Call it the battle of the titans or whatever you like, but today’s final to bring down the curtains of the ICC World Twenty20 cricket tournament will be a blockbuster. Sri Lanka elevated to the final beating two of the former winners of the T-20 title in Pakistan and defending champions England while the West [...]

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The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

Get ‘Gangnam’ Gayle; half the battle is won

By M. Shamil Amit
ICC World Twenty20 Final
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Call it the battle of the titans or whatever you like, but today’s final to bring down the curtains of the ICC World Twenty20 cricket tournament will be a blockbuster. Sri Lanka elevated to the final beating two of the former winners of the T-20 title in Pakistan and defending champions England while the West Indies thumped the runners-up of the last tournament Australia by a huge 74 run margin. So, one could just imagine the atmosphere at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium this evening.

The Sri Lankan team celebrating after their victory over Pakistan. Pic by Amila Gamage.

The two skippers Mahela Jayawardena and Darren Sammy for sure will be coming into the game with strategies of their own. However, the skipper with the right luck and call the right side of the coin may have the advantage during the game.

Sri Lanka has been here before. In 2009 they met Pakistan in final in England in a futile exercise, but they may have learned what not to do by now. At Lords they lost by eight wickets when the team was led by Kumar Sangakkara.

This time out the team led by Mahela Jayawardena is in with a chance of breaking the hoodoo. Mahela will be leading the side in his second major limited over final of his career. As Mahela mentioned in the post match conference after the semi final encounter against Pakistan saying “we have gone over all the hurdles and now we are left with leaping the final hurdle which all Sri Lankans too will be hoping and praying”.

There is no doubt that the two teams will be coming into the game with tremendous pressure, Sri Lanka who recorded a convincing nine wicket win over West Indies in a Super Eight clash cannot afford to sit on that laurel as West Indies showed in the semi final game against Australia that they are a rejuvenated side who are capable of clicking when it matters most.

Skipper Jayawardena mentioned “experience wise we are much better, though we lost to Pakistan in recent times. The tide has changed and as planned our aim before the tournament began was to play positive cricket and now we should keep that momentum to make our dreams fulfill of clinching the title which eluded us three years ago.

“We discussed before the tournament started that we will have to play on three different surfaces in Sooriyawewa, Pallekele and Colombo and so far we have handled this situation well, at the end of the day it’s all about handling tough conditions which we have adapted with success. Much will be expected from Kumar Sangakkara, T.M. Dilshan and the other batsmen if we are to make any impression. The bowling has been satisfactory as they have delivered the goods when it mattered most for the side which helped Sri Lanka to defend and restrict the Pakistanis”.

The inclusion of experience Rangana Herath in preference to young Akila Dananjaya was a good move as Herath obliged his captain.
In conclusion Mahela also mentioned “I know we have not been able to win any title. But to play in four finals, it’s amazing as in one’s career you are lucky to play in one final. The previous three finals we had to approach in different ways one was in Barbados, the other in England and the third in Mumbai and now we are playing at R. Premadasa Stadium and hope we will be lucky the fourth time.”

Chris Gayle who failed against Sri Lanka has bounced back. We saw him pulverising the Australian bowling with a quick fire 75 in just 41 balls and no doubt he will be the thorn in the flesh of the Sri Lankan bowlers.

Likewise Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo who was dropped for the match against Sri Lanka and Keiron Pollard making useful contributions, will be looking forward to carry that form today.

In the bowling department the Windies will be spearheaded by the right arm pace and spin combination of Ravi Rampaul and Sunil Narine which Sri Lanka will have to negotiate with caution. The duo have been in tremendous form with the ball right throughout the tournament and makeshift bowlers Samuel Badree and Kieron Pollard too are capable of making useful contributions with the ball.

So as mentioned the final today is no doubt going to be a blockbuster between a confident Sri Lanka side and a rejuvenated West Indies outfit as both are looking for their maiden World Twenty20 title.




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