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29 March 2024

Sri Lanka vs India World T20 Final: Sangakkara sparkles as Lanka triumph

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

Kumar Sangakkara hit a memorable half-century to help Sri Lanka to a six-wicket victory over India in the World Twenty20 final in Dhaka on Sunday.

The veteran left-hander knocked a 35-ball 52 not out in his last Twenty20 match to guide the Sri Lankan chase of a modest 131-run target in 17.5 overs at a packed Shere Bangla stadium.

Thisara Perera hit Ravichandran Ashwin for a winning boundary to seal the win, finishing with 21 not out.

But it was Sangakkara who anchored the chase with six boundaries and a six in his unbeaten knock.

The victory gave Sri Lanka their first world title in 18 years since winning the World Cup (50 overs) crown in 1996 and gave the World Twenty20 a fifth champion in as many editions.

The victory also broke Sri Lanka's jinx of losing the final of major world level events as they had lost two World Cup (50 overs) finals (2007 and 2011) besides being runners-up in as many World Twenty20 events in 2009 and 2012.

"It's been a long time coming, (we've) waited five finals," said Sangakkara, who was captain in the 2009 World Twenty20 and 2011 World Cup, but will now quit Twenty20 along with Mahela Jayawardene.

"I am pretty happy that I was able to do something for the team. It means a lot to all of us. We are very humbled by this."

India won the inaugural edition in 2007 followed by Pakistan (2009), England (2010) and the West Indies (2012).

In contrast India were denied a chance to become the first team ever to hold three major cricketing titles at one time, after clinching the 2011 World Cup title and the Champions Trophy last year.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was full of praise for Sri Lanka.

"It was a perfect game for them," he said. "In the middle overs our batsmen tried our best, but we couldn't convert the good start.

"We were short of a few runs but Virat has been brilliant," said Dhoni of Kohli, declared player of the tournament.

Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals as Indian spinners applied pressure, but Sangakkara held one end intact.

Openers Kusal Perera went for five and Tillakaratne Dilshan for 18 before Sangakkara added 34 for the third wicket with Jayawardne (24) and another 54 for the unfinished fifth wicket with Thisara.

India were reduced to 130-4 by some tight Sri Lankan bowling despite a brilliant half-century by Kohli, whose 58-ball 77 was his eighth Twenty20 half-century (and fourth of this tournament) after India were sent into bat in a match reduced by 40 minutes due to rain.

The rain spiced up the pitch for bowlers but Kohli was at his best when he came to the crease after India lost Ajinkya Rahane (three) in Angelo Mathews's second over of the innings.

Let off by Lasith Malinga at mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath's first delivery when 11, Kohli took full advantage of the laspe by hitting five boundaries and four sixes before he was run out off the final delivery.

Kohli added 60 for the second wicket with Rohit Sharma (29) and another 55 for the third with Yuvraj Singh who slowed down the tempo with a snail-paced 11 off 21 balls.

Sharma hit three boundaries during his 26-ball knock before he was caught off Herath who finished with 1-23 in his four overs.

So facile were India's last four overs that there was no boundary and a well-set Kohli got just seven balls to play, restricting their total badly.

Kohli, the tournament's top scorer and player of the event, ran himself out on the final delivery of the innings after a 58-ball knock that included four sixes and five boundaries.

Sri Lanka pace spearhead Lasith Malinga dished out plenty of accurate yorkers as India managed just 19 runs off their last four overs.

"It was Mahela and Sanga's farewell match and we had to do something special. All the boys were looking forward to that before the match and that's why we were successful today," captain Malinga said.

With the win Sri Lanka also capped a long two-and-a-half month tour of Bangladesh during which they won all matches in a bilateral series against the home team and five-nation Asia Cup.

Scoreboard

India:


R. Sharma c Senanayake b Herath 29
A. Rahane b Mathews 3
V. Kohli run out 77
Y. Singh c T. Perera b Kulasekara 11
M. Dhoni not out 4
Extras: (b2, lb2, w2) 6
Total (for four wickets, 20 overs) 130
Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Rahane), 2-64 (R. Sharma), 3-119 (Singh), 4-130 (Kohli).
Bowling: Kulasekara 4-0-29-1, Mathews 4-0-25-1, Senanayake 4-0-22-0, Malinga 4-0-27-0 (w1), Herath 4-0-23-1 (w1).

