Sweeping victory for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka entered the Super Eight stage of ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 with the help of a comprehensive 198-run win over Bangladesh. Rain and Duckworth-Lewis did play spoilsport in this keenly-awaited encounter, which was a decisive one for Group B.
Riding high on confidence after their stupendous victory against India, Bangladesh failed to recreate that magic, and terribly faltered in almost all departments of the game. The Lankan side went all guns blazing and displayed cricketing class par excellence.
Batting first after losing the toss, the Lankans completely outplayed Bangladeshi bowlers, who had looked like hungry tigers in the conquest against India. Sanath Jayasuriya showed the world why he is regarded as the Matara Mauler by hitting bowlers all over the park in his century. He scored 109 runs in 87 balls, hitting seven sixes and seven fours on the way.
Not just Jayasuriya, all other Lankan batsmen too had a blast at the expense of Bangladesh. Mahela Jayawardene (46), Kumar Sangakkara (56) and Chamara Silva (52 not out) were at their destructible best at Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. For Bangladesh, the most economical bowler was Mohammad Rafique, who had figures of 1-48 in ten overs. All other bowlers had upsetting strike rates and were severely battered as Sri Lanka scored a massive total of 318-4 at the end of 50 overs.
Almost nothing seemed to have gone right In Bangladesh’s reply. Both of their openers went out meekly and the score read 7-80 in the 30th over. The piece de resistance for Bangladesh came in the form of Mohammad Ashraful’s gritty 45 off 63 in trying circumstances. However, even he could not delay the inevitable for long and eventually watched haplessly as wickets kept tumbling at the other end.
Lasith Malinga was the wrecker-in-chief for Sri Lanka, grabbing 3 for 27 in his six overs. The other bowlers too were tidy and disciplined, and sent the whole Bangladeshi team packing for mere 112 runs in 37 overs.
The contest between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be extremely decisive in determining the future of teams in Group B. India, too, were keenly awaiting the results of this game, as their hopes hang in balance before the encounter against Sri Lanka.
Brief Score: Sri Lanka 318/4 (Jayasuriya 109, Sangakkara 56, Silva 52*) vs. Bangladesh 112 (Ashraful 45, Malinga 3-27)
Result: Sri Lanka won by 198 runs (D-L method)
Man of the Match: Sanath Jayasuriya
For latest updates of Cricket World Cup, check the following links:
Cricket World Cup Team Points
World Cup Match Results
World Cup Highlights
Group B Points
|
