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Bring on the Aussies, says jubilant Sanath
EAST LONDON, South Africa, March 15 (AFP) - Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya on Saturday confidently predicted World Cup defeat for defending champions Australia when the two sides come face-to-face in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.

"I think on that pitch we can win it," said Jayasuriya after the Asian side had defeated Zimbabwe by 74 runs at Buffalo Park here on Saturday to qualify for the semi-finals.
The St George's Park wicket, where the semi-final will be played, is the slowest in the tournament and is expected to be a playground for Sri Lanka's spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan.

"It's a pitch which will suit us. Anything can happen on the day and we will be playing hard cricket just like we did today." Sri Lanka, who had needed to win to prevent New Zealand from claiming the last semi-final spot, made 256-5 with Marvan Atapattu carrying his bat to finish unbeaten on 103 off 127 balls for his 10th one-day century.

In reply, Zimbabwe, who had no chance of making it to the semi-final stage, were bowled out for 182 in 41.5 overs with Craig Wishart top-scoring with 43. It was also the end of the road for Zimbabwe batsman Andy Flower who brought the curtain down on his glittering 13-year international career, although his final innings ended in sad circumstances.

As his team chased 257 to win, the 34-year-old was controversially given out lbw to Aravinda de Silva despite getting an inside edge. Flower had made 38 at the time and was at the wicket with brother Grant when he made his exit to leave the score at 140-4.

"For the last 13 years it has been an honour and a privilege to represent my country. The decision to bring my international career to an end has been a difficult and sad one to make," Flower said in a statement.

"However, it is now time for my family and I to move on. Perhaps, in the years to come, I will be able to play a role in the cricketing fortunes of Zimbabwe. "To all Zimbabweans who have supported me from my debut until today I want to say thank you."

Flower's wife and three children have already moved from Zimbabwe to England where he will play county cricket for Essex this year. The batsman, along with teammate Henry Olonga, had been involved in a widely-praised black armband protest against the regime of president Robert Mugabe at the start of the World Cup.

Olonga, who was dropped for the Sri Lanka clash after struggling in the defeat by Kenya earlier in the week, also took the opportunity at the end of the match to announce his retirement from international cricket saying his anti-government protest made it difficult for him to return to his country.

"I have been receiving threatening e-mails since the protests which I believe have made it dangerous for me to return to Zimbabwe," Olonga said.

Battered Lanka blast through to top four
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Sri Lanka has finally made it to to the semi finals of the World Cup. Despite performance that was far below their potential Sanath Jayasuriya and his team has qualified to the last four in the prestigious tournament which is the ultimate thing in the game.

Whatever is being said down the corridors or debated on Radio/Television talk shows by various personalities, the fact remains that Sri Lanka has reached the last four in a World Cup that is being played in conditions alien to them. And this is indeed creditable and something that should be admired.

In conditions best suited for us in 1996 Sri Lanka won the World Cup. But what happened in 1999 in England, despite the big names and the likes of Ranatunge,De Silva, Mahanama, Jayasuriya, Kauwiutharana, Tilakaratne, Muralitharan and Vaas Sri Lanka failed to qualify even to the Super Six Stage and finished behind Zimbabwe.Thus the current performance of the team is truly magnificent.

However it is a known fact that the team has played below potential. True their batsmen Mahela Jayawardene, Russell Arnold and Kumar Sangakkara have failed to deliver and there is no support for Vaas and Muralitharan. However if one has to point a finger to anyone it is the National Selectors (and the Administrators who appoint the selectors and the Minister who appoints the Administrators) that are to be blamed for the current situation. The composition of the World Cup squad is certainly questionable.

There is no middle order batsman to replace someone who is out of form. No slow bowler to bowl within the first 15 overs when the opening bowlers fail, and no wicket keeper to challenge that position. No wonder the players who fail, continue to play and play as they are virtually guaranteed of a place in the next game.

It is no secret that Sri Lanka selectors including the present selectors do not watch domestic games. It will be interesting for the administrators to check how many of the selectors watched the recently concluded Premier Cricket Tournament. Currently the England Academy is on tour and Sri Lanka's potential players are involved.

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