da betano casino： Sri Lanka have been warned
Charlie Austin23-Feb-2002Sri Lanka have been warned. In 366 days they will play their fourth match inthe 2003 World Cup at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club. Their opponents will beKenya and Sanath Jayasuriya’s side will underestimate them at their peril ifthey want to be sure of progressing to the super sixes stage of thattournament.Kenya may have been humiliated in the unofficial Test series against SriLanka A, but fortunes in the three-match one-day series have been reversed,with the visitors brushing their hosts aside on Saturday to establish anunassailable two-nil lead.At Kurunegala their bowlers and fieldsmen restricted the Sri Lankans with aspirited display and here, in the blustery seaside Colombo suburb of Moratuwa, theirbatsmen launched a high-powered assault that left their opponentsshell-shocked, paving the way for a 39 run victory.Kenya rattled up 313 in the first innings thanks to a well-crafted centuryfrom opener Ravindu Shah (128), cameos from the senior men, Steve Tikolo(37) and Maurice Odumbe (27), and a blistering innings from wicket-keeperbatsman David Obuya, who slammed 43 from 14 balls.Indeed, whilst Shah’s impressive hundred laid the foundations for victory,Obuya’s explosive hitting took the game beyond the grasp of Sri Lanka A.Kenya scored 70 runs in the final five overs of the innings, with Obuyacrashing four scud-like sixes and three fours.Sri Lanka A started in frenetic fashion, losing four top order wickets in theopening 15 overs. Avishka Gunwardene, whose brand of brawny strokeplayrepresented the major threat to such an imposing target, started menacinglywith 21 from 12 balls before pulling across the line of a grubber.Tillakaratne Dilshan celebrated his recent recall to the national side withhis second successive duck, as he aimed an airy swish; Anushka Polonnowitabatted boldly, clumping 30 from 27 balls, before being trapped lbw, andChamara Silva was bowled around his legs whilst trying to flick to leg. SriLanka were 85 for four.A festive local crowd had all but given up hope. But captain Upul Chandana(108) revived the home team’s chances with a brilliant counter attack,scoring an 80 ball hundred that included five towering sixes, three of whichlanded in neighbouring gardens.Well supported by Gayan Ramakumara (38) and Prassana Jayawardene (33), theinitiative started to swing towards Sri Lanka A. With 15 overs remainingthey were 215 for five, now needing just over a run a ball for victory.Kenya’s bowlers and fielders started to panic under the pressure, feedingChandana with width and a steady supply of miss-fields and overthrows.However, Tikolo’s flat off-breaks precipitated a late innings slide.Jayawardene was caught and bowled in the 36th over (226 for six).Chandana pushed on, adding 31 in 20 balls with Muthmudalige Pushpakumara,before he was well caught in the deep by Hitesh Modi, who was so ecstatic atthe crucial breakthrough that he dropped his sunglasses, which were smartlypinched by a light-fingered spectator.The loss of Chandana proved to be the final turning point. Pushpakumara wascaught and bowled, Dulip Liyanage was clasped in the deep and PulasthiGunaratne was run out. Sri Lanka A had lost their last four wickets for 23runs to be bowled out for 274.Kenya’s performance was far from flawless, especially in the field, but witha year to prepare for the World Cup they have a realistic chance of springing an upset or two. Sri Lanka must take note.