Roof stays open, Federer wins to start Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — The new roof wasn't tested. Roger Federer was — briefly.

The retractable roof stayed open Monday at Wimbledon, and Federer fell behind early in the opening match on Centre Court before charging past Yen-hsun Lu of Taiwan, 7-5, 6-3, 6-2.

In his first match since winning the French Open, Federer failed to convert his first four break-point chances, then lost serve to trail 3-2. But he immediately broke back, broke again in the final game of the opening set and dominated from there.

"I'm very happy with my first round," Federer said. "I thought it was a very solid performance."

Seeking his sixth Wimbledon title, Federer won for the 41st time in his past 42 matches at the All England Club. The lone loss came in last year's final to Rafael Nadal, a match hailed by some as the sport's best ever.

The tournament began in cloudy but dry weather. When it rains, the translucent roof on the 87-year-old stadium will be closed so play can continue.

"I guess the moment will come that I'll play indoors here," Federer said. "But you don't really hope for it during the match."

The No. 2-seeded Federer is a strong favorite to win his 15th major title, which would break the record he shares with Pete Sampras.

Advancing on the women's side were 2002-03 champion Serena Williams and 2004 winner Maria Sharapova. No. 17 James Blake was the first seeded player eliminated, but fellow Americans Mardy Fish and Vince Spadea advanced. No. 4-seeded Novak Djokovic also won.

Federer made his entrance sporting a sleek new white warmup outfit with gold trim that included a jacket with a turned-up collar, a vest, slacks and two-toned shoes. The crowd roared when he appeared, and he responded with a wave and smile.

There were more cheers — and a few whistles of approval — when he removed his jacket to reveal the vest.

"Kind of a little bit more modern look — a bit more military jacket this time, but obviously staying true to Wimbledon with the white colors," Federer said. "I hope people like it."

By the time the match started, Federer had stripped down to shorts and a short-sleeve shirt. He was assigned to play the first match on Centre Court after defending champion Nadal withdrew Friday because of sore knees.

"Rafa deserves it obviously more than I do this year," Federer said. "But somebody had to do it, so I'm very happy that they chose me. It gets your heart beating, that's for sure."

After being broken early, Federer held every service game. He finished with 10 unforced errors and hit 42 winners from all over the court.

One winner was a running backhand from several steps beyond the sideline, which he ripped up the line into the corner to win the point. It was a spectacular shot even by Federer's standards, and the stoic Swiss celebrated with a raised fist as the crowd roared.

Playing second on Centre Court was Serena Williams, who lost only nine points on her serve and beat qualifier Neuza Silva 6-1, 7-5. The No. 2-seeded Williams, runner-up to her sister Venus a year ago, improved to 5-5 since starting the year 21-2.

"I could have played a ton better, especially on key points," Williams said. "That's a usual feeling for me from first round to the finals. I'm really insatiable. I always want more."

Sharapova won the final four games of the first set and beat qualifier Viktoriya Kutuzova 7-5, 6-4.

"She's a very aggressive player," Sharapova said. "She went for many shots very freely and loosely, and I was just trying to hold on."

Sharapova, making a comeback from shoulder surgery last October, saved a set point in the opening set with a forehand winner and later shook off two awkward spills behind the baseline.

Blake failed to convert a set point in the third set, squandered a 5-love lead in the ensuing tiebreaker and lost to Andreas Seppi 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (5). Blake also was eliminated in the first round at the French Open last month.

"I still feel like I can play with anyone in the world, but it's just for some reason lately it has been very inconsistent," Blake said. "I know I still have the ability. It's just frustrating, because it's happening at big tournaments where I'm having my not-so-good performances."

No. 28-seeded Fish never lost serve and led 6-3, 6-2, 4-1 when Sergio Roitman retired with a right shoulder injury. Roitman, ranked 124th, fell to 0-12 in Grand Slam matches.

"There's nothing that I can do about it," Roitman said. "It's not that I'm not going to sleep at night because of that."

The 34-year-old Spadea, who has been eliminated in the first round at Wimbledon nine times, defeated Paul Capdeville 6-0, 6-4, 7-5.

Surprise French Open runner-up Robin Soderling, seeded 13th, hit 31 aces and beat Gilles Muller 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-1, 6-2. Djokovic needed more than 3 1/2 hours to beat Julien Benneteau 6-7 (8), 7-6 (1), 6-2, 6-4.

