There’s nothing much more to say that already hasn’t been said. The Lions roared…finally.
Batting first in a T20 game is always difficult. It puts the onus on the side batting first to dictate the nature of the wicket. India got that one wrong yesterday, although the wicket did ease up a little bit. As much as Sri Lanka batted well, this match was won by the bowlers. It was also won by having plans, and executing those plans. Way too often Sri Lanka has ‘had a chat’ about games, but this time, they put their b***s where their mouths were [pardon the pun].
Mathews taking pace off the ball accounted for Rahane. Rohit just couldn’t get it away, and Yuvraj batted as well as he was allowed to. The three and a half overs that Yuvraj faced destroyed any hope India had of being competitive, and Sri Lanka gladly lapped up the remains of the Indian resistance. Kohli batted well. Sachin who, they will ask soon, and deservedly so.
Senanayake was outstanding. His second spell choked India, and his fielding was electric. You can never ever underestimate the value of good fielders, and he showed exactly why. Sachithra is one of Sanath’s best recruits, and the flair and attitude he has shown ever since that match winning six against South Africa some years ago, gives this team a swagger and confidence it needs. Kulasekera came back well at the death, and Malinga bowled the wide yorkers the perfection. No doubt Dhoni will figure out how to play those in a few months, but as far as the last match goes, Sri Lanka tactically out-thought India.
Spare a thought for Paul Farbrace. A man who knows and understands this Sri Lankan team. He is a strategist who knows to do and say just enough. Mahela, Sangakkara, Malinga and Dilshan have played enough cricket to not be spoon-fed. But sometimes they are too instinctive. Farbrace brings just enough of the analytical side of the game to the natural instincts of the Mahela/Malinga captaincy axis to provide results.
Yesterday, when Kule was gettig hit, Mahela ran upto him, and his body language suggested he was irritatedly asking him why he wasn’t sticking to the plan. Kule reverted to plan, and things went swimmingly.
I haven’t been a huge fan of the way we’ve played cricket lately, but this tournament has turned things around. Even the latter part of the Asia Cup. There’s been a discipline and thought process in the way we approach the game now. A thought process that was missing a while back. There is a confidence borne of good tactical preparation, and a visible lack of panic. Even when Mahela got out yesterday, his gesture to Sanga was calming. Unlike the frustration we may normally have seen. You could sense that even at that stage, they knew they had this one.
Thisara Perera being promoted was a bold move, that should have been tried even if it didn’t come off. His inclusion against India was an obvious one. The only thing is, for whom. I still maintain I would have brought him in for Dilshan, but it didn’t need that much of a drastic change.
Sangakkara had had a miserable tournament. He also had an average day in the field. From helmet problems to byes. His eyes were intense, and he looked troubled. The almost catch was the best thing that happened to him early innings. Mohit almost got to the ball but couldn’t, and after that it was as if Sanga realised that this was his last innings let’s have some fun. The subsequent boundaries off Ashwin settled the nerves and after Jayawardena’s departure he buckled down, showing confidence in Angelo and Thirimanne. I thought Thisara Perera should have let him hit the winning runs. Rude fellow.
The batting effort was clinical. The bowling effort unspectacular but effective. If we play all our cricket like this I’ll be the happiest man alive. My criticism of Sangakkara for not finishing games off was well and truly rubbed in my face yesterday. And I couldn’t be less upset. He has batted aggressively and in a carefree manner in the last 18 months, and has deserved every accolade he got. In the last 18 months. With the whole retirement saga, the pressure he has put himself under all career previously, seemed to return in this tournament. The half chance he gave early seemed to release that pressure somehow. Like having a near death experience helps you appreciate life. It was a calculated innings which picked the lock, until Thisara came in and kicked the door down for good measure.
I have long since given up letting cricket dictate my mood. Arsenal is just somebody that I used to know, although the Tuskers and the All Blacks have my heart. Still. I can understand why people are so happy, but I never expected the euphoria that yesterday brought along with it. The exhilaration has obviously been a long time coming. But apart from happiness, this win has given me a huge sense of satisfaction. Satisfaction in that the team has obviously realised that better planning and better execution will reap rewards. Hopefully, we can continue to improve upon that facet of the game. It’s benefits were obvious yesterday.
A word also for the captain. It is not a coincidence, that only he and Arjuna Ranatunga are World Cup winning Sri Lanka captains. Despite not getting on with each other, and belonging to two different generations and walks of life, both these men played cricket with a fiery passion. Malinga has always believed that his best is all he can do, and tried to do it as often as he could. Arjuna helped bring out the best in others. Lasith’s elevation to captaincy, and the humility with which he deferred to Mahela in the field was an interesting lesson in meritocracy. Leaders can sometimes be quiet inspirations. He certainly was. He doesn’t – and shouldn’t – care about the respect of the media, or even you and I. But the fact that he has the respect of the dressing room is obvious. And that’s all that matters.
Personally, I will miss Jayawardena. His craft, his nous and the will to win have never truly reached their potential. He deserves much more than just a T20 crown as a party favour. I have made peace with the fact that the world will probably never know the talent he left in the dressing room. Another Aravinda, who decided to destroy attacks for fun immediately pre retirement. But more than that, he was the one guy who could still score T20 hundreds without bludgeoning the ball. And the world always needs someone who can play the violin while everyone else is crashing the drums.
Thanks for the memories mate. The party’s not over.
