Lanka’s batting trio - Mahela, Kumar and Dilshan, star attractions at World Cup

by A.C. de Silva

The batting trio of Sri Lanka – Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tilakaratne Dilshan will be the star attractions at the ICC World Cup Cricket Tournament when Sri Lanka’s matches gets going in the illustrious tournament.

The World Cup tournament carries happy memories for Mahela Jayawardene, now in his second round of top class cricket, having comeback into the game after his retirement and the World Cup carries happy memories after the 2011 final with India where he played a sweet unbeaten 103 for Sri Lanka, to prop-up the total to 274 for six wickets, but the sad part of the show was that Mahela had yet to be on the losing side of the final as India clinched the title, making 97, Mahendra Singh Dhoni getting a superb 91 not out and thereby edging India to a six-wicket win in the final.

Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions, got off to a slow start, but Jayawardene kept the pressure on the Indians with some intelligent batting while rotating the strike with his partners. He showed great character in his approach to the situation after two quick wickets (60 for 2 wickets) fell.

Jayawardene, a man for the big occasion, came into the limelight in his own style and played a responsible innings and kept the pressure on the Indians with some intelligent batting.

He joined a select band of cricketers to have scored a century in a World Cup final racing to an unbeaten 103 from 88 balls inclusive of 13 fours.

Jayawardene kept the pressure on the Indians with some intelligent batting while rotating the strike with his partners.

However, Jayawardene’s century was overshadowed by two fine knocks from Gautam Gambir (97) and skipper Mahendra Sign Dhoni as India overtook Sri Lanka’s challenging total of 274 and India went on to make 277 for 4 wickets, winning by 6 wickets and ten deliveries to spare.

Sri Lanka has taken part in all previous World Cup tournaments since 1975. Though Sri Lanka gained full membership of the ICC only in 1981, Sri Lanka had the honour of participating at the two World Cup tournaments prior to that in 1975 and 1979 as an Associate Member of the ICC.