RESULT
14th Match, Group A (D/N), Colombo (RPS), March 01, 2011, ICC Cricket World Cup
(18.4/50 ov, T:143) 146/1

Sri Lanka won by 9 wickets (with 188 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
6/38
lasith-malinga
New
SL
Full commentary

Right then, that winds up our coverage of this mismatch. Join us tomorrow for England v Ireland. On behalf of Abhishek and the rest of the gang, this is Nitin Sundar signing off. Here is Sid R's match bulletin. Cheers and be good!

Malinga is the Man of the Match: I am sorry, I can't translate the Sinhalese exchange between Russel Arnold and Malinga, but the smiles seem to suggest both of them are quite chuffed!

Sangakkara: "It was important to come back from Saturday. We showed we are mentally strong and finished it off today. We were trying for early wickets, and they were looking to play 50 overs. Lasith, the champion did it again for us."

Kamande: "We were looking for 230, but things did not work out. We were in a good position for 35 overs, but then the damage happened. If the Obuyas could have been there till the end, things could have been different. We have seen Malinga before, he's a world-class bowler - congrats to him. Now Malinga is out of the way, we have to concentrate on what's coming."

Dilshan: "Unfortunately I got out again in 40s and 50s, want to make a 100 in the next couple of game. Malinga is a great attacking bowler, its great to have him back. Good track this for one-day cricket. We needed this win, it is good preparation ahead of the Aussies on Saturday."

18.4
4
C Obuya to Upul Tharanga, FOUR runs

SL have exacted crushing revenge for 2003, and symbolically it is sealed off the bowling of the hero of that upset - Collins Obuya. Flighted outside off, Tharanga swung with freedom over the covers and easily got it to go all the way.

18.3
C Obuya to Upul Tharanga, no run

full-pitched on the pads, Tharanga tries to swipe across the line, but misses. Huge appeal, turned down and not reviewed.

18.2
1
C Obuya to Sangakkara, 1 run

now he gets the single, worked to the off side and it is over to Tharanga to end the game.

18.1
C Obuya to Sangakkara, no run

on Sanga's pads, he dinks it along to square leg but can't get the single.

Two to win. Some thumping this.

end of over 1819 runs
SL: 141/1CRR: 7.83 RRR: 0.06
Upul Tharanga63 (57b 11x4)
Kumar Sangakkara26 (22b 3x4)
Shem Ngoche 4-0-39-0
Collins Obuya 1-0-8-0

Amit: "Wonder why did the ICC planned warm up matches when they had teams like Kenya,Ireland, Canada in the competition. ...this World cup just seems streched like an already chewed bubble-gum ..."

17.6
4
S Ngoche to Upul Tharanga, FOUR runs

another hat-trick. This time of fours. Tharanga jumps out to a wide of off stump delivery and lofts it cleanly over the infield. The man running back from covers put in the slide and ended up in a mess along the ropes.

17.5
4
S Ngoche to Upul Tharanga, FOUR runs

and now a short ball, Tharanga is cashing in on the freebies, stays beside the line and cracks it square.

17.4
4
S Ngoche to Upul Tharanga, FOUR runs

Tharanga is hurrying away now, he's past 50 and looking to end the agony. Prances down the track and scythes on the up through the covers for four more

17.3
2
S Ngoche to Upul Tharanga, 2 runs

and a cheeky couple this time, played very softly into the covers and they are off for one more as the fielder converges slowly on it.

17.2
4
S Ngoche to Upul Tharanga, FOUR runs

Tharanga dumps one down the ground, runs down the pitch, gets to the flight of the ball and tees off high and handsome for four.

17.1
1
S Ngoche to Sangakkara, 1 run

tossed up on leg stump, swept square for a single

end of over 178 runs
SL: 122/1CRR: 7.17 RRR: 0.63
Kumar Sangakkara25 (21b 3x4)
Upul Tharanga45 (52b 7x4)
Collins Obuya 1-0-8-0
Shem Ngoche 3-0-20-0
16.6
1
C Obuya to Sangakkara, 1 run

on the pads, worked off the pads to midwicket for one

16.5
C Obuya to Sangakkara, no run

over-pitched on off stump, too close to the batsman for him to get timing into the shot

16.4
1
C Obuya to Upul Tharanga, 1 run

fuller on the leg stump, worked off the toes quietly to square leg for one

16.3
C Obuya to Upul Tharanga, no run

straighter one outside off, Tharanga doesn't pick it, and plays inside the line

16.2
1
C Obuya to Sangakkara, 1 run

lands this one, and in the right area, Sanga stays back and looks to force through the leg side

16.2
4
C Obuya to Sangakkara, FOUR runs

well, I can see why he's stopped bowling. A nonsense full toss, that's a lolly-pop and a dolly rolled in one, with chocolate sauce dripping from it, Sanga smacks it through midwicket.

16.1
1w
C Obuya to Sangakkara, 1 wide

slips the first one down the leg side.

Aha, a slice of 2003. Collins Obuya comes on.

end of over 164 runs
SL: 114/1CRR: 7.12 RRR: 0.85
Upul Tharanga44 (50b 7x4)
Kumar Sangakkara19 (17b 2x4)
Shem Ngoche 3-0-20-0
Elijah Otieno 4-0-26-1
15.6
S Ngoche to Upul Tharanga, no run

ooh, huge appeal for caught behind turned down, and they decide not to review. Short of a length outside off, he goes for the cut and misses. They went up very confidently, but decided not to review it.

15.5
S Ngoche to Upul Tharanga, no run

outside off this time and turning in, Tharanga drives against the spin to cover

15.4
S Ngoche to Upul Tharanga, no run

full ball on leg stump, Tharanga quietly pats it down the track