Sri Lanka crush Canada by 210 runs

Updated at: 2120 PST,  Sunday, February 20, 2011
HAMBANTOTA: Sri Lanka recorded victory by a huge margin of 210 runs over Canada in their opening Group A day-night match on the second day of the ICC World Cup 2011 here at the at the Mahinda Rajapakse stadium on Sunday Chasing an improbable target of 333 runs, Canada were all out for 122 runs in 36.5 overs as only three players could get into double-figures. Rizwan Cheema was the top-scorer with 37 off 35 balls with two sixes and four boundaries while captain Ashish Bagai made 22 and Harvir Baidwan remained not out on 16 Sri Lankan pacers Nuwan Kulasekara and Thisara Perera claimed three wickets each while off-break bowler Muttiah Muralitharan captured two wickets.Earlier, Mahela Jayawardene hit his second World Cup hundred to lead Sri Lanka to 332-7. The 33-year-old right-hander scored his 100 off 80 balls for his 13th one-day hundred and added an invaluable 179 for the third wicket with skipper Kumar Sangakkara, who made 92.Jayawardene and Sangakkara built on the platform set by opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (50) after Sri Lanka won the toss before a near-capacity 35,000 crowd at the new ground which became the 177th one-day venue.Jayawardene completed his hundred with a single off spinner John Davison after facing just 80 deliveries - the fastest by a Sri Lankan in the World Cup, beating Sanath Jayasuriya's 85-ball ton against Bangladesh at Port of Spain four years ago.
But Davison dismissed him in the same over, caught at short fine-leg after Jayawardene had hit nine boundaries and a six.Sri Lanka lost a cluster of wickets in the death overs, but Angelo Mathews (21) and Thilan Samarwaweera (18 not out) ensured they got past 300.Earlier, Dilshan and Upul Tharanga put on a quick 63 for the first wicket by the 12th over before a mix-up between the two sent Tharanga back, run out for 19.Dilshan fell just after scoring his third World Cup half-century, holing out at deep cover to Davison as he failed to control a shot off medium-pacer Rizwan Cheema.It was then left to Jayawardene and Sangakkara to punish a hapless Canadian attack, depleted by an injury to spearhead Henry Osinde who walked off the field due to a hamstring problem after bowling only 2.1 overs.

Aus v Zim SL v Can NZ v Ken

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Miandad hails Tendulkar on equalling his record

Updated at: 2005 PST,  Sunday, February 20, 2011
KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad Sunday hailed record-breaking Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar who equalled his record of playing in six World Cup editions.Tendulkar, whose first World Cup was in 1992 which Pakistan won, has now featured in six World Cup tournaments, a record held by Miandad who played the inaugural edition in 1975 and then went on to play in the 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992 and 1996 editions.Tendulkar, 37, featured in India's comprehensive 87-run win in the opening match of the event, against Bangladesh on Saturday."I congratulate Tendulkar for equalling my record," Miandad told a news agency. "It is always good when a great player manages to equal or surpass a record set by you. "I am happy Tendulkar has equalled my record of World Cup appearances and it shows his dedication and love for the game."Miandad said Tendulkar has been a role model for the youth around the world."My advice to young players is to follow Tendulkar's example. He has been successful as an international cricketer and has been a role model for millions of players, not only in India but around the world."

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Cricket World Cup: Pak team ready despite losing warm-up against Eng, says Alam

Updated at: 1933 PST,  Sunday, February 20, 2011
HAMBANTOTA: Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam said Sunday his unpredictable team were fully charged up for the World Cup despite losing their last warm-up against England."The boys are confident of launching their World Cup campaign on a positive note," Alam said, after team's arrival from Dhaka. "We want to win all our group matches."
Pakistan, who beat Bangladesh before going down to England in the lead-up to the tournament, open their campaign with a match against Kenya here on Wednesday.Alam, who was manager-cum-coach with the team which won the 1992 World Cup and 2009 World Twenty20, said the aim is to take no team lightly."We know that it's a World Cup and no team has come for an outing, so we have to be at our best to beat any side, whether it's a lowly ranked or a top team," said Alam, brushing aside concerns of not playing at home."We know that because of some unavoidable circumstances we are not playing our matches at home, but we have not talked about that any time, not even in the last two months, so there are no such feelings."Alam also brushed aside worries over team discipline after Shoaib Akhtar and Wahab Riaz were fined following a late night out in Dhaka.
The manager also said paceman Junaid Khan had impressed with his bowling against England."I would not say that he is Mohammad Aamer in the making, because it's too early, but he has shown potential and can show his talent if he gets into the final eleven," said Alam of Junaid, a replacement for injured Sohail Tanveer.(AFP)

