Lanka looking to stick to the plan

Lanka looking to stick to the plan

Sri Lanka believe their gameplan has been perfectly executed so far as they prepare for the Super-Eight match against Ireland.

The Sri Lankans have a 100% record in the in the ICC World Twenty20 after comfortable wins over Australia, the West Indies and Pakistan, and are emerging as dark horses for the title.

Maintaining that run on Sunday against Ireland, the surprise qualifiers for the Super Eights stage, would appear to represent their easiest task yet, but Kuruppu insisted that his players' preparation for the game had been as meticulous as that for any other.

Click here for the ICC World T20 videos

Team manager Brendon Kuruppu, formerly an international wicketkeeper for Sri Lanka, said: "We are really focused on the game, we have planned it out very well and our plans have been executed as we would hope so far.

"It is important in a game like this to have varying effects and also a surprise aspect so that's what we have been working on."

Join in ICC World T20 action at Facebook 

Victory will take Sri Lanka into the last four of the competition, but Kuruppu stressed that the Irish team, which includes several amateurs, must not be underestimated and there would be no thoughts about the finals rounds until the job was done.

Ireland's Boyd Rankin 

"We won't take any game lightly, it is just another game and it is important for us to beat Ireland at this stage to qualify for the semi-finals," Kuruppu said.

"We will take things one game at a time - now, we are only concentrating on the Ireland game."

Sri Lanka have a full squad to choose from and will name their starting line-up on Sunday.

SX4 Super Selector

Kuruppu added: "There are no injuries as such and we will be looking at the wicket in the morning and after that we will decide on our combinations."

Approaching milestones

- Sanath Jayasuriya (450) requires 50 runs to become the first player to aggregate 500 runs for Sri Lanka in Twenty20 Internationals.

Head to Head

- Sri Lanka and Ireland would be contesting against each other for the first time in Twenty20 International.

- Ireland have played 7 - Won 4, Lost 2 and NR 1 - winning % 57.14.

Click here for cricket alerts

- SL have played 16 - Won 11 & Lost 5 - winning % 68.75.

- In the ICC World Twenty20, 2009, Sri Lanka have won three games in succession - vs. Australia by six wickets; vs. West Indies by 15 runs and vs. Pakistan by 19 runs.


Powered by Disqus
  • Join us on Facebook Join us on Facebook


standard
 

  • ESPN is a trademark of ESPN, Inc and STAR is a trademark of Star Television Productions Limited. Trademarks used under license by ESPN STAR Sports.
  • Presented by ESPN, Star Sports, Star Cricket