Pakistan celebrates cricket win

--BBC--

Fans thronged the streets following Pakistan's win Pakistanis have been celebrating victory over Sri Lanka in Sunday's Twenty20 cricket final in the UK. Thousands of people poured onto the streets dancing and rejoicing as their team secured an eight-wicket win at Lord's cricket ground in London. Local media see the win as a boost for the country at a time when the army is locked in combat with the Taliban after a wave of suicide and other attacks. Foreign teams have refused to play in Pakistan over security concerns. The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Islamabad says that the fact that Pakistan were playing Sri Lanka was a significant factor. Pakistan's isolation as a cricket host was only compounded when in March militants attacked the Sri Lankan team as they travelled to a match in Lahore, killing six policemen and a bus driver and injuring some of the Sri Lankan team. Going 'ballistic' "Feel-good gift for the nation," was the main headline of the newspaper Dawn the morning after the victory. "Team lifts trophy, Nation's spirits," was carried by The News. In pictures: Pakistan celebrates Comeback kings conquer the world The papers reported cricket fans going "ballistic", thronging the streets, dancing and setting off fireworks, relishing something to celebrate at a time when the national mood is generally far more sombre. It has been 17 years since Pakistan won a major cricket competition - the last major victory was the 1992 World Cup under the captaincy of Imran Khan. The victory over Sri Lanka comes at a precarious time for Pakistan, our correspondent says. For the past two months Pakistani security forces have been engaged in an offensive against the Pakistani Taliban, that has left more than two million people displaced from their homes. As the offensive in north-west Malakand division continues, forces are launching assaults in the tribal belts of North and South Waziristan, close to the domain of Pakistan's top Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud. The Taliban leader is widely believed to be responsible for a string of attacks across Pakistan in recent months. A former Pakistan cricket captain, Rashid Latif, said the national team could not have given the Pakistani people a more appropriate gift at this time. National pride Most major cities in Pakistan had arranged big screens where huge crowds congregated to watch the final. The BBC's Kamil Dayan Khan in Islamabad says that with every advance that Pakistan's cricketers made towards their final goal, the crowds would emit huge roars followed by dancing and drum beats. As soon as Pakistan won, people started distributing sweets on the streets. The injection of optimism has also been reflected in online activity. Mobile phone text messages that previously circulated warnings about security threats carried messages of congratulation - and Facebook sites carried comments such as "all hope is not lost", Kamil Dayan Khan says.

Lord is ready for World Twenty20 final.

--BBC--

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Spinner Ajantha Mendis has been one of the stars of the tournament

Sri Lanka and Pakistan will hope to provide a thrilling climax to the World Twenty20 when they meet at Lord's.

Both sides, who will be unchanged for the final, are packed with talent and it could be as close as in 2007 when India beat Pakistan in the last over.

But it will also be a reminder of the tragedy in Lahore in March when gunmen shot at Sri Lanka's team bus.

Seven players were injured and five Pakistani policemen who were escorting the bus were killed.

Also caught up in the incident was International Cricket Council match referee Chris Broad, who has appropriately been put in charge of the final by the game's governing body.

Among the players injured was Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara and he said of his team's place in the final: "It's fitting reward for the courage and the way we have played in this tournament.

"I think what Lahore really brought home to us was that we are the same as everyone else - it can happen to anyone, and it happed to us."

Another player injured in the attack was spin bowler Ajantha Mendis, whose 12 wickets in the tournament make him the joint leading wicket-taker along with teammate Lasith Malinga and Pakistan's Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal.

606: DEBATE Pakistan have been upping the gear at the right time Londonnaveedshah

"He's won us enough games in this tournament to be called a great spinner in the T20 format - he's already a great player in every other format," said Sangakkara.

"He's a charm for us, the way he's bowled in the middle overs - and even in the first six overs. Even against Pakistan (in the Super Eights), they watched him and didn't really attack him because they know one slight mistake either way and they can get out."

Pakistan must find a way to score off Mendis and, in the closing overs, Malinga if they are to avoid a repeat of their 19-run defeat earlier in the competition and end Sri Lanka's unbeaten run.

But they have plenty of potential match-winners of their own, none more so than all-rounder Shahid Afridi.

He was on the losing side in the 1999 World Cup final against Australia - and again when they were beaten by India two years ago and hopes it will be third time lucky for him.

"We have to win this one," the mercurial 29-year-old said. "I want to do it on my own if I could. This is our best chance to make up for the disappointment of the past."

Afridi orchestrated Pakistan's semi-final victory over South Africa by scoring 51 off 34 balls - and he has also taken 10 wickets in the tournament with his leg-spin.

Shahid Afridi hits out during Pakistan's semi-final victory

He paid tribute to skipper Younus Khan for keeping faith with him and said: "He told me before the game against South Africa that I should play my own game and not worry about anything.

"He also told me that I was a senior player and needed to take responsibility. I had not done well as a batsman for a long time, but I knew the team was relying on me to deliver.

"I could not let them down. I don't want to let them down again."

Coach Intikhab Alam believes there is a parallel to be drawn between Pakistan's 1992 World Cup win and their progress through the World Twenty20.

"The pattern is almost the same. We were on the brink of elimination then, but fought back to make the semi-finals, then the final and then win it in Melbourne.

"Here the team has fought back after bad starts and has peaked at the right time," he said.

Younus, meanwhile, chose to reflect on the wider context of Sunday's match after at least 44 people were killed in continuing troubles in north-west Pakistan.

"In my whole career I have dreamed about lifting the World Cup, or something like that," he said.

"If we win tomorrow it will be good for our future cricket and also for the Pakistani nation as well.

"It has been suffering a lot of things, especially in the north, where I am from. There are a lot of things wrong there."

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Pakistan (from): Younus Khan (captain), Shahzaib Hasan, Kamran Akmal (wkt), Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Misbah-ul-Haq, Fawad Alam, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamir, Ahmed Shahzad, Iftikhar Anjum, Salman Butt, Sohail Tanvir.

Sri Lanka (from): K Sangakkara (captain, wkt), T Dilshan, S Jayasuriya, M Jayawardene, C Silva, J Mubarak, A Mathews, A Mendis, M Muralitharan, L Malinga, I Udana, N Kulasekara, F Maharoof.

Umpires: S Taufel, D Harper (Aus); Match referee: C Broad (Eng)

The first Women's World Twenty20 final.

