Well, the fairytale has been written and all that remains is to see if it has a happy ending. All the cricketing Gods watched this on the biggest screen of all. This was redemption for Sangakarra and this was a victory for humanity.
Once again there were no losers today and the West Indies can take comfort knowing they were part of a greater ordainment.
Chris Gayle was rueful at the end saying “One man can take the game away.” He was not referring to himself as his unbeaten 63 was the only notable contribution in his team’s paltry 101.
He was referring to Sri Lanka’s hero, Dilshan, who may never score a hundred more meaningful than his 96. This innings erased the calamity that was Lahore. It lifted the spirits of a nation that has suffered at the hands of nature and man. Dilshan was a man inspired and his teammates got him on strike at every opportunity. Where the old man Jayasuriya struggled, Dilshan lapped, smoked and launched the ball.
The West Indies were out of the contest in the first over bowled by Mathews. On another day the three balls he got his wickets with would not have dislodged the bails. Chris Gayle was always fighting a losing battle. He was aware before the end that this was a script he was powerless to change. When Malinga shattered last man Benn’s stumps, there was no wild celebration. Only a realisation that come Sunday there was a whole new story that may prove bitter sweet in the end.
The final will be a celebration of cricket and the result seems irrelevant in the greater scheme of things.
This is the feelgood theme that will galvanise the people of Pakistan and Sri Lanka and cannot have failed to uplift those that love sport. Sri Lanka are unbeaten and notwithstanding the frivolity of Twenty/20, there is vindication that cricket, in any form, is capable of healing the wounds.
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