Category: Sports

February 6, 2009 (AFP) – History-making Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan says mental toughness and hard work are the keys to success in international cricket.“It’s not all that sweet. It’s not easy to go on for such a long time because you have your ups and downs,” said Muralitharan, 36, after becoming the highest wicket-taker […]

January 31, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Thilina Kandamby smashed a solid 93 not out under pressure, but failed to stop India from posting a 15-run victory in the second one-day international here Saturday.The tourists restricted Sri Lanka to 241 after scoring 256-9 in a day-night match, which was held up for five minutes during […]

January 31, 2009 (AFP) – Yuvraj Singh smashed a half-century to help India post a competitive 256-9 in the second one-day international against Sri Lanka here on Saturday.The middle-order batsman made an impressive 66 for his 38th half-century after his side had lost three wickets for 83 runs.He steadied the innings with an 85-run stand […]

DAMBULLA, January 28, 2009 (AFP) – Sanath Jayasuriya became the oldest batsman to hammer a one-day century as Sri Lanka posted a competitive 246-7 in the opening match against India here on Wednesday.The left-handed opener cracked 107 for his 28th hundred at the age of 39 years and 212 days, beating the previous oldest century-maker, […]

DAMBULLA, January 28, 2009 (AFP) – Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir cracked half-centuries to upstage Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya as India posted a six-wicket win in the opening one-dayer here on Wednesday.Opener Gambhir made 62 and skipper Dhoni an unbeaten 61 to help India achieve a 247-run target with 11 balls to spare for […]

DAMBULLA, January 26, 2009 (AFP) – Ace Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is poised to complete a record bowling double during the one-day series against India starting on Wednesday. The off-spinner is just three wickets short of surpassing former Pakistani paceman Wasim Akram’s world record of 502 one-day scalps, having grabbed 500 in 324 matches […]

LAHORE, January 24, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene said his team were progressing well and he was looking forward to facing India after thumping Pakistan Saturday to win the one-day series 2-1.Jayawardene’s team beat the home side by a whopping 234 runs in the third and final day-night international — the heaviest […]

January 22, 2009 (AFP) – The central town of Dambulla will host just one match instead of two during India’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, the two cricket boards said in a statement on Thursday.Dambulla, which was due to hold the first two matches of the five-match one-day series, will now host only the opening […]

KARACHI, January 20, 2009 (AFP) – Pacemen Rao Iftikhar took a career-best 4-42 to help Pakistan restrict Sri Lanka to 219 in the first day-night international at the National Stadium here Tuesday.The 28-year-old medium pacer removed top-scorer Kumar Sangakkara (49), skipper Mahela Jayawardene (one) and Thilan Thushara (nought) to derail the visitors who had a […]

KARACHI, January 18, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene Sunday refused to single out spin sensation Ajantha Mendis as the major threat for Pakistan in the one-day series.The 23-year-old Mendis and his more illustrious partner Muttiah Muralitharan are tipped to hold the aces against the home team in the three-match series which starts […]

January 19, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s economic slowdown has taken its toll on the island’s hugely popular sport of cricket as long-term sponsor disappear, sports minister Gamini Lokuge said on Monday.During the three-month trial that ends on March 31, Sri Lanka will play two Tests and three one-day internationals in Pakistan and host India […]

DHAKA, January 16, 2009 (AFP) – Nuwan Kulasekara and Ajantha Mendis grabbed three wickets apiece as Sri Lanka dismissed Bangladesh for 152 in the triangular one-day series final here on Friday. Fast bowler Kulasekara picked three of the first five wickets in a lively opening spell to send Bangladesh reeling at 54-5 in the 19th […]