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We are on the right track-Mahela

5 March 2012 03:17 am - 33     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene was staying cool after his side's loss to Australia in the first final of the Commonwealth Bank Series, declaring they were on the right track and confident of firing in the second match.

After allowing Australia to 6-321 it took a heroic effort from the bottom order, led by Upul Tharanga and Nuwan Kulasekara, to scrape within 15 runs of victory at the Gabba on Sunday.

Jayawardene admitted it had been a poor performance for the majority, but said his side would draw strength from the character shown at the death and their good results through the group stage of the tournament.

"I'm quite happy with the effort from the boys. We showed a lot of character to get back into it. Obviously we didn't play the perfect game today," said Jayawardene.

"We lost wickets trying to catch up with the run-rate... but at the end some of the guys showed real character to keep fighting, which is something you want to cultivate in the team."

"Unfortunately one-nil down in a three match tournament, we have to improve to beat them."

"For us as a team, I think we've played some consistent cricket (and) as long as we're in that mode and playing at that level, you know that we just have to fine-tune certain areas in a game and probably handle certain situations a bit better and you can win matches."

Jayawardene was also happy to defend wayward paceman Lasith Malinga, who went for more than nine runs an over for the second time in three matches.

Despite leading all wicket-takers in the tournament with 15 in nine matches, Malinga has had an economy rate of 6.4 and even appeared to have been deserted by his highly-vaunted yorker in his abysmal showing against Australia.

Jayawardene blamed conditions and a continuing adjustment to the recently introduced second new ball in the 25th over, which eliminates one of Malinga's best weapons in reverse swing, and said that he could tolerate a couple of bad games from his top quick after years of consistent service.

"Today it was tough with the ball getting wet. It was slippery so it was tough for him to get it right," he said.

"I think in Hobart (when Malinga went for 96 off 7.4 overs) the accuracy probably wasn't there. But when you have Lasith who's done it for six years and you have two or three games off once in a while, I'm quite happy."

"I think the Aussie bowlers also struggled to hit those full yorkers with the slippery ball. But it’s all about the challenge of improving." (Souce: sportal.com)

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  Comments - 33

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  • balu Monday, 05 March 2012 02:03 PM

    mahela we are not indians or pak! win or loose we support the team! this is only a game not life or religion to us. with Gods blessings lets hope you can do it!

    Amila.G Monday, 05 March 2012 10:20 AM

    I`m dead sure we will win the next two matches. Be positive, you can do it.

    I. O. Sirisena Monday, 05 March 2012 10:44 AM

    Dude, go and smell a coffee...

    Darshan Monday, 05 March 2012 11:03 AM

    20 million will be praying for you,please win and make us proud

    jaya Monday, 05 March 2012 11:21 AM

    Mahela, top four has to get some runs in the board, last match like we won, be positive and beat them

    jihad deen Monday, 05 March 2012 11:42 AM

    wel played guys - we have a enough batsman and allrouders including Kula - we need two good bowlers like Murali and Vaas...then it's realy perfect team,,,
    or
    our bowlers should there best...this is my concern,,
    every day Chandimal cannot play..other players also should support..
    these are times for Mahroof to proof - but he is still in border..in last match if he done well he may permanent for the team..but he missed...

    waz Monday, 05 March 2012 12:14 PM

    We could MAKE it!

    Senna Monday, 05 March 2012 01:47 PM

    Welsaid & good advice. That should be the way to win the matc.

    Inaz Monday, 05 March 2012 02:15 PM

    If Matthews is fit for the next game we'll be a much stronger team, then who would be left out, not Prasad, poor fellow, not in the asia cup squad as well, throughout the CB series he was on the bench until the last game. I always backed up Tharanga as a middle order batsman, because he is very good against spinners. So that leaves out Maharoof, Based on the performence and the team balance I would leave out Maharoof.

    Jan Monday, 05 March 2012 10:00 AM

    I am not sure whether Malinga plays any club cricket but in general the bowlers in the national squad should be given opportunities to bat higher up in the order at least on a selective basis in domestic cricket.

    Noor Monday, 05 March 2012 04:54 PM

    If Malinga took of single of first ball, prasad should have finished the game, malinga is selfish and try to be too smart going for that shot. Malinga is great bowler but seems to playing for him.

