Sri Lanka overwhelming favourites over Bermuda

Port of Spain, Mar 14 (UNI) Former champions Sri Lanka start overwhelming favourites as they take on minnows Bermuda in the World Cup Group B opening match here tomorrow.

It remains to be seen how Bermuda batsmen will face Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas or bowl against quality batsman like Sanath Jayasuriya.

The best batsmen in the world struggle against the 'doosra' (the second one in Hindi) of Murali, a delivery which turns away from right-handers instead of coming in like in a normal off-break.

Bermuda are making their debut on the biggest one-day stage, especially against a country which claimed the Cup in 1996 and boasts of more than one match-winner in their ranks.

A mismatch is predicted, but Bermuda hope to avoid an embarrassment by just being competitive. Their recent form suggest that they will struggle to test the 1996 winners.

Sri Lanka could not have asked for a better outing to begin their campaign in the mega event and adjust to the conditions before taking on Test-playing nations India and Bangladesh in the remaining two games of the group.

The top two sides will make it to the next Super Eight stage.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene has already said his team's chances in the mega event will depend on how quickly they adjust to the conditions in the Caribbean.

''Playing in the sub-continent or away is not a big factor.

It's a matter of peaking at the right time,'' said the Sri Lankan captain.

''Our prospects in the World Cup will depend on the team getting used to the conditions.'' Sri Lanka have attractive stroke-makers in veteran Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Jayawardene himself, Kumar Sangakkara and Marvan Atapattu, who are likely to feast on an inexperienced Bermudian attack.

The Bermudian batsmen also will not find the going easy against left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas and Muralitharan, who are proven match-winners.

Coached by former West Indies batsman Gus Logie, Bermuda bagged the wooden spoon at the World Cricket League in Kenya recently when they won just one of their five matches.

Their form in the World Cup warm-up games were hardly encouraging as they lost to both England and Zimbabwe.

Led by Irving Romaine, Bermuda have just one professional cricketer in batsman David Hemp who has represented English county Warwickshire and now leads Glamorgan.

They have a tidy left-arm spinner in Dwayne Leverock, who may be carrying extra weight but is known for keeping batsmen silent. He will be tested against a big side this time as Sri Lanka have exciting stroke-makers.

Bermuda also have a fine batsman in Malachi Jones who, at 17, will become one of the youngest to figure in the tournament if he is picked for the first game.

The Teams: Bermuda: Irving Romaine (capt), Dean Minors, Delyone Borden, Lionel Cann, David Hemp, Kevin Hurdle, Malachi Jones, Stefan Kelly, Dwayne Leverock, Saleem Mukuddem, Stephen Outerbridge, Oliver Pitcher, Clay Smith, Janeiro Tucker, Kwame Tucker Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Marvan Atapattu, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chamara Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara UNI HSB PDS GC1748