Lankans remain upbeat even in defeat

Aussie Warner may not be fit to play:

Elmo Rodrigopulle Reporting From Australia

The Sri Lankan cricketers though losing the first of three Commonwealth Bank Tri series game to Australia in a close finish by 15 runs, still remain upbeat and are confident that they can avenge that defeat and take the contest to the third final. The second final will be played in Adelaide today and the conditions and the wicket will be more favourable to the Lankans.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardena still remains positive and that is good sign which should rub off on the rest of the team. As he said before the game at the Gabba, he was finding 11 fit players to take the field as his key players were nursing injuries, especially his vice captain Angelo Mathews.

Lot of character

Jayawardena was happy the way the Lankans fought back by showing a lot of character.’It was not easy chasing 322 to win losing wickets trying to catch up. That we fought back from being 6 down for 144 is something you want to cultivate in the team’.

He was particularly impressed with the superb efforts of Upul Tharanga and Dhmmika Prasad. ‘When they were dropped, we gave them the reasons for doing so.

They were not disappointed and kept working hard at their game and it showed the way they batted.

‘We have played some consistent cricket and if we improve in certain areas we could do better. We will discuss where we went wrong at the team meetings and I am sure the players will come up with different ideas and we will try to implement them’, said Jayawardena with a twinkle in his eye.

Matthews uncertain

When asked whether Angelo Mathews would be fit to take the field today, Chief Selector and Selector on tour Asantha de Mel said: ‘Probably not. He is nursing a calf injury and may not play’.

When asked whether the same team will play, de Mel responded by saying that it will depend only after a look at the wicket and the conditions.

The wicket is expected to play true and it will be an advantage to win the toss and bat first. In Brisbane the toss favoured Australia and it is hoped that the coin will spin Lanka’s way this time round.

After David Warner smashed a brilliant 163 in 157 balls to take Australia to a massive 321 for 6 in 50 and when Sri Lanka were on the ropes at 144 for six, it looked as though the Lankans would surrender meekly.

Unfamiliar position

But with the arrival of Nuwan Kulasekera and joined by Upul Tharanga who was batting in the unfamiliar position of number six, a transformation began with Kulasekera throwing caution to the winds and blasting the Aussie attack that was given undue respect by the early batsmen.

The Tharanga/Kulasekera partnership saw 104 runs in 69 balls. Aussie skipper Michale Clarke seemed a worried man as the runs started flowing and was seen constantly checking the Duckworth/Lewis run rate summary he was carrying in his pocket.

More intensity

After the dismissal of Kulasekera for 73 in 43 balls, Tharanga and Dhammika Prasad still kept hopes alive with a stand of 37,but with the dismissal of Tharanga for 60 in 67 balls, Prasad 31 ran short of partners and the end was not long in coming.

Had the early batsmen showed more intensity and purpose the result could certainly been different. But then that’s how the game goes.

However the Lankans gave the Aussies the shivers and if they can carry this same form into Adelaide today, and believe in themselves they can stuff the Aussies in the remaining two games.

As for the Aussies, the bad news is that dashing opener David Warner might not take guard.

He showed signs of a groin injury and the Aussie physio Alex Kountori is working hard to get him fit. Only the morning of the match will tell if Warner will be fit to play.

Adelaide, Monday