Sri Lanka 130-1 after 15.2 overs
Sangakkara 39, Jayawardene 65
Not much of a dramatic end. Easy two runs for Sangakkara to seal the win… and the second run came after an overthrow. This SL win has exposed West Indies’ frailties like no other. Fantastic victory for the hosts.
Sri Lanka 128-1 after 15 overs
Sangakkara 37, Jayawardene 65
It’s getting a bit embarrassing for the Windies now. First Mahela thrashes two fours and a six in the space of two overs and then both him and Sagakkara get two fours each in the 15th over. That should shatter the WI morale and it’s easy peasy from here onwards.
Sri Lanka 83-1 after 11 overs
Sangakkara 22, Jayawardene 38
Easy sailing for Sri Lanka. They haven’t taken the odd risk and actually, they don’t need to. Mahela has scored a couple of lovely boundaries— one past mid-wicket and the other a special reverse sweep that beat the field. Easy pickings for SL and Windies should probably consider this one as a loss.
Sri Lanka 62-1 after 7 overs
Sangakkara 15, Jayawardene 25
They look like they want to finish this one off quickly. Hosts SL are being powered forward by two of their best and longest serving batsmen. And they’re living by the adage: “A boundary every over and you’ll be fine in T20.” While Sanga has cracked a couple, Jayawardene looks menacing… scoring 16 of his 25 from boundaries alone. But we’ve had better in T20 you see.
Sri Lanka 22-1 after 2.5 overs
T Dilshan c Ramdin b Rampaul 13 (9b, 3×4, 0×6)
That’s a great delivery for a T20 match and Rampaul will be happy with the way he has dismissed Dilshan. He was getting into the groove with his three fours, but a length ball doesn’t allow him any room and he’s edged it to the keeper.
SRI LANKA COME OUT TO BAT
West Indies 129-5 after 20 overs
Sammy 1, Russell 19
This is the lowest total batting first at Pallekele. The lowest total defended at total is 155. So West Indies have their backs to the wall.
West Indies 123-5 after 19.2 overs
M Samuels c Dilshan b Mathews 50 (35b, 4×4, 2×6)
Good, solid innings comes to an end. But Windies are well short of the total that they would’ve liked.
AP
West Indies 90-4 after 15.5 overs
K Pollard b A Mendis 1 (6b)
More trouble for the West Indies, this is not looking pretty.
West Indies 81-3 after 14.3 overs
D Bravo c Dilshan b J Mendis 40 (34b, 4×4, 2×6)
West Indies are trying to read the spinners off the pitch and that is always a bad idea. Another wicket and it seems like Sri Lanka are easily in command. Just to rub it in, Mendis even did the Gangnam after getting the wicket.
West Indies 63-2 after 12 overs
Samuels 14, Bravo 32
The innings is beginning to gather some momentum. But they are still having trouble picking Mendis.
West Indies 42-2 after 9 overs
Samuels 10, Bravo 16
Still not managing to get the ball away. West Indies need someone to go mad pretty soon. They will need at least 150 and that seems like a tough task at the moment.
West Indies 16-2 after 5.1 overs
C Gayle c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 2 (9b)
Big, big wicket. The danger man is walking back and at least half the blame for this wicket lies in the way Charles constructed his innings. The West Indies should reconsider having him in the playing XI. This isn’t working. Gayle tried to make space to the hit the big shot but Kula went wide and managed to get the edge.
West Indies 16-1 after 4.5 overs
J Charles st Sangakkara b A Mendis 12 (21b, 2×4)
Charles was having big trouble in the middle, and was played by the Sri Lankan bowlers. He scored just 12 from 21 balls before departing. But he has killed the early momentum of the innings but hogging the strike. Can West Indies recover from this to post a healthy total?
West Indies 3-0 after 1 over
Charles 2, Gayle 1
Slow start as usual for the West Indies. You can almost bet why Gayle will do in the first over. Charles though is a different animal — he just doesn’t seem to have the technique for international cricket but is known to be a very big hitter.
West Indies have won the toss and will bat first
West Indies team: CH Gayle, J Charles, MN Samuels, DJ Bravo, KA Pollard, D Ramdin, AD Russell, DJG Sammy*, SP Narine, R Rampaul, FH Edwards
South Africa team: DPMD Jayawardene*, TM Dilshan, KC Sangakkara, AD Mathews, BMAJ Mendis, HDRL Thirimanne, NLTC Perera, KMDN Kulasekara, SL Malinga, HMRKB Herath, BAW Mendis