Sri Lanka:

K. Perera c Jadeja b M. Sharma 5
T. Dilshan c Kohli b Ashwin 18
M. Jayawardene c Ashwin b Raina 24
K. Sangakkara not out 52
L. Thirimanne c Dhoni b Mishra 7
T. Perera not out 21
Extras: (lb2, w3) 5
Total (for four wickets, 17.5 overs) 132
Fall of wickets: 1-5 (K. Perera), 2-41 (Dilshan), 3-65 (Jayawardene), 4-78 (Thirimanne).
Bowling: Kumar 3-0-18-0, M. Sharma 2-0-18-1, Ashwin 3.5-0-27-1 (w1), Mishra 4-0-32-1 (w1), Raina 4-0-24-1 (w1), Jadeja 1-0-11-0

Sri Lanka won by six wickets

SANGAKKARA SIZZLES

Kumar Sangakkara hit a sizzling unbeaten 52 off 35 balls with six boundaries and a six to steer Sri Lanka to a maiden triumph in the ICC World Twenty20 final defeating India by six wickets.

Chasing a modest target of 131, Sri Lanka made 132-4 in 17.5 overs to coast home with 13 balls to spare.

Sangakkara kept his best for the last in his final T20 innings as Sri Lanka emerged world champions for the first time since Arjuna Ranatunga led them to a maiden triumph in the 50-over event in 1996.

"It's been a long time coming. Waited five finals. Pretty happy I was able to do something for our team. It means a lot to all of us. We are very humbled by this," said man of the final Sangakkara.

"Last five world cups we lost them, but today is a great feeling to come back and win it. Today one of the three guys put their head up to do something for the team. Fantastic win for Sri Lanka," said Sri Lanka's veteran opening batsman.

Sri Lanka's batting coach Marvan Atapattu praised Sangakkara for his matchwinning knock.

"What a way to finish the game! Sanga saved his best of the last innings," he said.

Player of the tournament in Sri Lanka's World Cup triumph in 1996, Sanath Jayasuriya was also ecstatic.

"The bowling was superb and then both Mahela and Sanga batted very well. Restricting them to 130 was the key. Even though we lost a few wickets early on, Mahela and Sanga are big game players," said Jayasuriya who is now chairman of selectors.

Mahela was overwhelmed with emotion dedicating the victory to the Sri Lankan fans who have waited 18 years for this moment.

"We finally managed to break the jinx. Thanks so much to family and friends but this one is for Sri Lanka fans who have been waiting since 1996. It wasn't a normal match. Lot of emotions as this was the last T20. It hasn't sunk in yet and it will take a couple of days to get the feeling," said Jayawardene who together with Sangakkara announced during the tournament that this would be their last T20 tournament.

Sri Lanka's Test captain Angelo Mathews was happy that they could give Sangakkara and Jayawardene a perfect send-off.

"Sri Lanka this is for you. I am glad the whole team did it for Sanga and Mahela," he said.  

SRI LANKA INNINGS
Sangakkara hits a couple of boundaries to complete his half century while Thisara smacks Ashwin for a boundary to overhaul the target of 131 in the 18th over.

Mishra goes for with Sangakkara swatting him over extra cover for a boundary while Thisara smashes over long-on for a six before being given a life by Rahane. SL 119-4 in 17 overs.

Sangakkara is playing the innings of his life getting a boundary off Ashwin with sublime leg glance. SL 104-4 in 16 overs.

Thisara clubs a six off Mishra while Sangakkara swings him around for a boundary as Sri Lanka close the gap. SL 98-4 in 15 overs.

Sangakkara and Thisara are keeping calm and content to do it in singles. SL 84-4 in 14 overs.

Thisara has been promoted above Mathews as Sri Lanka seek to close the gap. SL 78-4 in 13 overs.

Mishra strikes as Thirimanne slashes and nicks one behind. SL 78-4 in 12.3 overs.

