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Monday, September 10, 2012

Sangakkara and Kulasekara boost Sri Lanka hopes

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara and fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara are winning their battle to be fit for this month's Twenty20 World Cup on home soil.

The 34-year-old Sangakkara is recovering from a broken finger while Kulasekara, 30, has been troubled by a groin strain.

Sri Lanka's cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene speaks to reporters at a World Twenty 20 captains' news conference ahead of the World Twenty 20 cricket series in Colombo, September 10, 2012. REUTERS/Stringer

"Kumar is fine," captain Mahela Jayawardene told reporters on Monday. "He has been asking our coaches for extra net sessions and is coming along very nicely.

"Nuwan has been bowling at 80 to 90 percent during the last couple of weeks and next week we will let him push himself even further."

Sri Lanka open the tournament with a match against Group C rivals Zimbabwe at Hambantota on Sept 18 and then play South Africa at the same venue four days later.

"We have played at Hambantota before and the wind there presents some challenges," Jayawardene said.

"But it is the same for the other teams as well. With the experience we have we should see how we can use it to our advantage."

The top two in the three-team group will advance to the Super Eight stage.

(Writing by Shihar Aneez; editing by Tony Jimenez)

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