Tag T20 World Cup 2010

How to snatch defeat off jaws of victory? lets revisit this sad Sri Lankan story..

Egoistical as they are often called, Aussie captain elected to bat first in his game 8 of super 8s stage of T20 world cup 2010 but his openers weren't prepared to give Suraj Randiv, the offspinner, the respect youngster was due for and soon found themselves tottering at 4 for 30 on a flat Barbados pitch. Captain Clarke hardly deserves a place in mighty Australian Twenty20 team and he yet again failed to rise to the occassion = clean bowled by Randiv.

5 down for 67 at the 11th over mark, Aussies need a miracle. or Michael Hussey. in came left handed Mr cricket and vice-captain Cameron White started to rally around him. Randiv's spell was finished and experienced Muthiah Muralitharan wasn't playing for groin injury, leaving Lasith Malinga the only Lankan bowler for aussies to fear from. but, Malinga as well as Ajantha Mendis couldn't make a mark as OZ pair slowly started to accelerated and finished with 101 run partnership from last 9 overs. without being separated.

Sri Lankans were shell shocked!

Barbados pitch had offered plenty of bounce for all pace bowlers willing to bend their back so far in the tournament and today was no different. Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait started with speeds touching 150kmph mark and Lankan in-form batsman Mahela Jayawardene was back in pavilion in 3rd over after hitting a beautiful six. Struggling vetern Sanath Jayasuriya and captain Kumar Sangakkara couldn't stick around for long and lions were 3 for 26 before powerplay overs finished.

Tillakaratane Dilshan had had a quite tournament so far but today he crunched 2 fours and a straight six to hint he's finiding his timing yet again. Sadly, Mitchell Johnson bounced him out before he could do significant damage.

Traditionally good players of spin bowling, Sri Lankan batsmen allowed young Aussie leggy Steven Smith bowl his 4 overs for just 12 runs for 2 wickets, which is a clean indication of how poorly islanders batted in this match, losing by heavy margin of 81 runs.

The scores

Australia 168 for 5 wickets in 20 overs
C White 85*, M Hussey 39, Suraj Randiv 3/20
Sri Lanka 87 allout in 16.2 overs (81 short)
T Dilshan 20, M Johnson 3/15, Dirk Nannes 2/19
Full scorecard : Aus v SL, World Twenty20 2010.

Lowest T20 team total

Lowest T20 total is by Kenya = 67 allout against Ireland, followed by 68 allout by Ireland. Today, Sri Lanka's 87 allout is 15th lowest ever, by any team, and smallest by Sri Lanka.