Sri Lanka soar into T20 final
TM Dilshan's 96 not out was the highest score in this year's World Twenty20
Also In The News
|
Shahid Afridi hit 51 runs and took two wickets in a brilliant performance as Pakistan beat South Africa by seven runs to advance into the final of the World Twenty20, reports Richard James from Trent Bridge. |  |
Friday, 19, Jun 2009 11:10
Sri Lanka have romped into the final of the World Twenty20 after thrashing the West Indies by 57 runs, writes inthenews.co.uk's Alistair Potter at the Oval.
TM Dilshan scored a brilliant unbeaten 96 off just 57 balls to lead his side to a decent total of 158-5.
Then Angelo Mathews bowled three batsmen in the first over of the second innings - sending the Caribbean side spiraling towards a heavy defeat.
Only West Indian captain Chris Gayle saved any face from a feeble batting display from his side, as he was left stranded at the crease on 63 off 50 balls. None of his team-mates even reached double figures.
Sri Lanka started well with Dilshan looking in imperious form - much as he has throughout this tournament.
At the other end Jayasuriya seemed short of his usual effortless movement and fluid strokeplay at the crease, and his frequent change of bat - which happened three times in total - wasn't helping his cause.
The Sri Lankans were scoring quickly and keeping wickets in hand, reaching 73 by the start of the 11th over.
However, when Jayasuriya (24) was out to the third ball after the halfway mark, caught by Jerome Taylor off Dwayne Bravo, wickets started to tumble.
Kumar Sangakkara (0) went for a duck before Mahela Jayawardene (2) followed him back to the dugout soon afterwards.
But despite wickets falling, Dilshan kept his head and batted through until the end, helped by useful cameos from Chamara Silva (11) and Angelo Mathews (12).
Mathews became a real hero with the ball, though - taking the wickets of Xavier Marshall (0), Lendl Simmons (0) and Bravo inside the first over, reducing the chasing side to 1-3 after six balls.
With this jumpstart, Sri Lanka were all over the field exuding energy and West Indies never got going.
Gayle wowed the crowd with his usual power-hitting strokeplay but it was all in vain as his team-mates failed to back him up in any way whatsoever.
Chanderpaul made seven before being trapped in front by Ajantha Mendis and Ramnaresh Sarwan (5), Kieron Pollard (3), Dinesh Ramdin (9), Taylor (2), Darren Sammy (1), and Benn (0) fared little better against the onslaught.
The most depressing stat from the West Indian point of view was that the extras column (11) scored highest, aside from Gayle's consummate half-century.
The result means Sri Lanka deservedly seal a final spot against Pakistan, who disposed of South Africa at Trent Bridge last night.