March 16, 2007	Friday	Safar 26, 1428

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PORT-OF-SPAIN (Trinidad), March 15: Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara ended Bermuda's early celebrations with solid half-centuries as Sri Lanka posted 321-6 in their opening World Cup Group B match here on Thursday.

Skipper Jayawardene (85) and left-handed Sangakkara (76) put on 150 for the third wicket to prop up the innings after their team had won the toss on a good batting track at the Queen's Park Oval.

Chamara Silva built on the duo's effort with a 48-ball 55 not out.

Bermuda enjoyed the best phase of their Cup debut early in the morning before being dominated by Jayawardene and wicket-keeper/batsman Sangakkara, who gathered runs with consummate ease against both pace and spin.

Sri Lanka looked in trouble for a brief spell when left-handed opener Sanath Jayasuriya got a nasty blow on his hand in the opening over and Jayawardene was dropped first ball.

Playing in his fifth and last World Cup, Jayasuriya needed on-field medical attention after being struck by a Kevin Hurdle delivery. He soon overcame the pain and went on to add 62 for the opening wicket with Upul Tharanga.

Jayasuriya contributed a brisk 22 before being smartly caught by Oliver Pitcher at point off Saleem Mukuddem, who became the first Bermudian bowler to take a wicket in the World Cup.

Mukuddem nearly got a second successive wicket, but burly Dwayne Leverock grassed a regulation catch at lone slip to let off Jayawardene. The Sri Lankan captain got another 'life' when he was dropped on 51 by the same fielder.

The normalcy was soon restored as the Sri Lankan captain and Sangakkara exposed Bermuda's bowling limitations with their impressive knocks. When Sri Lanka lost the third wicket, they were already in a strong position.

Sangakkara struck six fours in his 83-ball knock before he fell in a bid to step up the run-rate. He attempted a big shot off spinner Leverock and was caught by Janeiro Tucker, who took a well-judged running catch at the boundary.

But there was no respite for the Cup debutants as Jayawardene added 39 brisk runs for the fourth wicket with Silva.

Jayawardene hit two sixes and six fours in his 90-ball knock for his 35th half-century before falling to superb diving catch by Kevin Hurdle at deep mid-wicket off seamer Lionel Cann.

Bermuda fielded enthusiastically and held three brilliant catches, but their bowling left a lot to be desired as they conceded 30 extras.

 

Scoreboard
SRI LANKA:
W.U. Tharanga c Minors b Hurdle	30
S.T. Jayasuriya c Pitcher b Mukuddem	22
D.P.M.D. Jayawardene c Hurdle b Cann	85
K.C. Sangakkara c Tucker b Leverock	76
L.P.C. Silva not out	55
T.M. Dilshan c Tucker b Hurdle	12
M.F. Maharoof c Hemp b Mukuddem	9
R.P. Arnold not out	2
EXTRAS (LB-3, W-13, NB-14)	30
TOTAL (for six wkts, 50 overs)	321
FALL OF WKTS: 1-62 (Jayasuriya, 8.3 ov), 2-78 (Tharanga, 11.6 ov), 3-228 (Sangakkara, 37.3 ov), 4-267 (Jayawardene, 42.1 ov), 5-305 (Dilshan, 48.1 ov), 6-316 (Maharoof, 49.3 ov).
DID NOT BAT: W.P.U.J.C. Vaas, S.L. Malinga, M. Muralitharan.
BOWLING: Hurdle 9-1-61-2 (10nb, 5w); Mukuddem 10-0-50-2 (3w); Tucker 10-0-50-0 (2nb); Leverock 10-0-67-1; Borden 5-0-48-0 (1nb); Cann 5-0-34-1 (3w); Romaine 1-0-8-0.
BERMUDA: D.A. Minors, C.J. Smith, J.J. Tucker, I.H. Romaine, O.L. Pitcher, D.L. Hemp, L.O.B. Cann, S. Mukuddem, D.C.C. Borden, R.D.M. Leverock, K.A.D. Hurdle.
UMPIRES: D.J. Harper (Australia) and I.L. Howell (South Africa).
TV UMPIRE: Aleem Dar (Pakistan).
MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand).—Agencies