Sangakkara hails IPL experience

keeper Kumar Sangakkara expressed surprise at unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis not being a regular for the Kolkata Knight Riders but said the very fact that he was part of the IPL in South Africa, along with 12 other Sri Lankans, would have helped immensely.

Mendis claimed three for 20 from his four overs in his first game against Australia, which Lanka won by six wicket here late last night.

It may be coincidence, but players from countries with lesser Twenty20 match practice leading into the World Twenty20 - Pakistan, Bangladesh and Australia - have struggled in England.

''Even if some of the players did not get consistent games, the fact that they were there, rubbing shoulders with some of the greats of the game, learning from that experience (has helped them),'' Sangakkara said after his team ended Australia's campaign in the ongoing tournament here.

''They were training hard, learning to innovate and it kept them on their toes,'' he added.

Sri Lanka, as a cricket team and country, has gone through rough times in recent months. Last night's game was their first international since the team survived the terror attacks in Lahore.