Sports

How the ICC T20 World Cups have been won

Published

2 years ago

2022/10/8

Memory Lane

The ICC T-20 World Cup gets underway in Australia next week when Sri Lanka take on Namibia at Geelong. The former champions and Namibia are grouped alongside UAE and Netherlands while Group ‘B’ comprises another former champion West Indies, Scotland, Ireland and Zimbabwe. Two teams from each group progress to the Super 12 stage. Here we take a look at how the previous seven editions have been won since the ICC launched the T-20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007.

2007 – India become inaugural winners

The first ICC T20 World Cup may have only lasted 13 days but there was no shortage of unforgettable moments. The opening fixture set the tone, Chris Gayle smashing ten sixes at the Wanderers to become the first player to make a T20I hundred. But that still was not enough for victory, with the Herschelle Gibbs-inspired hosts chasing down 205 with 14 balls to spare.

In a high-scoring tournament, Yuvraj Singh claimed headlines when he struck six sixes in an over, with England’s Stuart Broad on the receiving end. Yuvraj’s India had already made history when they beat Pakistan via a bowl-out in the group stage and when the fierce rivals met again in the final, the outcome was the same – though no less dramatic.Joginder Sharma was the man of the moment, holding his nerve with the ball when Pakistan required just six runs off four balls to steer his side to a five-run victory.

2009 – Afridi special lights up Lord’s

From agony to ecstasy, Pakistan became champions after beating Sri Lanka at Lord’s thanks to a Player of the Match performance from Shahid Afridi.The star of the show in the semi-final with a 34-ball 50 and figures of two for 16, Afridi top-scored again at the home of cricket, his unbeaten 54 guiding Pakistan to an eight-wicket win. Lord’s was a sea of green that afternoon but it had earlier turned orange for one of the tournament’s greatest shocks.Netherlands chased down 162 to beat England in the last ball of the tournament’s opening fixture.

Arguably the best individual display of the tournament came at The Oval, where Umar Gul’s five-for, the first in T20Is, saw Pakistan pip the Black Caps to a semi-final spot and they later returned to the capital for a first major tournament win in 17 years.

2010 – England down Australia

Paul Collingwood’s England turned around a disappointing start to their campaign in remarkable fashion before securing the trophy in Bridgetown. They opened up with an eight-wicket loss against the hosts and were restricted to 120 batting first against Ireland.

Rain intervened, which saw England progress on net run rate at Ireland’s expense, and they then clicked into gear and advanced into the final where they met old rivals Australia.Fittingly, it was Collingwood who hit the winning run with three overs to spare while Kevin Pietersen, who scored 47 in the final, was named Player of the Tournament.

2012 – West Indies upset Sri Lanka’s party

A match-winning 78 from Marlon Samuels carried West Indies to their first ICC T20 World Cup crown in Colombo.The team’s path to the final was eerily similar to that taken by England two years earlier. After losing their opener to Australia, a clash with Ireland was washed out leaving the Windies second in the group on net run rate.

They were soundly beaten by Sri Lanka in the Super 8 stage but a Super Over win over New Zealand secured progression to the last four.Then came revenge against the hosts in the final, Samuels shining with the bat and Sunil Narine claiming three for nine as the Windies strolled to a 36-run victory.

2014 – Sangakkara seals Sri Lankan success

Spurred on by the disappointment of missing out on home soil, Sri Lanka went one better in Bangladesh two years later.The Lions topped Group 1, dismissing the Netherlands for 39 and New Zealand for 60 as their bowling attack proved irresistible.

The semi-final, a repeat of the final two years earlier, saw Sri Lanka defeat West Indies to set up a clash with India which saw two icons bow out in style in their last ever T20Is.Mahela Jayawardene became the first batter to reach 1000 ICC T20 World Cup runs before Kumar Sangakkara saw his side home with an unbeaten half-century, ensuring 77 from the tournament’s leading run-scorer Virat Kohli turned out to be in vain.

2016 – Brathwaite blitz secures dramatic triumph

Carlos Brathwaite, remember the name. Ian Bishop’s iconic commentary provided the backdrop to a stunning performance by the Bajan, whose four successive sixes from the last over of the final led West Indies to their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup crown.West Indies needed 19 from the final six balls against England and Brathwaite – who had earlier taken three wickets with the ball – made light work of the challenge, Ben Stokes the unfortunate bowler.

