SRI LANKA IN WORLD T-20s

by Rex Clementine

The World T-20 is just two days away and today we take a look at Sri Lanka’s past performances in the three editions held before. Sri Lanka’s best performance so far in World T-20s is reaching the finals in England when the event was held in 2009. In 2010 they were knocked out of the semi-finals by eventual champions England.

2007 South Africa

In the 12 nation competition, Sri Lanka were pooled alongside New Zealand and Kenya in Group ‘C’ and were captained by Mahela Jayawardene. Their first game was against Kenya at Wanderers in Jo’burg and went onto post a massive 260 batting first. Incidentally with that Sri Lanka went onto own the highest totals in all three formats of the game. In reply, Kenya were shot out for 88 runs. Sanath Jayasuriya smashed a half-century off 30 balls while Mahela Jayawardene needed just 22 balls for his half-century. Sri Lanka won the next game too against New Zealand by seven wickets, but from thereon, their form nosedived.

They only managed to win against Bangladesh and suffered defeats at the hands of Australia and Pakistan and failed to make it to the semi-finals.

2009 England

Sri Lanka’s best effort in World T-20s was in England and it ended in disappointment as they lost the final at Lord’s. Led by Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lankans were the side to watch in the tournament as they maintained an unbeaten run leading up to the finals.

What stood Sri Lanka in good stead was the variation in their bowling and the form of opener Tillekeratne Dilshan, who went onto win the Player of the Tournament award.  Dilshan also came up with a new method of scoring in the tournament with the scoop shot over the wicketkeeper earning the nickname ‘Dilscoop’.

Despite losing the final, at the end of the tournament four Sri Lankans were named in the official World XI with Sangakkara, Dilshan, Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga earning places. Dilshan’s form was simply superb as he smashed 317 runs at 57.

Sri Lanka’s opponents in their group were West Indies and Australia. They cruised past both opponents with convincing wins. Then they beat Ireland, Pakistan and New Zealand in the second round and smashed West Indies by 57 runs in the semi-final to qualify for the Lord’s final.

Dilshan fell for a duck as his attempted scoop shot brought his downfall and Sri Lanka never recovered posting just 138 runs.

2010 West Indies

Sri Lanka’s campaign got underway in the Caribbean with a defeat to New Zealand, but they beat Zimbabwe in the next game to proceed to round two. There they beat West Indies but lost to Australia making the last game against India a must win one. It was a game where Chamara Kapugedara’s talents surfaced. After India posted 163 for five in 20 overs the game was evenly poised and in the last over Kapugedara hit a six to bring victory. But they couldn’t go any further as they stumbled against England in the semi-finals.

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