SL cricketers breach security cover

Sri Lankan players gave the local police some anxious moments when they went for a night-out without security cover.

According to sources, some members of the visiting team, including senior batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan went partying at a bar at Camac Street in Kolkata, putting local police in a tizzy.

The cricketers left the hotel at around 11:00 pm.
While some of the Sri Lankan team members returned early, Jayasuriya and Dilshan came back around 2:00 am, the sources said.

"Many of them went out but returned soon. Only the duo of Dilshan and Jayasuriya returned quite late. If somebody goes out of security, what can we do? They are all responsible cricketers," local manager of the team Samir Dasgupta said.

Sri Lankan team management, however, denied that the duo returned late and said they did not go for any party or fun.

"There was no concern as the cricketers had informed the management and police before stepping out. Not all cricketers went out, just a few of them had gone and returned in about an hour," Lankan manager Brendon Kuruppu told PTI.

"There were policemen, hotel and security staff escorting them and they did not go for partying. And on top of that it was a day off for them," Kuruppu added.

Also on Tuesday, Dilshan went to the house of his Delhi Daredevils teammate Manoj Tiwari.
Incidentally, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Dilshan did not turn up for Wednesday's optional practice session.

Following the terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Pakistan earlier this year, security has always been a concern.

In the wake of a terror alert and the intelligence inputs about possible suicide attacks on the vital installations in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, security cover of the cricketers have been beefed up.

Security tightened at Eden Gardens
In view of the terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan in March this year, an unprecedented security cover has been put in place for their fourth ODI against India at the Eden Gardens.

Jawans of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), armed police personnel and commandos have been positioned around the Eden Gardens as a three-tier security ring has been thrown for both the teams lodged in a five-star hotel in the city.

"Security has been arranged in such a way that none will be able to barge into the ground and approach the players," Joint Commissioner of Police(HQ), Jawed Shamim said.

With Police Commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakraborty supervising the security arrangements, even mediapersons have been barred inside the hotel lobby under control of the security personnel.
Metal detectors, sniffer dogs and hectic movement of armed securitymen in the hotel as well as in the Eden Gardens have been witnessed for the last few days.

Police have given clear guidelines to the two teams on security norms.
"So far, there has been no security breach on the part of any cricketer of either team," Shamim said.

Shamim said some dummy buses had been kept ready for the two teams both at the hotel and at the ground.

"This has been done in the interests of players' security," he added.
As usual, there has been last-minute scurrying for tickets, mainly complimentary ones. Police have been keeping a close watch on any blackmarketing of such tickets.

Meanwhile, the number of seats at the stadium has gone down by 45,000 due to dismantling of four galleries for repairing of the venue.

Following this, police said that demand for complimentary tickets had gone up considerably.

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Laxman raring to go against Lanka

Fit again after recovering from a back injury, senior batsman VVS Laxman said he was looking forward to playing against Sri Lanka.

"I am fit and back in the groove," Laxman, skipper of the Hyderabad Ranji team, which takes on hosts Punjab in their second match at PCA stadium on Tuesday, told reporters.
Laxman said the series against the islanders will be challenging.

The stylish right-hander had an extensive batting session at the nets in the afternoon.
Both Punjab and Hyderabad drew their opening Ranji tie, against Mumbai and Himachal Pradesh respectively, earning a point each.

"Punjab is a formidable side. We will need to play well," said Laxman.

The Hyderabad skipper also said left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, whose five-wicket haul in the previous match nixed Himachal's victory hopes, will not be playing the match.
Ojha is featuring in a tie for the Board President's XI against Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka Cricket turn to baseball for fielding training

Sri Lanka Cricket has asked Gavin Fingleson, a former Olympic baseball player, to help improve the fielding skills of the national. South African-born Fingleson played baseball for Australia and is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka to discuss with the board the nature of his work and the number of trips he has to make to carry out his duties.

"I will try and utilise my baseball skills while working with the Lankans," Fingleson was quoted as saying on espnstar.com. "Pick-up, sliding and throwing are a few common elements in both baseball and cricket and there I should be able to give some crucial inputs to the Lankan players."

Fingleson said he would try to help Sri Lanka build a good fielding side for the 2011 World Cup that Sri Lanka will be co-hosting along with India and Bangladesh.

This is not the first time that cricket has borrowed from baseball. Australia's fielding coach Mike Young was also a former baseball coach.

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Sri Lanka Confirm Squad For Hong Kong Cricket Sixes

The 2007 Hong Kong Cricket Sixes champions Sri Lanka have confirmed their squad for this year’s tournament with veterans Jeewatha Kulathunga, Indika De Saram and Nuwan Zoysa leading the charge at the Kowloon Cricket Club from October 31-November 1.

