Sri Lanka will look to avenge that heartbreaking loss suffered from the hands of the West Indies in the 2012 T20 World Cup as the two teams lock horns in the 1st semi-final of the 2014 T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka will look to avenge that heartbreaking loss suffered from the hands of the West Indies in the 2012 T20 World Cup as the two teams lock horns in the 1st semi-final of the 2014 T20 World Cup. Both the teams are in good form going into the semis as they have had identical victories in their final group league encounters in which they crushed their relevant opponents for measly scores of less than 100 runs.
West Indies will look upto the heroics of their star batsman, Chris Gayle to deliver the start that they crave for in big games. Chris Gayle has been silent this tournament but the big man can bring the best out of him in the semi-final clash. Besides the power hitting of their skipper Darren Sammy, the batting has not lived upto the expectations. But the spinners have made merry on the ‘friendly’ conditions. The likes of Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree have shared 16 wickets amongst themselves which is why the duo accommodates the No. 1 and 2 in the ICC’s list of T20 bowlers.
Meanwhile, whereas the Sri Lankans are concerned, the Lions will welcome their skipper Dinesh Chandimal after the latter served a match ban against the Kiwis. The Sri Lankan batsmen too have been on the quieter side with only the veteran, Mahela Jayawardene, who is playing in his last T20 tournament, been his team’s top scorer with 134 runs.
The Lankan batting which highly depends on their three senior players – Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan, must fire all cylinders if the Lions are to progress in the Finals. The Lankan bowlers led by the T20 specialist, Lasith Malinga will be wary of the threat posed by the men from the Caribbean but with the likes of Rangana Herath and Sachithra Senanayake in the side, this contest will be an eye-catching one!
Both teams go into this tie with full of confidence but the toss will again be crucial for the skippers as they have one eye on the finals.
Squads:
West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith, Lendl Simons, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Samuel Badree, Sunil Narine, Krishmar Santokie, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Fletcher, Sheldon Cotterell, Johnson Charles.
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Seekkuge Prasanna, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chaturanga de Silva.
