Sri Lanka need to keep ‘winning momentum’ for World Cup – Hasaranga

Captains Dasun Shanaka of Sri Lanka and Salman Agha of Pakistan with the Rhino Roofing trophy after the three-match T20I series ended in a one-all draw

• Both sides use series to fine-tune their engines

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka’s leading T20I bowler Wanindu Hasaranga said that the win in the third T20I against Pakistan was only the beginning and that they will have to keep the winning momentum going leading into the T20 World Cup starting next month.

“We have another 3 T20Is (against England) before the World Cup. We are hoping to achieve the same results in these matches and carry the confidence we gain from it into the World Cup,” said Hasaranga at the post-match press conference after Sri Lanka had beaten Pakistan by 14 runs to win the third T20I and thereby share the three-match series one-all at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Sunday.

After skipper Dasun Shanaka’s rapid 34 off 9 balls had given Sri Lanka a challenging total of 160, Hasaranga spun a web around the Pakistani batsmen capturing 4/35 to keep them down to a total of 146-8. That performance won him the Player of the Match. He also went on to bag the Player of the Series award as well. 

“Going into a World Cup it is imperative not one or two players but whether all 15 players are having the same confidence. This win is important towards achieving that goal. In today’s match the batsmen performed well, but we are not over confident with our performance. What we are looking at is, as a team, how we can perform consistently,” said Hasaranga.

“We have to accept the fact that over the past few years we have not been consistent not only in the batting but in all three departments. We are in the process of improving. We have to improve our shortcomings very quickly and going into a tournament like the World Cup we must lessen our mistakes if we are to win. We have 3 matches against England, if we can perform well against them we can take the confidence into the World Cup.”

Hasaranga was confident if Sri Lanka use the conditions properly and the players perform the roles they are expected to, they have a good chance of making progress in the World Cup.

Player of the Match and Player of the Series Wanindu Hasaranga 

“We know our conditions very well, having played cricket from our youthful days. If we use the conditions properly and we get the conditions which suit us, we can do something big in the World Cup. If the team is stable and the players perform their roles accordingly, we have a side that can give a good account of ourselves.”

Hasaranga said that playing in rain affected matches was also vital. “It’s good to have challenges like having to play on rain affected surfaces ahead of the World Cup, then we can identify what we have to do in such circumstances. We learnt in the first T20I how difficult it was to bat even under home conditions after the rains. We did not want to repeat the same mistakes we made in that game. That is the character of any good team, not to keep repeating the same mistakes. When Pakistan batted the conditions were much easier. It is good to play in such situations and learn how to come out of it. We don’t know what type of conditions we will come across during the World Cup. We have to be prepared for it.”

Pakistan on their part are in good space ahead of the T20 World Cup. They came to Sri Lanka to get their players, several of whom are new, used to the conditions as they will be playing all their World Cup matches here.

“Today it was a learning curve for us on how to bowl with a wet ball which I think is going to play a big part in the World Cup as well. I think we have ticked that box,” said the Captain Salman Agha.

“The way (Khawaja) Nafay batted was outstanding, the way Salman (Mirza) is bowling and Shadab Khan, coming back after a layoff. He bowled and batted very well in both matches. The young guys are doing really well, they are raising their hands when it is needed. With the experienced players coming back for the next series and the World Cup, it is going to be a great side with young and experienced players.”

Pakistan won the first game quite comprehensively, the second was washed out by rain, and Sri Lanka stormed back with a thoroughly professional performance in the final match. Fittingly, the Rhino Roofing trophy was shared. Both sides will feel this series served as ideal preparation to fine-tune their engines ahead of the T20 World Cup.