World T20: Sri Lanka not taking England lightly

Teams up against each other in World Twenty20 today.

CHITTAGONG: Sri Lanka will target a place in the semis in their match against England in Chittagong, as action resumes after a day’s rest in World Twenty20 on Thursday.

A win will establish Sri Lanka’s position in Group One. In the same group, South Africa will also seek an easy win against the Netherlands, on Thursday.

However, Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal said his side will not take anything for granted.“England are a good Twenty20 side and we have special game plans for them, but we are never going to underestimate them,” said Chandimal.

“We know if we win one of our last two games we can make it to the semi-finals, but we are looking to win both.”
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England’s middle-order batsman Ravi Bopara said his team is looking forward to the challenge.

“It is a must-win game for us,” admitted Bopara. “We have to win; a victory against Sri Lanka would be a big confident boost for us.”

Bopara said England will be up to the challenge of facing paceman Lasith Malinga.

“I think the best way to approach him [Malinga] is trying to deflect him past the gaps, and hope to get some bat on it to square. He bowls an excellent slower delivery.”

Steyn confident of win over Netherlands

South African pace man Dale Steyn admitted the team’s mood was different after a narrow two-run win over New Zealand.

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

“We lost the first match and won the second, so it looks like we’ll win this one.”

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Meanwhile, the Netherlands captain Peter Borren vowed his team will 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,” said Borren, whose 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.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2014.

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