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PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Sri Lanka recorded the second highest victory margin in World Cup history when they crushed debutants Bermuda by 243 runs after skittling them out for 78 in Group B on today.
Only champions Australia have given a team a bigger drubbing in the
one-day showpiece tournament which began in 1975, trouncing Namibia by 256 runs on their way to overall victory in 2003.
The rout will again raise questions of whether such mis-matches have a place in a World Cup with six non-test playing nations taking part in a 16-strong field, the biggest in the nine editions of the event.
Bermuda skipper Irving Romaine was determined to look on the positive side in a news conference. "The experience is amazing for us.
"Playing against Sri Lanka -- we have done well. I have seen them score 400 (Sri Lanka scored the highest one-day total of 443 against Netherlands in 2006).
"We were obviously disappointed with the score but know it is a special day for Bermuda."
The 1996 winners Sri Lanka piled up 321 for six after electing to bat and then reduced Bermuda to 29 for six in the 12th over as the newcomers looked set to notch a Cup low-scoring record in their baptism of fire.
Sri Lanka restricted Canada to 36 all out, the lowest mark, in the 2003 World Cup.
However, number eight Lionel Cann struck a few lusty blows to top score with 28 before Bermuda were all out in 24.4 overs.
DROPPED FIRST
Earlier, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene top-scored with a chancy 85 after he was dropped first ball and on 52. His efforts were enough to secure the man-of-the-match prize.
Bermuda policeman Dwayne Leverock, who weighs 19 stone, dropped the two low chances off Jayawardene, at slip and cover point.
Jaywardene raised 150 runs for the third wicket with wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara, who made 76, before Chamara Silva smashed 55 not out off 45 balls with Sri Lanka punishing an outclassed Bermudan attack.
Sri Lanka paceman Farveez Maharoof then grabbed four for 23 and Lasith Malinga collected three for 10 to give Bermuda no respite after left-arm paceman Chaminda Vaas had struck in the first over of their innings.
Malinga, 23, with bleached, straw-coloured hair and a low-slung bowling action that can unnerve the best of batsmen, removed David Hemp (14) and Bermuda skipper Irving Romaine (0) off successive balls.
Janeiro Tucker survived a close leg before appeal to stave off the hat-trick.
But Murali hammered in the final nail by trapping Leverock lbw to bring a mercifully swift end to Bermuda's debut World Cup appearance.
"It's always good to play good cricket to start off things," said Jayawardene. "For us it was an exercise we wanted to make use of. We wanted to make sure we did the right things so we improved."
- REUTERS