MIRPUR, Bangladesh (AP) – Sri Lanka entered the World Twenty20 final for a third time when they beat defending champion West Indies by 27 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method today after rain ended the semi-final early.
The West Indies were 80 for four in 13.5 overs in reply to Sri Lanka’s 160 for six when play was stopped due to heavy rain and hailstorm.
Sri Lanka lost to Pakistan in the 2009 final and to the West Indies in 2012. They gave themselves a third shot at the title with a dominant and spirited team effort under Lasith Malinga, who captained after Dinesh Chandimal pulled out.
Malinga was also in the midst of the action with two wickets for five runs in two overs as he dismissed openers Chris Gayle (3) and Dwayne Smith (17) in the fifth over. Gayle was bowled off an inside edge while Smith was bowled by a slower ball.
Dwayne Bravo (30) offered resistance but his dismissal just before the stoppage diminished West Indies’ chances, already slim because of a slow scoring rate. The champions’ biggest remaining hope was captain Darren Sammy, but he’d just walked out to bat when heavy rain and hail arrived, with them still needing 81 to win off 37 balls.
The West Indies came into the semi-finals with a reputation for making quick runs down the order. However, the top-order failure and rain put paid to its hopes of becoming the first team to retain the World Twenty20 title.
Earlier, allrounder Angelo Mathews provided a late burst for Sri Lanka to put up a fighting score after electing to bat.
The score was creditable considering it did not dominate the bowling for most of the innings. Mathews, who came in at No. 6 in the 14th over, smashed 40 off 23 balls with three fours and two sixes to rejuvenate the side.
Lahiru Thirimanne (44) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (39) helped Sri Lanka recover from a mini collapse, when three wickets fell in the space of eight runs. From 49 for three in the seventh over, Dilshan and Thirimanne added 42 runs. Dilshan’s run out again put Sri Lanka in a tricky position but Mathews bailed the team out.
Santokie was the most successful bowler for the West Indies with two for 46.
India and South Africa play the other semi-final tomorrow.
Summarised scores: Sri Lanka 160-6 in 20 overs (L. Thirimanne 44, A. Mathews 40, T. Dilshan 39, K. Perera 26; K. Santokie 2-46). West Indies 80-4 off 13.5 overs (D. Bravo 30, M. Samuels 18, D. Smith 17; L. Malings 2-5). Sri Lanka won by 27 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method.
