lahirumam
04-25-2007, 11:54 AM
Jamaica - New Zealand teams are used to wondering “What if?” and they will be doing it again after their fifth defeat in a World Cup semi-final.
What if some of Upul Tharanga’s streaky shots had found fielders? And what if Mahela Jayawardene been run out during a nervy Sri Lanka start which saw Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara throw their wickets away?
What if pace spearhead Shane Bond had not produced his worst performance of the competition and what if spinners Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel had taken advantage of the considerable turn on offer?
What if Scott Styris and Craig McMillan had been able to bowl more than one over between them and what if Styris had not got caught when he and Peter Fulton were going well?
Too many questions. Sri Lanka deal in answers and deserve their place in the World Cup final.
They have the best bowling attack in the tournament – one that would worry even Australia - and a brave and attacking skipper in Jayawardene.
Jayawardene reaches his hundredJayawardene batted quite magnificently to make one of the finest one-day centuries for Sri Lanka since Aravinda de Silva's in the 1996 final, punishing bowling which towards the end was devoid of control.
Opposite number Stephen Fleming had spoken repeatedly in the last few days about the weakness he felt existed in Sri Lanka’s lower order - but his men failed to expose it and Jayawardene received just enough support to all but take the game away from them.
Even two shocking lbw decisions against Chamara Silva and Tillakaratne Dilshan could not prevent the Sri Lankans posting a total 50 runs in excess of what many thought would be enough.
New Zealand had to achieve the third highest chase in World Cup history but they rely on efficiency rather than genius and that wasn't good enough against a powerful attack.
They were utterly bamboozled by a fantastic opening spell from Lasith Malinga in which he was unplayable.
The only concern for Sri Lanka was when Dilhara Fernando was warned twice for running on to the danger area and was targeted by Fulton and Styris. But once the latter fell, following the bold decision to replace Muttiah Muralitharan with Dilshan, the underdogs crumbled spectacularly.
Kiwis may think they play Murali better than most but they had no clue about dealing with his doosra in a devastating burst of three wickets in six balls.
With arguably the two most unorthodox bowlers in the world at his disposal, in Murali and Malinga, Jayawardene can look forward to Saturday’s final with confidence.
Yes the Aussies look unstoppable right now, and South Africa were heading for a comfortable win until Malinga’s late burst in Guyana gave them palpitations before they scraped home.
But I for one would not bet against this multi-talented team securing Sri Lanka’s second World Cup triumph.
What if some of Upul Tharanga’s streaky shots had found fielders? And what if Mahela Jayawardene been run out during a nervy Sri Lanka start which saw Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara throw their wickets away?
What if pace spearhead Shane Bond had not produced his worst performance of the competition and what if spinners Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel had taken advantage of the considerable turn on offer?
What if Scott Styris and Craig McMillan had been able to bowl more than one over between them and what if Styris had not got caught when he and Peter Fulton were going well?
Too many questions. Sri Lanka deal in answers and deserve their place in the World Cup final.
They have the best bowling attack in the tournament – one that would worry even Australia - and a brave and attacking skipper in Jayawardene.
Jayawardene reaches his hundredJayawardene batted quite magnificently to make one of the finest one-day centuries for Sri Lanka since Aravinda de Silva's in the 1996 final, punishing bowling which towards the end was devoid of control.
Opposite number Stephen Fleming had spoken repeatedly in the last few days about the weakness he felt existed in Sri Lanka’s lower order - but his men failed to expose it and Jayawardene received just enough support to all but take the game away from them.
Even two shocking lbw decisions against Chamara Silva and Tillakaratne Dilshan could not prevent the Sri Lankans posting a total 50 runs in excess of what many thought would be enough.
New Zealand had to achieve the third highest chase in World Cup history but they rely on efficiency rather than genius and that wasn't good enough against a powerful attack.
They were utterly bamboozled by a fantastic opening spell from Lasith Malinga in which he was unplayable.
The only concern for Sri Lanka was when Dilhara Fernando was warned twice for running on to the danger area and was targeted by Fulton and Styris. But once the latter fell, following the bold decision to replace Muttiah Muralitharan with Dilshan, the underdogs crumbled spectacularly.
Kiwis may think they play Murali better than most but they had no clue about dealing with his doosra in a devastating burst of three wickets in six balls.
With arguably the two most unorthodox bowlers in the world at his disposal, in Murali and Malinga, Jayawardene can look forward to Saturday’s final with confidence.
Yes the Aussies look unstoppable right now, and South Africa were heading for a comfortable win until Malinga’s late burst in Guyana gave them palpitations before they scraped home.
But I for one would not bet against this multi-talented team securing Sri Lanka’s second World Cup triumph.