Get Ready India, says Srilanka!

Totally focussed for match against India, says Mahela

After achieving an easy win over Bangladesh Mahela Jayawardene said that his team was looking forward to the big game against India. "We are hundred percent focussed for the game against India. We don't want to go give two points to them (India) going into the Super 8s."

Mahela was all praise for his team after they got the better of Bangladesh without much trouble in the crucial Group B encounter.

"Our focus was to play smart cricket and that's exactly what we did. It was a very good all-round effort by the team", said Mahela.

He singled out Sanath Jayasuriya for special praise. "Sanath batted very well and carried the innings on his shoulders. All the others batted very well around him."

On the strategy the Lankans had in mind for the game Mahela revealed that they wanted to keep wickets in hand and attack in the latter part of the innings. "We knew Bangladesh had some weaknesses in their bowling and wanted to exploit them."

The Sri Lankan skipper was also very pleased with the role Chamara Silva has been playing for the team. "He is a touch player but also has the big strokes in his repertoire which comes in handy towards the end of the innings"

Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar admitted that his team was totally outplayed. "We did not bat, bowl or field well. Basically nothing went our way today."

yeah i bet so far i reckon sri lanka,australia and south africa are the form sides

Well, SL is one of the most strongest and also a very consistent side... i wudnt be suprised at all to see a great show from them against India... they r really focused and in all parts of their game... they r really a good team, and so far i think in this WC, they have proved to show sum great cricket continuously, they didnt lose it one bit against the smaller teams .... i dont know which team will win out of india and SL, but i for sure know that its a game that anyone can win , that is if they play extraordinarily well!

Thursday, March 22, 2007
India in make-or-break clash with Lanka

AFP

India are determined to ward off the spectre of an early exit and its repercussions as they gear up for their do-or-die clash with Sri Lanka in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.

India failed to do justice to their stature in the opening game when they suffered a shock five-wicket defeat against Bangladesh, leaving millions of their fans back home in a state of despair.

They thrashed debutants Bermuda by a record 257 runs in their second game of the four-team group, but that was not enough to put them in a comfortable frame of mind ahead of their final match Friday.

"I don't want to say there is no pressure. There is. It's a very important game and the whole country is looking for India to win," India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh told reporters here.

"We know it's an important task before the team. We have to step forward from here and get in to Super Eight. Everybody knows it. We are all focused. The boys are working hard."

Sri Lanka are the team in form, having won both of their matches against Bangladesh and Bermuda by big margins. Bangladesh still have a chance to qualify for the next round as they take on Bermuda in their last game.

The top two sides will advance to the next round.

A defeat against Sri Lanka will be hard to swallow for fans in cricket-crazy country, expecting their team to win the ICC Cricket World Cup. The loss against Bangladesh has already sparked unrest in some parts of the country.

But India have the past to draw inspiration from as they began their campaign on an unimpressive note in 2003 in South Africa before storming into the final against eventual winners Australia.

They have managed to solve one of their major batting problems ahead of the vital match after hard-hitting opener Virender Sehwag's return to the big-scoring ways.

Sehwag, who had just one half-century in 14 one-dayers before the Bermuda match, slammed an 87-ball 114. It was his first hundred in nearly two years.

India may have won eight of their last 10 one-dayers against Sri Lanka at home, but will have to raise their performance in the crucial game considering their rivals' current form.

"It's a big game for all of us and we are looking forward to it. The game will ensure who's going to carry two points into the next round," said Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene.

"We are not concentrating on this round alone, but have to think about the next round as well. It's always good to carry two points."

The two teams have clashed 94 times in one-day internationals, with India winning 49 matches and losing 36. The remaining nine games ended in no-results.

Sri Lanka gave disciplined performances in both the matches as their batsmen and bowlers never allowed their opponents to settle down.

Their batting bloomed, with Sanath Jayasuriya scoring an explosive century against Bangladesh. Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Silva have made two successive half-centuries, while Jayawardene scored 85 and 46 in two matches.

sri lanka have always been a good one day side, india have to be ready

hey Mahela, ur team's already in the super 8! don't come hard on us..humein bhi ek chance do..