Nothing compares with the woes of Jesus' Crucifixion - Darren Sammy

Richard Dwight

On the day before or on the penultimate day of the Twenty20 finals between Sri Lanka and the West Indies - the West Indian, Chris Gayle, on the Windies winning the semi-finals, being interviewed was a cock-a-hoop to laugh away with confidence, saying "we are sure gonna win the final against Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium. He was continuing to be repetitive and laughingly kept on yelling that they were for sure going to win the finals (against Sri Lanka) and the trophy."

No doubt he was instilling a positive approach within himself and expected it to be well sustained in the minds of the other members of the team until the last ball was bowled.

Sri Lanka began the finals on a rather dismal note, when they lost the all important toss. But respite did come the way of the Sri Lankans, when they had two Windies wickets for 14 runs, inclusive of their sheet anchor and star batsman, Gayle.

The Windies were in a tight spot with a good many overs gone, to be 6 for 108. This was mainly due to the effective bowling of Ajantha Mendis, Dananjaya, Mathews and Kulasekera. The Windies were in a bad way, but relief came through the controversial Marlon Samuels, who was playing after three years, for reasons best known to him and the relevant authorities.

Samuels batted with a vengeance. He took on Malinga as a 'lamb being led to the slaughter'. He thrashed Malinga time and time again to the stands and the other deliveries were dispatched to the boundaries - nor did his yorkers bother Samuels. Kulasekera, Dananjaya and Jeevan had overs left, but for no rhyme or reason, Mahela gave the open chested slinger Malinga another two overs and it was the same old story of being hit for sixes and fours for his figures to read 4-0-54-0.

Sri Lanka's target was 138 and the innings for Sri Lanka began badly with the hard hitting opener Dilshan dismissed for 0. Mahela and Sangakkara who were batting steadily, were perhaps confused because the Duckworth-Lewis would be enforced as there was the likelihood of rain. Sri Lanka wickets fell regularly and the way in which Mathews got out was amusing having not settled, having just scored one run, he tries a scoop from the off and almost falls on the wicket, to be bowled by Darren Sammy.

Lady luck was definitely on the side of Windies, for how else could it be, when two powerful throws from the deep, rattled the stumps to run out Jeevan Mendis and Thisara Perara and in addition the rains too stayed away. Sri Lanka were all out for 101 in 18.4 overs, thereby conceding the finals and the World Cup T20.

The Windies cricketers and their supporters were filled with ecstatic joy. There was yelling, singing and dancing, whilst Chris Gayle and yet others were somersaulting and rolling on the ground. It is the release of the pent up feelings of failures in the past, on winning this international trophy. It did not rain, but rained champagne to make the atmosphere misty.

Nasser Hussain, interviewing the Windies captain, Darren Sammy, amongst other questions, asked whether the long stay in Sri Lanka, the losing and winning of preliminary matches, the semi-finals, did not be a burden on you, bringing about anxiety, worry and pressure Sammy's reply was 'This was nothing compared to the woes that led Jesus Christ to his Crucifixion'.

To the Sri Lankan cricketers, I would read to them Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's Headmaster (just two lines) 'Teach him to learn how to lose and also to humbly enjoy winning'. Never fail to hold onto the Churchillian dictum 'Never Give Up'