New Delhi: Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka is convinced their eight-wicket win over Australia in the T20 World Cup is one of their “best performances in recent past”.
Opener Pathum Nissanka‘s 52-ball 100 guided Sri Lanka to win in Pallekele on Monday and ensured a place in the super eight stage of the tournament.
“One of the best performances in recent past. Happy about the way first innings went,” Shanaka said after the match.
Sri Lanka were set a record 182 to win but Nissanka’s unbeaten knock and Kusal Mendis‘ 38-ball 51 enabled them to reach the target in 18 overs.
“Wonderful to qualify for Super Eights. After many years making it to the next round. Hopefully we’ll make it to the semis as well. We knew it was due. I know there were a lot of chats when we opted to bowl. Our group was confident. Boundaries are comparatively short,” the skipper said.
Nissanka said the pitch facilitated strokeplay and he revelled in it.
“The wicket was pretty good today and I played my normal game. I am happy that I was able to get a hundred and get the team home,” he said.
“We needed a good power play. We got a good partnership with Kusal Mendis. And we were able to continue from there and after that it was just continuing the inning and seeing it through.”
Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana suffered a hamstring injury in his first over and had to be taken off the attack.
“We were still very positive after losing Pathirana. Had the confidence. Knew about the wicket as well. Each and everyone showed high body language,” Shanaka said.
“Everybody wanted to contribute somehow. Missing Hasaranga and now Pathirana is a big miss. Need to take the good things from here.”
Comments are closed.