Match report: Sri Lanka into dream home final

source: cricinfo.com

• Sri Lanka 139/4 (Jayawardene 42, Dilshan 35) defeated Pakistan 123/7 (Hafeez 42, U Akmal 29)

Summary:
A 63-run opening partnership between Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan has laid the platform for Sri Lanka to record a tight 16-run over Pakistan, earning it the chance to become the first team to win the T20 World Cup as the host nation. The Sri Lankan's began cautiously on what was a  crumbling, spin-friendly wicket (a rarity in T20 cricket) scoring at barely a run a ball for the first ten overs. But this enabled the Sri Lankan's to be more aggressive in the final ten overs to post a competitive score on such a bowler friendly wicket. Pakistan began in a similar manner in their innings, but unlike the Sri Lankan batsmen they were unable to lift the run rate at the innings wore on. Spinner Rangana Herath was the chief destroyer for Sri Lanka, taking 3/25.

Leading from the front:
In important matches, such as this one, what you want is your captains to have a major impact on the result and that certainly is what happened here. Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, back at the controls after a game off, turned in a man-of-the-match performance top scoring with 42 and playing with a freedom and creativity that few others matched on a tricky pitch. The second best player on the night was Pakistan's captain Mohammad Hafeez who also made 42 and took 1/6 with the ball, but unfortunately didn't have the support around him.

Who's hot:

Sri Lanka: Jayawardene was the star, but a few others made important cameos. Kumar Sangakkara made a quick fire 18 and then made two stumpings as wicketkeeper, including that of Hafeez in a moment that arguably turned the result. Herath picked up the key wickets of Hafeez and Shahid Afridi.
Pakistan: Umar Akmal was the only other Pakistani batsman to make a real contribution, continuing his solid tournament with the bat. Paceman Sohail Tanvir conceded only 11 runs from his three overs.

What it means:
Sri Lanka: They advance to the final, and have the chance to win their first piece of major silverware since the 2002 Champions Trophy. In what could be a good omen, both of Sri Lanka's ICC tournament victories have come in tournaments that were held in Sri Lanka.
Pakistan: Made the semi's or better in all four editions of the T20 World Cup, but for only one win. In the end their unpredictability proved their downfall, as there wasn't a consistent performer they could rely on in the tough situations.

The Votes:
MVP: 3- M Jayawardene, 2- M Hafeez, 1- K Sangakkara (not a big match statistically, but involved in the key moments)
Tucker Trophy: 1- U Gul (couldn't get it done with bat or ball), 2- K Akmal (finished dirty tournament with fourth single figure score), 3- S Afridi (Pakistan's talisman made second golden duck of the tournament)