Sport - Cricket

So nearly the hero

ST. JOHN'S: Ravi Bopara's selection had been questioned before Wednesday's World Cup Super Eight clash with Sri Lanka but the England player silenced his doubters with a knock that so nearly clinched victory.

Despite the late drama, Bopara said he felt calm in the middle. "I don't get too emotional about the situation," he told a news conference. "I just went out there and tried to play normally. I'm gutted we didn't get over the line."

Bopara, who has only amassed five one-day caps, was a surprise pick in England's World Cup squad as an exciting all-rounder.

Bopara's innings though has shown he can be a battler down the order late on, a point reaffirmed by his gamble to go for the win at the end instead of settling for a tie with a clip through a gap for two.

"If you go for a tie you could end up losing, if you go for a win you could end up tying so I was going for the win," he said.

Bopara also displayed maturity by refusing to criticise Dilhara Fernando for stopping his run-up on the last ball, as if to put the England man off. — Reuters

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