World Cup Cocktail

Sri Lanka fast bowler Suranga Lakmal was fined Sunday for firing two successive beamers at England's Jos Buttler, an action for which he showed "no remorse", the International Cricket Council said.

The incident happened in the 50th and final over of England's innings in their World Cup clash when Lakmal bowled a second consecutive high, full pitched ball to Buttler, after being given a first and final warning by on-field umpire Rod Tucker earlier during the same over

Lakmal was stopped from bowling at Wellington's Westpace Stadium and reported to the match referee David Boon for dangerous and unfair bowling.

He was also fined 30 percent of his match fee after pleading guilty to breaching rules that relate to "conduct contrary to the spirit of the game".

"While making my decision, I took into account that it is was dangerous and unfair bowling, there were no mitigating circumstances, and there was no remorse from the bowler," said former Australia batsman Boon.

Sri Lanka won the match by nine wickets, although Lakmal ended with expensive figures of one for 71 from 7.4 overs.

Worst review in the history of cricket?

Sri Lanka have made a bid for the worst review of all time in their World Cup match against England.

The two countries faced off in Wellington on Sunday, with England posting 309 thanks in large part to a century from Joe Root.

But it could be argued that Root's 121 off 108 balls (he was dropped on two), and Rangana Herath's hand injury after spilling a cracking caught and bowled chance off Jos Buttler, were not the main talking points of the innings.

That honour could well go to the review, called for after Suranga Lakmal sent in a full toss to Joe Root in the 39th over. As Root failed in his attempt to flick it away, the ball crashed into the batman's leg and he and James Taylor ran a single, forcing a dive from Root that halted play.

"Seems as if there's a review here for lbw. That's ... optimistic," commentator David Lloyd said.

Replays showed that Lakmal's foot being behind the line was the only positive thing to come from the Sri Lankans' review. Root's leg was well outside leg stump, and the ball was angling away as it hit.

"That is the worst I've seen," Lloyd said.

The review sparked conversation on Twitter, with most bewildered that Sri Lanka even bothered.

'Popeye' McCullum gets all-clear

New Zealand are confident that captain Brendon McCullum will be fit for next Sunday's World Cup clash against Afghanistan despite taking a nasty blow on his left arm from Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson.

McCullum hit a quickfire 50 in Saturday's tension-packed one-wicket win over the four-time champions at Eden Park, but needed lengthy treatment on his swollen forearm.

However, coach Mike Hesson expects McCullum to be fit for the remainder of the pool stage matches even though the Black Caps have already made sure of their place in the quarter-finals.

"It's pretty swollen at the moment, he looks a bit like Popeye," Hesson said on Sunday. "We'll make another assessment in a day or so, but all signs are that he will be fine."   --Compiled