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| | GEO Sports | | Two crucial matches in Super8 today | Updated at: 1043 PST, Sunday, May 09, 2010
 BRIDGETOWN: Two crucial matches are being played in Super Eight of Twenty20 World Cup today, Geo News reported Sunday.
The first match is set between two teams India and West Indies, that is do or die clash for both. After an inept fielding display, in which five chances went a-begging in Friday's loss to Sri Lanka, West Indies' semi-final hopes could hinge on the outcome of Sunday's Super Eight game against India.
West Indies succumbed to Sri Lanka by 57 runs on Friday, while India lost by 24 runs to Australia.
A loss for either team on Sunday could end their sojourn in the tournament, depending on the outcome of the group's other game between Australia and Sri Lanka.
West Indies Captain Chris Gayle says even though India has struggled with pace in past games, he is wary of relying too much on fast-bowlers.
"We can use the short ball but at the same time we have to be careful because it is a small ground and they have quality batters who can make adjustments. But it's certainly something we will put into our plans," Gayle said.
Gayle says the stakes make the game a much more interesting contest.
The second face-off is set between two teams that finished off their opponents rather ruthlessly in their opening Super Eight matches. The match between the two team could turn out to be a crucial clash for a place in the semi-finals of the third ICC World Twenty20 tournament when Sri Lanka meets Australia at the Kensington Oval on Sunday.
The winning team in today’s contest is assured of a place in the last four unless three of the four teams end with an equal number of points. Sri Lanka who swept aside West Indies by 57 runs on Friday is fully focused on what they have to achieve to earn a second successive semi-finals place in the World Twenty20 tournament having ended as finalist last year. In the other Group F game Australia demolished former champions India by 49 runs.
Sri Lanka’s performance was described as ‘clinically efficient’ by man-of-the-match Mahela Jayawardene whose unbeaten innings of 98 off 58 balls and his record second wicket stand of 166 with his captain Kumar Sangakkara (68 off 49 balls) formed the basis for their match-winning total of 195-3.
Their partnership was the highest for any wicket in an ICC World T20 tournament and the highest for the second wicket in a Twenty20 International.
“In the last two games we were not clinical in certain departments but today our fielding was much better so were the bowling areas and, we batted to a plan,” said Jayawardene.
“In a T20 format you have to get you’re all round game. The fewer mistakes you make the better for you because it is very difficult to come back into a game. It’s a short format and we don’t have many games. We have to make sure we get into some sort of a momentum. Hopefully we can continue to do that and execute the game plan.” |  |
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