Test Cricket in Twenty20 by Mahela and Sangakkara

Richard Dwight

In the recently concluded 20/20 Cricket match between West Indies and Sri Lanka in order to make further progress in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup Cricket Tournament, Sri Lanka came out victorious against the strong batting line up of the Windies, to go ahead in the competion.

When the Windies took the first lease of the Pallekele wicket, they were in for a rude shock when the world renowned star bowler Chrys Gayle got out for a duck, to a superb catch by Sangakkara the wicket keeper diving way out to the left, off the bowling of the work horse of, Nuwan Kulasekera.

This meant that the battle for Sri Lanka was well nigh over. And so with Lasith Malinga, Jeevan Mendis and Rangana Herath bowling within limits along with Mathews, dismissed the Windies for a manageable 140 runs by the Sri Lankans.

In reply the Twenty20 specialist in Dilshan failed with 13 runs. This led to the main prolific scores in Mahela and Sangakkara, coming together. Both of them batted in their own characteristic manner. They brought their Test Cricket orthodox batting into the Twenty20 game and scored fast.

Their driving through cover, extra cover, the leg and past the bowler to hit the picket, was a pleasing sight to see them bisect the fielder.

If the ball was loose and short they simply thrashed it over the fence who said that there is no place for orthodox cricketers, in the Twenty20 game.

There is, for those who could adjust and adapt themselves to this form of cricket and keep the scoreboard ticking.

It is most commendable that the ICC had recognized Sri Lanka to host this tournament which speaks volumes for the history of cricket here.