Category: Sports

April 26, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s mild-mannered cricketers should be more aggressive if they want to beat the Australians in Saturday’s World Cup final, former Sri Lankan opening batsman Sidath Wettimuny said. “Sri Lankans need to show aggression in all departments of the game,” Wettimuny, Sri Lanka’s star opening batsman in its early years […]

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 […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 24, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene led from the front with a maiden World Cup hundred in Tuesday’s semi-final against New Zealand here at Sabina Park.Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (RSA) and Simon Taufel (AUS) TV umpire: Daryl Harper (AUS) Match referee: Mike Procter (RSA) Reserve umpire: Asad Rauf (PAK) KINGSTON, […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 24, 2007 (AFP) – Upul Tharanga, who was in danger of being dropped for Sri Lanka’s World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, answered his critics in style with a fighting 73 in his team’s total of 289-5.“It was difficult to play shots as the ball got older. You have to wait for […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 24, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene led his side into the World Cup final with a maiden tournament hundred as the 1996 champions beat New Zealand by 81 runs at Sabina Park on Tuesday. Jayawardene’s 115 not out was the centrepiece of an imposing total of 289 for five […]

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 […]

KINGSTON, April 23, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody claims that unorthodox fast bowler Lasith Malinga has one of the straightest arms in cricket and said it’s ridiculous to suggest the 23-year-old’s action is illegal. “If we suddenly went to the MCC coaching manual and tried to get him over the top and […]

April 24, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s astrologers say the exact moment when the nation’s cricketers leave their hotel for the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand will determine if they will win It is not only the batsmen’s timing at the crease, but also their precise morning schedule that will decide the winner at […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 23, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene is backing his side’s greater experience to see them through their World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.The teams meet Tuesday here at Sabina Park in the opening last four match of the first World Cup ever staged in the Caribbean, the victors facing […]