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Super 8: Sri Lanka thrash West Indies

Friday, May 7, 2010 6:54 PM
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Mahela Jaywardene's superb form at the World Twenty20 continued as he made an unbeaten 98 in Sri Lanka's 57-run win over the West Indies in the Super Eights on Friday.

The opener's innings at the Kensington Oval was the centrepiece of Sri Lanka's total of 195 for three - the best by any side this tournament.

But the West Indies helped last year's losing finalists greatly by missing six chances during a wretched fielding display as they lost for the first time this tournament.

Jayawardene, given two reprieves, faced 56 balls with four sixes and nine fours as he followed up his 81 against New Zealand and 100 against Zimbabwe with another dominant innings. Jayawardene's average for the tournament is 139.5.

Jayawardene was joined in a stand of 166, the second best in all Twenty20 internationals by captain Kumar Sangakkara, who made 68 after being dropped on 0 and then again on 27.

West Indies lost two wickets early on as Shivnarine Chanderpaul and hard-hitting captain Chris Gayle both fell cheaply, with Sri Lanka holding their catches as the hosts slumped to 23 for two.

The innings never really recovered from that double blow and West Indies limped to 138 for eight off 20 overs.

Ramnaresh Sarwan (28) and Dwayne Bravo (23) were the only batsmen to pass 15 in an innings where extras was the third-best contributor with 17.

Spinner Ajantha Mendis took three wickets for 24 runs from his four overs and paceman Lasith Malinga three for 28.

Senior spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, back in the side after recovering from a groin injury which officials feared might end his participation in this tournament, took none for 26 from four overs but his presence in the team was a huge boost to Sri Lanka regardless of his figures in this match.

After Sanath Jayasuriya fell cheaply, having being promoted back to his old opening slot, Gayle set the tone for what followed by dropping rival skipper Sangakkara, on nought, when he grassed a slip chance, despite getting both hands to the ball after an edge off paceman Jerome Taylor

Left-hander Sangakkara, who won the toss, was given another let-off when Kieron Pollard failed to hold a tough caught and bowled chance.

Sangakkara eventually holed out having faced 49 balls with three sixes and five fours.

Jayawardene, enjoying a new lease of life as a Twenty20 opener, showed his class early on when he advanced to loft fast bowler Taylor for six over long-on.

But he too was given a couple of lives, with left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn the unfortunate bowler on both occasions.

Jayawardene, on 65, was well beaten by a Benn delivery, only for occasional wicketkeeper Andre Fletcher to miss the stumping.

And, in the same over, Jayawardene had added only one to his score when a top-edge was skied behind but neither Fletcher nor short third man Wavell Hinds went for the catch and the ball fell safe.

No-one has yet made two Twenty20 international hundreds but the unselfish Jayawardene refused to hog the strike in the last over as Tillakaratne Dilshan ended the innings with a four.

Both teams are back here on Sunday, with the West Indies playing India and Sri Lanka facing Australia, who thrashed the Indians by 49 runs earlier Thursday.

Gayle sympathises with England

Monday, May 3, 2010 10:13 PM
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West Indies captain Chris Gayle was a happy man yesterday afternoon, following his side’s eight-wicket victory over England and their qualification for the Super Eight phase of ICC World Twenty20.

However, he was in sympathy with his English counterpart Paul Collingwood over the manner of England’s defeat--on the Duckworth/Lewis method of calculation.

The system came into play in both matches at the Guyana National Stadium yesterday. Earlier, Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe in Group B by 14 runs on the D/L.

Zimbabwe needed to be 43 at the end of five overs but were unable to get there. And then the West Indies, their innings interrupted at 30 without loss after 2.2 overs chasing 192 to win, were given a revised target of 30 runs in 22 remaining balls after the rain. They got them with one ball to spare.

Afterward Collingwood, commenting on the loss, suggested that the D/L method be adjusted for the T20 game.

Gayle had no objection to this. "I will support what Collingwood has said" he told the media afterwards. "It’s something that can be adjusted so it can be even for both teams."

"It was a good game. It was unfortunate for England to actually lose in this manner."

The Windies always had their eye on the skies once the target had been set for them.

Gayle mentioned that they knew weather was going to play a part, so the first five overs can determine the game, so we decided to go hard and see what we could get out of the first five overs. The target was actually 43 at that particular stage and it actually went in our favour. But after the game was reduced, we were most likely to win the game from there.