Lahiru Thirimanne c Dhoni b Mishra 7 (11b 1x4 0x6)

Raina gives aways just two runs as Sri Lanka reach 75-3 in 12 overs.

Ashwin bowls another good over conceding just four runs. SL 73-3 in 11 overs.

Thirimanane opens with a boundary to third man off Raina. SL 69-3 in 10 overs.

Mahela gets a boundary off Raina with a delicate late cut but chips a catch to Ashwin next ball bringing to an end his brief cameo in his final T20 innings. SL 65-3 in 9.5 overs.

Mahela Jayawardene c Ashwin b Raina 24 (24b 4x4 0x6)

Sangakkara takes on Jadeja sweeping to the fine leg fence and slamming him over midwicket for a six. SL 58-2 in 9 overs.

Mishra bowls an excellent opening over conceding just a single. SL 42-2 in 7 overs.

Kohli takes a super catch on the midwicket boundary as Dilshan fails to clear the ropes off Ashwin. SL 41-2 in 5.5 overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan c Kohli b Ashwin 18 (16b 4x4 0x6)

Mahela slams consecutive boundaries off Kumar with a late cut and a top edge over the keeper. SL 37-1 in 5 overs.

Mohit goes for 14 with Mahela hitting a late upper cut over the keeper for a boundary while Dilshan gets consecutive boundaries, including a streaky one off an inside edge. SL 27-1 in 4 overs.

Dilshan gets his first boundary whipping Kumar off his pads to fine leg.

Mohit strikes with his first delivery as Kusal swings only to get a leading edge to mid-off. SL 5-1 in 1.1 over.

Kusal Perera c Jadeja b Mohit Sharma 5 (7b 1x4 0x6)

Kusal flicks the second ball from Kumar to the square leg fence. SL 5-0 in 1 over.

Dilshan and Kusal are in the middle with Kumar with the new ball.

INDIA INNINGS

Sri Lanka restricted India to 130-4 with only 19 runs coming off the last four overs with Virat Kohli who was given a life on 10 top scorin with 77 off 58 balls cracking five boundaries and smashing four sixes after being put into bat.

Malinga bowls a brilliant final over giving away just seven runs while Kohli is run out off the final ball. Ind 130-4 in 20 overs.

Virat Kohli run out 77 (58b 5x4 4x6)

Kulasekera finishes with fine figures of 4-0-29-1.

Good comeback over by Kulasekera conceding just four runs and taking Yuvraj's wicket. Ind 123-3 in 19 overs.

Yuvraj holes out in the deep and it may be a blessing in disguise for India since the left-hander was struggling. Ind 119-3 18.1 overs.

Yuvraj Singh c Thisara Perera b Kulasekara 11 (21b 0x4 0x6)

Malinga bowls an excellent over keeping Yuvraj quiet before he retains the strikes with a single off the final ball. Ind 119-2 in 18 overs.

Yuvraj is struggling as Senanayake completes an excellent spell returning figures of 4-0-22-0. Ind 115-2 in 17 overs.

Big over for India as Kulasekera goes for 16 with Kohli in sublime touch smashing a six and two boundaries in successive balls. Ind 111-2 in 16 overs.

Kohli gets his half century off 43 balls and gets a streaky boundary off a wide ball from Malinga. Ind 93-2 in 14 overs.

Kohli steps up a gear whacking Herath flat over his head for his third six.

Kohli gets into his element with a superbly timed drive over extra cover off Senanayake. Ind  73-2 in 12 overs.

Senanayake takes a good low catch in the covers to send back Rohit. Ind 64-2 in 10.3 overs.

Rohit Sharma c Senanayake b Herath 29 (26b 3x4 0x6)

Rohit cracks Mathews for a boundary over extra cover while Kohli finally gets cracking whacking the second six of the match over midwicket. Ind 64-1 in 10 overs.

Herath bowls a tight over conceding just three runs with Kohli failing to put him away. Ind 50-1 in 9 overs.

Kohli hammers the first six of the match lofting Herath effortlessly back over his head. Ind 41-1 in 7 overs.

Kohli (10) survives the first ball from Herath attempting to smack him over the infield with Malinga failing to latch on to an overhead catch at short midwicket.

