CWC15 LIVE - SL Win Toss Elect To Bat vs SA

#SriLanka vs #SouthAfrica
#SCG
18th Mar 2015

Sri Lankan captain #AngeloMathews has won the toss and elected to bat first.
A very good toss to win in a big game.

Two changes for Sri Lanka
#KusalPerera comes in for #DineshChandimal
#Kaushal comes in for #RanganaHerath (he's their mystery spinner waiting to be unleashed against SA)

South Africa have made two changes as well.
#KyleAbbott replaces #VernonPhilander
#FafDuPlessis comes back in place of  #FarhadBehardien

Let the game begin ...

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CWC15 - Will SA Choke Or Prevail vs Sri Lanka - QF1

#SriLanka vs #SouthAfrica
#SCG
18th Mar 2015

As Sri Lanka and South Africa open the quarterfinal stages of this exciting #CWC15, all eyes are set on battles within battles

#Sanga vs #Steyn
#Malinga vs #ABDevilliers and #HashimAmla
#Tahir vs #Mathews

Some superb contests within the main one will add super spice to this match. While Sanga vs Steyn duel is going to take the cake and effectively determine outcome of this match probably, would love to see how Devilliers tackles the Lankan spin battery!

The "C" tag continues to haunt South Africa and this is a big pressure game tomorrow. They have dug a hole for themselves at critical junctures in world cups and luck has deserted them at times too.

1992 - lost to England by the farcial rain rule in semifinals (ironically at SCG i.e venue for tomorrow's game)

1996 - ran into a rampaging Brian Lara and his innings outclassed the Proteas

1999 - in the greatest ODI of all time, they tripped at the last moment when Kluesner and Donald couldnt communicate and complete the winning run vs Australia in a semifinal at Birmingham.

2003 - poor calculation of the D/L numbers meant they allowed Sri Lanka to qualify for the next stage by tying that game at Port Elizabeth. Boucher actually played a defensive shot when all they needed was one run to win that game on D/L system

2007 - ran into a rampaging Aussie side and Matthew Hayden's blistering century blew them away.

2011 - one of the clear favorites, they literally choked against the Kiwis in their quarterfinal.  

2015 - Such has been their CWC history. Will tomorrow be different?

Sri Lanka seem to have mastered the art of reaching final rounds of top cricket tournaments so they can handle pressure but have not won anything in the 50 over CWC for some time. 

1992 - Minnows of the game but beat South Africa in a stunning game

1996 - World Champs led by inspirational Arjuna Ranatunga

1999 - Blown away in England in league stage

2003 - Semi finalists but lost to Australia in a keen contest

2007 - Finalists, but again ran into a rampaging Australian side and Gilchrist's stunner century blew them away.

2011 - Finalists yet again and best chance to win the cup, but MS Dhoni's inspirational innings and captaincy snatched victory from their grasp.

Going by this history, SL seem to have a better chance in this contest, although on paper, South Africa is much stronger of the two teams man to man.

Tomorrow will tell. Stay tuned....

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CWC 2015 LIVE – Maxwell Blinder Pushes Australia Ahead Vs Sri Lanka

#Aus v #SL, #SCG

Australia seemed to be pulling away with the contest through a superb stand between #MichaelClarke and #StevenSmith. Just when they seemed to really pile it on, Sri Lanka has a double strike.

Clarke, trying to up the ante, was cleaned up by a Malinga #yorker. Timber broken. Smith who looked fluent tried to smash #TillaktratneDilshan out of the ground but skied one to long off. Excellent catch by #ThisaraPerera.

But, strokemakers, #ShaneWatson and #GlennMaxwell, have unleashed mayhem in SL ranks. #LasithMalinga and co have their work cut out.

#LIVE #Score
Australia: 253 for 4, 40 overs

Maxwell going helter-skelter ....

 

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CWC 2015 LIVE - Even Steven After First Poweplay - Aus Batting v SL

#Aus v #SL, #SCG
8th March 2015

Australia won the toss and elected to bat at the SCG.

The first 10 overs have seen a very even contest between the two sides.
Sri Lanka used spin at one end to start proceedings on this dry pitch and cut off pace on deliveries. It was also a ploy to curb #DavidWarner and #AaronFinch to smash deliveries coming on to the bat.

It was #LasithMalinga, the Slinga, who came up with a breakthrough though.
A brilliant change of pace and the dangerous Warner was foxed into spooning a simple catch to cover. Lankans over the moon.

#SeekugePrasanna, brought in as replacement for #RanganaHerath, then bowled a beauty to beat in the air. Finch trying to dominate him, danced down the track and was beaten down the leg side. #KumarSangakarra did the rest, flicking the bails. Finch yards out of his crease.

