MIRPUR – Kumar Sangakkara struck an unbeaten 52 as Sri Lanka defeated a disappointing India by six wickets yesterday to finally win the World Twenty20 title.
Sri Lanka reached 134 for 4 in 17.5 overs to complete the win after restricting India to an unimpressive 130 for 4.
Former captain Sangakkara ensured there was no heartbreak this time after Sri Lanka had lost in four ICC world finals over the past seven years, including the World Cups in 2007 and 2011.
Sri Lanka were making their third World Twenty20 final appearance. They lost to Pakistan in the 2009 final and to the West Indies in 2012.
“It’s been a long time coming, I can’t be happier or prouder,” Sangakkara said. “I think the side carried me so I was pretty happy I could give something back to them. It means a lot to all of us; to me, to our families, to everyone back home.”
Jayawardene, who made 24 before finding midwicket which appeared to give India an opening, admitted there had been added emotions around this match
“We finally managed to break the jinx,” he said. “Thanks so much to family and friends but this one is for Sri Lanka fans who have been waiting since 1996. It wasn’t a normal match. There were a lot of emotions as this was the last T20. It hasn’t sunk in yet and it will take a couple of days to get the feeling.”
Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka’s captain for the final three matches of the tournament following Dinesh Chandimal’s suspension and then his omission, said the team were desperate to give Sangakkara and Jayawardene a victorious send-off from the format.
“I was really lucky to captain in the last three games. Today, we thought it was Sanga and Mahela’s farewell match, the boys thought we needed to do it for them. Last few overs we bowled really well. Mahela and Sanga are world-class batsmen and it was a good opportunity for us to be able to play with them. They are still playing Tests and ODIs and the younger players need to pick all that they can from the two.”
Sangakkara saw the team through in the company of fellow left-hander Thisara Perera, whose seam bowling was not used earlier in the day despite Perera replacing legspinner Seekkugge Prasanna.
Sangakkara and veteran teammate Mahela Jayawardene had announced that they would not take part in international T20s after this tournament. Sangakkara made it a memorable final outing for both with a fluent 35-ball knock in which he hit six fours and one six.
The Indian innings could never get the impetus it needed since defending a total less than 150 was always going to be difficult.
Kohli struck 77 off 58 balls with five fours and four sixes but some tight bowling from Sri Lanka restricted the free flow of runs expected from the Indian batting line-up.
The departure of a well-set Rohit Sharma for 29 and a slow 11 off 21 by Yuvraj Singh saw the Sri Lankan bowlers seize the moment.
(AP)