The Road to the ICC World Cup 2011 quarter-finals: Sri Lanka – Part 2
The Sri Lankan side seemed to be on top and in control of the game at 146 runs with the loss of only three wickets. Kumar Sangakkara seemed in fine nick for his unbeaten 73 runs, as he looked to guide his side to a big total.
However, the weather had the final say in the match, as rain washed out play. Both sides had to settle for a point each, as the conditions were not suitable for the match to continue. Sri Lanka would have seen this as an opportunity lost, to test themselves
against the defending champions.
They did not have long to ponder over what could have been, as the Zimbabweans awaited them in their next group match. Although Zimbabwe is not the highest rated team, they did have the ability to put up a good fight and could quite possibly create an upset.
Batting first, Sri Lanka managed to get a total of 327 runs in the allotted 50-overs. Openers Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan made things easy for their side, as they each reached the 100 run mark.
Their partnership of 282 runs was more than just a little impressive, as it set their side up for an easy defence of their total. Dilshan followed up his magnificent display with the bat with an equally brilliant bowling performance, taking four wickets
in just three overs at the cost of four runs.
Muralitharan was also in among the wickets, taking three, as Sri Lanka had the match wrapped up with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 all out for 188 runs.
Qualification for the quarter-finals was secure, as Sri Lanka took on the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 side at Wankhede Stadium with only a higher group position up for grabs for both sides.
Sangakkara was back to his batting heroics, as he added to his tally of runs in the World Cup with another century. Batting first, his 111 was the platform for the rest of the team’s innings, as he was supported well by Mahela Jayawardene. The latter played
well for his 66 run knick that consisted of four boundaries that paled in comparison to Sangakkara’s 12 fours, was still useful.
Angelo de Matthews also deserves a mention for his 41 runs, as Sri Lanka set a target of 266 runs for the Kiwis to chase.
Muralitharan was the pick of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758’s bowlers, as his four wicket haul helped guide his side to a more than comfortable 112 run victory. The win meant another two points for Sri Lanka and a second place finish in Group A.
They now face England in the quarter-finals on 26 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/March-c74391. The Sri Lankan side will hope that their run in the knock-out stages of the competition will be a prolonged one, as their winning momentum is adding to their confidence.
Much rests on the bowling of Muralitharan and if Malinga can repeat his performance in the knock-out stage, than Sri Lanka will be in with a fighting chance in the bowling department. Even more will rest on the captain Sangakkara, who has been by far his
side’s best batsman. He will be looking to put in a match winning performance against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 and advance to the semi-finals. Sri Lanka will be hoping that Sangakkara can lead his side to World Cup glory, after narrowly missing out, in the previous tournament.
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