Sri Lanka 182-4 versus Zimbabwe in World Twenty20 match

By Rizwan Ali

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka — Kumar Sangakkara smashed 44 off 26 balls to guide Sri Lanka to 182-4 in the opening World Twenty20 match against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.

Sangakkara put on 94 runs for the fourth wicket with Jeevan Mendis (43 not out) from 51 balls after Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor won the toss and put Sri Lanka in to bat in the Group D match.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (39) and debutant Dilshan Munaweera (17) laid a solid platform of 54 for the opening wicket before Zimbabwe hit back with a couple of run outs and Dilshan was caught behind.

Sangakkara lifted the tempo with his aggressive running between the wickets with Mendis before he was run out in the last over.

Munaweera drove seamer Kyle Jarvis’ first ball of the innings through cover for a boundary to start the 12-team competition in this southern port city. Malcolm Waller then twice dropped the batsman in the deep.

Luck seemed to be on the hosts’ side when captain Mahela Jayawardene was judged leg before wicket on 12 but had to be recalled after television replays showed legspinner Graeme Cremer had bowled a back foot no-ball.

Although Jayawardene was run out shortly afterward, Mendis’ elevation as a pinch-hitter proved fruitful.

A week after winning the top three ICC awards, Sangakkara drove crisply into the big outfields on either side of the pitch at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium. He also converted singles into twos with his brisk running between the wickets.

Mendis was equally good, lofting Elton Chigumbura for a six over midwicket and hitting four boundaries in his unbeaten knock.

Sangakkara hoisted medium-fast bowler Chris Mpofu (0-49) for a six in the last over, and Thisara Perera further ruined the seamer’s bowling figures by lifting him over the mid-wicket fence.

South Africa is the other team in Group D, with the top two advancing to Super Eights.

12:34ET 18-09-12