Luke Wright's innings was outstanding. Towards the end, the guys came in and struck the ball really well. It was exciting to see such a brilliant performance from the batters

COLOMBO, Sept 22, 2012 (AFP) - Luke Wright's match-winning 99 not out off 55 balls for England against Afghanistan in the World Twenty20 was warmly greeted by axed team-mate Kevin Pietersen.

"Thrilled for Luke Wright," Pietersen said in a post-match discussion on ESPN-Star Sports, the host broadcaster of the tournament for whom he is working as a studio expert.

"He has been out for ages. He has come back in one of his first games since the last tournament and he has performed."

Pietersen, who was man of the tournament when England won the tournament in 2010 in the Caribbean, has been cast into international exile for disciplinary reasons.

Wright's effort, the best by an England batsman in the World Twenty20, powered the defending champions to an emphatic 116-run win over Afghanistan in a group A match in Colombo on Friday night.

It knocked the minnows out of the tournament and lifted both England and India into the Super Eights round from the group even before they clash in the last league match on Sunday.

With no points carried forward into the next round and the Super Eights groups to be formed on the basis of pre-tournament seedings, both teams will be playing for noth-

Oh! What a circus.

This is how the top rung of the Citadel works. Recently there was a vote to make the most professional game in the country futuristic and go akin with the prevailing international demands. We are aware that in any forum there backtrackers. Yet, at this vote the backtrackers were the President, the two vice presidents and the tournament secretary.

Yet, the reformists won the day and the game has some hope of survival. Ironically this particular move may not go down with the voters and hangers on at the citadel. Is it that the President and his clan have a reform phobia as it may hurt their vote bottom-line at the end of the year?

Rs. 50 for the former Test opener

The former Test opener was almost in tears. The T20 circus is in full throttle. He was also interested in seeing one of the matches. So he made a request to the authorities. The authorities reciprocated by offering him two fifty rupee open stand tickets.

If this is the manner that the authori- ing more than personal glory.

But England captain Stuart Broad said his team will not take the game lightly.

"It is hard to call any international game a dead game," said Broad. "We will be fired up and wanting a win against India. Actually, we need to be at our best if we want to beat India.

"They are a very dangerous opposition. In this format of the game, everything depends on how the team performs on that particular day.

"We need to make sure we have a nice relaxed day on Saturday and turn up fresh and excited for Sunday."

Wright, who may not have been in the side if Pietersen had been around, seized the opportunity by smashing six sixes and eight fours, ties treat our former national heroes then seriously the game of cricket is in the wrong hands.

Got it wrong

The barking CHEE EEE OH had it all mixed up with some simple things at the Junior Ovalball. Wrong Anthem was played not once but twice. Lack of proper balls for the games and the games starting late as the tie coats had to be introduced. Part of the blame has to go to the tie knots of the council whose presence was their importance.

No to tickets

With a key tournament being held in Sri Lanka participants of the event say that they have not been given their quota of tickets. In disgust these players have decided not to accept any tickets from the organisers.

What’s going on?

What were the short skirts doing with the junior balls of the oval type with both foreign and local? One was from the local curd and honey club and the other from Chapathi land. What were they trying to sell as they said we from the ‘es al ar af you’. Poor Lasi had to say ‘I don’t know’. helping England plunder 87 runs in the last five overs.

England's 196-5 after being sent in to bat proved too much for Afghanistan, who folded up for 80 in 17.2 overs under lights at the Premadasa stadium.

Afghanistan were at one stage in danger of falling below the lowest ever total in T20 internationals of 67 by Kenya against Ireland in 2008, when they were reduced to 26-8 in nine overs.

But Gulbodin Naib and tailender Shapoor Zadran provided unexpected resistance by adding 44 for the ninth wicket.

Naib, who came to bat at number eight, scored more than half of his team's runs before he was last man out for 44 off 32 balls that included five fours and three sixes.

"It was a thoroughly professional performance from the guys," said Broad. "It is awesome to start the tournament on a winning note. We batted with maturity.

"Luke Wright's innings was outstanding. Towards the end, the guys came in and struck the ball really well. It was exciting to see such a brilliant performance from the batters."

All’s not well

All is not well at the Champions Park with some trying to find greener pastures. The prezi it seems is not getting on with the manager appointed by the financers to the nation. The coon is stressed out and calls all an effeer…

Encouraging players?

Over now to the Paralympics in London where Sri Lanka bagged a Bronze. The coach of the tennis players played on wheels was seen congratulating the winning Japanese team when he should have been comforting the defeated local team. What’s more he did not speak to the journalists as well. He was heard saying before the event: “I came to encourage the players, not to coach them really.”

It takes a man to do the job

A rugby tournament for women is to be held in Poone, India next month and the masseur for the event is a man! Those who have been following the game are now asking whether it is correct to appoint a man for a women’s team! New Zealand vs Pakistan at Pallekele England vs India at RPICS, Colombo

Zahira vs St. Servatius at Maradana (Ends) Walawa Craftsmen vs Trinco Blue Whales at Udawalawa Wayamba Uni vs Wannappuwa RFC at Wennappuwa Kurunegala Archers vs Rajarata Buffaloes at Anuradhapura

SSC Open at SSC Courts, Colombo Park British School vs Belvoir at 8.00am Lyceum Wattala vs Alethea at 9.30am Asian International vs Gateway Kandy at 2.30pm Royal Institute vs Lyceum Nugegoda at 4.00pm

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