Sangakkara stumps West Indian hopes
Dileep Premachandran scouts around for the highlights on and off the field during the West Indies v Sri Lanka match in Guyana
Dileep Premachandran in Guyana
01-Apr-2007
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Tipped over the bar
When the usually accurate Ian Bradshaw strayed a little down the leg side, Sanath Jayasuriya teed off in trademark fashion. As the ball dipped down towards deep square leg, there was a buzz of anticipation in the crowd. Shivnarine Chanderpaul threw himself off the ground and palmed the ball over the rope. Had it been a game of football, it was a save that Gordon Banks would have been proud of. As it was, it was six more.
When the usually accurate Ian Bradshaw strayed a little down the leg side, Sanath Jayasuriya teed off in trademark fashion. As the ball dipped down towards deep square leg, there was a buzz of anticipation in the crowd. Shivnarine Chanderpaul threw himself off the ground and palmed the ball over the rope. Had it been a game of football, it was a save that Gordon Banks would have been proud of. As it was, it was six more.
The air leaves the World Cup balloon
Kumar Sangakkara not only had the eagle eye and presence of mind to spot Brian Lara's back foot outside the crease, but also fast-twitch fibres akin to a White City greyhound in whipping off the bails. The entire stadium, and perhaps the World Cup organising committee as well, held its breath through a couple of minutes of replays before the stadium scoreboard flashed what no one wanted to see. As Lara trudged off, head bowed, you sensed that West Indian World Cup hopes were leaving the field with him.
Kumar Sangakkara not only had the eagle eye and presence of mind to spot Brian Lara's back foot outside the crease, but also fast-twitch fibres akin to a White City greyhound in whipping off the bails. The entire stadium, and perhaps the World Cup organising committee as well, held its breath through a couple of minutes of replays before the stadium scoreboard flashed what no one wanted to see. As Lara trudged off, head bowed, you sensed that West Indian World Cup hopes were leaving the field with him.
All-round woe
As Sri Lanka were wrapping up a facile victory, Michael Holding walked down from the commentary box. A World Cup winner in 1979, he has often been a strident critic of this West Indian team. When asked what he'd thought of West Indies' terrible display in the field, Holding smiled ruefully and said: "It wasn't just the fielding. The batting and bowling were terrible as well, give or take a couple of names." We could only think of Daren Powell, Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan.
As Sri Lanka were wrapping up a facile victory, Michael Holding walked down from the commentary box. A World Cup winner in 1979, he has often been a strident critic of this West Indian team. When asked what he'd thought of West Indies' terrible display in the field, Holding smiled ruefully and said: "It wasn't just the fielding. The batting and bowling were terrible as well, give or take a couple of names." We could only think of Daren Powell, Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Boo girl
As we walked across the stadium perimeter on our way to the press conference, Jayasuriya was being presented with the Man-of-the-Match award. As he walked up to accept it, a little girl in the stand above me started booing. She carried on, even while those around her looked around awkwardly. Too young to have experienced Caribbean cricket's halcyon years, she might have to get used to many more days of disappointment. Booing the wrong colour shirt won't help either.
As we walked across the stadium perimeter on our way to the press conference, Jayasuriya was being presented with the Man-of-the-Match award. As he walked up to accept it, a little girl in the stand above me started booing. She carried on, even while those around her looked around awkwardly. Too young to have experienced Caribbean cricket's halcyon years, she might have to get used to many more days of disappointment. Booing the wrong colour shirt won't help either.
Save the best for last
On a day of stunning hits from Jayasuriya, the pick of the bunch was perhaps the last ball of the Sri Lankan innings. Dwayne Bravo dropped one in the slot, and Tillakaratne Dilshan's bat cleaved through the air to send the ball soaring deep into the stands at midwicket.
On a day of stunning hits from Jayasuriya, the pick of the bunch was perhaps the last ball of the Sri Lankan innings. Dwayne Bravo dropped one in the slot, and Tillakaratne Dilshan's bat cleaved through the air to send the ball soaring deep into the stands at midwicket.
Fast man goes slow
Victory had been clinched and the sun had gone down but even at half past six, Lasith Malinga was in front of the stand adjacent to the pavilion signing autographs. Two West Indian fans waited patiently, and thanked him politely after he'd slowly scrawled out a signature. Next in line was a policewoman, paper and pen in hand. No doubt she found something arresting about Malinga's hair.
Victory had been clinched and the sun had gone down but even at half past six, Lasith Malinga was in front of the stand adjacent to the pavilion signing autographs. Two West Indian fans waited patiently, and thanked him politely after he'd slowly scrawled out a signature. Next in line was a policewoman, paper and pen in hand. No doubt she found something arresting about Malinga's hair.
Dileep Premachandran is features editor of Cricinfo