There was
much expectation in the air as we sat before the TV sets …. WI has reached
Semis in style – the six hitting madness it has been…. The familiar sight of Chris Gayle and Dwayne
Smith walking in.. Kulasekara to bowl …. 1 slip in place….
The appointed
Captain Chandimal dropped himself …. and Malinga ably guided by Dilshan,
Jayawardene, Sangakkara led the side…. When Lanka batted Jayawardene getting
closer to the first 1000 in T20, bagged a diamond duck – run out without facing
a ball. The late charge by Matthews took
them to a score of comfort.
1st
ball of WI innings - Kulasekara to Smith, hit high that it appeared going up
and up but not long enough – went down and reached boundary a 4 ….. 2nd ball swung and so did the bat taking it from
the middle over mid wicket for a 6. Great
start – alas not to be ….. when rain stopped play West Indies needed 81 from 37
balls, with six wickets remaining. The Duckworth-Lewis calculation had them 26
runs adrift ~ for once it was for sure that WI would not have won had the play
continued.
Tomorrow
we have the all important other Semis … India Vs SA. The two teams have
progressed to the semi-finals in contrasting fashion. India have waltzed in
there after winning all their matches comfortably. They are the only unbeaten
team in the league stages ~ SA is a formidable team….but carries the chokers
tag.. will choke again.
Meantime,
Australian Women beat WI by 8 runs to reach the finals again and wait for the
winner of England Vs SA
Regards
– S. Sampathkumar
3rd
Apr 2014 @ 10.30 pm.