ICC Champions Trophy Group B, Centurion:
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**By Mark Mitchener **
SRI LANKA INNINGS
1st over - SL 6-0
Sri Lanka have played a lot of ODIs recently, including a tri-series with New Zealand and India - and the in-form Dilshan begins proceedings with a firm cover-driven four. A single brings the veteran Jayasuriya on strike - he has a large plaster across the v-neck of his shirt, and prods a single to third man.1328: Dale Steyn to take the new ball for the hosts. Sri Lanka are opening up with Tillakaratne Dilshan, ready to “Dilscoop” the ball over the keeper’s head at a moment’s notice, and the seemingly ageless Sanath Jayasuriya, who’s into his fifth decade. Umpires are Australia’s Simon Taufel and England’s Ian Gould - let the contest begin.1326: Teams out on the field at Centurion for national anthems.1325: Even though this is a mini-tournament with 15 games to dash through in a fortnight, there’s another important nettle to grasp. Although there are only two groups, I’m pretty sure we have to designate one as the “Group of Death”. So, is it Group A, with three strong teams (Australia, India and Pakistan) and a side I recently saw describes as the “West Indies Volunteers XI”, or Group B, with South Africa and Sri Lanka, along with New Zealand and some team who’s just been beaten 6-1 in an ODI seriesFrom Paul in Lancs, TMS inbox: "I’m so relieved that there’s some proper cricket coming up, however one-day like. Following the Eng-Aus stuff has been like reading the Barchester Chronicles while waiting for the Thackeray to arrive in the post. And then there’s the test series to come - EM Forster at last"1319: Just a quick advisory - I’m afraid there’s no Test Match Special for this tournament. There will be updates every 15 minutes during England’s games on BBC Radio 5 live, while we’ll be bringing you text commentaries on selected games - this one, all England’s games, India v Pakistan, and the semi-finals and final. But it means we need you to get involved more than ever before - e-mail [email protected] (with “For Mark Mitchener” in the subject line), text 81111 (with “CRICKET” as the first word, so it doesn’t get mixed up with football, F1 or Radio 1), or use606.](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A57436824)
1315: Here are the full teams:South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher (wk), Albie Morkel, Roelof van der Merwe, Johan Botha, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn.Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (capt & wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Thilina Kandamby, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis.1308: South Africa are playing two spinners, Roelof van der Merwe and Johan Botha, so that tells us the pitch should take spin. That will suit their opponents, who after all have the genius Muttiah Muralitharan and his protege Ajantha Mendis in their side.
1305: South Africa’s Graeme Smith wins the toss and puts Sri Lanka in first. He fancies his chances of chasing down a target.1300: Afternoon, everyone - and a very warm welcome to the ICC Champions Trophy 2009. With the organisers hoping to sprinkle a little magic from the two successful World Twenty20 tournaments in the last two years - while minimising the slow, drawn-out atmosphere that pervaded the 2007 World Cup.
So, we have 15 games of 50-over one-day international cricket over the next fortnight, contested by what should be the elite eight ODI teams. “Should” being the operative word, as West Indies’ continuing player dispute means they’ve brought another patched-up squad - but we can still expect some keenly-fought encounters. Such as today’s opening morsel - hosts South Africa against Sri LankaThis article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.