Samuels again proved himself a man for the big occasion, named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 85, while several Windies batters stepped up at various times across the tournament.Gayle blasted a 47-ball century in the group stage clash with England, Andre Fletcher’s unbeaten 84 inspired a seven-wicket win over reigning champions Sri Lanka and Lendl Simmons smashed 82 not out from 51 balls in the semi-final victory over India.

2021 – Australia off the mark in style

No country has enjoyed more ICC Cricket World Cup success than Australia but they arrived in the UAE still waiting to make their mark in the shortest format.Having progressed through the group stage, however, Aaron Finch’s side saved their best for the knockouts and dumped out Pakistan, who came into the semi-finals unbeaten, in the last four.

The final pitted Australia against neighbours New Zealand, for whom Kane Williamson’s 85 was the standout innings in a total of 172 for four. It did not prove enough against an in-form batting line-up, Mitchell Marsh’s unbeaten 77 from 50 balls guiding Australia to an eight-wicket success which sees them head into this year’s tournament eyeing an unprecedented title defence.

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Sports

Royal favourites at the 146th Battle of the Blues

Published

4 hours ago

2025/03/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

by Reemus Fernando

Equiped with a strong batting lineup and a formidable bowling unit Royal are the firm favourites when they meet arch rivals S. Thomas’ in the historic 146th Battle of the Blues starting at the SSC ground today.

In the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket quarter-final, which served as a virtual dress rehearsal for this encounter, pitting the two rivals against each other for the first time outside the Battle of the Blues, Royal proved beyond doubt that they were the stronger team as they restricted the Thomians to 120 runs in the first innings.

Royal’s strength is their batting this season. Their strong line up inclusive of two Sri Lanka Under 19 players has topped the 300 runs mark on five occasions. Former St. Sebastian’s batsman Vimath Dinsara who has scored over 700 runs, skipper Ramiru Perera (over 600 runs), deputy skipper Rehan Peiris (over 600 runs), wicketkeeper batsman Isula Geeganage (over 400 runs), Thevindu Wewalwala (over 400 runs), Yasindu Dissanayake and open batsman Hirun Liyanarachchi form the batting lineup. Liyanarachchi hasn’t impressed much this season, except in the matches against Gurukula (34, 33), Maliyadewa (5, 71), Trinity (26, 34) and Prince of Wales (47) and he needs to come up with his best if Royal are to set up a strong base. He will open batting with Rehan Peiris.

Royal are fielding three pacemen. They had Ranuka Malaviarachchi and left-arm paceman Kuchila Ranmadala doing new ball duties throughout the season. In the quarter-final match against S. Thomas’, they found young Sehandu Sooriyaarachchi as effective as his senior counterparts. With two five wicket hauls in three matches he has booked his Big Match ticket.

Left-arm spinner Sandul Abeywardena is expected to play a lead role in the spin department. He played only in seven matches but was able to make an impact taking a match bag of ten wickets in the crucial encounter against Maris Stella. His performance in the ten wicket victory helped Royal secure a quarter-final berth. Thevindu Wewalwala and Ramiru are the other spinners.

Royal played 13 matches this season, won one match and suffered a solitary defeat (by an innings and eight runs) at the hands of St. Sebastian’s.

S. Thomas’ skippered by paceman Kavindu Dias are heavily relying on Dineth Goonewardene and wicketkeeper batsman Avinash Fernando in the batting department. Goonewardene has maintained an average above 40 runs, while all others have averages below 28. The Thomians seem to have found some solace late in the season with Mithila Charles striking form with a century against Ananda. But their dark horse is former St. Peter’s Under 15 player Reshon Solomon who featured only in two friendly matches. The Thomian authorities did not field Solomon this season as they had not registered the batsman under their name at Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association. The rest of the Thomian batting line up includes Sadew Soysa, Jaden Amaraweera and Sachitha Gunasinghe.

