COLOMBO — Ajantha Mendis produced a breathtaking 6/8 to help seal an 82-run win for Sri Lanka over Zimbabwe in the opening ICC World Twenty20 cricket match in Hambantota last night.
Report by Supersport
Mendis beat his own world best figures of 6-16 in a T20 international to ensure an emphatic start for the host team to their challenge. Zimbabwe were 100 all out after 17.3 overs.
Earlier, Kumar Sangakkara smashed 44 off 26 balls to guide Sri Lanka to 182-4. Sangakkara put on 94 runs for the fourth wicket with Jeevan Mendis (43 not out) from 51 balls after Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor won the toss and put Sri Lanka in to bat in the Group D match.
Taylor said after the match: “It’s a tough pill to swallow today, we’re a better side than that. Credit goes to Sri Lanka, they showed why they are one of the favourites, but we have to bounce back strongly.”
Tillakaratne Dilshan (39) and debutant Dilshan Munaweera (17) laid a solid platform of 54 for the opening wicket before Zimbabwe hit back with a couple of run outs and Dilshan was caught behind.
Sangakkara lifted the tempo with his aggressive running between the wickets with Mendis before he was run out in the last over.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Munaweera drove seamer Kyle Jarvis’ first ball of the innings through cover for a boundary to start the 12-team competition in this southern port city.
Malcolm Waller then twice dropped the batsman in the deep.
Luck seemed to be on the hosts’ side when captain Mahela Jayawardene was judged leg before wicket on 12, but had to be recalled after television replays showed leg-spinner Graeme Cremer had bowled a backfoot no-ball. Although Jayawardene was run out shortly afterwards, Mendis’ elevation as a pinch-hitter proved fruitful.
Mendis was equally good, lofting Elton Chigumbura for a six over midwicket and hitting four boundaries in his unbeaten knock. Sangakkara hoisted medium-fast bowler Chris Mpofu (0-49) for a six in the last over, and Thisara Perera further ruined the seamer’s bowling figures by lifting him over the mid-wicket fence.
