Sri Lankan players dedicate maiden World T20 title to retiring veterans Jayawardene and Sangakkara
Toast of the team: Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene (in the background) are hoisted by teammates after the win over India in the World T20 final in Bangladesh yesterday. Pics/Getty Images
Mirpur: It was a fitting farewell for Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, who pulled the curtains on their T20 careers with a memorable triumph at the ICC World T20 and their teammates aptly dedicated it to the two retiring legends of Sri Lankan cricket.
Toast of the team: Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene (in the background) are hoisted by teammates after the win over India in the World T20 final in Bangladesh yesterday. Pics/Getty Images
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A gutsy Sri Lanka produced a clinical display to win their maiden ICC World T20 trophy with a convincing six-wicket victory over India in the summit clash at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Total team work
Sri Lanka captain Lasith Malinga led the tribute, saying the entire team was focused to lift the trophy for the retiring duo. "Sri Lanka this is for you. It was a great game. The win is a tribute to Mahela and Sanga. I am glad the whole team did it for Sanga and Mahela," Mathews said after the win.
Sri Lanka captain Lasith Malinga lifts the ICC World Twenty20 trophy in Mirpur yesterday
Another senior member of the Lankan side, Tillakaratne Dilshan said: It's a good farewell for two happy guys. Sangakkara struggled a bit in the tournament, but today he used all his experience and showed his character."
Jayawardene, on his part, dedicated the victory to the cricket crazy fans of Sri Lanka and thanked all and sundry for standing by him during a memorable career.
"We finally managed to break the jinx. Thanks so much to family and friends but this one is for Sri Lankan fans, who have been waiting since 1996," he said.
Crucial contributions
In their last T20 innings, Jayawardene made a sweet little 24 that set the tempo, while Sangakkara anchored it to perfection with an unbeaten 52. India's Virat Kohli ended up making a belligerent 77 in a losing cause.
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