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Sangakkara targets sweep to victory

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-03-07 08:00

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara insisted that the loss of another point in Saturday's washout against Australia will not damage its World Cup dream.

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

Pakistan, with a perfect six points from three matches, leads the way in Group A from where the top four teams qualify for the quarterfinals.

"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 the quarters)."

Sangakkara said Sri Lanka, the 1996 champion, needed to win its 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 rained 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 Sangakkara.

Agence France-Presse