Sri Lanka Vs Zimbabwe icc t20 world cup 2012 live scorecard Star Cricket Live Streaming Latest News

Sri Lanka Vs Zimbabwe icc t20 world cup.Sri Lanka Vs Zimbabwe T20 World Cup Match.Sri Lanka Vs Zimbabwe live scorecard.Sri Lanka Vs Zimbabwe Star Cricket Live Streaming.Sri Lanka Vs Zimbabwe Match.Sri Lanka Vs Zimbabwe Latest News.Sri Lanka Vs Zimbabwe Match at Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka Vs Zimbabwe 1st t20 match 2012.

Zimbabwe adequately prepared for the challenge - Taylor

Brendan Taylor, the Zimbabwe captain, said a lack of match practice will not be an obstacle to success in the World Twenty20, ahead of their first match - the tournament opener against Sri Lanka in Hambantota. Zimbabwe have not played any international cricket since their tour of New Zealand in February, but Taylor said practice matches among the Zimbabwe squad and an unofficial tri-series against South Africa and Bangladesh had been adequate preparation.

"I don't think a lack of matches will hinder us," Taylor said. "We have enough players back home to choose from and have played some competitive matches amongst us. Our training camp was really good. We had good success against South Africa and Bangladesh in an unofficial tri-series in Harare two months ago. So no excuses, we're all in good form. Obviously a bigger stage now, and it's time to come out and perform."

Zimbabwe defeated a South Africa XI that included Richard Levi, Hashim Amla and Lonwabo Tsotsobe among others, to win the tri-series in Harare in June. The hosts won four out of five matches in the tournament, defeating both other teams twice. However, they lost both their World Twenty20 warm up matches, going down to Ireland by 54 runs and to Bangladesh by five wickets.

"It's not ideal, but we were trying out different combinations, so we didn't have our strongest side out there. We were outplayed by Ireland and Bangladesh, but our first game is what's important and we've prepared well for that. There're no excuses."

Sri Lanka Vs Zimbabwe 

Taylor said that although Zimbabwe were glad to be playing Sri Lanka in a venue less familiar to the home side than the grounds in Colombo and Pallekele, the conditions would take his own side some getting used to as well.

"We know Sri Lanka probably rather be at the R Premadasa Stadium or in Pallekele," he said. "This is new for all three teams [South Africa, being the third team]. We don't know what really to expect. We know we're on a really big field, and with the wind blowing, and we're not really used to that. It will make it tough to score in certain areas."

"Looking at the wicket it doesn't look like it will turn a lot. But we have three spinners who will bowl well even on wickets that don't turn a lot. Sri Lanka will have very good spinners too, but it's not just down to spin. You have to control 90% of the game to come out on top."

Taylor said Zimbabwe had also prepared specifically for Lasith Malinga's bowling, and were confident of defusing the threat he posed. "We've talked about [Malinga] a lot. He's a threat to anyone, really, but he's only human. He can have a good day or a bad day. He's someone we've monitored closely and tried to replicate certain aspects of his bowling in practice sessions. We've all faced him before so he's not too unfamiliar."

Latest News @ Ground:-
ToSS: Zimbabwe has Won the Toss and Choose to Field First

Brendan Taylor hopes to make some early inroads in fresh conditions. He says they are playing two spinners. Mahela Jayawardene doesn't mind batting first. Says runs on the board are always good. Ajnatha Mendis comes back for them. Dilshan Munwaweera makes debut. Keeping in with the honourable Sri Lankan tradition of long names, his Munaweera's initials expand to Eldeniya Medagedara Dilshan Yasika Munaweera.
6.55pm It's a cool evening in Hambantota, which can get really windy at times, especially with no cover around the ground to block the wind. The pitch has a covering of grass on. "Not a green top," says Sanjay Manjrekar, just one with an even bit of green

6.45pm As we wait for the toss, let's just list the fun things we have lined up for you. First making its comeback is Cricinfo Fantasy making a roaring comeback. You still have 15 minutes to register a team. If you do it any later, you will lose out on scoring in the first game.

