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And Sri Lanka is in Final !!! |
And the bad luck has not left New Zealand’s back yet, they are the most unlucky team in the world cup history who never reached World Cup finals and Sri Lanka winning the game comprehensively might again write the history written a decade ago.
Stephen Fleming did say before the start of the game - “We were outclassed at key moments” - and he and his players need feel no shame in losing to a demonstrably better side.”, But that does not mean that you go to a game without self-confidence. New Zealand was out classed in every department of the game. Never seem to be on top of Srilanka anywhere in the game
Despite Murali’s 4 wicket hall, it will be Mahela’s 115 that will be talked more in coming years in same breath as of Viv Richard’s 138, Steve Waugh’s 12 or Ricky Ponting’s 140. It’s easy to talk about those innings but pacing such an innings is a thunderous task.
Jayewardene: “The captaincy has helped, and Tom [Moody] has definitely pushed me to the limits. He’s not happy when I’m cruising. In fact, he’s not happy when anyone’s cruising” © Getty Images
Sri Lanka’s dominance was best expressed by a bugler in one of the stands, who started playing The Last Post when Lasith Malinga was brought back for his second spell. The first had sent shockwaves through the New Zealand dressing room, with Fleming trapped leg before and Ross Taylor playing blind man’s buff as delivery after delivery rocketed past the outside edge.
Malinga had missed the last three games, but any doubts about whether he’d be in the groove were soon blown away. “To be honest, no,” Jayawardene said with a broad smile when asked whether Malinga’s return had been a welcome surprise. “He’s got a big heart and he’s improved a lot over the past 12 months.”
He isn’t the only one. Jayawardene has been outstanding in the leadership role since taking over, and after a six-month drought, the tactical acumen is being backed up by weight of runs - 529 in the tournament so far. “I’ve become mentally much stronger,” he said. “The captaincy has helped, and Tom [Moody] has definitely pushed me to the limits. He’s not happy when I’m cruising. In fact, he’s not happy when anyone’s cruising.”
He would have been delighted at the cruise today though, a romp that affords Murali, Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas a second chance to lay their hands on the game’s ultimate prize. With the likes of Murali around, you know for sure that a certain Welsh poet’s words will be heeded. Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And i am happy that Srilanka is in Final.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 25th, 2007 and is filed under ICC World Cup 2007, Sri Lanka cricket, Cricket World, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Hello Tajim,
Good work….I am thinking, someone may create a new cricket blog…its not about only Nepali Cricket…but about the international cricket…..well, you have done as per the need of cricket blog in Nepal…..Go a head….and Best of luck for blogging…..