Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has described Tillakaratne Dilshan a worthy winner of player of the tournament award in the just-concluded Twenty20 World Cup and said the Sri Lankan batsman's improvised scoop shot has added entertainment to the tournament.
"Tillakaratne
(Dilshan) has been a tower of strength for Sri Lanka throughout this tournament. He has impressed us all with his improvisation, courage out in the middle and wonderful range of shots," ICC Cricket Committee Chairman Lloyd said after presenting Dilshan with the player of the tournament award at Lord's last night.
"Although there were many other players who excelled in this event, I think he is a worthy winner of the player-of-the-tournament award," added Lloyd, himself a two-time World Cup winner at Lord's in 1975 and 1979.
Asked about Dilshan's scoop shot against fast and medium pacers over the wicketkeeper's head to the boundary, Lloyd said, "I'm not sure how he manages that scoop shot. If I had tried that I think I would have ended up with a mouth full of ball but it was wonderful entertainment and his contribution really gave the tournament a boost."
Opening the innings, Dilshan scored 317 runs at a strike-rate of 144.74 and an average above 52. He scored three half-centuries and his unbeaten 96 in the semifinal against the West Indies was the highest individual score of the event.
Dilshan also hit more boundaries than any other player --46 fours and three sixes.