First played in 1992, the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is the longest-running international tournament of its kind and will this year celebrate its 15th edition. As such, the Sixes has been included by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as a ‘Catch the Spirit’ event to celebrate the global governing body’s centenary celebrations.

Zoysa, who has played 30 Tests and almost 100 one-day internationals (ODIs) is a new addition to his country’s Hong Kong entry, while Sixes veterans Jeewatha Kulathunga, who will captain the side, and Indika De Saram are both remembered proudly for when they starred with the bat in the Lankans’ shock Cup final victory over the All-Stars two years ago.

The left-handed Zoysa boasts an international ODI strike-rate of almost 100, ideal for the Sixes format, while he famously took a hat-trick in his first over the game in just his eighth Test match. The three consecutive wickets came against Zimbabwe in Harare in November, 1999.

Also on the team are vice-captain Kaushal Lokuarachchi, who played for the Wayamba XI in the current Champions League Twenty20 in India, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Hasantha Fernando and Dilhara Lokuhettige.

Captain Shahzada Saleem Ahmed, President of the Hong Kong Cricket Association, said: “Sri Lanka are always one of the most popular teams at the Hong Kong cricket Sixes, in no small part thanks to their superb victory over the All-Stars in the 2007 Cup final. With big-hitters like Kulathanga and De Deram playing alongside Zoyza, they will have a strong team once again.”

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Cricket Association has confirmed their final seven-man squad for the Sixes, with dynamic young all-rounder Irfan Ahmed one of the stars to watch. Najeeb Amar will captain the team, which also includes Tanwir Afzaal, Irfan’s brother Nadeem, Hussain Butt, Muneer Dar and Mark Wright. Aizaz Khan is the team’s reserve.

Irfan is part of Hong Kong’s new generation of cricketing talent and has now earned a call-up to the national Sixes outfit, who finished fourth in 2008 – their best-ever result at the tournament.

The 19-year-old Irfan is the player to watch after his man of the match performance in Hong Kong’s final game against the United States in recent the Under 19 ICC World Cup Qualifier in Toronto. Irfan also scored 102 runs in three innings without being dismissed on day one of the 2008 Sixes and was in contention for the Player of the Tournament award.

Ticket prices have also been revised in 2009, allowing fans to purchase two-day passes for $HK680 for adults, a 13 per cent discount over last year, while children’s tickets will be available for $380, a reduction of 15 per cent.

To give spectators greater flexibility, for the first time single-day passes will also be available at $HK300 (Saturday)/$470 (Sunday) for adults and $180 (Saturday/$220 (Sunday) for kids. Tickets are on sale through HK Ticketing, the Kowloon and Hong Kong Cricket Clubs and Dot Cod restaurant in Central.

The host broadcaster for the 2009 Hong Kong Cricket Sixes will again be Taj TV-owned Ten Sports from Dubai, who will provide a live broadcast of the entire event into Hong Kong, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia and South Africa. Additional coverage will also be seen in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe and China. The 2008 Sixes was broadcast to 80 million households worldwide.

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Malinga to play Twenty20 for Lions

Lasith Malinga has become the second high-profile player to sign for the Highveld Lions after agreeing to a short-term contract.

The Sri Lanka fast bowler will follow England spinner Monty Panesar to the Johannesburg team and is set to play in the domestic Standard Bank Pro20 competition from February next year.

While Panesar will feature in the first-class SuperSport Series and one-day MTN Championship, Malinga will boost the Lions' bid for 20-over glory.
Union chief executive Alan Kourie said: "We are delighted to confirm that franchise coach Dave Nosworthy has successfully reached an agreement with Lasith Malinga to play in our Pro20 for the coming season.

"We are thrilled to have someone of Lasith's calibre joining us for what will be a very important season."

Malinga said: "I am really looking forward to playing for the Highveld Lions.
"I'm very grateful for the opportunity given to me and I hope I can repay that faith by helping the Lions win the tournament.

"Playing cricket in South Africa is always a challenge, and I hope the experience will make me a better cricketer."

Speculation linking the 26-year-old with a move to the Wanderers has been rife in recent weeks, but the move had to be ratified by Sri Lanka Cricket.

Malinga, who has taken 23 wickets in 18 Twenty20 internationals for an outstanding 19.26 average, will travel to South Africa in time to participate in the Lions' season-opener against the Cape Cobras in Cape Town on February 5.

Nosworthy said: "We wanted a world-class strike bowler, and Lasith ticks all the right boxes.

"He is an outstanding bowler, and his performances for the Mumbai Indians and Sri Lanka over the past year show just how valuable he is in the Twenty20 format."

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Mahela Jayawardene: T20 has improved my game

The former Sri Lankan captain, who is in India with the Wayamba Elevens for the Airtel Champions League Twenty20, is regarded as one of the most elegant and stylish batsmen of his era?

He is not your usual slam-bang batsman. How exactly has he then been so successful in the shortest format of the game?