Apart from that, David Hopps, Abhsihek Purohit and Andrew Fernando will bring you all the news, analysis, features, interviews and everything else from Sri Lanka. There will be a lot of multimedia stuff too, including free live streaming of every match in USA and the Two Chucks

6.30pm We won't have any fancy opening ceremony to declare the games open tonight, but this, the fourth edition of World Twenty20, will open in an hour's time with hosts Sri Lanka taking on Zimbabwe, two sides that used to be at around the same level in early '90s. A big hello and welcome then

This game will be a big test of how popular this tournament will be, being played as it is at one of the more remote cricketing venues in the world

'Favourites despite history of losses in finals' - Jayawardene

South Africa may be the perennial underachievers at major tournaments, but two days after AB de Villiersconfronted the chokers tag head on, the 'C' word was uttered again, this time by Mahela Jayawardene on the eve of his side's first group match. It has been a question thrown to him repeatedly in the lead up to the World Twenty20. Three major finals in five years, yet no trophies. Is there a pattern to Sri Lanka's failures at the final hurdle? Are they simply buckling under pressure?

Based merely on statistics, it might appear that way. In the last five world tournaments, Sri Lanka have been one of the most consistent sides, with a semi-final exit to go with the three sets of runners-up medals. Since 2007, only Pakistan have played four semi-finals. Sri Lanka were talked up as serious contenders from the start in each tournament in which they made it to the final. It suggests they have played well through the tournaments but failed to perform in the finals, none of which have been close. 



Sri Lanka Vs Zimbabwe Latest News

But beyond the numbers, there is truth to the notion that Sri Lanka have simply been outplayed by better sides in the crunch encounters. In 2007, Australia still had Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath in their ranks, and Adam Gilchrist unleashed a furious 149 in Bridgetown. Pakistan surged late in 2009 World Twenty20, and Shahid Afridi shone with the bat after Mohammed Amir and Abdul Razzak had bowled brilliantly. Last year, Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni orchestrated a near-perfect chase. In each of those matches there was no major failing on Sri Lanka's part, no significant dip in performance - they were simply bested by extraordinary cricket from the other team. 



"A lot of people have asked us whether we've choked in the finals," Jayawardene said. "But I'd rather be in that position that getting knocked out in the first round or second round. We're doing some thing pretty good in these big tournaments. We're handling pressure well and getting into those situations where we can win the tournaments."



This time, with the World T20 being played at home, the expectations have been more intense. Already Sri Lanka are being tagged as favourites, perhaps in the absence of any other side that fits the bill better. South Africa may be the best team in the world, but they are yet to win a big tournament; India have a perceived weakness in their bowling attack as Pakistan have in their batting; Australia have hit a low in the rankings; West Indies are unproven against stiff opposition and England have recently been abysmal in the subcontinent. All this has heaped pressure on the hosts, and though the line most often trotted out by captains is that everyone has an equal chance in Twenty20, George Orwell might retort that one side's chances are more equal than the rest. 



While most teams have downplayed their chances and stressed the fickleness of the format, Sri Lanka seem more comfortable with the pressure. "We're one of the favourites. We're part of a pack and if we can get good momentum, we could go all the way," Jayawardene said. "We can't play the hype down because we are playing at home. Sri Lanka is a cricket crazy country and the expectations will be high. We have to accept that."



The first step is entry into the Super Eights, and a victory over Zimbabwe in their first match will go a long way in ensuring that. Sri Lanka may have preferred all their matches to be in more familiar Colombo or Pallekele, but they must deal with a trickier venue in Hambantota, which has hosted low-scorers in the past. 



"The first time we played in Hambantota, it was tough for us on the newly-relaid pitch," Jayawardene said. "The wind is a bit of a factor as well - it can pick up in the afternoon and evenings so you need to adjust for that. We've played a bit of cricket here, so we'll try and make use of this advantage with the conditions."



The World Twenty20 has never been won by its host nation. Over the next three weeks, Jayawardene's men will hope to reverse two trends.

= > G ET  M O R E  O N  C R I C K E T < =

Posted in: Cricket, Sri Lanka Vs Zimbabwe