An All-Stars team containing some of the greatest names in world cricket was beaten in the final of the Hong Kong Sixes yesterday by a team of little-known Sri Lankans.
Over two days of carnival cricket, the All-Stars -- featuring captain Shane Warne, Brian Lara, Glenn McGrath and Anil Kumble -- had produced explosive cricket in the tournament's unique five-overs-an-innings format.
But their run of success came to end when the young Sri Lankans posted 127 for three after five eight-ball overs, a total that proved too much for their illustrious opponents, who made 111 to lose by 16 runs.
Sri Lanka's surprise star was captain Indika De Saram who, under the Sixes' quirky rules, scored 40 in the final after returning to the wicket having earlier retired not out for 32.
Kaushalya Weeraratne (32) and Jeewantha Kulatunga (28) also helped carry the side to their first-ever Hong Kong Sixes victory, which brought with it a winners' cheque of US$100,000.
The weekend saw nine national teams compete against the All-Stars in 21 matches that lasted fewer than 45 minutes each.
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