”You have to adapt yourself to different ways of playing. At the same time, if you can be innovative and consolidating, then there is nothing like it.

“That’s where all batsmen try to adjust. I think T20 has improved my game and made me understand my strengths better,” Mahela said.

Jayawardene, who relinquished the Lankan captaincy earlier this year to concentrate on his batting, was a distraught man after his team’s appalling first round exit from the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.

“It was very disappointing. We were playing good cricket in the lead up to the Champions Trophy but we made some serious mistakes in South Africa.

Our fielding wasn’t where it should have been and we failed to click.”

However, Jaywardene has a lot of hope for the future and that glint in his eyes gave it away. Sri Lankan cricket after all is in safe hands, rather the safe gloves of Kumar Sangakkara.

“Sanga is taking us to the next level. The team puts in everything for him and he is a tough nut too.”

Jayawardene believed that the Champions Trophy show was just a ‘blip’ in the radar and exuded confidence in the team learning from its mistakes.

For a player of Jayawardene’s class, it would not be too misplaced to look for young talent that reminds him of his style but no, Mahela refuses to get there.

“I have always encouraged players to inculcate their own style and following their own instincts on the field. My hope is that they will achieve what we have and take Sri Lankan cricket to even greater glories.”

The professional that he is, Jaywaredene knows he cannot take things for granted in the CL T20, where the competition will be no less than on an international arena.

“We just need to focus as the conditions will be different and we do have a very young group of players,” Jayawardene said of Wayamaba.

He did concede that the IPL teams will have the advantage of home conditions but that did not worry the team a lot.

“It is a great opportunity for some of our younger players to compete against some of the best teams in the world.”

Jayawardene is not just a man of words. He likes to act and let his bat talk, as gracefully as he does. Wayamba, rest assured are going to be tough challenge. They have kept a low profile so far but when they cross the white line, the opposition could be in for a surprise.

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None can replicate my carrom ball: Mendis

New Delhi, Oct 7 (IANS) Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis says no spinner can replicate his unique carrom ball that has bamboozled world's top batsmen including Sachin Tendulkar.

Mendis, who will be turning out for Sri Lankan team Wayamba Elevens in the Champions League Twenty20, seems to have inspired other spinners like Amit Mishra and Piyush Chawla to develop their own mystery deliveries.

The 24-year-old Sri Lankan, however, is confident that it would be tough for other bowlers to crack the mystery.

'Some bowlers are trying to develop a similar delivery. But I am confident that
none can replicate my carrom ball. It came naturally to me and I didn't develop it consciously. So I am confident that the carrom ball is unique and it has worked successfully for me,' Mendis told IANS in a free-wheeling interview, Sri Lankan all-rounder Jehan Mubaraka acting as interpretor.

Mendis was an instant success in international cricket as batsmen took some time reading him. Batsmen may have found him out, but he is confident that with his accuracy he can still tie them down.

'When I started playing international matches, batsmen especially Indians, who are great players of spin, had some trouble reading me. Now batsmen are getting used to my style. However reading is one thing and playing is another. As long as I bowl accurately, batsmen will have trouble playing me.'

The Sri Lankan Armyman feels that since the shorter formats of the game are heavily loaded in favour of batsmen, it is important for spinners to have variety.

'It is always good to have a variety in a spinner's repertoire. At present, I am trying to polish my skills and concentrating on what I know. I have played just nine Test matches and as I progress I will surely try out new things,' he said.
Mendis is confident that his msytery ball will trouble batsmen in the
Champions League.

'Pitches in the sub-continent favour the spinners and that's why Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) has tasted enormous success. So I don't find any reason why I can't pick wickets here. I have to just bowl accurately. I have seen that with (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni. Whenever I erred in line, he had hit me, but when I was accurate not only Dhoni but other players, too, had no other option but to defend,' he said.
Mendis said bowling to Indian batsmen is always a big challenge and is looking forward to a duel against Virender Sehwag, who will be turning out for Delhi Daredevils. A Mendis-Sehwag face-off will be on the cards Oct 11 at the Feroze Shah Kotla.

'Bowling to Virender Sehwag has been tough. When you are bowling to Sehwag there is no room for any margin of error. I am eager to bowl to him,' he said.
Mendis also lamented that he didn't get much opportunity to play in the both the edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

'Sharing the Kolkata Knight Riders dressing room with some great cricketers was an experience. But I feel I should have got to play more in the IPL both in India and in South Africa,' he said.

Mendis said that for him Twenty20 is fun but he wants to play serious cricket -- Tests and ODIs.

'I like to play all the three versions of the game. Twenty20 is fun and you have to bowl just four overs, no big deal. In 50 overs and Test cricket you have to outwit the batsman and that's a challenge for any bowler,' he said.

