World Twenty20, 2009
Wisden's review of Sri Lanka v West Indies, World Twenty20, 2009
15-Apr-2010
At Nottingham, June 10. Sri Lanka won by 15 runs. Sri Lanka 2 pts. Toss: West Indies.
This match - thought to be of academic interest only as both teams had already qualified
by beating Australia but, as it turned out, a dry run for the semi-final - was virtually settled
by an opening partnership of 124 (the second-highest stand of the tournament) in 12.3
overs. It was dominated by Jayasuriya, rising 40, who used his powerful forearms to pull
Edwards for six and smack fours through mid-off and over point in an over costing 17.
Dilshan was no slouch, reaching his own fifty in 35 balls, but he received less of the strike
during Jayasuriya's virtuoso performance. When Pollard came on, Dilshan greeted him
with his "starfish" shot, then whirled him over backward point for six and slashed a back-
foot four; Jayasuriya completed the torture, in an over costing 19, by finding the long-off
boundary. West Indies did well to limit the damage after that - only 52 came from the last
six overs - but, with Gayle resting a knee injury, the target looked a tall order. They also
made a decent start, but Muralitharan and Mendis took three wickets in nine deliveries
between them, after which the only resistance came from Bravo, whose shots included a
lunging cover-driven four, off his feet after initially giving himself room, against the pacy
Malinga.
Man of the Match: S. T. Jayasuriya. Attendance: 15,645.