When the Lankan victory sent cricket fans crazy

Team effort made the win possible:

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting

'Sri Lanka Zindabad', 'Sri Lanka Zindabad', were the shouts I heard from cricket-crazy delighted fans while walking out of ground and on the streets after Sri Lanka's excellent victory over Pakistan to enter the final of the 2012 World Cup Twenty20 final on Thursday night.

Fire crackers and fireworks were lit and there were deafening sounds with the three wheelers and vehicles blarring their horns till the wee hours of the morning in celebration at Sri Lanka's success.

ARY NEWS, Pakistan journalist Shakih Zulqurnain who was seated next to me and my colleague Anuradha Abaysekera in the media box said after the victory: 'Being a Pakistani I always wish for a Pakistan victory, but it makes me happier when Sri Lankans win. The Lankans have always supported Pakistan in all tournaments. I wish Sri Lanka success in the final', he concluded.

It was the consensus that Sri Lanka achieved success due to the examplary leadership of Mahela Jayewardene. His determined knock of 42, bolstered the innings considering that Tillekeratne Dilshan was pedestrian.

When the game seemed to be slipping away, he inspired his team mates with rare world captaincy, with superb field placing and intelligent bowling changes. He has the knack of lifting team spirit and when Lasith Malinga dropped the two catches, he was not harsh on the fielder but consoled him. That he was the man of the match was great reward. After the game, as he always does Jayewardene faced the press with confidence and answered questions unperturbed and always to the point, much to the satisfaction and delight of the horde of journalists.

He said that he felt confident when Sri Lanka set Pakistan chase 140 for victory.' A chase is always going to be difficult on a slow turning wicket. We felt we were 15 to 20 runs short. But we took the field confident that we could do it, and it was great when victory was finally achieved', said the captain.

Sri Lanka has so far played in four finals and has failed at the final hurdle. 'We played in finals in Barbados World Cup 2007, England Twenty20 and Mumbai, 2011 World Cup final and we are now in a final at home at the R.Premadasa Stadium. We will approach this final differently and we are confident of winning', he said.

Jayewardene further said that he has been lucky enough to play in four finals in his career.'Some are not fortunate to play even in one', he said.

It was inexplicable the manner in which the usually dashing Tillekeratne Dilshan batted. He is one who believes that a cricket ball is there to be hit. But this time round his approach was different. We hope he will regain his hunger for quick scoring in the final.

One was also perplexed with the poor fielding - catching and on the ground of Lasith Malinga. Fortunately the sitter he dropped off Umar Akmal, the most dangerous batsman in the Pakistan ranks did not prove costly. His ground fielding too was poor.

You don't give batsmen of the caliber of Umar Akmal a second chance. That the batsman did not grab that opportunity and score could not be believed. The Sri Lankans did not have much of total to play about with.

But the Sri Lanka spinners rose to the occasion in style to bring Sri Lanka victory. Ajantha Mendis two and Rangana Herath three were simply unplayable. They bowled good line, length and spun the ball with venom to bemuse the Pakistani batsmen who are generally competent facing spin.

Medium pace bowler Anjelo Mathews who has now fully recovered from his injury is now bowling in the form of old. He is not looking for pace, but bowls wicket to wicket and moves it both ways disconcertingly. All in all it was a well earned victory and one to savour. The Lankans have it in them to win the final. What they must do is to believe in themselves.