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Dilshan wins Twenty20 award

Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan has won the Twenty20 International Performance of the Year award in recognition of his breezy 96 off 57 balls against West Indies in the semi-final of the 2009 World Twenty20 in England. Dilshan's performance at The Oval included two sixes and 12 fours and helped steer his side into the finals of the tournament.

This is the second year the award has been given to recognise the most impressive performance by a player in Twenty20 internationals during the 12-month voting period, continuing to mark the advent of the shortest format of the game.

The award rounds off a good year of Twenty20 cricket for Dilshan who took the World Twenty20 by storm after showcasing his astonishing 'Dilscoop' - a flick-shot over his head - and also being named as Player of the Tournament, having scored 317 runs at 52.83.

According to the ICC Awards 25-member voting academy Dilshan's effort was the most impressive in the voting period between August 13, 2008 to August 24, 2009.

His performance beat competition from West Indies' Chris Gayle for his 88 off 50 balls against Australia, also during the 2009 World Twenty20 at the Oval; Umar Gul's 5 for 6 for Pakistan against New Zealand in the same tournament, as well as twin efforts from Shahid Afridi - a blitzkreig 51 off 34 balls and 2 for 16 against South Africa in the semi-final.

Collecting his award from last year's winner, Yuvraj Singh, Dilshan said: "This is a great feeling for me. I can't forget about that innings - it was so important and I was really happy about my overall performance in that tournament. It was a thrill for me to do well in England and do well for my team.

"I'm really proud of myself for having a new shot named after me (the Dilscoop). That shot has given me confidence. If I am under pressure I can play that shot and put the pressure back on the bowlers."

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Sangakkara slams 'appalling' fielding

After such an ebullient start, Sri Lanka have somehow pushed themselves to the very brink of this tournament, with a little help from England and New Zealand. Their 38-run loss today to New Zealand to end their group phase now means their fate is in the hands of others; having kick-started the Champions Trophy with a wonderful opening-day win against the hosts South Africa, it is a fate not many expected to befall them. Little about this tournament has been easy to predict.

Sri Lanka gave the game away in many areas today. Having dropped Muttiah Muralitharan and brought in Thilan Thushara, their new-ball pair began poorly. After getting back into it at 161 for 5, again the bowlers threw it away, though Kumar Sangakkara directed his gaze elsewhere.

Though widely considered the best fielding side in Asia, Sangakkara thought his men were "appalling" in the field and have not been much better over the last few months. "A real minus is our fielding. It has been sometimes appalling and not up to international standard. So we've got a lot of work to do to compete. That will be a real bugbear in the next tournaments. Individuals must take responsibility. The real difference between the sides will be fielding," said Sangakkara.

In hindsight there will be other concerns. Sri Lanka's pace bowling - which was to be their trump card - was unable to adjust to conditions in South Africa and their start and finish to New Zealand's innings was poor. Nuwan Kulasekera and Thushara, so lethal in home conditions, have failed to translate that form here.

"It probably has to do with the lengths we have to bowl here," Sangakkara said. "We have played a lot of cricket at home where lengths are different. Here we have to go back to basics and see, especially with our fast bowling, where the right lengths are and also how to hit them with aggression. Unfortunately most of our bowlers aren't the tallest but at the same time they are quality bowlers. We have to adapt."

Chief among the strugglers was Lasith Malinga, who went for 85 runs in his ten overs and whose poor mid-innings spell allowed New Zealand to bring themselves back in the game, from 161 for 5. "The skiddy length he bowls in the subcontinent, the ball doesn't skid here, it holds up. This was not a quick track, it's got carry but it has tennis ball bounce. We need to hit the deck rather than just run in and drop it on the spot."

Sri Lanka's batsmen also gave away starts, none more so than the opening pair, who kept them up with the rate initially. By that time the wicket wasn't so difficult to bat on, as Mahela Jayawardene and Kulasekara's first fifty proved, and certainly lacked the assistance that had prompted Sangakkara to bowl first. But ultimately there weren't enough partnerships all of which requires Sri Lanka to wait on other results and hope to improve all three aspects of their game.

"Mathematics can be peculiar," said Sangakkara. "If England win all games with healthy margins we've probably got an outside chance to come in. But it's not nice to wait to see which side loses and depend on run-rates. We should've put it away today and we didn't. We got outplayed. All three departments we have a lot of brushing up to do. We had lots of individual performances but as a team we need to brush up."

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Victory in dignity for England

England won respect as well as their opening match of the Champions Trophy against Sri Lanka at the Wanderers on Friday.

Captain Andrew Strauss' decision to call back Sri Lanka batsman Angelo Mathews late in the first innings was a significant act of sportsmanship in the resounding six-wicket victory which has thrown Group B wide open.

Mathews was run out going for two towards the end of the Sri Lankans' 212 all out in the day-nighter following a collision with bowler Graham Onions.

