Atapattu, Ranatunga to Sri Lanka's rescue

Associated Press

SOUTHAMPTON, May 30: Defending titlist Sri Lanka has no chance of clinching back-to-back World Cups but was aiming to finish the tournament on a winning note after scoring 275 for eight against minnows Kenya in an inconsequential Group A match today.

After being sent into bat, Sri Lankan openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama got the 1996 champions away to a good start by racing to 72 before Thomas Odoyo struck back with two quick wickets.

Jayasuriya scored 39 before he was adjudged leg-before-wicket to Odoyo. The Kenyan fast bowler bowled Mahanama (21) in the next over.

A 104-run partnership between Marvan Atapattu and skipper Arjuna Ranatunga put Sri Lanka back on track, taking the total to 191, before Kenya responded with four quick wickets.

Ranatunga belted 50 before he was run out in the 40th over. Atapattu notched 52 before he was caught by Otieno off Angara.

Kenya's reply was delayed by rain which began during the latter stages of the Sri Lanka innings, when reports last camein.

Group B: Sri Lanka vs Kenya

Sri Lanka R B 4/6

Jayasuriya lbw b Odoyo 39 50 5/1

Mahanama b Odoyo 21 45 2/0

Atapattu c Otieno b Angara 48 62 3/0

de Silva c Chudasama b Odoyo 10 19 2/0

Ranatunga run out (Angara) 55 66 4/0

Chandana c Otieno b Kamande 0 1 0/0

Jayawardene c Shah b MA Suji 45 33 7/0

Kaluwitharana c Chudasama b Angara 3 5 0/0

Vaas not out 29 22 1/2

Wickramasinghe not out 0 0 0/0

Extras (lb6, w14, nb5) 25

Total (8 wickets, 50 overs) 275

Fall of wickets: 1-72 (Jayasuriya, 14.6 ov), 2-74 (Mahanama, 16.2 ov), 3-87 (de Silva, 20.3 ov), 4-191 (Ranatunga, 39.3 ov), 5-191 (Chandana, 39.4 ov), 6-199 (Atapattu, 40.5 ov), 7-209 (Kaluwitharana, 42.2 ov), 8-273 (Jayawardene, 49.5 ov).

Bowling: MA Suji 9 1 58 1 (2nb, 2w); Angara 10 0 50 2 (1nb, 1w); Odoyo 10 2 56 3 (1nb, 1w); Aasif Karim 10 0 35 0 (1nb); Kamande 9 0 51 1 (3w); Odumbe 2 0 18 0 (1w).

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