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Sunday, 27 March 2011

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Lankans win lions battle:

Dilshan and Tharanga steer Lanka into WC semis

Sri Lanka’s poor catching when they dropped three, did not prove costly as openers Upul Tharanga 102 and Tillekeratne Dilshan 108 put the England bowlers to the sword with a swashbuckling stand of 231 in 39.3 overs to show more teeth and devour the British lions and beat them by 10 wickets in the 4th quarter-final of the 2011 World Cup at the R. Premadasa Stadium under lights yesterday. Dilshan was awarded the man of the match award for his brilliant performance with bat and ball.

After restricting England to 229 for six in 50 overs,Sri Lanka made merry to make 231 for no loss and have a stroll in the Park.

Both scored well deserved centuries. Dilshan made 108 not out with 10 fours and two sixes in 115 balls and Tharanga 102 with 12 fours and a six in 122 balls..

It was a merciless and well calculated attack from the first ball. They did not allow the bowlers, both pace and spin to settle into a length and crashing them to all parts of the field and over it as well hoisted their 100- run stand in just 114 balls.

Tharanga was the more stylish and elegant looking, driving neatly on either side and never hesitating to loft for boundaries. Dilshan was the more aggressive, playing some eye catching drives between point and cover. It was sad to watch the England bowlers toiling. Not one of them looked threatening nor did they bowl with purpose looking for the all important wickets.

England who gave to the world the wonderful game of cricket, have again missed out on winning the World Cup again which must surely be galling to them.

By doing so Sri Lanka will now meet New Zealand who scored an upset victory over favourites South Africa in Mirpur on Friday in the first semi-final at RPICS on Tuesday.

A gallant knock of 86 by one drop batsman Jonathan Trott supported by Eoin Morgan who made 50, England made 229 for the loss of six wickets in their 50 overs.

Trott was the rock on which the England inning was built. When wickets were falling around him, he batted sensibly and in no hurry to pile on the runs and make the England total a challenging one.

He pushed for singles and twos and hit only two boundaries. He was caught at mid wicket by Mahela Jayawardena of Muralitheran. He faced 115 deliveries.

Muttiah Muralitheran who suffered owing to some poor catching took two for 54 in 9 overs.

Left hander Eoin Morgan lived a charmed life. At 16 and the total on 129, going for a lofted drive Samaraweera dropped him in the covers off Ajantha Mendis.

During the Trott - Eoin Morgan stand, the Lankan catching fell to pieces with Morgan being dropped twice in the 38th over.

He was grassed by Mathews when on 33 at mid wicket and then one run and two balls later he was dropped by a diving Herath at point. Muralitheran was the bowler to suffer.

Butter fingered catching has no place in this style of game and level.

Riding on his luck Morgan made a gallant 50 in 55 balls with 4 fours and was involved in 4th wicket stand of 91 in 96 balls which steadied the innings. His innings finally ended when Malinga had him caught at mid wicket.

Greame Swann was sent ahead of Matt Prior for some quick runs.

But he did not bother the scorers going LBW to Mendis for a blob.

After a quiet opening, England lost opener Andrew Strauss who looked hopelessly out of touch when he was bowled by a straight ball from Tillekeratne Dilshan with the total on 29 for 5.

Two runs later the homesters had another success when Ian Bell who was shaping well was caught at mid wicket by Thilan Samaraweera trying to flick a ball off Angelo Mathews for 25.

At 31 for two England were off to a poor start. Ravi Bopara joined Jonothan Trott and began repairing the innings with some correct but slow batting.

After putting on 6 runs in 108 balls, Bopara went LBW to Muralitheran attempting a cross bat shot for 31 in 56 balls with one four.

The wicket although on the slow side was not difficult and it was irresponsible shots that led to the demise of Strauss and Bell. The Lankan bowlers were doing the right thing bowling wicket to wicket, supported by some good ground fielding.

ENGLAND
A. Strauss b Dilshan 05
I. Bell c Samaraweera b Mathews 25
J. Trott c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 86
R. Bopara lbw b Muralitharan 31
E. Morgan c Mathews b Malinga 50
G. Swann lbw b Mendis 00
M. Prior not out 22
L. Wright not out 01
Extras (lb3, w6) 09
Total (for six wkts; 50 overs) 229
Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Strauss), 2-31 (Bell), 3-95 (Bopara), 4-186 (Morgan), 5-186 (Swann), 6-212 (Trott).
Bowling: Malinga 10-0-46-1 (w2), Dilshan 6-1-25-1 (w1), Mathews 5-0-20-1, Herath 10-1-47-0, Mendis 10-0-34-1, Muralitharan 9-0-54-2 (w3).
SRI LANKA
U. Tharanga not out 102
T. Dilshan not out 108
Extras (b9, lb6, w6) 21
Total (for no loss; 39.3 overs) 231
Bowling: Bresnen 8-1-40-0, Swann 9-0-61-0 (w2), Tremlett 7.3-0-38-0 (w2), Bopara 5-1-22-0, Tredwell 6-0-38-0, Wright 4-0-17-0 (w2).

 

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