Although there appeared no intent on Onions' part, and Joe Denly's throw from the deep might have accounted for Mathews anyway, Strauss opted to ask the Sri Lankan all-rounder to resume his innings as he strode towards the pavilion.

It was perhaps a reaction to the last time such an incident occurred in an England match when then captain Paul Collingwood refused to pardon New Zealand's Grant Elliott in a one-day international at The Oval - and later admitted regret.

This reprieve on 170 for six was not costly, however, as Mathews, who rescued his side with a half-century from number seven, added just one more run before he edged a low catch behind off Luke Wright.

Mathews acknowledged Strauss' gesture as he left the field and England soon wrapped up the innings to set up a chase under floodlights.

Despite losing a couple of early wickets, the misfiring batting unit, culpable in the recent 6-1 defeat to Australia, had enough runs in it to get England home with five overs to spare.

Now, despite coming into this tournament as rank outsiders, Strauss' men can qualify for the semi-finals with victory over hosts South Africa on Sunday.

Strauss' first good call of the day had been to insert in conditions similar to what the English attack might discover at this time of year back home.

It was a mild day on the Highveld with the overcast covering of the ground encouraging seam and swing movement.

Anderson's excellent new-ball spell exploited it expertly and provided England with a perfect start to their campaign.

Anderson struck twice during an opening burst of 7-2-11-2 while new-ball partner Onions also claimed two wickets during a stunning opening half-a-dozen overs, which left in-form Sri Lanka reeling on 17 for four.

Lancashire paceman Anderson removed dangerous duo Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene after Onions had accounted for veteran Sanath Jayasuriya in the second over, via a feathered edge behind.

A sliced drive to first slip from captain Kumar Sangakkara then left Sri Lanka, who trounced hosts South Africa in the opening match of Group B, in disarray.

But the experienced Thilan Samaraweera and left-hander Kandamby forged a useful alliance to quell the early English enthusiasm.

Their 50-run partnership arrived in exactly one hour during a spree of Samaraweera boundaries.

However, Ashes hero Stuart Broad, recalled along with fellow all-rounder Wright following injuries, snared Samaraweera just as the Sri Lankans appeared to have redressed the balance - a drive comfortably intercepted at point by Collingwood.

Mathews then shared a 82-run stand with Thilina Kandamby (53) - which had ironically came to an end via a run-out earlier in Onions' 10th and final over - before the moment of English fair play.

Broad shines

Broad then put his team on the verge of wrapping things up with two wickets in as many balls.

Muttiah Muralitharan's swashbuckling 18, from 10 balls, was terminated when Broad knocked back off-stump and Lasith Malinga suffered the same fate next delivery.

Anderson, the pick of England's attack, fittingly finished things when he had Ajantha Mendis caught at slip in the 48th over.

Following the batting troubles against the Australians, Ravi Bopara was dropped with Owais Shah moving up to number three.

And it was Shah who dropped anchor as Collingwood gave another resounding response to being written off.

Collingwood blasted suggestions his form was on the slide pre-match and followed up by giving the Sri Lankan attack similar treatment.

His superb counter-attack began after Nuwan Kulasekara's double reduced England to 19 for two - Denly pinned on the crease by one which nipped back while Strauss was brilliantly caught, one-handed at midwicket by Kandamby from an ambitious pull.

Collingwood's lift over midwicket for six off Kulasekara was the first of his five boundaries in eight deliveries, a flurry which gave the scoring rate a serious injection after England initially slipped well behind their four-run-per-over asking rate.

Third-wicket partner Shah progressed at a more sedate pace, in contrast, making two off just 18 balls before his first boundary, which just cleared mid-off off mystery spinner Mendis, took England past 50.

Collingwood cracked two further sixes, from ferocious pulls off Malinga short balls, to take himself within one more boundary of a personal half-century.

But an unfortunate inside edge re-directed the ball into off-stump later in the over to leave England 82 for three after 20.

Irishman Eoin Morgan rode his luck early, edging three early boundaries, before shaping the chase alongside Middlesex colleague Shah, contributing 31 of their 50-run stand.

That arrived shortly after Shah flicked Kulasekara into the stands.

However, the trend of England batsmen falling when set this September continued when Shah was caught behind for 44 off the otherwise expensive Murali, bowling around the wicket.

Morgan did convert his start, however, to register his second 50 since switching from Ireland to England earlier this year.

An aerial off-drive off Kulasekara, his fifth four, delivered his landmark in 73 deliveries.

Matt Prior's cameo, which included some eyecatching aggression against Mendis, dictated England won without taking the batting power play.

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Sri Lanka not underestimating England

England are still smarting from a humiliating 6-1 defeat against Australia and arrived in South Africa late, with no time for a warm-up match and little time to acclimatize to local conditions. Sri Lanka have just beaten South Africa, the tournament favourites and until recently the No. 1 ODI side in the world. They are unquestionably favourites going into Friday's Group B match at the Wanderers but Trevor Bayliss, the Sri Lanka coach, has said his side is "not taking any team lightly" in a tournament where one bad match could cripple the campaign.

