Cricket Tournaments

The Sri Lankan team has exhibited great form throughout the Men’s T20 World Cup tournament and has remained unbeaten thus far. However, after what happened to South Africa yesterday nothing can be ruled out from this spicy encounter, which pits the Lankan lions against the Windies warriors. In the group stages both the teams have already faced each other and can clearly imagine what is in store for them when they meet again in this crucial semifinal encounter. Sri Lanka got the better of the West Indies team in the group stages, which will give them that crucial edge in this match. However, the Windies have never looked back from that defeat as they got the better of India and England to reach the semifinals.

The West Indies started the tournament by notching a great win over the Aussies to put a nail in their coffin before they were stopped by the Lankan lions, who notched up a convincing victory against them. The South African team added insult to injury as they comfortably beat West Indies in a Super 8 game to leave them in a spot of bother. Since then this Windies team has shown strength and character with the help of their players like Bravo, Gayle, Simmons, Taylor, Sarwan, and Chanderpaul to get the better of India and England while making it to the semifinals. West Indies are no longer a one-man show of Chris Gayle, they are now a solid unit of players who can put in performance and win against any opposition they face. Things have changed a lot since they met the Lankan lions in the group stages.

However, Sri Lanka is not bothered by the sudden return of form of the West Indian players. The Lankan players are in the best form of their life and hungry for success. Since their 1996 World Cup win the Sri Lankans have not achieved much success in International cricket. Perhaps the time is once again in their favor to achieve glory for the second time. Sri Lankan players like Dilshan, Jayawardena, Sangakara, and Jayasuriya are in prime batting form whereas the 4 M combination of Mendis, Murali, Matthews, and Malinga form a very potent bowling attack that can rip open any batting line up and tear it to shreds. The Sri Lankans have the necessary armory in place to blow up any opposition they face.

The result will only be known after the match ends but it will surely be an encounter that will keep worldwide cricket audiences glued to their TV sets. Certain factors like Gayle factor, Bravo factor, the unknown Sarwan and Chanderpaul factor, and short ball factor will keep the Sri Lankan’s on their toes. If any of these factors click then West Indies will run away with the match. However, if these factors fail miserably then do not expect any mercy from the Lankan lions because they know what is best for them and they know how to win.

A clinical performance from Sri Lanka ensured that they beat New Zealand by 48 runs in a decisive Super 8 game of the Men’s T20 World Cup. The Sri Lankan lions stormed into the semifinals of the competition with a thumping win over the Kiwis. This victory sets up an interesting semi final line up, where Sri Lanka takes on the West Indies, for a place in the summit clash of the competition. With both the teams displaying good form, it remains to be seen as to who has the last say in this match.

Winning the toss, the Sri Lankan captain did not have any hesitation to bat first. However, things started to look a bit shaky when they lost Sanath Jayasuriya in the very first over. The Kiwi pacers then got the better of Chamara Silva to put Sri Lanka in a precarious position. The whole innings was resurrected by the experienced Sangakara who scored 35 runs and Dilshan who scored 48 before Vettori picked both of them. By then, the Sri Lankans were on track towards registering a challenging total for the Kiwis. The other notable contribution came from Jayawardane who took the Kiwi bowlers to the cleaners as Sri Lanka posted a score of 158 runs. The best bowler for New Zealand was Daniel Vettori, picking up two important wickets when Sri Lanka was looking to run away with the match.

Chasing a target of 159 in a do or die encounter, the Kiwis got of to a brilliant start as Aaron Redmond hit Jayasuriya for three fours and a six in the second over of the New Zealand innings. It was looking as if the Kiwis would end up having the last laugh for the day. However, the departure of Brendon McCullum and Redmond in quick succession halted the Kiwi run chase. Martin Guptill carried on with the fight and gave some hopes of victory to the Kiwi bench, before the trickery of Mendis caught the Kiwi batsman off guard.

The departure of Taylor in the ninth over of the Kiwi innings led to a mini collapse orchestrated by Mendis, as Sri Lanka took charge of the match. The Sri Lankan bowlers then ensured that there would be no let up, as Kiwi wickets fell in regular intervals. The Kiwi tail did not have the sufficient skills to wag this time round and the Lankan lions got a thumping victory in the match. With this result, the other team in the group and last years loosing finalist Pakistan, heaved a sigh of relief as they qualified for the Semi Finals as group runners up. They will take on the South African’s in an interesting Semi Final battle.