Sri Lanka's reverse-swinging slinger Lasith Malinga has served up a warning to the Australian camp with a haul of 6-38, including a hat-trick, against Kenya.
The World Cup co-hosts atoned for last weekend's upset 11-run loss to Pakistan with a demolition job on the African minnows on home turf in Colombo.
They bowled Kenya out for 142 on their way to a nine-wicket win.
Malinga's treble on Tuesday made the blond-streaked quick the only bowler to achieve the feat twice in World Cup history.
The 27-year-old, who will lead Sri Lanka's attack in Saturday's Group A clash with Australia, said he was more proud of his hat-trick against South Africa in 2007, when he took four wickets in four deliveries.
"To me that was the better effort," he said.
"At that stage South Africa was virtually winning the game ... I probably brought back Sri Lanka into the game and gave Sri Lanka an outside chance of winning (although South Africa eventually won)."
Malinga missed Sri Lanka's opening two games of the 2011 tournament with a back injury.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said Tuesday's win at the R. Premadasa Stadium, the venue for Saturday's match against Australia, proved his side was back in business.
Kenya edged to 142 all out off 43.4 overs with Collins Bunya making 52 and his brother David Bunya scoring 51.
"It was a good close game and we were unfortunate to have lost that (match to Pakistan) but here we showed we're still a good side, mentally strong and we came out and finished the game pretty well," the skipper said.
"We tried to stop as many runs as we could and keep them down so that the wickets would come at the end and Lasith as usual, the champion that he is, the ball reversing, did a great job for us.
"Saturday's going to be a big game for us and hopefully we can keep improving, make sure we have a lot more energy on the field and hopefully do well enough to beat Australia."
While spin had been expected to dominate, Saturday's match could be a clash of pace attacks with Australia's Shaun Tait, Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson also determined to use reverse-swinging yorkers to good effect.
Kenya captain Jimmy Ka mande said Malinga was a world-class bowler. Malinga claimed 18 wickets at 15.77 in the 2007 tournament where Sri Lanka lost the final to Australia in Barbados.
"Opposition doesn't really bother me," Malinga said.
"I try to get out there, perform to the best of my abilities and get the better of the opposition. "Hopefully it will work against Australia and help the team to overcome the Australian challenge."
Read More
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/malinga-ready-to-take-on-australia-20110302-1bebd.html
The World Cup co-hosts atoned for last weekend's upset 11-run loss to Pakistan with a demolition job on the African minnows on home turf in Colombo.
They bowled Kenya out for 142 on their way to a nine-wicket win.
Malinga's treble on Tuesday made the blond-streaked quick the only bowler to achieve the feat twice in World Cup history.
The 27-year-old, who will lead Sri Lanka's attack in Saturday's Group A clash with Australia, said he was more proud of his hat-trick against South Africa in 2007, when he took four wickets in four deliveries.
"To me that was the better effort," he said.
"At that stage South Africa was virtually winning the game ... I probably brought back Sri Lanka into the game and gave Sri Lanka an outside chance of winning (although South Africa eventually won)."
Malinga missed Sri Lanka's opening two games of the 2011 tournament with a back injury.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said Tuesday's win at the R. Premadasa Stadium, the venue for Saturday's match against Australia, proved his side was back in business.
Kenya edged to 142 all out off 43.4 overs with Collins Bunya making 52 and his brother David Bunya scoring 51.
"It was a good close game and we were unfortunate to have lost that (match to Pakistan) but here we showed we're still a good side, mentally strong and we came out and finished the game pretty well," the skipper said.
"We tried to stop as many runs as we could and keep them down so that the wickets would come at the end and Lasith as usual, the champion that he is, the ball reversing, did a great job for us.
"Saturday's going to be a big game for us and hopefully we can keep improving, make sure we have a lot more energy on the field and hopefully do well enough to beat Australia."
While spin had been expected to dominate, Saturday's match could be a clash of pace attacks with Australia's Shaun Tait, Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson also determined to use reverse-swinging yorkers to good effect.
Kenya captain Jimmy Ka mande said Malinga was a world-class bowler. Malinga claimed 18 wickets at 15.77 in the 2007 tournament where Sri Lanka lost the final to Australia in Barbados.
"Opposition doesn't really bother me," Malinga said.
"I try to get out there, perform to the best of my abilities and get the better of the opposition. "Hopefully it will work against Australia and help the team to overcome the Australian challenge."
Read More
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/malinga-ready-to-take-on-australia-20110302-1bebd.html
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