"We're happy with the way we played in the first game. Taking on South Africa in South Africa was never going to be an easy task but the boys were up for it," Bayliss said. "We are concentrating on what we do well but know they [England] will come out hard. There is no way we are going to underestimate them. England will move on from that series [against Australia]. It's a series gone by and they will be out to set the record straight."

England and Sri Lanka square off in Johannesburg, a venue where Pakistan beat West Indies in a low-scoring game on a pitch that offered plenty of assistance to the fast bowlers. Tomorrow's game, though, will be played on a different surface. "We are going to play on a fresh wicket against England," Bayliss said. "The one that Pakistan and the West Indies played on offered a bit of bounce and seam. If anything, England will be used to this type of wicket more than us. But a lot of our batsmen enjoy the ball coming on to the bat and we are confident we can play well on any track."

In the past Sri Lanka have always relied on Sanath Jayasuriya to provide acceleration at the start but his indifferent form hasn't been as damaging to the team because of Tillakaratne Dilshan's growth as a flamboyant, attacking opening batsman. He set up the victory against South Africa with an aggressive 106, which helped Sri Lanka achieve a total in excess of 300.

"Dilshan is a positive person as well as a player and has put his hand up in a big way. He cuts and pulls well and once again will enjoy the ball coming onto the bat," Bayliss said. "He is a big improver. His approach, his thinking has changed and improved and he is really playing much smarter cricket in whatever conditions face him. He is in the latter part of his career and it would have been nice to see him do this five years ago."

Sri Lanka weren't one of the favourites at the start of the tournament but their performance against South Africa, where their talented batsmen and varied bowling attack came to the fore, was worthy of champions.

"The last two years we have been pretty inconsistent in ODI cricket and that's because of our high player turnover," Bayliss said. "It hasn't been like that in the Test line-up, where we are quite settled. We have been working toward the 2011 World Cup and are continually narrowing the field of ODI players down. The more we get this right the more consistent we will become. It's just a matter of picking the right players at the right time when they are in form."

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Dilshan does the damage for Sri Lanka

A composed ton from Tillakaratne Dilshan helped Sri Lanka begin the Champions Trophy with a comprehensive 55-run Duckworth-Lewis victory.

Sri Lanka won over a rusty South Africa at Supersport Park on Tuesday.
The right-handed opener made batting look easy on a slow pitch, eventually finishing with 106 from 92 balls after sharing a record 158-run partnership with Kumar Sangakkara (54) - the highest for all wickets for the Asian team against the Proteas.

Mahela Jayawardene (77) also cashed in late on to set their opponents 320 for victory.

The home side, who had not played a competitive match since the World Twenty20, struggled in response with only Graeme Smith (58) crossing the half-century mark.
Ajantha Mendis (three for 30), Angelo Mathews (two for 43) and Lasith Malinga (two for 43) were all amongst the wickets, helping their side to what turned out to be a comfortable win.

After being asked to bat the visitors made an attacking start to their innings - Dilshan pushing the third ball for four, before his partner Sanath Jayasuriya took consecutive boundaries off Wayne Parnell (three for 79).
However, the veteran opener was then trapped plumb in front for 10 as he attempted to swing Dale Steyn (three for 47) across the line.

Dilshan continued the assault, though, and was particularly harsh on Parnell, who he slammed for 14 in the eighth over, including his famous scoop shot over the wicketkeeper as the Asians raised their 50 in 49 balls.

Not to be denied, new batsman Sangakkara also joined in as the pair raised the 50 stand in 46 balls, followed by Dilshan's half-century in 38 deliveries and then the 100 partnership in 93 balls.

The introduction of spinners Johan Botha and Roelof van der Merwe did cut down the boundaries, but the two batsmen continued to bat sensibly.

The captain then raised his own 50 as the stand crossed the 150 mark in 154 deliveries, before Dilshan completed his century from 87 deliveries with a quick single off JP Duminy.
Got questions about your favourite team in the ICC Champions Trophy? Ask Wasim Akram. Send in your queries to fanspeak@espnstar.co.in

The very next delivery, though, brought the downfall of Sangakkara, who offered a simple return to the same bowler ending his 74-ball stay.

One wicket often brings two and Dilshan promptly followed when he cut a wide ball from Steyn straight to Albie Morkel at third man.

But Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera (37) put on 116 to lift the islanders to 319 for eight.

The hosts made a sluggish start in their chase losing Hashim Amla (two) early - the man standing in for Herschelle Gibbs chopping on from Mathews.

Smith and Jacques Kallis consolidated by bringing up 50 from 40 balls, followed by the skipper's half-century in as many deliveries.

