Lanka start campaign is style, crush Bermuda by 243 runs

Port of Spain, Mar 16 (UNI) Former champions Sri Lanka began their hunt to regain the cup in style as they chalked out a comprehensive win, crushing minnows Bermuda by record 243 runs -- the second highest margin in the event's history -- in their opening Group B Cricket World Cup league match here.

It was a total mismatch with the Lankans plundering the Bermuda bowling to pile up 321 for six and then bundling out the debutantes for a paltry 78 runs in 24.4 overs.

The only redeeming feature of the Bermuda innings was that they avoided the humiliation of being bowled out for the lowest total in the World Cup, which at one stage looked a strong possibility as they were tottering at 29 for 6.

The lowest World cup score is 36 which Canada scored also against Sri Lanka at Paarl in South Africa 2003.

Bermuda owed their eventual total to a spirited 28 by lower order batsman Lionel Cann and his 25-run partnership for the eighth wicket with fellow tail-ender Delyone Borden.

Cann in his entertaing knock which lasted 32 balls and 49 minutes hit one six and three boundaries.

For the winners Mahroof took four wickets for 32 runs, Lasith Malinga scalped three for 10 and Murlitharan captured two for 28.

Earier, Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and elected to bat and his openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga gave the Lankans a fiery start racing to 62 in 8.3 overs - close to eight runs per over- before the former champions lost their first wicket.

Bermudans went into a big celebrations when Saleem Mukaddem earned the first wicket for his side in the World Cup as he got rid off master blaster Jayasuriya who was superbly caught by Pitcher.

Both openers made the most of an indifferent opening spell from 31-year old Kevin Hurdle - who sent down a 14-ball over second time up in the course of which he gave away 24 runs including five no-balls and three wides.

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