The Hindu : Sport : Sri Lankans looking to breeze through opener

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 15, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport

Sri Lankans looking to breeze through opener

Bermuda has just one professional player in its ranks

PORT-OF-SPAIN (Trinidad): Sri Lanka will hope to have an easy outing against rank outsider Bermuda in its opening match of the World Cup here on Thursday.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene has set his sights on reclaiming the World Cup that Sri Lanka won in 1996.

The first match against an outfit making its debut in the premier limited-overs event will give the Sri Lankan players an opportunity to get used to the conditions before the tougher games against India and Bangladesh, the other two teams in Group B.

Two teams from each group will advance to the Super Eight stage.

Jayawardene said Sri Lanka would use Thursday's encounter to strengthen its combination for the tougher challenges ahead. ``We believe we have the team that can go the whole distance, we have several exciting combinations,'' he said.

The International Cricket Council's decision to expand the World Cup to 16 teams and allow more minor nations to play in the World Cup has drawn considerable flak from the critics. However, Jayawardene supports the minor teams, saying that qualification for the Cup provides the incentive to do well. ``Playing against the top teams is the only way for these nations to improve,'' the Sri Lankan skipper said.

``Like Sri Lanka, 20 years on and one of these minor cricket nations might win the World Cup.''

Bermuda has just one professional cricketer in its ranks. It is not expect to go beyond the first round and captain Irving Romaine has said that his players are merely seeking ``to earn respect of the cricketing world.''

Bermuda secured one of the qualifying spots available for the World Cup by finishing fourth in the ICC Trophy.

Key batsman David Hemp, captain of English county Glamorgan, is the only professional in the team that mainly comprises teachers, students and policemen.

For two years, these amateur cricketers have been dreaming of this big moment. In the run-up to the World Cup, most were given leave from work to represent the country in what will be the biggest moment in Bermuda's sports history.

Promising batsman

Bermuda has a promising batsman in 17-year-old Malachi Jones, one of the youngest players ever to figure in the World Cup. There is also Dwayne Leverock, the heavily-built policeman whose accurate left-arm spin is often overshadowed by his weight.

The teams (from):

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt.), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Marvan Atapattu, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chamara Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan and Malinga Bandara.

Bermuda: Irving Romaine (capt.), Dean Minors, Delyone Borden, Lionel Cann, David Hemp, Kevin Hurdle, Malachi Jones, Stefan Kelly, Dwayne Leverock, Saleem Mukuddem, Stephen Outerbridge, Oliver Pitcher, Clay Smith, Janeiro Tucker and Kwame Tucker.

Umpires: Daryl Harper (Aus) and Ian Howell (RSA); TV: Aleem Dar (Pak); Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ). — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport