India who were the champions of Inaugural t20 world cup, just have not been able to make much of an impression in the next 2 editions. Both times failing to even make it to the semi final stage, and also not being able to win even one of their matches in the super 8 stage.
In their last super 8 match against Sri Lanka the task was pretty simple, win by 20 runs and they will be through to the final 4, but rarely are things in cricket as simple as they seem, as Sri Lanka are no pushovers and are also the runners up for the last t20 championship, Kumara Sangakara a clever captain also had his calculations right, and knew their task was much more easier on the day then India or the 3rd team in contention for semi finals, the host West Indies.
Ok, now let’s just recap the situation once again, India had to beat Sri Lanka by at least 20 runs to get through, and Sri Lanka needed to win or lose by less then 20, and hope that West Indies lose to Australia. While it was in West Indies interest that Sri Lanka lose, but with less then 20 by then home side would have only needed to win against Australia not worrying about the run rates. I know all of that is enough to give one a headache, but that us sometimes how things turn out in cricket.
But if you look at what happened on the pitch, it was all very simple, Indian Captain Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to post a big total baring in mind the 20 run difference needed, and India did look on course to get close to 200 midway through their innings, as they were at 90 for the loss of 2 wickets after 10 overs, with Suresh Raina and Gautam Gambhir both going strong, but the Lankan bowlers specially Malinga pulled things back, and conceded only 73 runs in the final 10 overs, restricting India to just 163. Raina and Gambhir were the major contributors with 41 and 63 respectively.
Sri Lanka who would have been eyeing the 143 run mark to be safe, started poorly losing their man in form Mahela Jayawerdene for just 4, and the Vetran Jayasuriya for not, whose miserable run continues in the tournament. But Captain Sangakara alongside Dilshan started rebuilding the innings, absorbing the pressure exerted by Indian attack.
Both put on 43 for the 3rd wicket and gave some direction to the Lankan chase, before Dilshan was caught on the boundary of Pathan trying to go for a big one, but Sangakara was joined by another able partner in shape of Angelo Mathews, who alongside his captain continued the good work, and Sangakara was eventually dismissed trying to play one over cover, as he was knocked over for 46 by Vinnay Kumar, and in came Kapugedara who has a reputation of being a big hitter in domestic game, but certainly brought the same game to the party as he smashed 37 off just 16 balls, Sri Lanka had overcome the first target of 144 in the 2nd last over courtesy a six from Mathews, and then went for the eventual target of 164, and got there in spectacular fashion as Kapugedara hit a brilliant six in the covers on the last ball when 3 runs were needed.
The whole Sri Lankan team came charging down to the ground, and their win meant that in the next match West Indies had to not only beat Australia but do that convincingly which already was a task and a half for the home side, who predictably fell well short, making way for Sri lanka into the semi finals, where they will take on the in form team England.
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