Rohit lofts Malinga straight down the ground as India make 31-1 in the Powerplay overs.

Malinga comes into the attack in the final over of the Powerplay.

Rohit gets his first boundary nearly slamming Senanayake over square leg and survives a run out attempt. Ind 23-1 in 5 overs.

Spin instroduced with Senanayake coming into the attack.

Mathews bowls another tight over conceding just four runs. Ind 15-1 in 4 overs.

Kohli hits the first boundary of the match with a wristy pull shot off Kulasekera to midwicket. Ind 11-1 in 3 overs.

Mathews strikes with his third delivery as Rahane attempts a pull shot only to find his stumps castled off a bottom edge. Ind 4-1 in 1.3 overs.

Ajinkya Rahane b Mathews 3 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Malinga holds himself back with Mathews sharing the new ball with Kulasekera.

Rahane survives the opening over from Kulasekera who swings the ball around and has the batsman nibbling at the ball. Ind 4-0 in 1 over.

It's Game On! as Rahane and Rohit have walked out to the middle and Kulasekera has the new ball.

The pundits feel that Sri Lanka may have missed the trick by putting India into the bat but Malinga like Ranatunga 18 years seems to back his batters to chase down any target despite the threat of rain.

MS Dhoni calls it wrong as Malinga tosses it up and Sri Lanka opt to bowl first in overcast conditions.

"We want to make it special for Mahela (Jayawardene) and Kumar (Sangakkara)" said slinga Malinga who wants to have a bowl first in overcast conditions.

Sri Lanka have made one change with Thisara Perera coming in for spinning all-rounder Seekkuge Prasanna.

India are unchanged and Dhoni said they were also looking to bowl as they have been chasing well.

PLAYING XI

India: Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma

Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachin Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga

The pitch could be a bit on the slow side but it has been described as a decent one, according to former West Indian fast bowler Ian Bishop giving the pitch report.

India and Sri Lanka will play on the same pitch in which the women's final between Australia and England was played earlier.

Although Sri Lanka won a rain-affected semifinal against West Indies, the threat of rain could work in favour of India.

India won the Champions Trophy final against England last year which was reduced to a 20-over affair while Sri Lanka famously panicked in the World T20 final against West Indies in 2012 in Colombo.

There won't be any redution in overs if the final starts before 8.17pm local time in Dhaka.

The coin toss will be at 5.10pm UAE time and the match starting half an hour later if there is no further rain.

The good news is that the covers are coming off in the pitch area though the outfield is still covered.

The start of the World T20 final has been delayed by rain with the covers still on.

The toss is likely to be delayed because of persistent rain.

Raining steadily at the ground in Mirpur. The outfield is under covers, reports John Etheridge (@JohnSunCricket).

There is still a slight drizzle and the atmosphere is gloomy despite expectations of playing starting on schedule.

It has stopped raining and the covers are coming off the field, Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) has tweeted.

Fortunately there is a reserve day.

If the game starts as a 20 over game and is interrupted, play will resume from point of interruption and go on for 20 overs.

It's raining in Mirpur and the covers are on.

Australia Women have completed a hat-trick of World T20 title against England.

But the bad news is that it has started to rain here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium,Mirpur, Dhaka an hour before the toss.

The covers are being hauled in.

Sri Lanka will make one change for the final of the World T20 against India, replacing Seekkuge Prasanna with all-rounder Thisara Perera, Daily Mirror reported.

Thisara sat out the semifinal against West Indies but with the pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur turning out to be a batsman's paradise with a little tinge of grass on it, Sri Lanka may have opted to keep out the extra spinner.

PREVIEW

Sri Lanka face a daunting test of nerves by a dominant India in Sunday's all-Asian World Twenty20 final in Dhaka that is rich with incentives for both teams.

Under a charismatic Mahendra Singh Dhoni, world champions India could seal an unprecedented limited-overs treble with victory against neighbours Sri Lanka in Sunday's World Twenty20 final.

After sealing victory in the 2011 50-over World Cup final in Mumbai, Dhoni led India to Champions Trophy glory in England two years later.