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Jayawardene propels Sri Lanka to 332-7

Updated at: 1824 PST,  Sunday, February 20, 2011
HAMBANTOTA: Mahela Jayawardene hit his second World Cup hundred to lead Sri Lanka to 332-7 against Canada on Sunday in their opening Group A clash at the Mahinda Rajapakse stadium.The 33-year-old right-hander scored his 100 off 80 balls for his 13th one-day hundred and added an invaluable 179 for the third wicket with skipper Kumar Sangakkara, who made 92.Jayawardene and Sangakkara built on the platform set by opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (50) after Sri Lanka won the toss before a near-capacity 35,000 crowd at the new ground which became the 177th one-day venue.
Jayawardene completed his hundred with a single off spinner John Davison after facing just 80 deliveries - the fastest by a Sri Lankan in the World Cup, beating Sanath Jayasuriya's 85-ball ton against Bangladesh at Port of Spain four years ago.But Davison dismissed him in the same over, caught at short fine-leg after Jayawardene had hit nine boundaries and a six.Sri Lanka lost a cluster of wickets in the death overs, but Angelo Mathews (21) and Thilan Samarwaweera (18 not out) ensured they got past 300.Earlier, Dilshan and Upul Tharanga put on a quick 63 for the first wicket by the 12th over before a mix-up between the two sent Tharanga back, run out for 19.Dilshan fell just after scoring his third World Cup half-century, holing out at deep cover to Davison as he failed to control a shot off medium-pacer Rizwan Cheema.It was then left to Jayawardene and Sangakkara to punish a hapless Canadian attack, depleted by an injury to spearhead Henry Osinde who walked off the field due to a hamstring problem after bowling only 2.1 overs.Jayawardene, who survived two caught behind referral appeals against spinner Jimmy Hansra, upped the tempo by hitting the same bowler for the first six at this ground.He then clobbered four boundaries in successive overs from Davison, but the veteran Canadian broke the partnership by having Sangakkara caught and bowled, with the Sri Lankan captain approaching his 11th hundred.Sangakkara hit seven fours and a six during his 87-ball knock.

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Players not affected by Shiv Sena threats: Waqar Younis

Updated at: 1703 PST,  Sunday, February 20, 2011
DHAKA: Pakistan cricket team coach Waqar Younis said that threats given by Shiv Sena do not affect Pakistan players.
They all are fit and have focused all their attention on
the gameTalking with media in Dhaka, Waqar said that the players have
worked hard for the World Cup and victory is vital to revive cricket in PakistanThe Pakistan coach
did not termed any team as favourite but he said the
team who would play well would win the tournament and he hopes it would be Pakistan.

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Bowlers played key role in New Zealand win: Vettori

Updated at: 1631 PST,  Sunday, February 20, 2011
CHENNAI: New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori said his team must not lower their guard against tougher opposition after cantering to an easy 10-wicket win over Kenya in the World Cup on Sunday.Kiwi fast bowlers skittled the hapless African nation for 69 in 23.5 overs before knocking off the required runs in just eight overs at the Chidambaram Stadium for a winning start to their campaign."We didn't expect that the game would get over so quickly," Vettori said. "It was nice. We are happy with how we performed. But we don't expect all other matches to be this easy."I think bowling full and straight is going to be the key in this part of world. We will keep the same intensity for every game."Hamish Bennett grabbed 4-16 off five overs while Tim Southee and Jacob Oram chipped in with three wickets each.
The emphatic nature of win will set the Kiwis up nicely for their next match against defending champions Australia in Nagpur on February 25."To be able to bowl this well and allow the batsmen to have such a small chase is always pleasing," Vettori said."It's pretty important for us to stand up there and perform. Australia is one of the favourites for the competition so if we do well there we know we are in good stead."Bennett, a late replacement in the playing eleven for first-choice seamer Kyle Mills, hoped his performance would be taken into account by the selectors.

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