Did Sri Lanka mislead everyone with their patchy performances in the two warm-up games?
Well, there was never any doubt that they were one of the favourites coming into the ICC World Twenty20, but they left many wondering with their indifferent form in the warm-up games.
Having nearly survived the Lahore terror attack, the Lankans braced for their first major cricketing action in nearly four months after that shock.
They looked rusty to begin with as they scrapped past Bangladesh chasing 152 and then went down to South Africa in their next game.
But when it came to the real match action in the tournament proper, they were on a different level altogether. A look at their run to the final, where they will play Pakistan at Lord's on Sunday:
SRI LANKA START WITH A BANG!
In their first match of the tournament, they made everyone take notice of their potential with a six-wicket drubbing of fancied Australians.
Set to score 160, Sri Lanka cruised to victory with an over to spare courtesy of half-centuries from Tillakaratne Dilshan (53 from 32 deliveries) and Kumar Sangakkara (55 not out from 42 deliveries).
Ajantha Mendis struggled in the IPL but on the international stage he seemed a different bowler altogether.
He took three for 20 and Lasith Malinga proved to be too hot to handle for the Aussies as he claimed three for 36.
SRI LANKA EASE TO VICTORY
West Indies got a taste of the Sri Lanka's batting flair as the Islanders posted a mammoth 192 for five after they were sent in to bat.
Sanath Jayasuriya smashed 81 from 47 deliveries and Dilshan hit 74 from the same number of deliveries as the two openers put on 124 runs for the opening wicket in 12.3 overs.
West Indies though made a spirited effort with the bat and finished on 177 for five in their 20 overs to go down by 15 runs. Mendis was once again exceptional with two for 25 in four overs and Muralitharan took one for 21.
SRI LANKA DOWN PAKISTAN
There was no stopping Dilshan as his quick 46 from 39 deliveries ensured Sri Lanka post a competitive 150 for seven in their first match in the Super Eights.
Then Sri Lanka showed everyone why they are the best bowling side in the tournament as restricted Pakistan to 131 for nine to win by 19 runs.
Pakistan batsmen struggled against Malinga's fiery pace and swing as the pacer claimed three for 17 in four overs.
Captain Younis Khan tried his best to keep his team in the hunt with 50 from 37 deliveries, but received little support from his other team-mates.
SRI LANKA EDGE PAST IRELAND
Surprisingly, the only team that has given Sri Lanka any bit of scare has been minnows Ireland.
Electing to bat first, Sri Lanka seemed to have taken their opponents lightly and were in big danger of ending up on a low score.
Mahela Jayawardene saved the day with a cracking knock of 78 from 53 deliveries to see his team post 144 for nine. It was the Irish batting that caught everyone's imagination as they made a brave bid to chase down the runs and even seemed in contention for some part of it.
It was anybody's game with Ireland needing 57 from the last six overs.
But Mendis washed away any hopes Ireland had with two wickets in the 15th over and Malinga finished it off with another couple in the 18th over.
John Mooney entertained with a 21-ball 31 that included four boundaries as Ireland went down by a close nine-run margin.
SRI LANKA HUNT DOWN KIWIS
Dilshan continued his fine run with another important knock of 48 and Jayawardene scored a quick 41 from 29 deliveries that saw Sri Lanka post 158 for five.
In reply, New Zealand rarely threatened and except for Martin Guptill's brisk 43 from 34 deliveries, the entire batting line-up was a big disappointment.
The Kiwis folded up for 110 to lose by 48 runs with three overs to spare with Mendis claiming three for nine in three overs.
SRI LANKA CLEAN OFF WINDIES
It was a one-man show by Dilshan yet again as he cracked the highest score of the tournament to help Sri Lanka rout West Indies by 57 runs in the semi-final of the tournament.
Dilshan came to the party with 96 from 57 deliveries, having hit 12 boundaries and two sixes, in his team's score of 158 for five.
In reply, the West Indies run chase was a complete disaster after Angelo Mathews started with three wickets in the first over of the innings.
Except for Chris Gayle, who hit 63 from 50 deliveries, no West Indies batsman managed to cross double figures as they crashed for 101 in 17.4 overs to lose by 57 runs.
Mendis continued his fine run with the ball to claim two for nine in four overs, while Mathews took three for 16.
