The last time these two teams met, Tillekeratne Dilshan smashed 96* and Angelo Mathews took three wickets in the opening over of the semi-finals of the 2009 World Twenty20. A year later, and with the erstwhile-formidable batting lineup of the Sri Lankans looking shaky, the West Indies sought to turn the tables as the two teams met in Barbados. Unfortunately for them, not much had changed - Mahela Jayawardene stroked an unbeaten 98, falling two runs short of becoming the first player to score two hundreds in international Twenty20 cricket, Kumar Sangakkara found his form again, and the West Indian fielding and batting gave way like a house of cards.
Batting first, Sri Lanka sought to cover for Dilshan's weak form by promoting Sanath Jayasuria to his old haunt of opener. It seemed to work when he slammed Jerome Taylor down the ground for four, but the experiment failed when he perished trying to hook Kemar Roach. 7/1 Sri Lanka, and yet again, a decent opening partnership eluded them. The wicket brought Kumar Sangakkara to the crease, and while he was still on 0, edged a Taylor delivery to Chris Gayle at first slip, who shelled a regulation catch. Needing no further invitation, Sangakkara and Jayawardene launched an offensive that saw a boundary scored between overs 3 and 14. In the 15th over, Andre Fletcher missed a tricky chance to stump Jayawardene, who survived another scare two balls later when a skied edge landed between Fletcher and Wavell Hinds, who both expected the other to take what should have been a basic catch. Sangakkara finally fell for 68 to Dwayne Bravo. Going into the last over, Mahela Jayawardene found himself stranded at the non-striker's end on 98, while Chamara Kapugedera hit a four, was bowled, and replaced by Tillekeratne Dilshan, who hit a confidence-rebuilding boundary off the only ball he faced. Sri Lanka finished with a massive total of 195/3; Jayawardene top-scored and Kemar Roach took 4-0-27-2.
Opening for the West Indies, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle needed to deliver something special, and with Chanderpaul hitting Mathews' second over for 14, it seemed like we'd get it - until Mathews had him caught at short third man. Chris Gayle fell to a terrible shot the next over, caught by Mathews, who continues to plague the Windies in the T20 format. With both openers gone, the fight seemed to go off the home team, with Dwayne Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan content to rotate the strike and pick the odd boundary. The required run rate was already up to 12.40 when Lasith Malinga removed Bravo for a run-a-ball 23. Sarwan fell shortly afterwards, caught and bowled by Ajantha Mendis for 28 from 33. The pattern continued, with the rest of the batsmen taking singles, hitting a boundary and getting out. With 59 needed off the last ball, Mathews dropped a skier from Jerome Taylor. It was the only blemish from an otherwise exemplary Sri Lankan performance. The West Indies ended their innings at 138/8.
Sri Lanka will be relieved that they rediscovered their winnings ways after a close loss to New Zealand and an unconvincing victory over Zimbabwe. Kumar Sangakkara's return to form will shore up a shaky lineup where a solid opening partnership still proves elusive. As good as the bowling performance was, Sri Lanka have to bid farewell to Muttiah Muralitharan, who aggravated his groin injury and flew home. For the West Indies, everything went wrong - the bowling lacked any sting, the fielding was atrocious, and the batting caved in after Gayle and Chanderpaul were dismissed. Sri Lanka move to their Australia match on a cautious high, while the West Indies lock horns with India, with elimination looming for both teams.