New Delhi: It took yet another moment of genius from Muttiah Muralitharan, the master of spin, to settle fears that outsiders Zimbabwe could mount a serious challenge to Sri Lanka's innings of 327 in a World Cup game on Thursday.
After a record-setting 282-run first wicket partnership from Tillakaratne Dilshan (144) and Upul Tharanga (133), Sri Lanka looked set to cruise to victory in front of a packed stadium in the central Sri Lankan city of Kandy.
But just like India the day before, Sri Lanka faltered in the face of a 116-run opening Zimbabwe partnership, inspired by an aggressive knock of 80 from Brent Taylor.
Then Muralitharan, in his third over, produced his "doosra" from his bowling armory, bowling a legspinner that looks like an offspinner and confusing batsman Regis Chakabva into playing inside the ball and missing.
It couldn't have happened in a better place, or at a better time. Murali, as he known, was bowling in his home town of Kandy for what is probably going to be the last time.
Work done, the world's leading wicket taker, 38 years old, was able to relax as Zimbabwe tumbled to 188 all out and Sri Lanka advanced to the quarterfinals.
Murali ended with impressive figures of 3-34 from nine overs, even if his analysis was overshadowed by Dilshan's 4-4 to add to his impressive century.
A country away in the Indian city of Bangalore, another veteran, Australian paceman Brett Lee, acknowledged that at 34 years old he is a smarter bowler these days, but still thrives on "seeing the stumps fly."
Lee, described by skipper Ricky Ponting as the glue that holds his pace attack together, is still central to Australia's bid to retain the World Cup.
"I'm still out to bowl fast," he said. "I said about six months ago that if I couldn't hit that 150kph (93mph) mark I wouldn't want to be playing cricket, which is the truth.
"I enjoy the pace, I enjoy seeing the stumps fly," he told reporters as Australia prepared to play Kenya on Sunday.
South African selectors were facing a dilemma: select top wicket-taker Imran Tahir despite his broken thumb or listen to the doctors' advice and rest him for 10 days. Tahir can bowl as the fractured thumb is on his non-bowling hand, but he risks aggravating the injury while batting or fielding.
England batsman Kevin Pietersen may have returned home to have a hernia operation, but some believe that his replacement, Eoin Morgan, may do a better job.
Morgan has proved himself against the handy spinners produced by Bangladesh, while Pietersen has of late become easy prey for slow bowlers, especially legspinners.
England will meet Bangladesh in Chittagong, home to the world's largest ship-breaking yard. Bangladesh, co-hosts of the tournament, is facing what many see as false expectations from a home nation that is demanding success well beyond the abilities of the young, but inexperienced team.
England can effectively clinch a place in the quarterfinals with a third victory from five Group B matches after a mixed bag at the World Cup involving defeat to Ireland but a thrilling tie with India and a low-scoring victory over South Africa.
Resentment at the International Cricket Council's decision to reduce the next World Cup to 10 nations from 14, effectively excluding the ICC Associate nations of Kenya, Ireland, Netherlands and Canada, emerged in the shape of Kenyan batsman Tanmay Mishra.
Mishra, asked to explain Kenya's fall from grace from World Cup semifinalist in 2003 to 2011 strugglers, said in Bangalore that the smaller nations will never get the chance to improve if they don't get regular fixtures against the top teams.
"There's nothing much really to add to that because you can't really play cricket at Associate level and then come up and try to compete against the big boys. It's a challenge as it is," he said.
Ireland captain William Porterfield thinks coach Phil Simmons — a former West Indies all-rounder — may be able to hand over some Caribbean secrets to help the Irish outsiders in their drive for an unexpected quarterfinal spot.
Ireland's preparations have been hindered by a knee injury to veteran seamer Trent Johnston which could prevent him playing against the West Indies in Mohali on Friday.
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