But he was out four balls later, bowled through the gate by the first delivery from Mendis.

The sprightly spinner then grabbed two wickets in two balls - first Kallis (41) was excellently snapped up by Mathews at mid-off, before Duminy (nought) played on.

More misery followed for the home side with AB de Villiers (24) playing too early at a short ball from Malinga and skying a straightforward catch to Jayawardene at mid-wicket.

Mark Boucher (26), Botha (21) and Morkel (29 not out) all briefly threatened as Mickey Arthur's team reached 206 for seven before the heavens opened - 114 runs behind and well short of the target.


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We're not out for revenge - Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka's captain, is not out for revenge against India after the recent history the two teams have shared. Sri Lanka surrendered their last two home series to India but scored an emphatic victory on Saturday, one that left Sangakkara pleased at the way the team had shaped up.

"I think you learn from your past games and you move on and you face newer teams, different combinations every single time you go out. So the past is the past really," said Sangakkara after the team's practice session. "You cannot dwell on it too much and get lost in it. You've got to be prepared for the present and for the future."

Sangakkara denied Sri Lanka gained a psychological advantage over India in the dress rehearsal for Monday and was keen to keep the focus on the final. Sri Lanka are unbeaten in finals at home this decade and Sangakkara hoped to kept that outstanding record. "Every victory is done and over. You've just got to get ready and face the next challenge. We have won one or two games here, so we've just got to get prepared for the finals. We have just spoken about clearer plans for everyone. We are just on the right track to build from here. And each victory in that journey is very important."

Sri Lanka's middle order has been boosted by the late call-ups to Thilan Samaraweera and Thilina Kandamby. Samaraweera's exceptional maiden century lifted Sri Lanka from 69 for 5 against New Zealand and on Saturday Kandamby's unbeaten 91 seized the momentum back from India. Sangakkara identified those contributions, as well as Sanath Jayasuriya's return to form, as "very important factors in subcontinent conditions". "With Sanath in form with his batting and his bowling I think it balances the side very well," he said. "The middle order is just started clicking. You just have to keep that going ... work hard and at the end of the day every single batsman must be responsible for his performance."

Calling it right at the toss has been a crucial factor at the R Premadasa stadium, where Sri Lanka have preferred to bat first and then call upon their magnificent bowlers to strangle the opposition. Sangakkara has, in every press conference at this venue after the Tests, stressed on the need to change history and he spoke of the same today. "Are you going to think about the toss and not about winning the game, or are you going to try and win the game no matter what happens with the toss? I think we've got to get the attitudes and our minds right. We know what the reality is so we got to fight harder and harder every single time and try change them.

"My theory of luck is simple. If you are prepared and you train very hard then the need for luck is minimise. The toss unfortunately cannot control that and what you can control is how you react to it and what do you do after it. Whether you bat first or second you got no choice you have to try and win the game."

Sri Lanka will take a final call on Muttiah Muralitharan on match day, but one bowler who has lessened the impact of his absence has been Lasith Malinga. After rocking New Zealand with an explosive three-wicket over on Tuesday, Malinga had the Indians hopping. "If Malinga is firing well and the ball is swinging he is equally deadly with the newer or older ball. In these conditions when the ball is slightly older he seems to get a bit of reverse-swing very early with his action," said Sangakkara. "I think that is his gain, his strength. We just want to make sure that we exploit every bowler's and each player's strength every time we use them."

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Muralitharan stars in Sri Lanka win

Masterful spinner Muttiah Muralitharan claimed three wickets as Sri Lanka completed an easy 202-run victory over New Zealand.
New Zealand, resuming on 30 for one and needing 383 more to overhaul a target of 413 for an unlikely victory, were instead bowled out for 210 just before tea as Sri Lanka took a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series on the final day of the first Test in Galle.

It's all about numbers

Left-arm fast bowler Thilan Thushara set the tone with an outstanding spell in the morning, giving the home side crucial early breakthroughs with the wickets of Martin Guptill (18) and Tim McIntosh (nought).

Part-time bowler Mahela Jayawardene then dismissed Ross Taylor (16) before Muralitharan and fellow spinner Ajantha Mendis picked off the remaining wickets to complete victory in a Test which had been hit by rain from the first day.

The final day, however, began in bright weather and the Black Caps' overnight pair of Taylor and Guptill started cautiously against Sri Lanka' fast bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara and Thushara.

Click here to follow all the action as it unfolded
Kulasekara, who started off proceedings with the ball for the home side, began with successive maidens, while Thushara conceded just two from his first two overs.

At the start of his third over, Thushara decided to come around the wicket to Guptill and immediately struck with a beauty of a delivery which swung into the right-hander and moved away a touch off the seam, hitting the top of off-stump.
Thushara then dismissed McIntosh, who had top-scored with a gritty 69 in the first innings, for an eight-ball duck although credit ought to go to Thilan Samaraweera.

