 The second semi-finals of the ICC World T20 will see Sri Lanka take on
West Indies at Oval in London. Sri Lanka and West Indies belonged to the
same group in the first round, and won three and two games respectively in the
Super Eight stage to get to the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka had beaten West Indies in the previous meeting in the tournament
rather easily in the first round. This was mainly due to the return to form
of Sanath Jayasuriya and his association with T.Dilshan at the top, which
yielded more than 120 runs at a run-rate of ten runs per over.
While Sanath Jayasuriya has gone back to his form-slumber again, Dilshan has
gone places, having scored his runs with a rather consummate ease, in turn demolishing
opponents with his stroke play. In the meantime, Mahela Jayawardene has
returned back to form as well, with a couple of top-class innings against Ireland
and New Zealand, to guide the Lankans through to a win. Kumar Sangakkara
continues to be an anchor whose batting with be needed in conditions that may
see a loss of a couple of early wickets, and one senses that the experiment
to get Chamara Silva at the top of order at number three may not be repeated.
However Sri Lanka's biggest strength is their bowling and one can expect that
from the likes of Lasith Malinga, Muthiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis. With Malinga's yorkers and slower balls very difficult to pick,
he complements the two spinners very well with his almost unplayable bowling
at the death. Mendis has picked his wickets at a rather cheap economy of less
than six runs per over and batting his four overs out will be a huge concern
for the West Indies.
West Indies was the first team to have played out against Mendis in an ODI,
but one cannot be sure whether they will be able to pick the bowler up. Chris Gayle will have a huge responsibility on his shoulders, because a good start
against the pace bowlers is a must. Sri Lanka may not open with Jayasuriya when
he is around, and may try experimenting with Muralitharan, but if Gayle is in
the right kind of a mood, he will have the ability to tear apart even the spinners.
It is the other batsmen who need to rally around him. Andre Fletcher's sky-diving
form will be a worry, but what would have warmed the supporters' hearts would
be Dwayne Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan's batting at different times in
the tournament. And if Fidel Edwards does get fit before the game, the contest
could get really exciting!
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