Sri Lanka roar to maiden World Twenty20 glory
Sangakkara leads team to victory with his last unbeaten 52-run stand against India in the final.
Kumar Sangakkara played the knock of his life to lead Sri Lanka to a memorable World Twenty20 victory against India as they become the fifth nation to win the title. PHOTO: AFP
DHAKA:
Kumar Sangakkara hit a memorable half-century to help Sri Lanka to a six-wicket victory over India in the World Twenty20 final in Dhaka on Sunday.
The veteran left-hander knocked a 35-ball 52 (not out) in his last T20 match and anchored the chase with six boundaries and a six in his unbeaten knock.
The victory gave Sri Lanka their first world title in 18 years since winning the World Cup (50 overs) crown in 1996 and also broke Sri Lanka’s jinx of losing the final of major world level events. The side had lost two World Cup (50 overs) finals (2007 and 2011) and were runners-up in as many World Twenty20 events in 2009 and 2012.
“It’s been a long time coming, we’ve waited five finals,” said Sangakkara, who was captain in the 2009 World Twenty20 and 2011 World Cup, but will now quit Twenty20 along with Mahela Jayawardene.
“I am pretty happy that I was able to do something for the team. It means a lot to all of us. We are very humbled by this.”
India won the inaugural edition in 2007 followed by Pakistan (2009), England (2010) and the West Indies (2012).
In contrast India were denied a chance to become the first team ever to hold three major cricketing titles at one time, after clinching the 2011 World Cup title and the Champions Trophy last year.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was full of praise for Sri Lanka.
“It was a perfect game for them,” said Dhoni. “In the middle overs our batsmen tried our best, but we couldn’t convert the good start.
“We were short of a few runs but Virat has been brilliant,” said Dhoni of Kohli, declared player of the tournament.
Earlier, after India were sent into bat in a match reduced by 40 minutes due to rain.
They were reduced to 130 for four by some tight Sri Lankan bowling despite a brilliant half-century by Kohli, whose 58-ball 77 was his eighth T20 half-century (and fourth of this tournament).
Kohli added 60 for the second wicket with Rohit Sharma (29) and another 55 for the third with Yuvraj Singh who slowed down the tempo with a snail-paced 11 off 21 balls.
Sharma hit three boundaries during his 26-ball knock before he was caught off Herath who finished with 1-23 in his four overs.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse telephoned his team in Dhaka to congratulate them for their biggest cricket win since the 1996 World Cup, his office said.
“A short while ago, the president spoke to the team and officials and congratulated them,” said an official.
Sri Lanka went into the game with the offer of a million dollar bonus if they shed their reputation as chokers in the final against India.
FACT BOX
Highest Total
South Africa (196) v England
Highest Individual Score
Alex Hales, England (116*)
Most Sixes
Stephan Myburgh, Netherlands (13)
Most Wickets
Imran Tahir, South Africa (12)
Best Bowling Figures
Rangana Herath (5-3 in 3.3 overs)
Largest Victory
West Indies (84 runs) v Pakistan
Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2014.
Kumar Sangakkara hit a memorable half-century to help Sri Lanka to a six-wicket victory over India in the World Twenty20 final in Dhaka on Sunday.
The veteran left-hander knocked a 35-ball 52 (not out) in his last T20 match and anchored the chase with six boundaries and a six in his unbeaten knock.
The victory gave Sri Lanka their first world title in 18 years since winning the World Cup (50 overs) crown in 1996 and also broke Sri Lanka’s jinx of losing the final of major world level events. The side had lost two World Cup (50 overs) finals (2007 and 2011) and were runners-up in as many World Twenty20 events in 2009 and 2012.
“It’s been a long time coming, we’ve waited five finals,” said Sangakkara, who was captain in the 2009 World Twenty20 and 2011 World Cup, but will now quit Twenty20 along with Mahela Jayawardene.
“I am pretty happy that I was able to do something for the team. It means a lot to all of us. We are very humbled by this.”
India won the inaugural edition in 2007 followed by Pakistan (2009), England (2010) and the West Indies (2012).
In contrast India were denied a chance to become the first team ever to hold three major cricketing titles at one time, after clinching the 2011 World Cup title and the Champions Trophy last year.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was full of praise for Sri Lanka.
“It was a perfect game for them,” said Dhoni. “In the middle overs our batsmen tried our best, but we couldn’t convert the good start.
“We were short of a few runs but Virat has been brilliant,” said Dhoni of Kohli, declared player of the tournament.
Earlier, after India were sent into bat in a match reduced by 40 minutes due to rain.
They were reduced to 130 for four by some tight Sri Lankan bowling despite a brilliant half-century by Kohli, whose 58-ball 77 was his eighth T20 half-century (and fourth of this tournament).
Kohli added 60 for the second wicket with Rohit Sharma (29) and another 55 for the third with Yuvraj Singh who slowed down the tempo with a snail-paced 11 off 21 balls.
Sharma hit three boundaries during his 26-ball knock before he was caught off Herath who finished with 1-23 in his four overs.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse telephoned his team in Dhaka to congratulate them for their biggest cricket win since the 1996 World Cup, his office said.
“A short while ago, the president spoke to the team and officials and congratulated them,” said an official.
Sri Lanka went into the game with the offer of a million dollar bonus if they shed their reputation as chokers in the final against India.
FACT BOX
Highest Total
South Africa (196) v England
Highest Individual Score
Alex Hales, England (116*)
Most Sixes
Stephan Myburgh, Netherlands (13)
Most Wickets
Imran Tahir, South Africa (12)
Best Bowling Figures
Rangana Herath (5-3 in 3.3 overs)
Largest Victory
West Indies (84 runs) v Pakistan
Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2014.