 Sri Lanka were hit by a huge injury blow when their ace off-spin bowler, Muthiah Muralitharan was ruled out of the ICC World T20 tournament due to a groin
injury. Muralitharan has been advised for two to three weeks, and it remains to
be seen whether or not he participates in the three match T20I series against
New Zealand which will be played in the USA.
Muralitharan is the vice-captain of the side, which played their first game of
the World T20 against New Zealand at Guyana. New Zealand went on to beat Sri Lanka in that opening encounter of the tournament, which meant that they will
now play their second game against Zimbabwe as a do or die encounter.
Team physiotherapist Tommy Simsek said in a statement released by Sri Lanka
Cricket in Colombo, "Clinical tests revealed a grade one strain of his
right adductor muscle."
Amongst some of the other results that have taken place so far, India
became the first time to qualify for the second round of the tournament as they
beat Afghanistan and South Africa in their league games. While, they were expected
to beat Afghanistan, the match against South Africa was supposed to give them
some trouble.
However, Suresh Raina scored a smashing century in the match off only
59 balls to guide his side to a win over the South Africans. India scored more
than 180 when, at one stage, it did not look like they would even get to 150.
This meant that the bowlers had a good buffer to bowl at and restricted the
opposition to ensure a 22 run win for their side.
Pakistan also completed their league engagements, with a win over Bangladesh
but went on to lose to Australia. Against Bangladesh, Pakistan plundered more
than 170 thanks to 73 each by Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt and despite
some exhilarating batting by Mohammad Ashraful, who scored a half century, and
Shakib al Hasan's knock, the side fell 22 runs short.
However, Pakistan met their match in their second game of the tournament, when
they faced Australia. The Aussies batted first and smashed 191 in the 20 overs,
but the highlight of the innings was the last over of the innings, in which
the side lost five wickets without scoring a single run.
Mohammad Aamer scalped three of those wickets and there were two others which
ended in run-out. In reply, Pakistan lost quick wickets and were never
in the hunt, as Watson won the man of the match with his 81.
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