Fielding at third slip, Samaraweera grasped the edge just inches from the ground and while McIntosh stood his ground, the dismissal was confirmed by the television umpire.

Top Performer: Tillakaratne Dilshan
Surprisingly, Jayawardene was the first bowling change in the morning session and he was immediately rewarded with the wicket of Taylor.
Jayawardene, bowling a mixture of off-spin and medium pace, drifted down leg and Taylor obliged with the edge which was neatly snaffled by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.
Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori (67), who had promoted himself up the order, had stemmed the tide somewhat with a 41-run stand for fifth wicket.

Oram had begun positively, but lived dangerously when the spinners came on. He eventually fell while attempting to sweep Mendis, only to be rapped right in front by the spinner.

It left the visitors tottering at 125 for five at the lunch interval and the Sri Lankans made short work of the lower half of the order once play resumed after the break.

Jesse Ryder was Muralitharan's first victim, caught by Prasanna for 24, while Vettori's battling innings was ended in similar fashion by Mendis.

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The spinner got one to turn sharply from the rough and Vettori, who had earlier brought up his 20th Test half-century with a single off Thushara, feathered an edge which was neatly snaffled by the wicketkeeper.

His dismissal left Brendon McCullum battling with the tail, but they were no match for Mendis and Muralitharan.

Jeetan Patel was Muralitharan's second victim, stumped for 22, while Iain O'Brien made only five when he was caught by Tharanga Paranavitana at short leg off Muralitharan.

The spinner brought the curtains down on New Zealand's innings by running out McCullum for 29.

Muralitharan finished with three for 88 from 27 overs.

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Dilshan Powers Sri Lanka to T20 World Cup Cricket Final

Tillakartne Dilshan's memorable tournament continued as he produced an almost single-handed display to give Sri Lanka a total to defend at The Oval. While his team-mates struggled to find much momentum, Dilshan batted through the innings to hit an unbeaten 96 off 57 balls, the highest score of the event, as Sri Lanka reached 158 for 5.

The innings was limping at 77 for 3 in the 12th over after three wickets had gone for four runs in nine balls when Dilshan and Chamara Silva added 50 to set a platform for the closing overs. It looked as though Dilshan would have time to register the first hundred of the tournament, but he lost the strike during the closing stages and needing six off the final ball to reach three figures could only clubbed a two over midwicket. However, the final five overs had brought 60 and this is the sort of target Sri Lanka have defended throughout the two weeks.

Jayasuriya and Dilshan began cautiously as 12 came off the first three overs, but Dilshan sparked the innings into life with two flicks over short fine-leg against Jerome Taylor, the second which carried for six such was Dilshan's brilliant timing. In the next over, Dwayne Bravo's first, he took three more boundaries through the off side, but it was shaping as a one-man show for Sri Lanka.

Jayasuriya was having a major struggle and changed his bat four times during a painful 37-ball 24. He has a host of mannerisms at the crease and Jayasuriya rarely looked comfortable with each new blade even though he managed two leg-side boundaries off Sulieman Benn.

Dilshan was having no such concerns as he deftly guided Chris Gayle through third man and followed that with a thumping six over deep midwicket. It was like watching two different games, but the opening stand was ended in the 11th over when Jayasuriya's stay was ended when he top-edged Bravo to short fine-leg.

Two balls later a cracking catch at point by Kieron Pollard sent back the key figure of Kumar Sangakkara for a duck. West Indies were suddenly full of energy and their mood improved further when Mahela Jayawardene managed to pick out short fine-leg when clipped a ball from Pollard, which should have gone for four, straight to the fielder.

It was down to Dilshan to give Sri Lanka's strong attack something to defend. Darren Sammy produced a superb comeback as he hit his yorkers to allow just three from the 13th over, but in the next over Dilshan, who reached his fifty off 30 balls, cashed in on two full tosses by Pollard. Placement was key to Dilshan's innings and each time the bowlers strayed he managed to make the most of it.

The innings found some vital momentum in the 17th over when Bravo was taken for 18 as he struggled to find his length. Dilshan cracked three boundaries and Silva then joined in when he swung the final delivery one bounce to the square-leg rope. Silva's contribution to a stand of 50 in six overs was just 11 before he fell trying to reverse hit Benn.

Jehan Mubarak found the boundary once before falling to an acrobatic catch by Sammy at deep square-leg, who initially misjudged the ball on a gloomy evening before throwing himself forward to cling onto the ball. It was West Indies best fielding display of the tournament, only marred by a couple of slips in the final over.

And the last over could prove the key. Angelo Mathews swung a big six over long-on then followed it with a straight boundary and although Dilshan fell short of a memorable century there was a feeling the momentum was just with Sri Lanka. But it's still too close to call.

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