Sri Lankans forget cricket at well earned break

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews is congratulated after getting the wicket of Pakistan's Salman Butt during their ICC World Twenty20 cricket super eight match at Lord's cricket ground in London June 12, 2009. REUTERS

Sri Lanka ’s cricketers took a well earned break yesterday to rest their tired limbs which had been in use since the team landed here in London on May 28 as the Twenty-20 World Cup reached a grueling stage.
For nearly 48 hours the team would have put down bats and balls and passed through a recuperating period ahead of today’s Super Eight match against Ireland which team manager Brendon Kuruppu said was just what the doctor ordered.

“We have not had a single day off (for three weeks), it has been a very tough tour and it was important that the players took a rest”, said Kuruppu.

The break also gave the players, a chance to recondition their minds for what they see as the second and final phase of the tournament where the knock-out punches have to be delivered for four semi final slots.

“I would say the break gave the players a chance to take in everything needed to refresh physically and mentally and come out again”, said Kuruppu.

While the Sri Lankans took a break, defending champions India went through a restless period after being dealt a crushing blow by the West Indies in their first Super Eight match and will need to throw in everything against host country England in another match today.

Despite keeping the contest against the West Indies under control in the first ten overs, the Indians just caved in under middle order batsman Dwyane Bravo who blasted 67 and finished off the match with a six in the face of a 154 target.

“Bravo played a brilliant innings and took the game away from us. You can’t set fields when a player bats like that. You have to be at your best”, said Indian captain Mahendra Singh Doni.

India will have to beat England today and South Africa on Tuesday to qualify for the semi finals and appease a multitude of their fans who have vociferously drowned all other supporters.