The Hindu : Sport : Sri Lanka survives an Irish scare

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Sport

Sri Lanka survives an Irish scare

Special Correspondent

With two victories, the islanders are well-placed to enter semifinals

London: Lasith Malinga and Sri Lanka lived at the death as the islanders defeated a spirited Ireland by nine runs in a Super Eight Group ‘F’ match of the ICC World Twenty20 at Lord’s on Sunday.

After Malinga’s swinging full-length deliveries seemed to have dented its hopes, a fighting Ireland rattled up 18 runs from Nuwan Kulasekara’s over — 19th of the innings — to revive hopes. Eighteen runs were needed off the last over, bowled by Malinga. The slinger was on song in the final over. With two victories in two Super Eight games, Sri Lanka is well-placed to enter the last four stage.

Mahela Jayawardene was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his valuable innings of 78. The Lankans, defending 144, required quick breakthroughs but the left-handed opening pair of skipper William Porterfield and Niall O’Brien gathered 59 in 9.1 overs. Porterfield was inventive during his 29-ball 31. He pulled and drove Angelo Matthews and swept Kulasekara for boundaries.

Vital breakthrough

Niall O’Brien, innovative, lofted Matthews over covers and reverse-swept Ajantha Mendis. A fine catch by ’keeper Sangakkara as Porterfield edged an attempted cut off Muttiah Muralitharan provided the Lankans a vital breakthrough.

The enterprising Andrew White (22 off 21 balls) hooked Kulasekara for a six but fell to the same bowler going for a hefty strike. Kevin O’Brien, the biggest hitter in the Irish ranks, perished going for a lusty blow over mid-wicket off Mendis. The mystery spinner removed a battling Niall O’Brien (31 off 37) in the same over — the 15th of the innings — when the batsman jumped down the track and was done in by a delivery cleverly dropped back-of-a-length. Sangakkara removed the bails in a flash.The Irish are a feisty lot and the Sri Lankans were in trouble after Sangakkara opted to bat.

Rare failure

Boyd Rankin, lanky and sharp, had the red-hot Tillakaratne Dilshan caught top-edging a pull in the opening over. If Rankin generated pace and extracted bounce from one end, the wily 35-year-old Trent Johnston sent down tidy military medium stuff from the other.

The niggardly Johnston bowled in the right areas and switched his line efficiently to the left-handers.

He snared Sangakkara in the corridor, surprising the southpaw with a delivery of extra bounce. Niall O’Brien, standing up, snaffled a fine catch. Lanka was 14 for two in the fourth over.

Crucial stand

Sanath Jayasuriya and Jayawardene strung together a crucial partnership. In a stirring moment, the ageless Jayasuriya walked down the track to Rankin, creating a scoring opportunity against the paceman.Jayawadene (78, 53b, 9x4, 1x6) held the innings together with his footwork, timing and the ability to strike over the in-field or through the gaps.

He brought his wrists into play while clearing the mid-wicket or gliding the ball between point and third-man. The right-hander was poised with his drives. Jayawardene also swung medium-pacer Alex Cusack for a six and batted with responsibility and flair.

The Lankan score was 81 in the 12th over when Jayasuriya (27) missed a sweep to be adjudged leg-before off steady off-spinner Kyle McCallan.

Left-arm spinner Regan West did not bowl to his field but the Australian-born Cusack picked up a heap of wickets — four in all — with full length deliveries towards the end.

Ireland fielded brilliantly; Mooney’s athletic diving catch at long-off to dismiss Kulasekara was a case in point.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka: T. Dilshan c N. O’Brien b Rankin 0 (2b), S. Jayasuriya lbw b McCallan 27 (27b, 5x4), K. Sangakkara c N. O’Brien b Johnston 3 (10b), M. Jayawardene b Cusack 78 (53b, 9x4, 1x6), C. Silva c Rankin b McCallan 4 (6b), J. Mubarak c N. O’Brien b Cusack 7 (9b), A. Mathews b Cusack 10 (7b, 1x4), N. Kulasekara c Mooney b Rankin 1 (2b), M. Muralitharan st. N. O’Brien b Cusack 0 (1b), L. Malinga (not out) 1 (2b), A. Mendis (not out) 4 (1b, 1x4); Extras (lb-5, w-4) 9. Total (for nine wkts. in 20 overs) 144.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-14, 3-81, 4-97, 5-126, 6-128, 7-132, 8-139, 9-140.

Ireland bowling: Rankin 4-0-27-2, Johnston 4-1-18-1, West 4-0-34-0, McCallan 4-0-33-2, Cusack 3-0-18-4, K.J. O’Brien 1-0-9-0.

Ireland: W. Porterfield c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 31 (29b, 5x4), N. O’Brien st. Sangakkara b Mendis 31 (37b, 4x4), A. White c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 22 (21b, 1x4, 1x6), K. O’Brien c Dilshan b Mendis 0 (2b), J. Mooney (not out) 31 (21b, 4x4), D. Johnston b Malinga 9 (6b, 1x6), A. Botha b Malinga 0 (1b), A. Cusack (run out) 2 (3b), R. West (not out) 1 (1b); Extras: (b-1, lb-3, w-3, nb-1): 8. Total (for seven wkts. in 20 overs): 135.