Archives

BRISBANE, Wednesday (Reuters) - Sri Lanka had a brief World Cup scare on Wednesday when off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan limped off the field with a thigh-muscle injury during a one-day international against Australia.

To the relief of the Sri Lankans, Muralitharan -- whose fitness is vital to his country's hopes in the World Cup which starts in South Africa in three weeks' time -- returned to take another wicket in the triangular series match, which was won by Australia.

"It's a pull of the thigh muscle in front of the left leg," Sri Lanka team manager Ajit Jayasekera told Reuters in a by telephone from the team's Brisbane hotel.

"It's a pull, not a tear so there's a bit of hopeful news for us. He should be fit for the World Cup," he added.

Jayasekera said the 30-year-old would miss the match against England in Adelaide on Friday but is expected to return next week if his side qualifies for the best of three finals series which starts on January 23.

Muralitharan, who earlier in Wednesday's game took his 303rd one-day international wicket in claiming 3-19 from eight overs, pulled up while chasing a ball in the outfield in the 39th over.

He returned in the 41st over and, bowling off a three-step run-up, dismissed Shane Watson for four, finishing with 4-27 from his 10 overs to move ahead of India's Anil Kumble into third place on the list of leading wicket-takers in one-day internationals.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager