WI, SL storm into 2012 World Twenty20 semi finals
Sri Lanka’s 19 run win against England on Monday sealed their and West Indies’s passage to the semi finals of the 2012 ICC World Twenty20.
West Indies beat New Zealand in a thrilling Super Over finish earlier in the day after New Zealand tied the game by posting 139/7 in their chase of WI’s 149 all out. Gayle earlier hit a quick 30 (14b, 4x3, 6x2) after WI had been put into bat first by New Zealand. Regular wickets after his fall saw WI being bowled out for 139 in 19.3 overs.
New Zealand’s chase too saw wickets fall at regular intervals. Ross Taylor anchored the innings with an unbeaten 62* but the lack of substantial support at the other end meant NZ tied the game.
Marlon Samuels bowled the last over of the NZ innings giving away just 14 against a rampaging Ross Taylor and as a left field pick, did well enough to restrict NZ to 18 in their Super Over, bowling against Ross Taylor and T20 heavyweight Brendon McCullum. New Zealand’s Super Over bowler Tim Southee was errant to begin with, beginning with a front foot no ball which Gayle hit for a six. Marlon Samuels hit a six off the 5th ball to take WI to 19 and win the game for WI.
WI still needed an England loss against Sri Lanka to go through to the semis. Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 16 off 12b with a four and six each after WI were put in to bat first by England. Sangakkara officially captained Sri Lanka while Mahela Jayawardene played as a batsman to avoid a possible over rate ban.
SL posted a total of 169/8 in their innings and England collapsed to 93/7 in reply, incompetent against the slinging pace of Malinga (5/31) and wiles of spinner Akila Danajaya (2/26). Samit Patel (67, 48b, 4x8, 6x2) and Graeme Swann (34, 20b, 4x4, 6x1) added 71 for the 8th wicket but couldn’t get close to SL’s total. England ended on 150/9, sealing a 19 run win for Sri Lanka.
The win meant Sri Lanka were the first team to qualify for the semis of the 2012 ICC World Twenty20, taking the WI with them while England and New Zealand were knocked out.
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