In the bowing attack Dias is set to share the new ball with Ayman Anzary, while left-armer Aaron de Silva takes major share of responsibilities in spin bowling. His work load has been doubled after Thomian selectors decided to go with a single left-arm spinner. While Aaron had a tally of 49 wickets in 13 matches, experienced left-arm spinner Abheeth Paranawidana had 39 in ten matches. Both played equally impressive performances in their only victory of the season over St. Anthony’s Katugastota. However Paranawidana has not found a place in the playing XI. Darien Diego is the other specialist spinner in the team. The Thomians’ performances this season look similar to their opponents as they have one win against one defeat but the prowess in the batting department give Royal the edge.

Trivia

Dinsara and 122 runs

Sri Lanka Under 19 player Vimath Dinsara has scored three centuries for Royal this season. On all three occasions the former St. Sebastian’s Moratuwa player was either out on 122 or was unbeaten on 122.

Over 300 runs

Royal have scored over 300 runs on five occasions this season, while S. Thomas did that on two occasions.

Sports

Buwaneka reaches men’s singles pre-quarterfinals

Published

4 hours ago

2025/03/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hundred Sri Lanka International Series 2025

Sri Lanka’s Buwaneka Goonethilleka advanced to the round of 16 of the men’s singles in the Hundred Sri Lanka International Series 2025, which is underway at the St. Joseph’s College Indoor Complex, Darley Road. Buwaneka, currently ranked 1032 in the world, will meet Malaysia’s Darrell Chew, BWF ranked 225, in the pre-quarter-final clash on the third day of the six-day international competition, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Asia (BA).

On Wednesday, Buwaneka outsmarted Henrikho Kho of Indonesia in straight sets, as the Sri Lankan regained his momentum after a long lapse. Unseeded Buwaneka proved his competence by handing Kho, seeded No.8 in the competition and 177 in the world, 21/7 and 21/15 to record a comprehensive victory on his way to reach the next level. His opponent in the pre-quarter-final, Chew, recorded a similar win, but was given a stiff competition by Indian Shantanu Sharma, before going down by 21/9 and 22/20.

Earlier, Buwaneka indicated his intention of reaching a podium finish, after defeating Siddgartga Mishra of India 2-1 in the Round of 64. Buwaneka claimed the first set 21/15, but Mishra recovered to level the game after winning the second set 21/14. The Sri Lankan put matters beyond his opponent’s reach with a resounding 21/9 win in the third set to move forward.

One of Sri Lanka’s hopefuls, Dumindu Abeywickrama, seeded third in the tournament, lost to Eu Cong Low of Malaysia 2-1 in the men’s singles round of 32 clash, which dragged beyond 70 minutes. Dumindu, BWF ranked 147, claimed the first set, but the world 531 ranked unseeded Low, made a remarkable comeback to win the remaining two sets by 21/13 and 21/15. Dumindu recorded a straight sets win against India’s Arya Bhivpathaki, after a close battle where the Sri Lankan scored 21/19 and 21/19.

Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) hosts nearly 260 players from 16 nations at the six-day competition which culminates on March 8. A total prize money of USD 5,000 is on offer at the Hundred Sri Lanka International Series 2025 which is sponsored by Hundred, LiNing, Mobil, McFoil and 3M.

Sports

Sankha, Aneesha champs at inaugural Pickleball Tournament

Published

4 hours ago

2025/03/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

A Pickleball competition in progress

Sankha Atukorale and Aneesha Lahir won the Men’s and Women’s singles titles at the inaugural ‘Pickleball’ Tournament held on the newly opened Pickelball courts in Negombo.

Pickleball is a racket or paddle sport played indoors and outdoors in which two players (singles) or four players (doubles) use a smooth-faced paddle to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball over a 34-inch-high (0.86 m) net until one side is unable to return the ball or commits a rule infraction. It was invented in 1965 as a children’s backyard game in the United States, on Bainbridge Island in Washington state. In 2022, Pickleball was named the official state sport of Washington. Aspects of the sport resemble tennis and table tennis on a doubles badminton court.

With over 50 entries total of 145 matches were conducted under a variety of categories split into intermediate and advanced divisions.

The inaugural Pickleball Tournament was hosted by Pipinya Negombo & Jetwing Hotels

RESULTS: