Wanindu Hasaranga a key figure in semi-final

Wanindu Hasaranga leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets

• Dambulla and Jaffna front-up with high confidence levels 

Dambulla Viiking Captain Dasun Shanaka

Jaffna Stallions Captain Thisara Perera

Jaffna Stallions leg-spinning all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is expected to play a pivotal role in the second My11Circle Lanka Premier League semi-final against Dambulla Viikings at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium today.

“When you have a player like Wanindu at number 7 who can bowl as well as bat well in the side, a captain has lesser worries. With me at 6 and Wanindu at 7, we have a very good balance in the team. He is an outstanding player who can be used in the power plays or in the death overs. He is a captain’s dream and I am proud to have a player of his calibre in the side,” said Jaffna Stallions skipper Thisara Perera.

Hasaranga is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 13 wickets from eight matches with an impressive economy rate of 5.48 runs per over.  

Jaffna are going into the semi-finals in the back of three defeats out of their last four matches, but that performance didn’t deter Perera who said: “The first four matches we played with our full side after that we decided to give opportunities to the younger players because we qualified for the semi-finals. 

“Even with the youngsters every match went till the final over. Our confidence level is high because we will be at full strength for the semi-finals. Avishka (Fernando) and Dhananjaya (De Silva) have recovered from their injuries.”

“In our line-up with have about 5-6 match winners if one of them clicks for the day we can give a good run to any opposition. In our first four matches one of the six players put his hand up and won the match for us. I think in the semi-finals it will happen. We practiced well in preparation for the match and I am confident that one of the five match winners will put up his hand,” Perera said.

“You cannot underestimate any team in the tournament because T20 cricket can be a one-man show. It is the team that performs on the day that will win. Past performances and having big names do not matter. The team that does less mistakes on the day will only win.”

Hasaranga also figures highly in Colombo Viiking captain Dasun Shanaka’s plans.

“Wanindu is Sri Lanka’s number 1 spinner, if we can deprive him of wickets and score around 20-24 runs off him, we can balance it with the rest of the bowlers. His strength is he can take 2-3 wickets in quick succession then the scoring rate drops so we must see how we can play him without giving him any wickets. That’s our plan,” said Shanaka ahead of today’s semi-final.

“Jaffna is a well-organised team and their planning against all opposition is very good. The semi-final is just another match and I am not under any pressure. What I expect is for the team to perform well,” he added.

Shanaka is blessed with a wide variety of bowlers at his disposal which he has used quite effectively in the matches leading up to today’s semi-final.

“After we qualified for the semi-finals, we wanted to give the youngsters a chance because we have seen them play in the domestic circuit and my plan was to give them the opportunities and to help improve their cricket. We have a good variety and it is important to a side because there are bowlers to bowl at each batsman. It is a big advantage when you come to a semi-final. Having given everyone a chance I am in a position to pick the best side to play,” said Shanaka.

Having an overseas player like Samit Patel in the side was a boon, Shanaka said.

“Patel has played in over 300 T20 matches and to have him in the team is a big learning curve for me as well as for my team. We must be grateful to Sri Lanka Cricket and the Sports Minister for going ahead with this tournament. It is watched around the world and the future of a player starts from here,” said Shanaka.

He praised the role played by coach Owais Shah, the former England cricketer. “He is a good coach who does not put pressure on the players. He tries to maintain a cool and calm relaxed dressing room. He has given opportunities for the players to perform. It is a short time for him to make a big impression but I think he is a very knowledgeable coach and we have a lot to learn from him.” (ST)