--BBC--

ICC Women's World Twenty20 Final: England v New Zealand

England's women will have a remarkable world title double in their sights when they take on New Zealand at Lord's.

Having won the World Cup final by four wickets just three months ago, they meet the White Ferns again in the first Women's World Twenty20 final on Sunday.

Both teams have a 100% record in the competition and were impressive in contrasting semi-final victories.

England skipper Charlotte Edwards said the final would be "the biggest game of our lives in front of a home crowd".

And the team have been given as much rest time as possible after an emotionally draining win over Australia at The Oval on Friday when they successfully chased down a daunting target of 164.

"The girls are the most professional group you're ever going to meet. We want to win this final and we're not going to leave anything to chance," said Edwards.

"We're desperate to win another World Cup and we'll be doing everything we possibly can to do that."

606: DEBATE Who do you think will win the final?

The match will not be the first final at the home of cricket between the two sides as England beat New Zealand by 67 runs in the final of the 1993 World Cup.

That was England's last victory in a major final until Edwards and her team triumphed in Sydney in March and she added: "The girls are very relaxed now in the sense that they know how to deal with the big occasion and that's something we can take into the game."

And they have had words of support from male counterparts Paul Collingwood, England's Twenty20 captain and Test skipper Andrew Strauss.

Collingwood said: "Congratulations on reaching yet another World Cup final, it's a fantastic achievement.

"Good luck for Sunday's final, we're right behind you and will be watching closely as you continue to do us proud.

And Strauss added: "To have consistently maintained such an outstanding level of performance is a credit to all the hard work you and the rest of the team have put in."

England may be unchanged despite seamers Katherine Brunt and Nicky Shaw proving expensive against Australia, although Isa Guha would provide a steady alternative.

New Zealand, meanwhile, will again look to skipper Aimee Watkins for inspiration.

She is the highest run-scorer in the competition, with 198 from four innings at an amazing strike-rate of 140, but they are far from a one-woman team.

ICC TWENTY20 - TOP RUN SCORERS A Watkins (NZ) 198 in 4 matches; SR 140.4 C Taylor (Eng) 160 in 4 matches; SR 139.1 S Bates (NZ) 135 in 4 matches; SR 109.8 S Nitschke (Aus) 130 in 4 matches, SR 136.8 C Edwards (Eng) 130 in 4 matches; SR 117.1

Suzie Bates is another powerful ball-striker at the top of the order and left-arm medium-pacer Sian Ruck, who did not play in the World Cup, has done well with the new ball.

"Because the England top order has been going so well for the last 18 months, the middle order hasn't had many opportunities out in the middle.

"We think if we can expose that middle order we might be able to put some pressure on them," said Watkins.

"We haven't really been tested in any of our matches, so I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

"We're all feeling pretty good about ourselves and I think we're still on the way up - so hopefully we'll hit that high and really peak when we need to," she added.

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England (from): C Edwards (capt), C Atkins, K Brunt, H Colvin, I Guha, J Gunn, L Greenway, D Hazell, B Morgan, N Shaw, L Marsh, E Rainford-Brent, C Taylor, S Taylor.

New Zealand (from): A Watkins (capt), A Satterthwaite, S Bates, N Browne, S Bullen, S Devine, L Doolan, V Lind, K Martin, S McGlashan, R Priest, K Pulford, S Ruck, S Tsukigawa.

Umpires: A Dar (Pkn), R Koertzen (SA); Match referee A Hurst (Aus)

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Angelo Mathews fired Sri Lanka into the World Twenty20 final.

--BBC--

ICC World Twenty20 semi-final, The Oval:
Sri Lanka 158-5 beat West Indies 101 by 57 runs
Match scorecard

By Oliver Brett

Tillakaratne Dilshan's 96 not out and three wickets for Angelo Mathews in West Indies' first over fired Sri Lanka into the World Twenty20 final.

Dilshan faced just 57 balls and hit two sixes and 12 fours to get Sri Lanka to 158-5 in the semi-final at The Oval.

That may not have been enough, but at the end of Mathews' first over, West Indies were in dire straits at 1-3.

Chris Gayle hit a terrific 63 not out off 50 balls, but his team were bowled out for 101 to lose by 57 runs.

In a depressing show for the fans supporting the men from the Caribbean, no other West Indies batsman even made it to double figures.

On the same Oval pitch that had produced a high-scoring women's semi-final earlier in the day, West Indies skipper Gayle elected to field first - a tactic which paid off for England's Charlotte Edwards.

Dilshan has been the tournament's outstanding batsman

Sri Lanka made very slow initial progress until Dilshan, the outstanding batsman of the tournament, rolled out a couple of his idiosyncratic scooped paddles for four and six off Jerome Taylor. He then carved Dwayne Bravo for three off-side boundaries.

As the powerplay drew to a close, spin at both ends did not pose a problem for the men in blue and yellow.

And although the veteran Jayasuriya was not timing the ball particularly well, at 10 overs the total had ticked along to 72, and West Indies were still looking for their first wicket.

But Bravo, so often a game-changer for West Indies, produced an over yielding just two runs, and two massive wickets. Jayasuriya was caught attempting a reverse sweep with Kumar Sangakkara was coolly held by Kieron Pollard above his head as he tried to clear the infield.

Sri Lanka were beginning to make a mess of things, and their plight only increased when Mahela Jayawardene - perhaps a shade unfortunately - picked out short fine-leg as he flicked at a half-volley.