The two best batsmen at the crease for Australia now. 
#MichaelClarke and #StevenSmith

#LIVE #Cricket #Score
Australia: 82 for 2, 18 overs
Clarke - 16*
Smith - 32*

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CWC 2015 LIVE - Aus v SL - Position 2 For Grabs In Pool A

#Aus vs #SL, #SCG
8th Mar 2015

Australia have won the toss and elected to bat on dry SCG pitch vs Sri Lanka.

In a battle of position in Pool A, these two teams will jostle to finish second in that group.
A 2nd position in a group would mean they will play 3rd placed team in Pool B (probably Pakistan or West Indies or Ireland)

Interesting one this ...

Let the game begin! 

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CWC 2015 - Angelo Mathews - Sri Lankas GO-TO Man

Can handle crisis with superb ease.

Angelo is very analytical and has tremendous talent for unravelling complicated issues and situations. His life is actually problem free, and he is happiest when he is testing his own ingenuity; if life does not present him with problems to overcome his natural response is to seek them out. 

He is a life saver who is capable of restoring order and bringing in hope in depressing situations. The reverse is also true he has a habit of playing the devil’s advocate and injecting difficulties into simple procedures sometimes being disorganised can be harmful.

Angelo's greatest challenge is enjoying the ordinary, The way forward is to understand that that a fulfilling and happy life is not one of extremes but of steady, positive feelings about every aspect of his life even chores and routine.

To enhance luck its very important that Angelo makes every day special, understand that everyday in his life including those that are without highlights is unique and special. Never waste an opportunity to feel positive and upbeat about his life.

Learn that change begins from the inside out. Once he is able to understand the life changing fact that his destiny is to influence, motivate and inspire others with his resilience ingenuity and flair life will be super successful.

Power Thought:
“Everyday offers me an opportunity to learn something new about myself”

God Bless
Dolly Manghat
http://www.dollymanghat.com

Sri Lanka - The Asian Lions Deserve To Be 50 Over World Champs

#SriLanka: No one other than #TeamAustralia has been as consistent over the last 15 years (since the new millennium). Winners of the previous #ICCT20WorldCup after being on the losing side in finals of all major tournaments including two World Cups, Champions Trophy and T20 Championships.

Sri Lankan sides just look very well organized every time they participate in any tournament. Agreed, they don't have big names to boast of (apart from #Jayawardhane, #Sangakara, #Malinga and to some extent #AngeloMatthews) but they are very compact side. There is no fuss about this team. They go about doing their job professionally and the results are for everyone to see.

From minnows in earlier world cup editions to world champs in 1996 under the legendary #ArjunaRantunga, they have come a long way since. Outplayed in the 1999 edition in England, they bounced back in 2003 to reach the semi finals (where they had Australia in trouble at a stage but eventually lost the game). They went a step ahead in 2007 reaching the finals (again to lose to Australia) and in 2011 (lost to India). Shows their consistency on all types of wickets and conditions. Just that they lack the killer genius of #AravindaDeSilva and #SanathJayasuriya of 1996 to take that one step further.

Personally, I think the Sri Lankans are highly under-rated players. They have not really gotten their due on world stage like the power/rich Indian players, superstar Aussies ad Pakistanis or the media powerful England and SA players have. Maybe their lifestyle, demeanor and laid back approach could be the reason. But their skills are amazing and they should demand their own value by winning this #ICCWorldCup2015. Its about time...

Batting looks solid with Dilshan, Jayawardena, Sanga will guide their youngsters well. Probably the last cup for Sanga-Jaya. Therefore, they'd like to bow out on a high! (just like they did in the T20 final two years ago)

Bowling seems to be a slightly weak area although Malinga and Kulasekhara will bring in all their experience and guile into the fast bowling attack. The Australian and Kiwi pitches will support both bounce and swing. Hence, seamers will rule the roost and they are looking forward to young seamers in Prasad, Lakmal and Perera to come up with the goods.

Spin department is in the able hands of the veteran Rangana Herath. He along with Jeevan Mendis and Senanayake will bring variety to their potent bowling attack.

All rounders will be led by Angelo Matthews. Awesomely talented and fit-for-all situations in a match, he will be a key cog in the Sri Lankan armour if they are to win the cup. Will they?

Team Sri Lanka for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Angelo Matthews
Lahiru Thirimanne
Dinesh Chandimal
Tilakatne Dilshan
Mahela Jayawardena
Kumar Sangakarra
Dimuth Karunaratne
Lasith Malinga
Nuwan Kulasekara
Thisara Perera
Dhammika Prasad
Suranga Lakmal
Rangana Herath
Sachithra Senanayake
Jeevan Mendis