March 15, 2007	Thursday	Safar 25, 1428

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PORT-OF-SPAIN (Trinidad), March 14: If ace Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan sends down a doosra in the opening World Cup Group B match here on Thursday, many Bermudian batsmen will struggle to read it.

It is not surprising because even quality batsmen in the world have fallen prey to the doosra, a delivery which turns away from right-handers instead of coming in like a normal off-break.

And Bermuda are not to be blamed as they are making their debut on the biggest one-day stage, especially against a country which claimed the Cup in 1996 and boasts of more than one match-winner in their ranks.

A mismatch is predicted on a good Queen's Park Oval track here, but Bermuda hope to avoid an embarrassment by being competitive. Their recent form suggests that they will struggle to test the 1996 winners.

“We want to play good cricket and earn respect along the way,” said Bermudian skipper Irving Romaine.

“The guys are here to play good cricket and to represent their country well. This is our first time at the World Cup and we are looking forward to every aspect of it.”

Sri Lanka could not have asked for a better outing to begin their campaign and adjust to the conditions before taking on Test-playing nations India and Bangladesh in the remaining two games.

The top two sides will make it to the next Super Eight stage.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene has already said his team's chances in the event will depend on how quickly they adjust to the conditions in the Caribbean.

“Playing in the sub-continent or away is not a big factor. It's a matter of peaking at the right time,” said the Sri Lankan captain.

“Our prospects in the World Cup will depend on the team getting used to the conditions.”

Sri Lanka have attractive stroke-makers in veteran Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Marvan Atapattu, who are likely to feast on an inexperienced Bermudian attack.

The Bermudian batsmen also will not find the going easy against left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas and Muralitharan, who are proven match-winners.

Coached by former West Indies batsman Gus Logie, Bermuda bagged the wooden spoon at the World Cricket League in Kenya recently when they won just one of their five matches.

Their form in the World Cup warm-up games was hardly encouraging as they lost to both England and Zimbabwe.

Bermuda have just one professional cricketer in batsman David Hemp who has represented English county Warwickshire and now leads Glamorgan.

They have a tidy left-arm spinner in Dwayne Leverock, who may be carrying extra weight but is known for keeping batsmen silent. He will be tested against a big side for the first time.

The tiny island nation, located in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, gained a place in the World Cup two years ago by finishing fourth in the ICC Trophy.

All the four Group B sides have arrived here and had workouts in bright sunshine on Tuesday.

Teams (from):

SR LANKA:: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Marvan Atapattu, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chamara Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara.

BERMUDA: Irving Romaine (captain), Dean Minors, Delyone Borden, Lionel Cann, David Hemp, Kevin Hurdle, Malachi Jones, Stefan Kelly, Dwayne Leverock, Saleem Mukuddem, Stephen Outerbridge, Oliver Pitcher, Clay Smith, Janeiro Tucker, Kwame Tucker.

Umpires: Daryl Harper (Australia) and Ian Howell (South Africa).

TV umpire: Aleem Dar (Pakistan).

Reserve umpire: Steve Davis (Australia).

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand).—AFP

Match starts at 6:30pm

Expected weather: 29 degrees Centigrade (84 degrees Fahrenheit).

Pitch: Easy-paced with variable bounce.