Dilshan continued serenely, reaching his fifty from 30 balls, but at 80-3 from 13, it was West Indies who were the dominant team.

The Caribbean men just could not shift that man Dilshan, however, who was hitting the ball square of the wicket with tremendous timing.

Gayle produced a lone vigil as the Windies batsmen struggled

He now took consecutive boundaries off Pollard full tosses before hitting three in a row off the suddenly wayward Bravo. The Trinidian all-rounder's third over, the 17th of the innings, was clattered for 18.

The final over, bowled by Gayle, produced 18 more, with Mathews clubbing him for a six and a four. Dilshan needed to hit the last ball for six to hit the first century of the tournament, but only managed two.

On such a good wicket, West Indies should have been confident about the chase, but the unheralded Mathews - a 22-year-old taking his first steps in international cricket - forced them to rapidly adjust their ambitions.

Mathews' second ball was deflected by Xavier Marshall onto his stumps, his fourth came off Lendl Simmons' thigh-pad before hitting timber and his sixth saw Bravo fall in similar circumstances to Marshall.

Mathews completed his four overs, taking 3-16, and in the ninth over Shivnarine Chanderpaul fell lbw to one of those unique deliveries from Ajantha Mendis that embarrass so many top batsmen.

Gayle had got himself in, but like Dilshan before him was running out of partners and West Indies needed 105 from the last 10 overs with four wickets in hand.

With Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga available to bowl eight of them it was a very tall order indeed.

Murali helped himself to three wickets, and Isuru Udana's slower ball did for Denesh Ramdin - the only batsman in the innings besides Gayle to hit a boundary.

Gayle himself stood firm, clubbing Murali for a magnificent six, but the ninth wicket fell before the 100 had been registered, when Darren Sammy miscued Mendis to point.

It all came to an end when Malinga's yorker skidded into Sulieman Benn's stumps.

Sri Lanka captain Sangakkara was later fined 10% of his match fee for a slow over-rate, with the other players being fined five per cent.

Match referee Alan Hurst ruled that Sangakkara's side were one over short of its target at the end of the Windies innings when allowances were taken into consideration.

Sri Lanka are the favourites to win the World Twenty20

--BBC--

P Sivaramakrishnan BBC Tamil service

Sri Lanka are still undefeated in the group stage and the Super Eight

Sri Lanka are the favourites to win the World Twenty20 currently being held in England says former Indian player and selector V B Chandrasekar.

Being a "fantastic bowling side," Sri Lanka has the best possibilities of clinching the trophy with the exit of India having been beaten by England on Sunday, he says.

“If at all Sri Lanka have some problems it is with their batting” observes Chandrasekar who also says that with Dilshan Tilakaratne being in very good form Sri Lanka’s chances are very bright.

Ably supported by Jayasurya, Mahela jayawardane and Sangakkaara chipping in suitably that could also be overcome.

World Class spinners

Kumar Sangakkara as the skipper keeping wickets is concentrating well on the field positioning and placements suiting to the requirements from over to over.

If at all Sri Lanka have some problems it is with their batting V B Chandrasekar

Chandrasekar says that the skipper’s correct use of Lasith Malinga has paid rich dividends to the Sri Lankan team.

He is being made to take wickets in the first two overs, and then used in between to put pressure on the batsman and bag wickets then used again during the final overs to wrap up the match.

Sri Lanka's world class spinners add to the team’s best bowling attack in the tournament says the former Indian player and selector.

However he cautions that South Africa too has a very good bowling line up and could pose a tough challenge to Sri Lanka in their quest for the title.

He also says Sri Lanka’s strength also lies in effectively controlling the opponent even if they have scored a modest total of around 150 runs.

Predicting a final between Sri Lanka and South Africa he opined that West Indies could be a dark horse who could upset these two teams.

England beat India by three runs

--BBC--

By David Ornstein

Highlights - England beat India in thriller (UK only)

England kept alive their hopes of reaching the World Twenty20 semi-finals by eliminating holders India in a nail-biting Super Eights encounter.

Kevin Pietersen top-scored with a battling 46 off 27 balls as he and Ravi Bopara put on 71 for the second wicket and helped their side post 153-8.

England then shone in the field as Graeme Swann (2-28) and Ryan Sidebottom (2-31) put their side on course to win.

India were restricted to 150-5 as the hosts claimed a three-run victory.

The result puts England level on points with West Indies in Group E, while it means South Africa have now qualified for the semi-finals.

England play the West Indies at The Oval on Monday and the winner of that game will join the Proteas in qualifying for the last four.

India face South Africa at Trent Bridge on Tuesday but they will be playing for pride alone after seeing their title defence crumble at an electric Lord's, where their supporters were in the majority and the atmosphere was sensational.

They needed 19 off Sidebottom's final over to clinch victory but, although Yusuf Pathan smashed a six and skipper Mahendra Dhoni a four, England held their nerve under immense pressure to triumph.

India would have noted that England's comprehensive defeat by South Africa on Thursday came after they batted first and Dhoni's decision to send the hosts in after winning the toss came as no surprise.

It appeared to be a good call when, after just 1.4 overs, Luke Wright attempted to pull a full-pitched ball from RP Singh but succeeded only in top-edging it to a diving Yusuf Pathan scampering backwards from leg slip.

England were off to a terrible start but the departure of Wright was perhaps a blessing in disguise because it marked the arrival of Pietersen.

