SA, Sri Lanka target T20 wins

SRI Lanka will target a place in the semifinals in their match against England in Chittagong, as action resumes today after a day’s rest in World Twenty20.

A win would establish Sri Lanka’s position in Group One.

South Africa, in the same group, will also seek an easy win against the Netherlands today.

Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal said his side would not take anything for granted.

“England are a good T20 side and we have special game plans for them but we are never going to underestimate them,” Chandimal, whose team beat SA by five runs in their opening match, said.

They then crushed the Netherlands by nine wickets after demolishing them for 39 all out – the lowest-ever total in Twenty20 internationals.

“To win the first match was important for our team and it is that momentum we carried into the second game and that is very important,” he said.

“We know if we win one of our last two games we can make it to the semifinals, but we are looking to win both.”

England middle-order batsman Ravi Bopara said his team was looking forward to the challenge.

“It is a must-win game for us,” Bopara admitted. “We have to win. Winning against Sri Lanka would be a big thing for us, which would be a big confident boost, and that’s the way we are looking at it.” Bopara said England would be up to the challenge of facing paceman Lasith Malinga.

“It is tough to hit Malinga,” he said of the slinger Malinga, regarded as one of the best death-over bowlers.

“I think the best way to approach him is trying to deflect him past the gaps, and hope to get some bat on it to square. He does a very good slower ball.”

South African paceman Dale Steyn admitted the mood was different after a narrow tworun win over New Zealand.

“I think the camp would have been completely different for us had we lost the game [against New Zealand],” Steyn, who defended seven runs in the last over, said.

“We lost the first and won the second, so its going to be like a win [means] everything from now on.”

Netherlands captain Peter Borren vowed his team would show improvement.

“I look at our top order and we have guys there who can really play and have played at this level and done fine before,” he said. His team remarkably beat much fancied Ireland by chasing 190 in under 14 overs to qualify for Super 10.

“I know this team can play, I believe in this team and I hope we can show that in the next three games.”

Title-holders West Indies beat hosts Bangladesh in Tuesday’s only group two match.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals.

The final will be played in Dhaka on April 6. – AFP