Sri Lanka crushes Kenya by 9 wickets
Colombo, March 1: Sri Lanka crushed Kenya by nine wickests in a World Cup Group A match here Tuesday. Chasing Kenya's target of 143, the hosts reached the target in 18.4 overs, losing only Tillakaratne Dilshan for 44. Upul Tharanga (63 not out) and Kumar Sangakkara (27 not out) then took the side home. Earlier, Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga claimed the second hat-trick of the tournament as Sri Lanka bowled out Kenya for 142 in a World Cup Group A match here Tuesday.
Malinga became the second player in as many days after West Indies paceman Kemar Roach claimed this edition's first hat-trick against the Netherlands Monday. This is Malinga's second World Cup hat-trick, after he took four South African wickets in four balls in 2007. It is also the seventh hat-trick at a World Cup.
Like Roach, Malinga mopped up the tail off three successive deliveries to end up with a six-wicket haul. India's Chetan Sharma was the first player to take a World Cup hat-trick that came against New Zealand in 1987. Kenya, who lost their first two matches against New Zealand and Pakistan, were again not up to the mark against the top cricketing side.
They lost two early wickets before Collins Obuya (52) and David Obuya (51) stitched 94 runs, although it came at a snail's pace. Once the partnership was broken with Malinga rattling the stumps of Collins, and Muttiah Muralitharan dismissing David, the Kenyan batting fell apart.
Malinga showed why he is such a dangerous bowler in the death-overs as he crashed through the stumps of Peter Ongonda, Shem Ngoche and Elijah Otieno with all three batsmen dismissed for ducks.
News Posted: 1 March, 2011
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