Sri Lanka enter semis; Jayawardene relishing Australia challenge

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada, April 15, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene says his side's self-belief means they can do what no other team has managed since the 1999 World Cup - beat Australia.







"The next two weeks for us is the showcase time for the whole tournament, and our senior players, who have been in World Cups before, I think that's when you'll see them stand up and start enjoying the tournament for what it is.

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The reigning champions, chasing an unprecedented third successive title, have gone 25 games unbeaten at the World Cup since losing to Pakistan at Headingley eight years ago, a sequence that includes their famous tied semi-final against South Africa in 1999.

Australia's nine-wicket thrashing of Ireland on Friday was their 19th straight World Cup win and meant they became the first team in the Caribbean to qualify for the semi-finals.

New Zealand and Sri Lanka have also joined them in the last four courtesy of the Black Caps' win over South Africa on Saturday.

"I think we have a very good record against Australia," said Jayawardene.

"Why? Because we play our brand of cricket and we are not afraid of doing that.





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But Sri Lanka will still be without Lasith Ma