Category: Industry

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, April 25, 2007 (AFP) – Glenn McGrath and Shaun Tait struck it rich as Australia stormed into a fourth successive World Cup final with a crushing seven-wicket win over South Africa here on Wednesday. South Africa were dismissed for 149, their lowest-ever Cup total as Tait finished with 4-39 while man-of-the-match […]

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 26, 2007 (AFP) – Sport is war minus shooting, said George Orwell and Sri Lanka’s cricketers are doing their part in keeping the guns silent. Cricket is such an obsession in the strife-torn nation that the team’s progress to the World Cup final in the Caribbean has produced a temporary peace dividend […]

April 26, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s surge into cricket’s World Cup final this weekend has raised hopes of a peace dividend on an island united by sport but divided by conflict, even if no one is showing long-term optimism.Cricket is hugely popular in Sri Lanka and is seen as one of the few things […]

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, April 26, 2007 (AFP) – Australia captain Ricky Ponting insists his world champions are ready to face down Sri Lanka’s veteran bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas in Saturday’s World Cup final.Australia have already beaten Sri Lanka in the tournament when they won their Super Eights clash by seven wickets in […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 25, 2007 (AFP) – Struggling pace bowler Dilhara Fernando is likely to be axed from Sri Lanka’s team for Saturday’s World Cup final after his disastrous performance in the semi-final win over New Zealand. “We have been talking about getting the basics right and putting the ball in the right areas.” Fernando […]

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 26, 2007 (AFP) – Australia v Sri Lanka head-to-head record ahead of the World Cup final at Kensington Oval here on Saturday: Total meetings: 64 Australia wins: 42 Sri Lanka wins: 20 Tied: 0 No Result: 2 Last 20 meetings 27/09/2002: Colombo Sri Lanka won by 7 wkts 22/12/2002: Perth Australia won […]

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, April 26, 2007 (AFP) – South Africa captain Graeme Smith admitted on Thursday that he desperately needs a top class spinner if the Proteas are ever to win a World Cup.His plea came after watching his team crumble to a seven-wicket defeat to Australia in the semi-finals after being bowled out […]

KINGSTON, April 25, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene thanked coach Tom Moody for pushing him and the team to their limits after his century steered them into the World Cup final.“The ’96 group changed the course of Sri Lankan cricket completely and those guys cleared the way for us to achieve higher […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 24, 2007 (AFP) – New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming announced his resignation as captain of his country’s one-day team after the 81-run defeat by Sri Lanka in the World Cup semi-finals here on Tuesday.But Fleming said he wants to continue playing in the side and stay in charge of the Test team. The […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 24, 2007 (AFP) – New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming admitted his side had been completely outclassed by Sri Lanka after the Asian side cruised into the World Cup final on Tuesday.Sri Lanka, riding on the back of an unbeaten 115 by skipper Mahela Jayawardene, wrapped up an 81-run win and will now […]

April 25, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s left-handed batsman Russel Arnold will retire from international cricket after the World Cup final, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said on Wednesday.“Russel has informed his decision to team manager Michael Tissera in Jamaica and it has now been officially conveyed to the cricket board,” SLC spokesman Samantha Algama told […]

April 25, 2007 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels and Sri Lankan soldiers held a truce as their national side marched to the World Cup final, but violence broke out soon after stumps were drawn.Five hours after the semi-final against New Zealand ended in Jamaica early Wednesday, two policemen were killed in a roadside blast. Suspected […]