Posted on 30th April 2007 by admin in Uncategorized
Australia won the World Cup for a record third consecutive time, beating Sri Lanka by 53 runs in a rain-shortened final that ended in a farce on Saturday.
Adam Gilchrist scored 149, the highest individual score in a World Cup final, as the defending champions, electing to bat, piled 281-4 from their allotted 38 overs.
In reply, Sri Lanka could only muster 215 for 8 in fading light, after being set a revised target of 269 in 36 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis system, as rain, which forced a delayed start, halted play for 12 minutes during their run chase.
Posted on 28th April 2007 by admin in Uncategorized
Sri Lanka turned in a fine all-round performance to beat New Zealand by 81 runs and storm into the final of the World Cup on Tuesday.
Powered by a brilliant century from their captain Mahela Jayawardene in the first semi-final at Sabina Park, Jamaica, the 1996 champions posted 289 for 5 and then bowled out the Kiwis for 208 in the 42nd over to condemn them to their fifth World Cup semi-final defeat.
In Saturday’s final in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sri Lanka will face either Australia or South Africa, who meet in Wednesday’s second semi-final.
Muthiah Muralitharan was Sri Lanka’s wrecker-in-chief, claiming four wickets for 31 runs which broke the back of the New Zealand batting.