Power-packed Sri Lanka posted the biggest victory in Twenty20 cricket on Friday as they thrashed hapless Kenya by 172 runs in the world championship in Johannesburg.
The World Cup finalists earlier this year hit a new Twenty20 record total of 260-6 after being sent in to bat at the Wanderers and then dismissed Kenya for 88 runs in the Group C match.
The margin of victory was a whopping 72 runs more than England’s 100-run romp over Australia at Southampton in 2005 and firmly established Sri Lanka as strong title contenders in the inaugural world event.
Veteran Sanath Jayasuriya led the way with 88 off 44 balls and captain Mahela Jayawardene blasted 65 off 28 before Jehan Mubarak smashed an unbeaten 46 from 13 balls at the end.
Left-handed Mubarak took 29 runs off the 19th over bowled by seamer Lameck Ngoche as Sri Lanka surpassed by 39 runs the previous highest total of 221-5 by Australia against England in Sydney earlier this year.
The heavy defeat sent Kenya home from the tournament after they had lost their first match against New Zealand.
Sri Lanka play the Kiwis here on Saturday with both teams assured of a place in the Super Eights round.
Jayasuriya, the oldest player in the 12-nation tournament at 38, was named man of the match with 11 boundaries and four sixes at the top of the order.
”We played smart cricket,” said Jayawardene. ”When Sanath starts like that we are bound to have a big total on the board. The others chipped in as well.
”It’s nice to get two records in our first match of the world championship. It will give is the confidence for our remaining matches.”
Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo conceded Sri Lanka had ”taught his team a lesson” on how to play the shortest version of the game.
”We did not bat or bowl well, perhaps we were not allowed to by the opposition,” he said. ”They were just too good for us.”
Jayasuriya put on 75 off 39 balls for the second wicket with Kumar Sangakkara (30) and an incredible 87 in 30 balls for the third with Jayawardene.
The Sri Lankan captain, who reached 50 off just 22 balls, helped himself to nine fours and two sixes.
Mubarak, who came to bat in the 19th over at 215-6, pounded Ngoche for 6,6,6,4,6 from the first five balls he faced before ending the over with a single.
In the final over bowled by Peter Ongondo, Mubarak hit the first two balls for boundaries and the third for a six.
Lameck Ngoche went for 61 runs in his four overs and Tikolo for 25 in his only over.
The Sri Lankan bowlers proved too strong for the Kenyans with Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga and Tillekeratne Dilshan claiming two wickets each. — Sapa-AFP