Sanjiva Senanayake, October 2012
Off to Khetta, at last the big day’s here
Optimists all, with neither doubt nor fear.
Through the dust and heat, we were quick on our feet
As Eau de Canal escorted us to our seats.
It was packed with everyone’s brother and sister
The Papare bands made our eardrums blister
As far away from Lord’s as cricket ever goes
The sound and the sweat filled all of our pores.
We lost the toss, but is that really news?
We practised, tried Sanga; it’s no bloody use.
Sammy’s grin gleamed and lit up where we sat
“OK, maan” he said, “we’ll first have a bat”.
Gayle, the billa, did sweet nothing in his inning
But when he fell we thought we were winning.
Their own cool time the Windies were taking
It seemed we had a Test match in the making.
When young Mendis bowled, they played French cricket.
We thought it was worth what we paid for the ticket.
After ten of their twenty they were just thirty two
Then Mahela tossed the ball to you-know-who.
We were smirking “how the mighty have fallen”
When out of history stepped a freak called Marlon
Twenty one runs in six – quite a work-over
Wisely Mahela pulled the speed down next over
But wait a minute! What the …? My God ! Aho!
He has given our man Malinga another go.
The Met department had goofed once again
It was not dainty drops but balls that rained.
One hundred and five in their second ten!
But it’s OK we have eleven good men,
And we are playing at home, just hear that roar
Play normal cricket and we’ll gallop home, no?
The first over started, there was a ‘zing’ and a ‘splat’
Did anyone actually see Dilshan bat?
Sanga lobbed softly to a man near the pickets
A very low, slow bouncer hit Angelo’s wickets.
After Mahela’s cute little reverse sweep missed
Jeevan and Thisara ran as if they were pissed.
As we started steadily going down the pallang
The Windies were dancing their disgusting Gangnam.
Screaming “Mage ammo, what’s up with our side”
Desperate fans searched for a quick pesticide.
Should we be distraught? Well, just a chooty bit.
“We had our game plan, just couldn’t execute it”
While our captain mouthed the ritual “Sorry, ah!”
The Windies rubbed in chillie with that jig from Korea
Consistency has always been our guiding motto
Always a bit short when at the finish-photo
We once again proved what in our hearts we knew
When it comes to Finals, Lanka’s ‘Number Two’