Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene pulverised South Africa’s bowling with double centuries during a 471-run unbroken stand in the first Test on Friday. The overnight pair batted through the entire second day’s play as Sri Lanka amassed 485-2 in their first innings by stumps, a lead of 316 over South Africa’s meagre first innings total of 169.
Muttiah Muralitharan and Dilhara Fernando combined to bowl out South Africa for 169, their lowest total against Sri Lanka, on the opening day of the first cricket Test on Thursday. The pace-spin duo claimed four wickets each as the depleted South Africans were shot out at the stroke of tea on an even-paced wicket at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
Injury-hit South Africa received unexpected support for the first Test against Sri Lanka starting in Colombo on Thursday from the man likely to cause them the biggest headache. Sri Lanka’s prolific spinner Muttiah Muralitharan said the Proteas will be tough to beat in the two-match series despite being crippled by the absence of three key players, including captain Graeme Smith.
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/ 11 January 2006
India go into the first Test against arch-rivals Pakistan in Lahore on Friday struggling to find a place in the playing eleven for former captain Sourav Ganguly. Sacked as captain in October after a damaging row with coach Greg Chappell and struggling to find his best form with the bat, Ganguly has created a selection headache for the team management.
India’s cricket selectors want Sachin Tendulkar so badly that they will go to any length to have the master batsman back at the crease. The five selectors have provisionally included Tendulkar in the squad for next month’s two Test matches in Zimbabwe even before the batsman has begun training after elbow surgery.
Tickets for Sunday’s World Cup final between Australia and India were being sold on the black market for 875 as thousands of fans made a last-minute scamble to watch the big game.
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming raised the stakes ahead of Friday’s must-win World Cup clash against India by reminding his rivals of the drubbing they received three months ago.
India go into their Super Sixes clash against Sri Lanka at the Wanderers on Monday determined to bridge the cracks that still dog their World Cup campaign.
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/ 17 February 2003
Reigning champions Australia enjoyed Monday’s rest day at the World Cup, relaxed at the summit as the rest of the pack made a mad scramble to join them.
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/ 8 February 2003
It’s going to be a family affair at the Harare Sports Club on Monday when first-timers Namibia begin their World Cup campaign against hosts Zimbabwe. Lining up will be the Flower brothers, the Kotze brothers and the Burger brothers, the first instance in World Cup history where three sets of brothers will be involved in one match.