Maharoof over the moon

Callistus Davy reporting from Mumbai

Farveez Maharoof, the wrecker of the ambitious West Indies cricket team, expressed an over-the-moon feeling but also paid tribute to his team-mates for Sri Lanka's unexpected nine wicket victory in the ICC Champions Trophy here in Mumbai yesterday.

"It was fantastic, I was over-joyed", said an ecstatic Maharoof.

The 22-year old ex-Wesley College captain said he merely stuck to the basics on what he described as a "good track".

"The pitch didn't do a lot. But we bowled well as a group. There was some bad shots but overall we bowled well", said the dusky paceman. Sri Lanka has to win at least two games from matches against Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa to book a place in the semi finals. West Indies captain Brian Lara hid his emotions like a true professional and hinted their best was yet to come.

"We batted poorly and should have played straight on a slow pitch. But they (Sri Lanka) bowled well. I still feel that we have the ingredients to win the trophy", said Lara.