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Srilanka (SQUAD)

Placed in Group C along with New Zealand and Kenya, Sri Lanka’s first match in the 2007 event saw them thrash Kenya by 172 runs at the Wanderers. Sanath Jayasuriya batted with characteristic freedom scoring a 44-ball 88 and Jehan Mubarak′s late fireworks lifted Sri Lanka to a record team score of 260 for 6, a target way out of reach for the opposition as Kenya managed just 88. Sri Lanka won by a record margin of 172 runs.

Against New Zealand, Jayasuriya displayed fireworks once again with a 44-ball 61 to win by seven wickets. A delightful cameo of 37 at the end from Mahela Jayawardene was enough to punish New Zealand as Sri Lanka maintained their perfect record in the competition.

However, the Super Eight League saw them lose out to Pakistan as they were choked by 33 runs. Lasith Malinga picked up three wickets including that of Man of the Match Younis Khan but it was not sufficient to rescue them from defeat. Chasing a total 189, the openers failed to deliver and the team was bundled out for 156 runs.

Close after this defeat, Sri Lanka stormed to a 64-run win against Bangladesh. The victory pushed Bangladesh out of contention for a semi-final place, and left Sri Lanka needing to beat Australia to progress to the final four.
But the Australians produced one of the displays of the tournament to deliver a 10-wicket knockout punch to the Lankans.

It was a day Sri Lanka would like to forget. After being dismissed for only 101, they could not stop the Australian run-chase as they achieved the target in half the time with all wickets intact.

Even if Jayasuriya doesn’t make it to England in 2009 Sri Lanka will still have one of the strongest batting line-ups with the experienced Mahela Jayawardena and Kumara Sangakkara likely to comprise a formidable middle-order while Lasith Malinga’s sling-arm action is capable of destroying the best line-ups.

Age 31 years
Batting Left-hand bat
Bowling Right-arm offbreak

Age 37 years
Batting Right-hand bat
Bowling Right-arm offbreak

Age 35 years
Batting Right-hand bat
Wicketkeeper
Bowling Right-arm offbreak

Age 39 years
Batting Left-hand bat
Bowling Slow left-arm orthodox

Age 24 years
Batting Right-hand bat
Bowling Right-arm fast-medium