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Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene is of the view that his team’s 23-run loss to Pakistan in the second T20 of the series, played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, in Sooriyawewa, Hambantota on June 3, could have been avoided if his batsmen had played Shahid Afridi more carefully.
“We should have played him a bit more sensibly, rotated the strike more,” said Jayawardene, who rested himself for the match in question, with Angelo Mathews taking over as skipper. “Our shot selection wasn't great at the end … till the 13th over, we were pretty much in control, but played two overs for two runs and lost wickets after that.”
The hosts managed a comprehensive 37-run victory in the first game, but were unable to carry the same momentum into the second match of the T20 series, which ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw.
Having won the toss, Pakistan set their hosts an achievable target of 123, after a valiant unbeaten half-century by Afridi (52) resuscitated the otherwise flagging batting line-up, which had gotten the team up to just 41 for 4 by the 11th over.
The home team, however, were unable to manage a successful chase – Yasir Arafat picked up two early scalps (Kumar Sangakkara, Nuwan Kulasekara), and Afridi sealed the Lankan’s fate with two more wickets – Dilshan (who was dismissed at 18) and Chamara Kapugedera (who remained the highest scorer for his side, with 19 runs) – an all-round performance which won him the Player of the Match award.
In addition to suffering from the unorthodox decision to move Kulasekara up to the third spot on the batting line-up, the team was unable to stick it out at the crease, and by the 17th over, the top six had fallen, leaving their side at 85 for 6. The hosts ultimately finished all out at 99, with 4 deliveries remaining - 23 runs short of the target.
Despite the loss, Jayawardene remained focused on the positives, claiming that the match had been good practice for the newer players on the squad, such as Kaushal Lokuarachchi, who claimed 2 for 31.
“It was a good toss to lose in the sense that we got a chance to bat second and see how difficult it was. It was good match practice, we managed to give opportunities for a few players who have done well,” he said. “It's healthy for us knowing we have more options going into the World Cup.”
“We should have played him a bit more sensibly, rotated the strike more,” said Jayawardene, who rested himself for the match in question, with Angelo Mathews taking over as skipper. “Our shot selection wasn't great at the end … till the 13th over, we were pretty much in control, but played two overs for two runs and lost wickets after that.”
The hosts managed a comprehensive 37-run victory in the first game, but were unable to carry the same momentum into the second match of the T20 series, which ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw.
Having won the toss, Pakistan set their hosts an achievable target of 123, after a valiant unbeaten half-century by Afridi (52) resuscitated the otherwise flagging batting line-up, which had gotten the team up to just 41 for 4 by the 11th over.
The home team, however, were unable to manage a successful chase – Yasir Arafat picked up two early scalps (Kumar Sangakkara, Nuwan Kulasekara), and Afridi sealed the Lankan’s fate with two more wickets – Dilshan (who was dismissed at 18) and Chamara Kapugedera (who remained the highest scorer for his side, with 19 runs) – an all-round performance which won him the Player of the Match award.
In addition to suffering from the unorthodox decision to move Kulasekara up to the third spot on the batting line-up, the team was unable to stick it out at the crease, and by the 17th over, the top six had fallen, leaving their side at 85 for 6. The hosts ultimately finished all out at 99, with 4 deliveries remaining - 23 runs short of the target.
Despite the loss, Jayawardene remained focused on the positives, claiming that the match had been good practice for the newer players on the squad, such as Kaushal Lokuarachchi, who claimed 2 for 31.
“It was a good toss to lose in the sense that we got a chance to bat second and see how difficult it was. It was good match practice, we managed to give opportunities for a few players who have done well,” he said. “It's healthy for us knowing we have more options going into the World Cup.”
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