Jayasuriya powers Sri Lanka to win over West Indies
Jayasuriya was in superb form for Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge
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Wednesday, 10, Jun 2009 09:49
Sanath Jayasuriya blasted 81 runs off 47 balls to help Sri Lanka to a 15-run win over the West Indies in their final World Twenty20 group game at Trent Bridge.
Both sides had already sealed their places in the super eight stage, leading the Windies to rest skipper Chris Gayle.
But it was Sri Lanka who went into the next phase of the competition with a 100 per cent record thanks to an outstanding opening partnership between Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan.
The pair put on 124 in the first 12.3 overs, with Dilshan (74) hitting a number of improvised shots over the wicketkeeper's head and playing a couple of switch-hits – one of which went for six.
Although the rest of Sri Lanka's batsmen struggled, their openers had already done enough to set a challenging total of 192-5.
The West Indies made a good start to their innings, thanks in part to a ten-ball over from Isura Udana.
Lendl Simmons made 29 off 19 balls before Muttiah Muralitharan had him caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardene.
Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis put the breaks on the West Indies and they quickly fell behind the run-rate.
Dwayne Bravo did what he could to get his side up to the Sri Lankan total with a swashbuckling 51 that included two sixes but when he was caught off the bowling of Lasith Malinga their challenge ended.
India won the day's other match by eight wickets against Ireland.
The game was reduced to 18 overs a-side after some light rain and Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan quickly reduced Ireland to 17-3.
Ireland's tail, led by Andrew White (29), briefly rallied to help them to 112-8 but that was easily chased down by the defending champions.
Gautam Gambhir (37) and Rohit Sharma (52) shared a partnership of 77 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni added 14 as India reached their target with 4.3 overs remaining.