Sport Extra

Past highs and lows powering Sri Lanka Cup run

CRICKET: Sri Lanka have shown they have learnt from their best and worst performances to power their World Cup campaign.

They topped the tough Group B by winning all three games and have improved their semi-final hopes by carrying forward two points into the Super Eights.They went down fighting to South Africa by one wicket on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka are being inspired by four stalwarts from the triumphant 1996 squad — Sanath Jayasuriya, fellow batsman Marvan Atapattu and bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas.

They are also reaping the rewards of a talent search that resulted after an ageing side was knocked out in the first round of the 1999 World Cup.

After beating India by 69 runs last Friday to eliminate their rivals, skipper Mahela Jayawardene was asked if he fancied another triumph.

“That 1996, it was an amazing team,” he said. “They just outplayed everybody, created new waves in one-day cricket and did a brilliant job.”

Co-hosts Sri Lanka stunned the cricket world by using Sanath Jayasuriya as a pinch-hitting opener and confidently chased targets to win all six matches they contested.

The four 1996 survivors are now inspiring younger team mates with anecdotes from that victorious campaign.

Jayawardene felt his team faced a tougher job this time.

“Things have changed,” he said. “There are good sides and you can’t make mistakes.”

Sri Lanka have also shown excellent planning under coach Tom Moody, a former Australia all-rounder.

A major force on slow pitches at home, they have also improved their performances on foreign soil over the last two seasons.

They routed hosts England 5-0 in a series in 2006 but soon came back down to earth after failing to reach the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final in India.

“We had set plans for the group stage and we executed it very well,” Jayawardene explained.

“The conditions are going to be different in different venues and we have to make sure we don’t sit back on what we have achieved.”

Jayasuriya, 37, believes the young talent unearthed after the 1999 Cup debacle are now proving their worth.

Wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara, middle-order batsmen Chamara Silva and Russel Arnold and paceman Lasith malinga as well as young opener Upul Tharanga are pulling their weight in the side.

Silva, 27, had hit three successive fifties so far after scoring hundred in the last game before the World Cup before he was eventually dismissed against India. Lasith malinga bowled marvellously against South Africa. taking four wickets in four balls.

“People like Chamara, he is one of the youngsters we picked after 1999,” Jayasuriya said. “He is one of the best players we have at the moment. It is good for Sri Lanka’s future.”

Muralitharan joked with his skipper on Friday that the class of 1996 was superior to the current side.

“Our (2007) batsmen are also experienced, but you can’t just count it now itself because in 1996 we won the World Cup.

“After the World Cup you ask me, I’ll say this team is better.”

The tournament ends with the final in Barbados on April 28.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Friday, Reuters

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Guyana’s Providence Stadium- a sight to behold

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE in West Indies

CRICKET: Guyana’s Providence Stadium which was built at a cost of US dollars 25 million, has been completed in time to host the Super Eight matches and is looking a beauty.

The refurbishing of the stadium began two years ago with a grant of US dollars six million and a US dollar 19 million concessional line of credit from the Indian Government.

First grumblings came from the South Africans who complained that the surface of the practice nets were not up to standard.

The Sri Lankans also had a training session, but preferred to sharpen their fielding.

Street named after Lance Gibbs

Lance Gibbs who was a mesmerising off spinner during his time, that was the late fifties and sixties, had Almond Street in Queenstown officially renamed Lance Richard Gibbs Street.

Many outstanding personalities turned up at Demerara Cricket Club in Queenstown to honour the legend.

One of the best spinners produced by the West Indies, Gibbs also has a hat trick against Australia in that memorable series in Australia in 1960/61 where he also played in the first historic tied Test at the Gabba.

DCC’s Hall of Fame Museum was also opened, which will highlight great cricketers who played for Guyana. Among those who played for DCC are Lance Gibbs, Clive Lloyd, Roger Harper and Roy Fredricks.

Gibbs who took 309 wickets said he was honoured to have Almond Street named in his honour and was confident that it would motivate youngsters to take to the game that has lost interest in recent times.

Contrary to stories spread that there is no hotel accommodation available, not only in Guyana, but all other centres where World Cup games are being played, it must be stated that there is plenty of accommodation available.

But hotel expectations are high that once the World Cup gathers momentum, finding accommodation would be tight.

With India and Pakistan tumbling out of the tournament, there is no rush for accommodation.

Increased flights are arriving at the Cheddi Jagan airport, here in Guyana and the processing of passengers seemed to be going on smoothly as Bandula Molligoda and I experienced, although our flight from Trinidad was delayed by two hours.

However the non-arrival of luggage has surfaced.

Malcolm Speed, Chief Executive of ICC and other officials who arrived were quickly processed and taken away in BMWs.

Guyana is expecting 30 thousand visitors during the Super Eight matches and have Guyanese to ensure that visitors have a memorable stay and that they enjoy the Guyanese hospitality.