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14 Sep 2007, Johannesburg: Sri Lanka launched their campaign for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup with a stupendous batting performance as they defeated African minnows Kenya by 172 runs in the Group C match played at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.
Batting first, Sri Lankan cricket team piled up a mammoth score of 260 for six wickets, the highest score in the shortest version game of cricket, and bowled out the Kenyan cricket team for a paltry score of 88 runs.
The previous record of highest score was held by one day international (ODI) World Champion, Australians--who made 221 for 6 wickets against England in Sydney early this year.
Sri Lankans were asked to bat first after Kenya won the toss. Sri Lanka's first wicket of Tharanga fell in the third over with 19 runs on scoreboard. He was bowled by Odoyo at a personnel score of 10 runs. And then, there was some exhilarating display of stroke-play by Sri Lanka's two established batsmen—Kumar Sangakara and Sanath Jayasuriya.
Sri Lanka's second wicket, Kumar Sangakara, fell with 94 runs on board. He made 30 runs off 18 balls with the help of 5 fours. Sanath Jayasuriya, who whacked 88 runs from 44 deliveries that included 11 fours and 4 sixes, was the third man to leave the crease after doing enough harm for Kenyans.
It was party time for Sri Lankan batsmen. Their skipper Mahela Jayawardene, too, played a whirlwind knock of 65 runs studded with two massive sixes and nine fours. He misjudged a straight delivery, of Kamande trying to sweep, and was trapped in front.
Then came Mubarak; in the 18 th over, who with his powerful shots took just 13 balls to reach his personnel score of 46 with the help of 5 huge sixes and three fours, made the cricket match a treat for the spectators. He remained unbeaten.
However, under the immense pressure of that Herculean total of 260, Zimbabwe lost two early wickets of Morris Ouma and Nehemiah Odhiambo with 20 runs on scoreboard. Both the wickets were taken by the spearhead bowler Chaminda Vaas.
Their front-line batsmen failed to handle the pressure. Their top six batsmen made mere 45 runs. In lower order, Alex Obanda frustrated the Lankans with his personnel score of 21 runs—the highest score for Kenyans. He gave a catch to wicketkeeper off Dilshan's over. |
