WI want to keep winning momentum intact

Lara says his side would not take the foot off the gas and would go all out for a win against Lanka.

West Indian captain Brian Lara on Wednesday said his side would not take the foot off the gas and would go all out for a win when they take on Sri Lanka in the final qualifying game of the Champions Trophy.

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The Windies ensured their passage to the tournament proper with a comprehensive 10-wicket win against Bangladesh today, but Lara said there was "no room for experiment" as he wanted his team to finish on top after the qualifying stage.

"It is an important game (against Sri Lanka). The win is important because we would like to finish as the number one team," said Lara.

"We want to continue the momentum. No team likes to go to the next stage of a touranment with a loss, and three in a row would be nice.

"We want to field the best eleven, there is no room for experimentation... Hopefully we can come back here for the semifinals."

Lara was concerned more with the fitness than the form of his players, four of whom had been laid down by a viral fever so far.

"It definitely is a concern. It started with (Ramnaresh) Sarwan and then Runako Morton and Dwayne Smith, and now Fidel Edwards. There has not been a day when someone in the team was not ill," he said. More