Sangakkara targets sweep to victory

Monday, 7 March 2011 00:14 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Colombo (AFP): Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara insisted that the loss of another point in Saturday’s washout against Australia will not damage their World Cup dream.

Sri Lanka had already been beaten by Pakistan before facing the defending champions and now have five points from four games, the same tally as Australia who have played a game less.

Pakistan, with a perfect six points from three matches, lead the way in Group A from where the top four teams qualify for the quarter-finals.

“One point is better than no point,” said Sangakkara after his team won the toss and had reached 146-3 in 32.5 overs before rain halted play at the R. Premadasa stadium on Saturday.

“It doesn’t matter as long as you qualify (for quarters).”

Sangakkara said Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions, needed to win their two remaining group games against Zimbabwe and New Zealand.

“If you lose a game, you lose a game; if you win, you win. That’s how we look at it, so it doesn’t really matter where you finish,” said Sangakkara.

“We need to beat every single good team to get into the final and to win the World Cup, so that’s where we are at the moment and the defeat against Pakistan is behind us,” said Sangakkara of the narrow 11-run loss last week.

Sangakkara, whose 73 not out had led his team’s recovery after being 75-3, said his team was in the game when rain spoiled a potentially good match.

“The game was really well-poised, 18 overs to go and we were realistically looking at anything close to 250 or, maybe, even slightly above, it could have been a great game of cricket had it continued,” said the Sri Lankan captain.

The Australian pace duo of Brett Lee and Shaun Tait had removed Tillakaratne Dilshan (four) and Upul Tharanga (six) before Mahela Jayawardene (23) was run out.

Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera (34 not out) had added 71 for the fourth wicket before the match was abandoned, leaving a sell-out 35,000 crowd disappointed.