The right-hander, nursing a chronic Achilles problem, was quick to signal his intent with a couple of flicked boundaries and he was ably assisted by Bopara, who pulled Ishant Sharma for a massive six to calm any nerves.

606: DEBATE It was a brilliant performance from the English boys, I don't think India were ever comfortable in the chase ravisg28

Dhoni handed the ball to Yuvraj Singh - a player described by Pietersen as a "pie-thrower" during England's tour to the sub-continent last winter - but he was carted all over the ground before being pulled out of the attack after just two overs.

India would have the last laugh, however, as Harbhajan Singh (3-30) reduced the run-rate with a terrific spell and Ravindra Jadeja (2-26) then sent both men packing.

Bopara's stumps were split after stepping outside leg and missing his shot, while Pietersen was trapped lbw as he tried to slog a second successive ball over midwicket for six.

England promoted Dimitri Mascarenhas up to four and the runs began to flow but unfortunately for the Hampshire player he was losing partners with alarming regularity at a crucial point in the innings.

Harbhajan was the destroyer-in-chief as Owais Shah holed out to Jadeja at deep mid-wicket, James Foster fell caught and bowled and Swann was bowled.

India supporters were in the majority at an electric Lord's

In between the Shah and Foster wickets captain Paul Collingwood was ousted by Zaheer and, although England took five runs off the penultimate delivery, India would have been the happier of the two sides.

But their reply got off to an unconvincing start in the face of some aggressive bowling by the England seamers.

James Anderson coaxed Gautam Gambhir into miscuing a pull shot that landed safely and Sidebottom came inches away from bowling Rohit Sharma via an inside edge.

Rohit Sharma would not be so fortunate when another inside edge did cannon into his stumps and Sidebottom had his second victim in as many overs when Suresh Raina was snapped up by Wright at deep square leg.

England's disciplined bowling and excellent work in the field kept boundaries to a minimum and ensured India remained some way adrift of the required run-rate.

That began to change when, the ball after Mascarenhas had Gambhir caught at short fine-leg, Yuvraj lofted the same bowler over the top for six.

But the ineffective Jadeja was magnificently caught by Broad just in front of the long-off boundary and then came the killer blow.

Yuvraj famously smashed one Broad over for six maximums during the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 and, while still at the crease, he was always going to be dangerous.

But England had clearly done their homework on the left-hander this time round and when Foster showed lightning reactions to whip off the bails after Swann had beaten his outside edge, Yuvraj was gone.

Dhoni and Pathan were India's last genuine hope of salvaging victory and they gave it a good go, but they ran out of time and the day belonged to England.

Lanka women 'will qualify for next round'

--BBC--

By Saroj Pathirana BBC Sinhala service

	Polgampola says she is confident on progressing to the semi finals

Sri Lanka women's cricket team skipper Chamari Polgampola says that her team will progress through to the semi finals at the women's World Twenty20 held in England.

Speaking with BBC Sandeshaya as the team arrived for their second group match, Polgampola says she is confident of defeating the hosts who currently holds the top ranking among women teams.

“We are not worried about the home advantage for England. My team is confident. We just arrived at the ground. My first thought was that we will win,” she said.

Win against Pakistan

This is Polgampola’s first international tournament as the skipper since taking over the reigns from Sashikala Siriwardene. Siriwardene is not selected for the current tour.

We just arrived at the ground. My first thought was that we will win Chamari Polgampola

As Sri Lankan men progressed in the Super Eight defeating Pakistan at the Lord’s, the Sri Lanka women echoed men’s success at Taunton on Friday.

Sri Lanka women secured a four wicket win over Pakistan at their first group match on Friday.

Speaking with BBC Sandeshaya on Thursday, Polgampola was very confident.

“We have played much against Pakistan before and are aware of their strength. We must and we will win against Pakistan,” she said.

The skipper said the whole team played well on Friday but some deserved a special mention.

“Especially Ishani Lokusuriya, Inoka Galagedara, Sepali Weerakkody and Udeshika Prabodhani made that happen on Friday,” she said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka were reduced to 144 four nine wickets by minnows Ireland at Lord’s on Sunday.

Umar Gul became the first man to take five wickets in a Twenty20 international

--BBC--

By David Ornstein

Gul sent the Pakistan fans wild with celebration during a devastating spell

Umar Gul became the first man to take five wickets in a Twenty20 international as Pakistan thrashed New Zealand in the Super Eights.

Right-arm seamer Gul returned 5-6 to help bowl the Kiwis out for 99, the lowest total of the tournament so far.

Shahzaib Hasan marked his international debut with 35 off 28 balls before Pakistan, who had fallen to 71-4, posted 100-4 in 13.1 overs at The Oval.

Their six-wicket victory puts them in the hunt for a semi-final place.

Pakistan are now level on points with New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the top of Group F and, depending on other results, they could seal a last-four spot if they beat Ireland at The Oval on Monday.

"It was a good toss to lose," said Pakistan captain Younus Khan. "The key thing is getting a wicket in the first six overs and we got three.

"In the last couple of years Umar has bowled very well in Twenty20 cricket, he knows how to play this format."

Gul added: "It was a special day. The main thing was bowling the first six overs very well. The captain told me to go for wickets so that's what I did. I've been practising yorkers and it paid off."

Pakistan made a poor start with the ball in their defeat by Sri Lanka on Friday but on this occasion it was they who took the early initiative.

