Sports

HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka, (Reuters) – Mahela Jayawardene  smashed an 80-ball century, the fastest by a Sri Lankan in the  World Cup, to set up a 210-run victory over Canada yesterday in  Group A.

CHENNAI, (Reuters) – New Zealand thumped Kenya by 10  wickets in a lop-sided Group A match of the World Cup yesterday  that appears to justify bids to trim the 2015 edition of the  showpiece event by leaving out the whipping boys.

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Three betting syndicates were  broken and eight arrests made in a crackdown on illegal gambling  on the Cricket World Cup, New Delhi police said yesterday.

DHAKA, (Reuters) – Bangladesh, battered in their  opening World Cup match by India, can bounce back by beating  either England or the West Indies in Group B, according to  former skipper Habibul Bashar.

The first ball of this year’s Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) 10/10 softball cricket competition was bowled yesterday morning at the Everest Cricket Club Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Plaisance Secondary School put forth a terrific performance against Queen’s College to make it into the semi-final round of the St.

Junior tennis players Aretta Dey, Nicola Ramdyhan, Daniel Lopes and Judah Stephney have been selected by the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) to attend the World Junior Tennis pre-qualifying  competition in Santo Domingo from March 14 – 19.

Boxers, present and past, replaced their fight apparel and donned tailor-made suits, elegant dresses and matching accessories on Friday evening at the Georgetown Club when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control held its first ever awards ceremony.

DHAKA, (Reuters) – Favourites India launched the World Cup with fireworks from Virender Sehwag and the expected opening day big victory over their co-hosts and neighbours yesterday but Bangladesh will surely rue their lack of ambition.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Level One Coaching and Accreditation programme organized by the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) got underway yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Mervin Matthew bowled Windward Islands to the verge of a victory over Guyana in the WICB Regional first-class championship yesterday.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Jamaica scalped the key wickets of Ryan Hinds and Kraigg Brathwaite in the final session to fight their way back against Barbados in the WICB Regional first-class championship yesterday.

NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Tonito Willett’s 51 and stubborn lower-order resistance failed to stop Combined Campuses & Colleges from claiming first innings points over Leeward lslands in the WICB Regional first-class championship yesterday.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Rain prevented Trinidad & Tobago from making progress against England Lions in the WICB Regional first-class championship yesterday.

As galling as it may be, it is impossible to quibble with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) positioning of the West Indies as ninth among the 14 contestants in the 10th World Cup that began yesterday with India confirming their rank as favourites with their comfortable, high-scoring, away victory over co-host Bangladesh.

Centuries from Ricky Deonarain and Tulshi Sahadeo enabled Floodlight XI to a 137 run win over Shattaville when the Stag Beer and El Dorado Rum softball competition continued at various venues on Wednesday.

DHAKA, (Reuters) – Opener Virender Sehwag ignored an injury to smash 175 and set up a massive 87-run win for India in the opening match of the World Cup against co-hosts Bangladesh yesterday.

Guyanese import David Dick was in fine all-round form as Sweet Revenge gained a victory over Invincible in the North Zonal Cricket Council limited overs series in Trinidad recently.

COLOMBO, (Reuters) – Joint hosts Sri Lanka will be venturing into the unknown in every way despite “home advantage” when they meet Canada in their World Cup opener at Hambantota today.

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – India’s startling first-round  exit at the last World Cup is still regarded as one of the greatest shocks in cricket and a fired-up Virender Sehwag wants to make Bangladesh pay for eliminating them four years ago.