This time, there was no miscalculation of what was required as occurred last year in the one-day series between these same two teams.

Darren Sammy was named Man-of-the-Match for his economical figures of 2/22 in 4 overs.

It was the second straight game in which he had picked up the accolade and he said he was just happy to be playing his part.

England left frustrated by D/L

5:54 PM
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England were left frustrated by a Twenty20 Duckworth-Lewis result for the second time in under a year against West Indies.

This time, they saw the hard work they had put into their 191 for five come to nought as their hosts successfully chased a revised target of 60 in six overs between the rain breaks at the Guyana National Stadium.

"There's a major problem with this Duckworth-Lewis in this form of the game," said captain Paul Collingwood.

"I've got no problems with it in the 50-over form. But I know it's made us very frustrated tonight (Monday).

"It certainly has to be revised for this form of the game."

He added: "I'm trying to take the emotion out of that defeat. But I think 95% of the time when you get 191 for five on the board you are going to win the game.

"Unfortunately, Duckworth-Lewis seems to have other ideas - bringing the equation completely the other way.

"It's the second time it's happened to us now against West Indies, so it is very frustrating - because we've played a near perfect game but we've lost."

Eoin Morgan (55) and Luke Wright (45*) earlier shared a brutal stand of 95 to help England set the Windies a tough target.

But Chris Gayle had chosen to field first, in anticipation perhaps of history repeating itself after the West Indies had notably got the better of England in similar circumstances to knock them out of last year's World Twenty20 at The Oval.

Gayle blows trumpet, claims his team can win T20 WC

Monday, April 26, 2010 4:46 PM
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West Indies skipper for T20 World Cup Chris Gayle said yesterday that his team has great chance of winning the tournament. The chances are boosted because of presence of youngsters like Pollard and because of return of Jerome Taylor and Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Gayle said their presence for the global event would be tremendous, as they clash in Group D of the first round here beginning on Friday with a day/night encounter against Ireland.

’I am confident we will pull off the tournament. We have a balanced team and that is why I am so optimistic of having the prestigious cup stay here,’ the Jamaican told reporters.

Gayle added that the likes of big-hitting Kieron Pollard, versatile all-rounder Dwayne Bravo and veteran left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul would further strengthen the team. Their presence give West Indies team a great mix of talent, experience and fearless play.

Coupled with home advantage and crowd support, along with the momentum from the one-day series win against Zimbabwe, Gayle said he believed West Indies would be formidable opponents.

Gayle mentioned that ever player in the team is clear of their respective roles. He said that both departments were very strong and he wanted each player to make an impact. He said he expected rookie pacer Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul to be at their best, while noting that slower bowlers like himself, left-arm orthodox spinners Sulieman Benn and Nikita Miller and off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine would provide variety.

West Indies will be hoping to better their outing in last year’s tournament when they reached the semi-finals in England before losing to Sri Lanka.

The hosts will play warm-up matches against Afghanistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium at Providence.

Afghanistan & Ireland to prepare in T&T

Saturday, April 10, 2010 2:56 AM
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West Indies’ International Cricket Council World Twenty20 Championship Group D opponents Ireland, are one of two international teams that will make Trinidad and Tobago their base for preparation ahead of the tournament which bowls off on April 30.

Afghanistan are the other team that will be in T&T and both are scheduled to be in action at Queen’s Park Oval during the local Carib Shield Twenty20 tournament quarter-final matches from April 20-23.

Ireland, who will be coached by former T&T and West Indies cricketer Phil Simmons, join the regional team and England in Group D, while Afghanistan join South Africa and India in Group C.

West Indies face Ireland in their opening match of the ICC T20 competition on April 30 in Guyana, while Afghanistan take on India in their first match on May 1 in St Lucia.

This will be Ireland’s second stint in T&T before a major tournament, following their stay here ahead of the ICC World Cup in 2007 when they reached the second round of the competition and finished second in Group D which also included West Indies, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

This will be Afghanistan’s first appearance in a global tournament and they will be confident following their qualification campaign which culminated in them chasing down 494 to beat Canada in the Intercontinental Cup qualifier.

Both teams arrive in Trinidad next weekend.

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