Despite Mohammad Aamir's first over costing 11 runs as Brendon McCullum got going in style, the Pakistan bowlers were quick to establish a disciplined rhythm and Younus' men were both vocal and sharp in the field.

606: DEBATE That was a very clinical slaughtering. Well done to Pakistan. Welcome back Afridi. Things are looking good for you guys nigeweir

They could hardly have wished for a better reward for their efforts as Black Caps danger-man McCullum skipped down the track and drove the superb Abdul Razzaq (2-17) to Fawad Alam at point.

Aaron Redmond and Martin Guptill got the scoreboard ticking over but Pakistan were still buzzing from their breakthrough and gave their supporters more to cheer about with the removal of both men.

Left-arm seamer Aamir (1-23) coaxed Redmond into mistiming an attempted heave over mid-on, gifting a catch to Gul, before Razzaq had Guptill trapped leg-before with a full, in-swinging delivery.

New Zealand were in real trouble and their predicament worsened when, with the run-rate already below six an over, Jacob Oram lofted Shahid Afridi (2-17) to Misbah-ul-Haq at extra cover.

With boundaries few and far between, the Black Caps were forced to trades in ones and twos as Afridi and Gul produced spells which were tailor-made for Twenty20 cricket.

Afridi drew applause from all sections of the crows after running backwards from mid-on to remove Scott Styris with a magnificent catch in front of the rope to give Gul his first victim.

His second arrived the very next ball when Peter McGlashan was trapped plumb in front of his stumps attempting to sweep.

Nathan McCullum, brother of Brendon, made just seven off 11 balls before seeing his leg stump uprooted by Gul, who again took two wickets in two balls as James Franklin was bowled playing across the line and Kyle Mills was caught by Shahzaib off a leading edge.

Vettori cut a disgruntled figure as his side succumbed

New Zealand had been torn to shreds and their evening was summed up when fit-again skipper Daniel Vettori, playing his first match of the tournament, succumbed to a needless run out.

Pakistan carried the momentum into their own innings and even had luck on their side when Kamran Akmal took five runs off the final ball of Mills' opening over.

The right-hander had already run a single when a direct hit at the non-striker's end raced away for four.

Akmal and Shahzaib were quick to open their shoulders and hit out with understandable abandonment - Shahzaib clubbed Vettori over long-on for six and Akmal got a maximum of his own by lofting Mills straight back over his head.

The very next ball Akmal pulled Mills straight to Guptill at deep square leg but Shahzaib continued the belt New Zealand to all parts of the ground, hitting Ian Butler for two fours and a six in the sixth over.

Razzaq was caught behind off Vettori and Shahzaib was run out by Brendon McCullum after setting off for a suicidal single.

Vettori was bowling superbly, giving the ball plenty of flight and landing it on a sixpence outside off stump, and when Shoaib Malik chipped the spinner to cover, Pakistan were suddenly 71-4 and looking nervous.

But Afridi pulled Butler for a timely six to get his side back on track and their triumph was confirmed when Brendon McCullum and Neil Broom collided in the field, allowing Afridi to take two off the bowling of Nathan McCullum.

"We discussed the wicket with the teams who played before us (South Africa and West Indies) and thought that if we made a reasonable total we could exert pressure on Pakistan," said Vettori.

"But our total was not good enough. They bowled very well but we never got the momentum going.

"One partnership is enough in Twenty20 cricket - it gives you the momentum - but we never got one."

West Indies 156-3 beat India 153-7 by seven wickets

--BBC--


Match scorecard

By Jonathan Stevenson

Bravo paced his innings perfectly as West Indies chased down India's total

Dwayne Bravo produced a magnificent all-round display to earn West Indies victory against holders India in their World Twenty20 contest at Lord's.

India opted to bat first and struggled as they were reduced to 29-3, before Yuvraj Singh (67) played a world-class knock to lift them up to 153-7.

Bravo (4-38) was the pick of the bowlers and he produced with the bat as he shared 58 with Lendl Simmons (44).

He finished unbeaten on 66 as West Indies won with eight balls to spare.

India now face a crucial Super Eights Group E match against England at Lord's on Sunday, while West Indies meet in-form South Africa at The Oval on Saturday.

The victory was just deserts for the men from the Caribbean, whose recent woes against England have been quickly consigned to history.

Chris Gayle's men played exceptionally throughout and got off to a scintillating start in the field, quickly removing India's big guns Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina.

606: DEBATE Is brilliant Bravo the best Twenty20 all-rounder? Led them to a superb win over India hblove

Gambhir's wicket was thanks to a sensational piece of fielding from Simmons, the 24-year-old running away from the wicket to take a steepling catch over his shoulder.

When Yuvraj came together with his captain Mahendra Dhoni they needed a partnership and they got it, though the skipper was painfully short of touch.

He was struggling to get the ball off the square and after crawling to 11 from 23 deliveries, it was almost a blessed relief when he holed out on the cover-point boundary.

Dhoni's departure seemed to free Yuvraj's shackles as he and Yusuf Pathan set about lifting a run rate which was hovering around the five mark, way below a respectable total.

Yusuf started the assault as he launched Bravo into the evening sky and Yuvraj needed no second invitation, effortlessly clipping Jerome Taylor over mid-wicket for an outrageous six.

India managed to post a decent total by scoring 56 from their last five overs, including fours from the last three balls of the innings from Harbhajan Singh.