They now stand just one match away from becoming the first country to hold three major one-day titles at the same time.

India may not have won a single Test abroad since prevailing in West Indies in June 2011 but they have flexed their limited over muscles to reach the final of the 20-over world event they won in 2007 under Dhoni.

Asked for his view on the rare honour beckoning him and the team, the Indian captain, however, did not want to get drawn into the debate ahead of Sunday's clash against Sri Lanka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

"The only important thing now is to do well in the final. We should not think about anything else," Dhoni said as he got ready for a repeat of the 2011 50-over World Cup final.

"It's more important to win the World Cup for your country than think about stats.

"That (treble) will be very good for the side, but that's something we can always think about after we've done well in the final tomorrow."

Dhoni would not say he feels extra motivated in International Cricket Council (ICC) events which seem to bring out the best in him.

"If you talk about this tournament, the spinners have got a bit of purchase of the wicket and they made sure they capitalised on that," he said.

"Overall it's a perfect team environment where when somebody needs to do a job, there have been individuals who rose to the occasion and said 'Ok I'll be the person who will take the responsibility'."

Dhoni probably has contemporary cricket's most daunting task, leading the national team of 1.2 billion-plus unforgiving cricket-crazy fans but the 32-year-old, sporting grey sideburns, said he had learnt to live with it.

"Over the years, as the captain, I think I have seen everything," Dhoni said.

"There's nothing really in Indian cricket that I have not seen. I've seen Indian cricket at its best and also when we went through a lean phase.

"Controversies are big part of Indian cricket and I've been through it all. There is hardly any good or bad thing in Indian cricket without my name (being attached).

"You've got to concentrate on the process more. I know certain things are under my control, I look to move into that direction rather than to give a thought about something beyond my control.

"It has been an interesting time, up and down. That's what international sport is all about, doesn't matter which game you are playing.

"It has taught me a lot and it's still a learning curve for me. Hopefully it will teach me many more and help me in the life after cricket."

Sri Lanka will seek an end to an inexplicable losing streak in title matches, after being beaten twice in the World Cup finals in 2007 and 2011 and the World Twenty20 finals in 2009 and 2012.

A fitting farewell to veterans Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in their last T20 international game and a million-dollar winning bonus offered by officials back home will further inspire the Sri Lankans.

Sri Lanka reached Sunday's final with a 27-run win over defending champions West Indies through the Duckworth-Lewis calculations in a rain-hit semifinal on Thursday.

The West Indies, chasing Sri Lanka's 160-6, were 80-4 in 13.5 overs when a heavy downpour forced the match to be abandoned at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka.

Sri Lanka's T20 captain Dinesh Chandimal is again expected to sit it out, as he did on Thursday, to allow the winning combination to stay with pace bowler Lasith Malinga at the helm.

"Its a special day tomorrow and we have to do something special for Mahela and Sanga," Malinga told reporters on Saturday. "They are great cricketers and deserve a good farewell."

Malinga said the monetary bonus was not on the team's mind.

"We don't think about how much money we will get, we play because we love to represent Sri Lanka and win for the country."

India have enjoyed an amazing run in the tournament, winning all four Super-10 league matches before beating South Africa by six wickets with five deliveries to spare in Friday's semifinal.

Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls as India chased down South Africa's challenging 172-4, making the prolific right-hander the tournament's leading scorer with 242 runs from five games.

India have also been served well by opener Rohit Sharma, whose 171 runs are far ahead of the 134 runs compiled by Sri Lanka's top-scorer Jayawardene.

India also have the bowling edge with off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's 10 wickets and leg-spinner Amit Mishra's nine outshining Sri Lankan seamer Nuwan Kulasekara (seven) and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath (five).

Dhoni said the prospect of holding all three titles was not on his, or the team's, mind.

"We can think of that only after we have won," the Indian captain said. "For now, it is all about doing what will make us successful. We need to play good cricket, and not focus on statistics.

"Its a big game tomorrow. Sri Lanka are a fantastic side with a good mix of experienced and young players. We will have to be on top of our game."

Meanwhile, defending champions Australia will take on England in the women's final at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium a few hours before the men take the field on Sunday.