by Rex Clementine
After Saturday’s 11 run defeat to Pakistan in a thrilling Group ‘A’ match of the ICC Cricket World Cup at the R. Premadasa International Stadium, Sri Lanka’s captain Kumar Sangakkara called for all Sri Lanka supporters to remain calm and not to panic.
After being set a target of 278, Sri Lanka had to create history if they were to win the game, as the highest run chase at the venue was the 271 scored by India against England during the Champions Trophy in 2002.
The hosts were struggling at 96 for four and the game looked out of their reach at that point, but fighting knocks by the captain and Chamara Silva, coupled with some big hitting by the lower order, took them to within 12 runs of the target.
"There are a few things that we can learn from Saturday’s game. Building partnerships is important and we shouldn’t’ panic. We were well behind the run rate, but in the end we fell just 10 runs short. If we had better partnerships after that great start, it would have been a different story," Sangakkara said.
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"It’s disappointing to lose, but the crucial period was when we were 76 for none and then 96 for four. I think that period really made it difficult for us. I thought we did well to restrict Pakistan to 277. With the start we got, the foundation was good enough to kick on, but losing four wickets when you are less than 100 runs makes it a bit difficult."
Lasith Malinga, who sustained a back niggle during a World Cup warm-up match against Netherlands, was not risked for the Pakistan game. The fast bowler, however, is expected to return for the game against Kenya on Tuesday. "Lasith is improving. We don’t want to risk him. We’ve got physios who keep an eye on him and make recommendations. We are talking about the team, the country and the player’s career. So you’ve got to balance all three," Sangakkara added.
Sangakkara became the 300th victim of Shahid Afridi, who became the third Pakistani to reach the milestone after Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Afridi ended with four wickets and was named Man of the Match. "Shahid bowled well. Shoaib (Akthar) getting Mahela and Shahid getting Dilshan in his first over gave them the momentum. Unfortunately, that was probably the critical period of the game."
The Sri Lankans failed to break their awful record against Pakistan in World Cups, where they have lost all seven games. "I wish I had the answer," Sangakkara said. "That was something I looked at today and tried to change. You’ve got to accept the fact that they played well. When the match was hanging in the balance, in the 15th or 16th over, mark, they managed to win that five to six over critical period and turn things around."
Teams generally have used the Batting Power Play conservatively, waiting till the last 10 overs. Sri Lanka, however, on Saturday, did otherwise when they opted for the five over field restriction period in the 34th over. Although some felt that Sri Lanka should have delayed the Power Play, Sangakkara defended his decision. "We had no option. But they did well. They gave away only 38 runs during that period. Ten more runs or so would have been good."
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