Sports
Our confidence levels are high after Old Trafford – Sanath
Rex Clementine
in London
Sri Lanka’s coach Sanath Jayasuriya says the team’s confidence levels are high after the Old Trafford Test match where they tested England before going down by five wickets. Sri Lanka were written off in cold and gloomy conditions in Manchester but the batting recovered as the game progressed.
Kamindu Mendis was the standout performer with a hundred while four others chipped in with half-centuries. Asitha Fernando became an overnight sensation among the British press after an excellent bowling display while Prabath Jayasuriya troubled the Englishmen with accurate bowling.
“I had the confidence they would do well. I told the public to have faith in the players during the Indian series. It was tough coming into the Test series as they had only played one warm-up game. We need to play at least two warm-up games in order to settle down to the climate. But that’s the reality as the international calendar is tight.”
“In the first innings 236 was not enough but lower middle order showed character. After that we gained a lot of confidence.”
“You have to play with passion. I know I have a job to do for my country. I am answerable for the people in my country. Although I am doing a part time job I want to instill in them you are playing for your country and you need to play with passion. That’s what I did.”
Jayasuriya, the former Test captain who forced England to follow on when he captained the Lord’s Test in 2002 said he wanted the top order to fire in the second Test starting Thursday.
“I want the top order to bat well one of them at least need to get runs. Dimuth is batting well but unfortunately he is getting out in the 20s that’s not enough. I am not putting any pressure on them. I have given them the maximum confidence.”
The Sri Lankan side has three former captains and while Dimuth is yet to fire, Jayasuriya was happy the other two former skippers, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal came good.
“Great to see the way Kamindu went about things. Super knock by Angelo as well. Chandimal showed character. After getting hit on the thumb, he took three pain killer injections before going to bat. That’s the attitude I want to see. Then others also learn from him.”
Sri Lanka will train at Lord’s on Tuesday and Wednesday and a full house is expected for the game although tickets are priced high.
“We have to start from scratch. We are taking the positives from Old Trafford. It’s totally different conditions at Lord’s. We can’t take things for granted. If somebody gets in I want another good 100 from one of those top order batsmen.”
There was some criticism when Jayasuriya took over as coach but he has done well having coached the team for a series win over India after 27 years.
“Constructive criticism I will always accept. Other things I take it off from my head. I have a job to do. SLC, support staff and cricketers have a lot of trust in me. In coaching the managing part is very important, managing players is not easy. I know my culture and we need to persevere with the Sri Lankan values.”
Can Sri Lanka win a Test match in England this time? “We have to play good cricket to do that. We need to win at least two sessions every day for five days then we have a good chance.
Ireland Women 118/9 in 20 overs (Alana Dalzelle 14, Orla Prendergast 26, Leah Paul 10, Alice Tector 10, Louise Little 26*; Lauren Bell 1-39, Linsey Smith 1-20, Sophie Ecclestone 3-22, Charlie Dean 2-11, Dani Gibson 2-10) lost to England Women 119/6 in 17.3 overs (Dani Wyatt Hodge 16, Nat Sciver-Brunt 48, Heather Knight 26; Aimee Maguire 2-23, Orla Prendergast 2-17) by 4 wickets
Lionel Messi marked his record sixth World Cup appearance with his first hat-trick at a FIFA tournament as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 to open the defence of their global crown, he also became the joint highest scorer at World Cups with the feat.
The former 38-year-old forward thought he had opened the scoring in the eighth minute in Kansas City on Tuesday when he slotted home from close range, but the offside flag was raised.
The dream start to his record-setting appearance, which will be matched by Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal against DR Congo on Wednesday, was not to be denied for long though.
A trademark, mazy run was capped by a drive on the edge of the box from that famed left foot. The power too much for Algeria keeper Luca Zidane, son of World Cup winner with France, Zinidine.
Messi doubled his tally on the hour mark with a simple tap in from a rebound off the keeper following a drive from Alexis Mac Allister.
The moment that even a player as decorated as Messi came in the 76th minute when he drilled low past the keeper from just outside the box.
The strike took Messi level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals.
His substitution came just three minutes later to a standard ovation, even old maestro seemed disappointed to be removed – and most likely rested for Argentina’s tilt at becoming only the third side to defend a World Cup title.
Algeria – the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winners – offered little, but were themselves denied an early goal when Fares Chaibi’s ninth minute strike was ruled out for offside.
Messi saw to it that there was no opening game upset to be had tat this edition, having lost their opening game at Qatar 2022 to Saudi Arabia.
Messi, who spent the majority of his club career in Spain with Barcelona before moving to French giants Paris-Saint Germain, plys his trade in US football’s Major League Soccer with Inter Miami.
Jordan and Austria open their account in the group later on Tuesday in San Francisco.
[Aljazeera]
Iran twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in an exciting World Cup clash at Los Angeles Stadium as protests against Tehran’s government and a peace deal signed to end the US-Iran war formed a charged backdrop to the match.
High security presence and protests outside the venue were among the off-field concerns surrounding the match on Monday.
And when New Zealand took an early lead through Elijah Just’s volleyed shot from inside the box, after being set up by Chris Wood, some fans critical of the Iranian government celebrated with New Zealand supporters.
Many of these anti-regime spectators also carried Iran’s pre-Islamic Revolution Lion and Sun flag, against FIFA’s rules. Several also booed Iran’s national anthem before kickoff.
But most of the crowd of more than 70,000 appeared firmly behind Team Melli, chanting “Ir-ran! Ir-ran!” and erupting when Ramin Rezaeian equalised shortly after the half-hour mark.
Rezaeian, one of several Iran players who had not played club football since February after the domestic league was suspended amid US and Israeli air strikes, reacted quickest to a blocked shot and poked the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.
Wood and Just combined again early in the second half, the New Zealand captain sliding a precise pass into the 26-year-old forward’s path before Just hammered home to restore the All Whites’ lead.
Iran responded 10 minutes later with a superb goal from Mohammad Mohebbi, who headed Rezaeian’s perfect cross in off the far post to make it 2-2.
The stalemate means all the teams in Group G have one point after Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt earlier on Monday.
New Zealand, making their third appearance at the tournament, remain without a win at a World Cup after seven matches. Iran are looking to reach the knockout round for the first time.
The match laid bare divisions among Iranian American fans, many of whom said they felt torn between pride at seeing Iran on the sport’s biggest stage, anger over Tehran’s crackdown on protesters and concern over Washington’s bombing campaign.
Before kickoff, about 300 to 500 protesters gathered outside the stadium, waving anti-government signs and flags.
Some Iranian Americans had said attending the match would imply support for Iran’s government, while others said they wanted to set politics aside and support the players.
Iran will next return to Los Angeles to face Belgium on Sunday when New Zealand take on Egypt in Vancouver.
[Aljazeera]
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