good show in the event.

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England

England has never won the ICC Cricket World Cup, finishing as the runners-up in 1979, 1987 and 1992.It has not made the semi-finals of the event, since that tournament in 1992, and suffered a disappointing event in 2007, losing four of its seven games in the Super Eight stage.The batting unit is looking stronger than in recent years with Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan, while the likes of James Anderson and Graeme Swann will be relied upon for wickets.

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India

Cricket fever in India exploded after it won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1983, when ‘Kapil’s Devils’ convincingly defeated the previously invincible West Indies by 43 runs in the final at Lord’s.It is the only time that India has won the event to date, but it did finish as runners-up at the 2003 event.Under the able captaincy of MS Dhoni, who led the side to victory in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007, the number-one ranked Test team in the world could very well lay its claim on the 2011 trophy.The team boasts of a strong batting line-up including maestro Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh, while bowlers Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan will be relied upon for wickets.

Ireland

Ireland cemented its place as the top Associate team in the world with a nine-wicket win over Canada in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in South Africa in April 2009.It will be looking to repeat its heroics of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, when it managed to defeat Pakistan and Bangladesh.Many from the CWC 2007 squad, including William Porterfield, who scored 515 runs in the qualifying event, Trent Johnston, Boyd Rankin and Niall O’Brien still remain, and it will be looking to secure a Quarter-Final place.

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Kenya

Kenya shocked the cricketing world with its fairytale run in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 event, reaching the semi-finals by victories over Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and New Zealand (match forfeited).The sub-continent also holds special memories for the African nation when it famously defeated West Indies by 73 runs in the ICC CWC 1996 event.Kenya is capable of staging a few upsets and will rely mainly on the experience of Steve Tikolo, batting skills of Alex Obanda and Collins Obuya, and bowling of Hiren Varaiya, Peter Ongondo and Lameck Ngoche.

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Pakistan

Pakistan made history when it won its first ICC Cricket World Cup title in 1992.Playing in his final ODI, skipper Imran Khan led his team to an unforgettable 22-run victory over England to claim the trophy.Since then, the closest the team has come to winning the trophy was in 1999, when it suffered an eight-wicket loss to Australia at Lord’s in the final.All eyes will be on Shahid Afridi, who was instrumental in the team’s ICC World Twenty20 win, as well as the Akmal brothers _Kamran and Ukmal _ and Umar Gul when it takes on Kenya in its opening game.

New Zealand

No team will be more desperate to win the ICC Cricket World Cup title than New Zealand, who despite reaching the semi-finals of the 1975, 1979, 1992, 1999 and the 2007 event, have never won the tournament.The last World Cup saw Sri Lanka thrash the Kiwis by 81 runs in the semis and Daniel Vettori’s men will be hoping to lift the curse with a tournament win in 2011.Key players expected to shine in the tournament include Vettori, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Shane Bond and Kyle Mills.

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The Netherlands

The Netherlands gained a spot in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 by finishing fourth in the qualifying event in South Africa in 2009.Not new to the tournament – the Dutch have earlier featured in the 1996, 2003 and 2007 CWCs – Peter Borren’s side will be look forward to creating an upset similar to its inspirational four-wicket victory over hosts England in ICC World Twenty20 2009.Stars to watch out for include Ryan ten Doeschate, Bas Zuiderent, Alexei Kervezee and Edgar Schiferli, who was the leading wicket taker in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in 2009.

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South Africa

Having won an ICC event only once – the ICC Champions Trophy in 1998 – Graeme Smith’s men will be hoping to improve on its record when it takes on West Indies in its opening game.The Proteas’ success in the tournament extended only as far as the semi-finals of the 2007 event where it was out-witted by Australia by seven wickets at St. Lucia.The team is not short of talent with the likes of AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn, Hashim Amla, and Herschelle Gibbs, who famously hit six sixes in an over at the last World Cup against Netherlands, relishing the challenge to lift South Africa to world glory.

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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s moment of glory in the ICC Cricket World Cup arrived in 1996, when the team, led by Arjuna Ranatunga, defeated Australia by seven wickets to claim its first CWC title.In a repeat of the 1996 event, Mahela Jayawardena led the team to the CWC 2007 final in Barbados, but was defeated by the Australians by 53 runs (D/L method).With plenty of talent in the squad, which includes the likes of Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakeratne Dilshan, Nuwan Kulasekara and the spin attack of Muttiah Muralidaran and Ajantha Mendis, the team has every opportunity to reclaim the trophy once again at home.

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West Indies

Once considered to be invincible in the game, West Indies will be looking to history for inspiration if it has to win the 2011 event.Winners of the first two CWC events in 1975 and 1979 at Lord’s, the West Indies have much work to do if they want to emulate those two great sides.Led by the swash-buckling Chris Gayle, who can rip apart the best bowling attack, the team has several key players including Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Darren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo who have the potential to capture the trophy.

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Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is known to create upsets in the ICC Cricket World Cup as it did against Australia in 1983, England in 1992, and India and South Africa in 1999.In the ICC World Twenty20 2007, it also delivered one of the biggest shocks in the competition when it achieved a stunning victory over Australia.Some from that WT20 side still remain and the likes of Tatenda Taibu and Charles Coventry will be relied upon for runs, while Ray Price has established himself as an excellent bowler.

More at: Cricket World Cup 2011 Teams | My Cricket Highlights

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