Sports
|
||||
|
Sri Lanka, S.Africa, India and Pakistan emerge group leaders M.Shamil
Amit Reporting from Sajshahi, Bangladesh Sri
Lanka underwent some anxious moments before they were confirmed
of a place in the Super League. Having won their first two encounters
against Zimbabwe by two wickets and Canada by nine wickets the Sri
Lankans were placed on a bad footing in their last game against
the Australians, having bowled out the Australians for 186 they
were set with a target of 98 runs to qualify to the Super League
and make 155 if they were to emerge group leaders. They
achieved both this but not after undergoing anxious moments, nevertheless
they now move into the Super League along with runner up of Group
'A' Zimbabwe, Group 'B' leaders South Africa and runner up England,
Group 'C' leaders India and runner up New Zealand and Group 'D'
leaders Pakistan and runner up West Indies. Defending
champions Australia, Canada, Nepal, Uganda, Bangladesh, Scotland,
Papua New Guinea and Ireland are the teams that will fight out in
the Plate Championship. The Super League matches are scheduled to
be played at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh Krira Shikha
Stadium and Bangabandhu National Stadium while the Plate Championship
are scheduled at the M.A. Aziz Stadium and Chittagong Divisional
Stadium. Both
the SL and PC will get underway today, of the 12 matches scheduled
to be played in the Super League six of them will played under floodlights
at the Bangabandhu Stadium. All teams wil have to play at least
one game under floodlights. Today the Sri Lankans are down to play
West Indies at Fatullah while India are scheduled to play England
at the Bangabandhu Stadium. Sri Lanka's second game will be on February
24 against England also at the Fatullah Stadium and their third
game will be on February 26 against Pakistan under floodlights at
Bangabandhu Stadium. Both the semi finals of the Super League will
be played under floodlights on February 29 and March 2 at the Bangabandhu
Stadium while the final will also be played under floodlights on
March 5. The Plate Championship final will precede the Super League
final on March 4 at the Fatullah Stadium which will be a day encounter. The
performance of the Sri Lankan team has to improve if they are to
make any impression in the next stage as they will be coming up
with stiffer opposition. The Indians are the favourites to lift
the title as their players are in tremendous form, they have posted
the highest score of the tournament when they amassed a mammoth
425 for 3 against Scotland while England had the honour of bowling
out Uganda for 46 which is the lowest scored by any team in the
championship so far. The
top order batting of the Sri Lankans have failed miserably in the
three encounters they have played so far. It was the middle order
batsmen that lifted the team from an awkward position many a times.
Openers Upul Tharanga and Damindu Kularatne have been out of form.
The Lankans batsmen have been able to make only two half centuries
one from Harsha Vithana and the other from skipper Farveez Maharoof. A
player in form is Kosala Kulasekera who became the man of the match
on two occasions and has put himself in contention for the Player
of the Tournament Award. No other player has won the man of the
match awards twice. Even in his last against the Australians he
made a useful 30 before being unfortunately run out. So if the Sri
Lankans don't loosen their belts they will be asking for trouble. Coach D.S. de Silva speaking at press briefing after the Australian match said that he was disappointed with the team’s performance and its high time the top order batsmen, the bowlers are doing their part correctly it's the batting that is left to be desired and we intend making some changes for the forthcoming encounters he concluded. |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
