Well done LIONS! I am still proud to be a Sri Lankan!

I was planning to write something on my blog today with a winning mind ... It is interesting, even after seeing our boys get defeated by Indians in the Worldcup final 2011, still I can write something with a winning mind set.

I saw on the facebook, some Sri Lankans are criticizing our players who had been their champions and heros until they scored 275 by batting first in the final. Isn't it unfair?

Our players played really well throughout the tournament and provided fantastic cricket entertainment to Sri Lankan cricket lovers. Check out the following records:

• Dilshan is the No. 1 run scorer in this worldcup (500 runs in 9 matches, with an average of 62.5, and with a strike rate of 90.74)
• Sangakkara and Tharanga holding 3rd and 5th position in that list scoring 465 and 395 respectively.
• Do not forget, Mahela has scored more than 300 runs—304 to be exact—with the stunning inning he played in the final by scoring unbeaten 103.
• Highest batting average of 93.00 hold by Sangakkara beating the "Man of the Series"—Yuvraj Signh.
• Mehela, Dilshan, and Tharanga scored 2 centuries each while Sanga and Dilshan scoring 4 half centuries (50s) each during this tournament.
• Dilshan scored the 3rd highest score (144), while Tharanga scoring the 5th highest score (133) in the tournament.
• The legend Murali is in the 5th position by taking 15 wickets in the bowlers list. Do not forget the great commitment he showed even with having an injury.
• Malinga holds the 2nd place of best bowling figures list by taking 6 wickets for 38 runs including a hat-trick.
  
• The best wicket keeper in the tournament is Sangakkara. He has contributed in 14 dismissals by taking 10 catches and 4 stumping chances.
• Most number of catches in the tournament has been taken by Mahela (9 catches).
• Highest partnership of the tournament is 282 runs by Dilshan and Tharanga against Zimbabwe. Well, not only that, they even hold the 2nd place by scoring 231 against England with 2 unbeaten centuries.

I have a question for the guys who criticize the team in facebook. After reading all these records, are you guys still criticizing our players?

One would ask, don't you have a criticism against anyone? My answer is, "Yes I have ..."

That is against poor Chamara Silva. He played as a specialist batsman in the worldcup team. Following is his performance:

• Against Canada - dnb; Pakistan - 57 runs 78 balls (SL lost); Kenya - dnb; Australia - dnb; Zimbabwe - 4 runs 2 balls; New Zealand - 3 runs 5 balls; Quarter Final - dnb; Semi final - 13 runs 25 balls
  8 matches, 77 runs, 110 balls
  Average 19.25 (4 innings)
  Sangakkara took time until the final match to realize that there's no point of keeping him in the team anymore.
  

Other than that, it has been a wonderful overall performance by the Sri Lankan team.

I changed my status in facebook to "5 runs to loose the worldcup 2011 ... CONGRATULATIONS going out to India ... and for the LIONS of my country ... well played guys!!! Runners up!!!" when I realized that we're definitely going to loose the match today.

Right after loosing the match, I changed it to "Finally, Sanga's luck, Mahela's courage, Slingas of Maliga, and Dushra's from the legend Murali were not enough to bring the cup home ... but ... many congratulations to my team ... still I am proud to be a Sri Lankan :)."

Yes, I am still proud to be a Sri Lankan! Many CONGRATULATIONS to our Sri Lankan team and thank you guys for the great entertainment provided.

Regards,
CJ