India then struck early to continue their momentum, Andre Fletcher lasting only two balls as he was caught by the irrepressible Yuvraj at mid-off for a duck.

Yuvraj's magical knock ensured India posted a respectable total

West Indies were looking to Gayle again, and their captain produced a couple of remarkable pieces of timing to send the ball whistling to the boundary.

But after Harbhajan had bowled only the second maiden of the tournament to him, he lost all fluency and was caught after top-edging an ugly hoick off Yusuf.

Bravo, full of confidence, was promoted in the order and with Simmons in tow he set about showing why, as he played some magnificent cover-drives to start upping the run-rate.

Simmons played his share of exotic strokes too, but after the two Trinidadians had put on 58 together he holed out in the deep, top-edging an uncultured swat off Pragyan Ojha.

Bravo continued undeterred with a glorious straight drive for six the very next ball and he brought up his 50 soon after, launching Ishant Sharma back over his head for another maximum.

With Shivnarine Chanderpaul doing his bit from the other end, Bravo held his nerve and finished with a majestic lofted cover-drive for six to ease West Indies to a wonderful victory.

Gayle revealed his delight at seeing Bravo and Fidel Edwards, who picked up two early Indian wickets, produce such fine displays.

"It's not all the time that you're going to get off to a flyer," said Gayle ."It didn't happen for me today, but I'm really happy some of our younger players stepped up and it's really good for the team.

"Fidel picked up wickets at the top of the order. The majority of India's players are very good batsmen, but taking key wickets is very important."

Dhoni admitted the result puts his side under pressure to qualify for the semi-finals, but said he has confidence they will still go through.

"It will bring out the best in us," he said. "We were under a lot of pressure in the last World Cup when it was do or die every game, but we got through to the final and won it."

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 19 runs at Lord's.

--BBC--

Match scorecard

By Jonathan Stevenson

Dilshan got Sri Lanka's innings off to a quickfire start at Lord's

Sri Lanka made a fine start to their World Twenty20 Super Eights campaign, beating Pakistan by 19 runs at Lord's.

Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan (46) put on 81 for Sri Lanka before Shahid Afridi (2-23) removed both openers to stem the flow of runs.

They limped along at the end to finish on 150-7, but Pakistan struggled to get going and were soon reduced to 35-3.

Younus Khan (50) shared 66 with Misbah-ul-Haq but Lasith Malinga (3-17) helped Sri Lanka to limit them to 131-9.

It had appeared as though Pakistan, who were unchanged, might have a much bigger target to chase after Sri Lanka got off to a flying start having won the toss.

Sohail Tanvir's 11-ball first over, littered with wides and no-balls, ended up costing 18 and Sri Lanka raced on to 80-0 from eight overs as Jayasuriya and Dilshan cashed in on more wayward bowling.

606: DEBATE The way Shahid Afridi bats nowadays absolutely beggars belief hblove

Dilshan was comfortably outscoring his veteran partner with some classical strokes - though there was another outing for the 'shovel shot', lifting the ball over his own head and past the wicket-keeper for four.

But the introduction of Afridi slowed Sri Lanka down and a quickly frustrated Jayasuriya holed out after an ugly swish, before Dilshan was bowled attempting a cut.

The change in momentum was sudden and alarming as Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene - both scoring at about a run a ball - were kept relatively quiet.

Pakistan's spinners exerted almost complete control in the middle of the innings as Afridi, Shoaib Malik and Saeed Ajmal bowled beautifully, before Umar Gul - who saw his first two overs go for 22 - came back with a vengeance.

Afridi curbed Sri Lanka's scoring with a top-class spell of bowling

His last two overs went for only 12 and he claimed the wickets of Chamara Silva and Nuwan Kulasekera with lovely outswingers too.

But if Pakistan were encouraged to only be chasing 151, they suffered a disastrous start as the excellent Angelo Mathews (1-23) sneaked one through Salman Butt's defences to leave them on 0-1.

In sharp contrast to Sri Lanka, they were struggling to make use of their powerplay overs until Shoaib Malik lashed out at Kulasekera - in for Isuru Udana - by crashing him for three successive fours through cover-point.

But when Malinga came on Pakistan lost two wickets in an over, Malik caught at mid-on and Kamran Akmal running himself out two balls later.

That was before Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis had bowled a ball between them - but the spin kings were strangely subdued as Younus and Misbah knocked them around with ease.

The pair put on 66 for the third wicket but failed to address the mounting required run rate. When Misbah finally holed out in the deep, Afridi - hopelessly out of form with the bat - followed next ball and it was as good as over.

We had 20 extras today and we lost by 19 runs so it shows how crucial it is in this form of cricket Pakistan's Younus Khan

Malinga proved as difficult to get away as ever, picking up a wicket with his last ball to finish with immaculate figures and help his country maintain their unbeaten record in the tournament.

Afterwards, Sangakkara said he had been disappointed with his team's batting, feeling they should have made at least 170.

"With better options and partnerships, we could have had a more comfortable total, but it was a great, all-round effort to defend the total we got," he said.

Man-of-the-match Dilshan added: "We're playing very good cricket, we know with Mendis and Murali we can defend 160 against any team. This was always a very important match, a great result and this has given us confidence."

Younus said indiscipline had cost Pakistan dearly.

"We had a couple of early no-balls and you can't do that in this sort of cricket," he said.

"You then get a free hit and four runs so it's not very good - we had 20 extras today and we lost by 19 runs so it shows how crucial it is in this form of cricket."

