ICC Champions Trophy

Sri Lanka 201-2 (36.1 ovs) beat Pakistan 200 all out (49.4 ovs) Sanath Jayasuriya showed his tremendous batting skill to hit his 13th one-day century as host nation Sri Lanka destroyed Pakistan in the opening Champions Trophy fixture. But that was to be the last success for the touring side, as Jayasuriya (102 not out) and the experienced Aravinda de Silva (66 not out) steered Sri Lanka to victory in the 37th over. Muttiah Muralitharan and Dilhara Fernando had earlier taken three wickets each as Pakistan managed to scrape to 200 with the help of an innings of 52 by Saeed Anwar. Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya has declared himself satisfied with the performance of his players, after beating Pakistan by eight wickets in the opening game of the Champions Trophy. "We wanted to get early wickets," Jayasuriya explained. "The bowlers bowled pretty well and we got three wickets within the first fifteen overs." Jayasuriya admitted that he struggled with his recently dislocated shoulder. "When I played shots it was getting sore. However, I cannot think of my shoulder, I must play for my country," he said staunchly. Captain Waqar Younis lamented his team’s poor performance in all facets of the game, after Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the Champions Trophy on Thursday. "Pretty poor cricket was played by us." Waqar forthrightly admitted. "All over I would say -- not only with the bat, but with the ball as well. We have been losing early wickets and that was what happened today," he added.

Miscellaneous

Heavyweight all-rounder Ian Blackwell plans to follow Andrew Flintoff's example as he bids to force his way into England's World Cup plans. Blackwell, who weighs 17 and a half stone, was called into the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka when Flintoff decided to undergo a hernia operation. "I have grown up with 'Freddie' all through the youth ages. He has always been a bit of a lad, I have got on with him really well. "He has turned his life round and I would like to follow in his footsteps," said Blackwell. English cricket will find out the name of its new leader when the result of a ballot is announced on Friday. Mike Soper and David Morgan are standing for the chairmanship of the England and Wales Cricket Board, which becomes vacant when Lord MacLaurin stands down at the end of the year. Soper, currently chairman of county champions Surrey, wants to improve facilities at county grounds and rid the game of what he believes is an old-fashioned image. Morgan, the favoured candidate of MacLaurin after serving as his deputy, includes making the England team more successful and building a better relationship with the counties among his priorities. MacLaurin decided to step down after six years because of business commitments. Team trainer Jock Campbell said Warne had lost a lot of body fat over the past year which "he no longer has to lug around". On top of that, lower body fat means he's better able to get rid of excess heat because there's less "insulation". "Also he's improved his strength and power which means he hasn't lost any muscle, he's just lost body fat," Campbell added. Being stronger and lighter Warne, who turned 33 today, will be able to bowl for longer periods without distress. "I've lost 10 to 12 kilos," Warne told reporters in Colombo ahead of the Champions Trophy here. "The reason was that I looked at the international schedule and thought `I want to play for another few years - it's a hectic schedule - so I want to be in the best shape I can be'." The secret is cutting out beer, working out twice day and changing his diet.

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