Sri Lanka middle it

Samaraweera,Mathews bailed team out in semis,restored confidence in middle-order.

Renowed for his steady and unfashionable style of batting,Thilan Samaraweera,who not long ago was considered too slow for the limited-overs format,has since settled into a stabilising role in the Sri Lankan team over the last couple of years. Dour in his approach and not really adept or equipped at providing any significant excitement with his bat,the veteran middle-order batsman,however,is still considered a liability in the present thrill-a-minute nature of ODI cricket. On more than one occasion since regaining his place in the line-up though the 35-year-old Samaraweera has bailed his team out of a tricky situation with a typically backs-to-the-wall rear-guard knock.

But on Tuesday,with Sri Lanka still requiring over 30 runs with a number of balls still remaining,and not to forget the Kiwi bowlers trying their best to strangulate the batsmen,Samaraweera did something,which seemed as unnecessary as it was uncharacteristic of him.

He swung manically at a Tim Southee-delivery and missed it by the proverbial country mile. And though it would have been lost in the ceaseless din at the Premadasa Stadium,the entire Sri Lankan dressing-room heaved a collective sigh of relief as the ball narrowly missed the stumps on its route.

Samaraweera,however,could be pardoned for his unexpected loss of nerve. The pressure was immense and the fired-up New Zealand bowlers led by Southee had a definite spring in their stride.

For close to three quarters of the semi-final,the Sri Lankans had looked dominant and certain winners. A comprehensive win for the hosts,however,had been a foregone conclusion around the ground from even prior to the toss. But as skipper Kumar Sangakkara exited the scene after steadying the chase with a solid 54,the result didnt seem as obvious despite the Lankans requiring less than 50 runs with six wickets in hand.

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Openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga had set the foundation on most occasions for their team,including two double-hundred partnerships,while the veteran duo of Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene too had scored a century each in the World Cup. The middle to lower order,though,hasnt been really exposed to much pressure or stress in the tournament till Tuesday. In fact they had crumbled the only time the onus of leading a run-chase fell on their shoulders as the incisive Pakistani bowlers settled the issue in the league encounter.

And with averages well below 35,Samaraweera,Chamara Silva and Angelo Mathews would hardly have generated too much confidence as they got together against the Kiwis. But though they never looked really comfortable during their respective stints in the middle,the duo managed to settle the nerves around the ground at least briefly with a crucial stand,before Mathews combined with Samaraweera to seal the deal. Finishing unbeaten on a chancy 23,it only was apt in the end that the veteran scored the winning runs.

Sangakkara relieved

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The Sri Lankan middle-order had stood up when it really mattered and taken their team through in tough conditions. And it wasnt surprising to hear Sangakkara sound more than pleased with their contributions.

The middle order won the match for us. I dont think it8217;s anything to worry about. I always said if you give them the opportunity they would deliver. They got it today in very tense circumstances. We are very happy with what theyve done, he had said after the Lankans had booked their place in the World Cup final.

Though they failed to get past Pakistan and their highly-anticipated clash against Australia was called off,the Lankan bowlers have been very clinical ever since,and had been clearly dominant in seeing off New Zealand in their league encounter at Mumbai and the quarter-final against England. With two wins separating them from lifting the biggest prize in world cricket,the middle-order finally stood up and was counted.

It was good for the middle order to show us what they can do as well. Thilan did exactly what was expected of him,Chamara Silva chipped in and Angelo Mathews as usual finished it up for us, Sangakkara had added.

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And while Mohali dominated most of the headlines and the Indians and the Pakistanis,and the rest of the world,focused all their attentions towards the second semi-final,Sangakkara amp; Co just seemed to get one of their worrisome aspects sorted.