Sri Lanka aim to smooth over batting cracks after scare

WORLD CUP: Sri Lanka face questions about the batting depth in their World Cup squad after they struggled to defeat England in a Super Eights clash.

The 1996 champions eked out a dramatic two-run victory on Wednesday after fast bowler Dilhara Fernando bowled Ravi Bopara off the last delivery to leave England short of their victory target by the narrowest of margins.

The result moved Sri Lanka, who have six points, a step closer to securing a semi-final spot but it also exposed some of the problems they face.

When explosive opener Sanath Jayasuriya falls cheaply it heaps extra pressure on the team’s bowlers to produce a win, especially on mercurial off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

England skipper Michael Vaughan’s impressive field placements tied down Sri Lanka to 235 all out after paceman Sajid Mahmood removed Jayasuriya for 25.

Mahmood softened the 37-year-old batsman with two bouncers, the second desperately hooked for six, before pitching the next one up to force Jayasuriya to play on to his stumps. Sri Lankan batsmen then struggled to accelerate despite keeping wickets in hand.

The match had a special observer Australian coach John Buchanan and he would fancy his champion side to put on more pressure when the two sides meet on April 16.

JOLLY HARBOUR, Antigua, Friday, Reuters