Mendis bowls Sri Lanka to semi-finals

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Mendis magic strangles New Zealand

Sri Lanka came up with a clinically efficient performance to beat New Zealand by 48 runs and qualify for a place in the semi-finals in their last Group F match of the ICC World Twenty20 played at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.
Today’s victory which was Sri Lanka’s fifth of the competition saw them continue with their winning streak begun with the defeat of Australia eight days ago. Since then the team under new captain Kumar Sangakkara has blended into a winning unit capable of destroying any opposition with their unique pace-cum-spin combination.
New Zealand’s batting was destroyed by the wiles of spinner Ajantha Mendis who took three wickets for nine runs to send them crashing to 110 all out in 17 overs chasing Sri Lanka’s total of 158-5.
With this win Sri Lanka topped Group F and they will play in the second semi-final of the tournament on Friday (June 19) at the Oval. Their most likely opponents will be West Indies who, before today’s late game between South Africa and India’ lie second in Group E. South Africa, the only other unbeaten side in the tournament apart from Sri Lanka, head Group E before the game against India and will most certainly retain that position even if they lose because they have a far superior run rate. Defending champs India knocked out of the tournament following their loss to England on Saturday are playing for pride in their final match.

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