    Emil perera Monday, 05 March 2012 06:07 PM

    Eliminate the mistakes done previous game and play the next game effectively.

    kolla Monday, 05 March 2012 06:18 PM

    Mahela does not use the spinners properly. Ranga was going for way less than many bowlers. Clark used Doherty in the powerplays.

    Kept the Rate down and got wickets.

    That is what Ranatunga used to do in the powerplay use Sanath or Darmasena.

    Mahela keeps running to Malinga even if he is going for 20 an over.

    Too much faith in one guy. Especally when other are doing better.!!!

    AhamedAfker Monday, 05 March 2012 07:22 PM

    Our openers made the big mistake in the first final.At any time we should keep our wkts in order to use later.But we never do that. Always throwing our wkts unnecessarily.If Mahela or Dilshan or Sanga is there till 35th over we could won easily (even while we chasing 300 runs). Once we scored in an over 10-15 runs while one left.In that time we should not try to next ball for 6 or 4.All we have to get a single or block. Anyway all the SL you can do it.

    Gamran Monday, 05 March 2012 08:25 PM

    Yes we are on the right track to be runners up again.

    Ranjith Monday, 05 March 2012 11:46 PM

    Yes, we are on the right track to be runners up again.

    moonnajama Monday, 05 March 2012 04:15 AM

    You all play and work hard at least to bring the level. Hope on sixth Srilankan will win the match with doughty. Smarts and action are on the same side of the equation where the sum is success

    DCOL Monday, 05 March 2012 09:33 AM

    So is it you going to bat at No 6-7 (Kula's Place)?

    Kolomba Kaka Monday, 05 March 2012 09:28 AM

    Well said Gayan, though it doesn't go well with many. The so called seniors should consider the ground situation more seriously.

    msdk Monday, 05 March 2012 08:52 AM

    Well done Mahela!! Ur equations r always ryt.... Keep it up & don't leave ur positivity...

    shiyam Monday, 05 March 2012 08:30 AM

    we so the teams determination to win till the last wicket

    we can win the next match !!

    good luck

    Lankan Monday, 05 March 2012 08:16 AM

    I mean at least malings try to get sigle & give srike to prasad.malinga try to play same shot which 5 balls was wasted......

    Fawaz Monday, 05 March 2012 06:38 AM

    You are the best in the world for the job Mahela. Whether we win or loose... The team is making us proud.

    Wara Monday, 05 March 2012 06:21 AM

    Then why he didn't use his"deadly" slow yorker. It could have most effective on that match where India played a do or die game.

    Gamini Udagepola Monday, 05 March 2012 06:32 AM

    Good show by the tail, hope we continue with the same spirit and have two consecutive wins. Good Luck!..

    Amali Monday, 05 March 2012 06:26 AM

    well done for our cricket team, which you never gave up until the end of the match..Its relly great...keep up the good work. well wishes for our team.

    prabath Monday, 05 March 2012 05:59 AM

    If you call is throwing your wicket away, all what malinga scored in IPL also is throwing the wicket away. that's the way he plays. if it comes good all praise, if it doesn't critisism.... poor guy. true for all others as well. human nature is that no one wants to fail intentionally!!!

    Lankan Monday, 05 March 2012 05:48 AM

    Give some batting practise for Malinga,we saw how he batted really well in IPL ..but for SL he is thoring his wicket away..prasad batted really well.good luck for next match.i think Adelade is much better venue for SL

    Siri Monday, 05 March 2012 04:54 AM

    well wishes for next match,you can do it guys.

    Gayan Samarasekara Monday, 05 March 2012 04:56 AM

    We saw where the right track is, when it was 125/5. Do your part carefully. I would like to suggest Kulasekara as an opener, to throw him for a quick start which could be considered a bonus, if we are batting first in the next game.

    Romesh Sam Monday, 05 March 2012 04:52 AM

    Mahela be positive,you can do it. we can win the next game & the one after to take the cup home, please don't throw your wicket. tell Dilshan & Sanga too. the shot that Sanga played does not needed at that time. keep the wicket ones & twos are the one that adds to the total .try to bat second, good fight back in the 1st game. keep it up.


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