Sri Lanka overwhelm Kenya
Saturday, 15 September 2007
JOHANNESBURG, Sept 14 (Cricinfo): It was minnow bashing at its best as Sri Lanka, led by Sanath Jayasuriya, pulverized Kenya, beating them by 172 runs at the Wanderers. Jayasuriya's whirlwind 88 and Jehan Mubarak's late fireworks lifted Sri Lanka to a record team score of 260 for 6, a target way out of reach for the opposition as Kenya managed just 88, reports Cricinfo.
Records tumbled as the victory margin of 172 set the record for the biggest ever in Twenty20 internationals. Mubarak and Mahela Jayawardene - who made 65 - came within striking distance of recording the fastest fifties and the score of 260 foretold the result of the match even before the Kenya openers took guard.
Steve Tikolo's decision to insert the opposition proved costly as Sri Lanka began with the intent of scoring over 200. The openers - Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga, flayed at just about everything in the opening overs. Tharanga was the only one to miss out, owing to a lapse in concentration as he played across the line to a Thomas Odoyo delivery which hit the middle stump. While Odoyo bowled with control in his opening spell, the support bowlers suffered.
Jayasuriya batted with characteristic freedom, shuffling across his stumps and disturbing the bowler's rhythm at the delivery stride.
Records tumbled as the victory margin of 172 set the record for the biggest ever in Twenty20 internationals. Mubarak and Mahela Jayawardene - who made 65 - came within striking distance of recording the fastest fifties and the score of 260 foretold the result of the match even before the Kenya openers took guard.
Steve Tikolo's decision to insert the opposition proved costly as Sri Lanka began with the intent of scoring over 200. The openers - Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga, flayed at just about everything in the opening overs. Tharanga was the only one to miss out, owing to a lapse in concentration as he played across the line to a Thomas Odoyo delivery which hit the middle stump. While Odoyo bowled with control in his opening spell, the support bowlers suffered.
Jayasuriya batted with characteristic freedom, shuffling across his stumps and disturbing the bowler's rhythm at the delivery stride.