Sri Lanka won by 82 runs with Zimbabwe 1st Match T20 World Cup 2012

A fourth-wicket partnership of 94 between Kumar Sangakkara and Jeevan Mendis allowed Sri Lanka to add 96 runs in the last eight overs to post an imposing total in first match of the World T20. Steady progress in the first half of their innings constructed the platform for Sri Lanka but it was left to the middle order to push forward the advantage.

Zimbabwe were overawed by occasion and quality of opposition and it showed. A shoddy showing in the field – something they have battled with of late – led to them conceding heavily while wickets remained elusive on a slow surface. Their spinners held the reins a little but their seamers were targeted by a strong Sri Lankan line-up.

After Zimbabwe elected to field, Kyle Jarvis found swing early on. He bowled an impressive two-over spell upfront, after he loosened up with a full toss. Dilshan Munaweera, the debutant, accepted the gift and opened his international account with a four past point. Jarvia should have had an early reward as well. Munaweera hoicked a delivery to midwicket and his timing was poor enough to give Malcolm Waller time to run from mid-on. The ball was always moving away from Waller, though, and he was left grasping humid air instead of the first wicket.

Jarvis’ opening partner, Brian Vitori, was also could have had an early scalp. Tillakaratne Dilshan got a leading edge over Brendan Taylor’s head and even though the wicketkeeper moved quickly, he could not get to it in time to take the catch.

Sri Lanka’s opening pair flirted with danger again when they stole a single to point in the same over as the Dilshan edge. A direct hit would have had him run-out. Zimbabwe kept the pressure on Sri Lanka and Munaweera could not control his attacking instincts when he flicked Chris Mpofu to deep midwicket. Waller found the ball following him and spilled a sitter. Munaweera went on to glance Mpofu’s low full-toss to the boundary after Dilshan brought out his scoop to make things worse for the bowler.

Luck finally went Zimbabwe’s way in the seventh over when Munaweera called for a run after sweeping to short fine-leg. Although Dilshan sent him back, he was too far down and lost his bat in search of his crease. Mpofu’s throw was accurate and the debutant was dismissed.

Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene battled to pick the leg-spin of Graeme Cremer and Jayawardene was given out lbw after he played outside the line to a full delivery. Cremer had cut the side crease and a no-ball was called. Two balls later, Dilshan tried to cut Cremer but edged to Taylor and Zimbabwe had hauled Sri Lanka back in.

In the 27 deliveries that Sri Lanka were unable to score a boundary, Dilshan was out and Jayawardene run-out while attempting a second run. Waller redeemed himself with the throw from deep point. But Zimbabwe could not build on the pressure they created.

Jeevan, who was moved up the order, broke the boundary drought when he drove down the ground off Mpofu, who was slow to get down in his follow-through. The ball sliced between the two fielders at mid-on and mid-off and Zimbabwe’s morale had been dented. Mendis picked Cremer better than his predecessors and hit him for back-to-back fours to bring up the Sri Lankan 100. He also sunk his teeth into Elton Chigumbura who bowled a poor over, giving away the first six of the match.

Zimbabwe unravelled while Kumar Sangakkara kept a cool head and collected runs in twos and threes, along with a gorgeous drive over point, which went for four. Sangakkara departed in the last over but the hard work had already been done.

Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent