Negative Sri Lanka sucks life out of fans

Write off Sri Lanka at your peril but Mahela Jayawardena's team don't have it in them to become the first host nation to win the World Twenty20 title.

A sell-out crowd at Hambantota was stunned into disbelief as South Africa's pace battery shackled Sri Lanka's famed batting line-up who managed just four boundaries in seven overs.

In a rain-shortened, shortest format of the game, the Proteas exposed Sri Lanka's lack of firepower when it comes to the crunch.

Sri Lanka's most pampered fast bowler Lasith Malinga was carted around with gay abandon in his backyard, by AB de Villiers in particular, as Lanka failed to stem the tidal wave that descended on Sooryaweva grounds.

The rain that came down in buckets not only delayed the start of a much-looked forward to 'big match' for the spectators, but also Sri Lanka's plans to unleash their new spin missile Akila Dhananjaya.

Veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath replaced the injured Ajantha Mendis.

What perplexed most observers were Jayawardena's decision to field first.

It showed a lack of self-belief in the ability of his batters to put runs on the board or sheer overconfidence in his attack perhaps lulled into complacency after spinning out Zimbabwe on the same track.

Without the wiles of the magical Mendis who snared six wickets for eight runs on Tuesday, Jayewardene was left despairing when the Proteas turned on the screws.

Chasing a stiff target of 79, Dilshan Munaweera of SLPL fame failed to step into the huge boots of his more illustrious teammate TM Dilshan who was run out without facing a ball.

Sri Lanka showed they were not willing to think out of the box by sticking with their tried and tested formula despite the skipper Jayawardena coming out with Dilshan.

The inexperienced Munaweera was frozen by the deadly pace and accuracy of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.

The situation demanded big hitters like Thisara Perera or Angelo Mathews or a Jeewan Mendis to step up the tempo, not the more orthodox Kumar Sangakkara.

"Sangakkara is not a Twenty20 player. He should not be in the team at all.

“We need hitters like Chamara Kapugedera in the side," said a disappointed Sri Lankan fan Dinesh Perera.

It is a moot point considering that even South Africa changed their strategy by holding back veteran Jacques Kallis.

However, the fact remains that Jayawardena's plan to 'attack' backfired spectacularly as the Proteas underscored the truism that Twenty20 is a batsman’s game.

Even the worst 'attack' can attempt to defend if the batsman put up a reasonable total on board.

But in just 14 overs, South Africa not only made mincemeat of the Sri Lankan bowlers but also exposed the frailties of the batsmen who laboured to score 46.

Party on

Nevertheless, Sri Lankan fans in the capital Colombo did not brood over this result.

Instead they join the World Cup party as Australia and West Indies provided a sumptuous batting feast at R. Premadasa Stadium.

Rain may have wreaked havoc in Hambantota, but the hosts lapped up the entertainment provided by the great rivals cheering either side as sixes rained aplenty.

Chris Gayle set the tone of the match after a quiet start by hitting four monstrous sixes followed by Marlon Samuels for West Indies.

Australia replied in similar vein through the pugnacious David Warner before rain intervened.

The fact that Sri Lankan fans are delightfully waving the flags of other teams despite being the hosts is an ominous sign for Mahela's team -- Sri Lanka are not the front runners for the title.

"They may come up to the semifinals. That's their only hope," added Perera, a former first class cricketer.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.