Sri Lanka maintained their 100% record in the World Twenty20 with a commanding 15-run victory against the West Indies.

--BBC--

By Jamie Lillywhite

Highlights - Sri Lanka outscore Windies (UK users only)

Both sides had already progressed to the Super Eights phase but Sri Lanka were fully focused and amassed 192-5.

Sanath Jayasuriya smashed 10 fours and three sixes in 81 off 47 balls, sharing 124 in 12.3 overs with Tillakaratne Dilshan (74)who hit 11 fours and a six.

Ajantha Mendis then took two wickets in an over and Dwayne Bravo's two sixes in a defiant 51 could not prevent defeat.

Some feared that an already dead rubber would be even more routine with the absence of the injured Chris Gayle.

The languid Windies captain, resplendent in lime green sunglasses, gave his side a pre-match rallying cry, or his version of one, but it was the Sri Lankans who looked better equipped, with their big guns firing.

Jayasuriya, approaching his 40th birthday, reminded fans that there was more than one destructive left-handed opener and was at his scintillating best, driving and hooking with panache.

Fidel Edwards was smashed for 17 from his first six deliveries and midway through the third over of the innings Jayasuriya had 27 to his name.

Dilshan was also at his inventive best, and demonstrated the en vogue shovel shot, lifting the ball back over his own head and somehow avoiding injury.

The six powerplay overs resulted in 66 runs and the 100 came up from the penultimate ball of the 10th over.

Jayasuriya's lofted square drive astonishingly went for six as Edwards conceded 20 from his second over.

The main thing for this match was to get momentum and I'm happy with the way the guys played Kumar Sangakkara

It was Lendl Simmons who applied the brakes, introduced for the 13th over and striking with his third ball when Jayasuriya missed with an attempted reverse sweep.

Simmons collected 4-19 from his three overs of medium pace, Dilshan falling in the 18th over when another reverse sweep only found the tall figure of Sulieman Benn at backward point. In the Windies innings, Andre Fletcher smashed a massive six over mid-wicket off the rapid Lasith Malinga but next ball succumbed to a magnificently disguised slower ball that completely deceived him and knocked out the leg-stump.

A disastrous 10-ball over from erratic 21-year-old left-arm seamer Isura Udana actually put the Windies ahead after five overs.

Mendis was savagely reverse swept for four by Simmons, who also seized on a short one to cut four more when Muttiah Muralitharan came into the attack in the next over.

But the spin twins soon made their mark and the opener was sharply caught at first slip by Mahela Jayawardene.

Then in the next over Mendis had Xavier Marshall caught at long-off and the out of form Shivnarine Chanderpaul chopped on to his stumps.

Bravo hit some typically flamboyant shots to revive the West Indies innings

There was also an incredible moment on the long-on boundary when Angelo Mathews, realising he could not make a clean catch, parried the ball upwards, then dived to claw it from over the ropes back into the playing area.

That had the match officials scanning the rule books but after a lengthy delay a boundary was not given and the batsmen picked up for the three they had run.

Bravo kept up the momentum in persistent drizzle, and after Murali dropped a top-edge, recorded his fifty with a six, only to depart next ball when another skyer was this time taken.

It was another impressive all-round display from the talented Sri Lankans and skipper Kumar Sangakkara said: "The main thing for this match was to get momentum and I'm happy with the way the guys played.

"Sanath is a genius and he was ably supported by Dilshan. They proved that with a good start you can put up a very defendable total."

Following his fourth Twenty20 international fifty, Jayasuriya said: "In the first few overs if you see the ball well, then you are there. I was positive and played my natural game.

"Dilshan and I like to play our natural game and it was great for our confidence.

"I am enjoying my cricket, but I get great support from my team-mates."

Acting Windies skipper Denesh Ramdin, who revealed that Gayle would return for the team's opening Super Eights match with India at Lord's on Friday, said: "We needed to get a good start but we had to chase the game.

"We'll play hard cricket in the Super Eights and we'll bounce back."

To compound matters for the Windies they were fined for a slow over-rate, Ramdin losing 20% of his match fee and his players deprived of 10%.

"We will defeat Pakistan"

--BBC--

The captain of Sri Lanka women’s team, Chamari Polgampola, says her team will win their first World Twenty20 game against Pakistan.

“We have played much against Pakistan before and are aware of their strength. We must and we will win against Pakistan,” she told BBC Sandeshaya.

Sri Lanka meets Pakistan on Friday at Taunton and it is Polgampola’s first international game as the Sri Lanka skipper.

She takes over from the reigns from Sashikala Siriwardene who is not selected for the current tour.

Strong partnership

“Our bowlers are doing a pretty good job at the moment but we need to improve batting. I have a good plan for Pakistan and I hope our batswomen will enter into strong partnerships,” she said.

Sri Lanka's other contenders are England and India at the group stage.

Skipper Polgampola says both teams are very talented and will be a strong challenge for Sri Lanka.

High morale

“But we will be able to face both England and India with high morale after winning against Pakistan. And as it is a Twnety20 game the team that plays well on the day will have the advantage,” she told bbcsinhala.com.

On Tuesday, Sri Lanka only managed to score 80 runs at the second practice match against West Indies.

West Indies secured an easy victory by 40 runs but Polgampola is confident that the team will bounce back from that experience.

“We missed few catches at the last stage otherwise we would have secured an easy victory”