Friday Dec 27, 2024
Friday Dec 27, 2024
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Wanindu Hasaranga relaxes during a practice session at Pallekele
Sa’adi Thawfeeq
reporting from Pallekele
Sri Lanka’s prime spinner in white ball cricket Wanindu Hasaranga said that the wins over West Indies in the T20I and ODI formats will be important for Sri Lanka as they prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
“If you take the win (ODI) against India and the win here it’s a very satisfying victory for us as a team because in another two or three years, we have a T20 World Cup and a 50-over World Cup. We are targeting that and moving forward as a team. This victory will be important for us in the future.”
Sri Lanka defeated West Indies by five wickets on Wednesday to clinch the three-match ODI series 2-0 with one match to play on Saturday. Hasaranga along with his spin partner Maheesh Theekshana played a vital role in the win taking seven wickets between them.
A fit Hasaranga took 4/40 as West Indies were dismissed for 189. He missed the best part of the ODI series against India due to a recurring hamstring injury.
“I have to keep my fitness at a good level because we are playing white ball cricket continuously,” said Hasaranga at the post-match media conference. “As a cricketer we must try to manage ourselves. We had two days’ rest between matches in this series which is good for the players. I always try to work on my bowling fitness especially with my hamstring injury which has recurred six times. I have to ensure that I don’t get injured again. With the trainer and physio, I am working on it through treatment and rehab.”
Sri Lanka had West Indies down on their knees at 58-8 but allowed them to recover to 189 through some lapses on the field.
“We dropped two catches that can happen with any team. If it happens continuously, we must look at finding a solution for it. The two catches were dropped by two of our best fielders. I am sure in the next match they will correct their mistakes. We have shown in the first match as well as the second game that we are a good fielding side despite those dropped catches. If you are a good side, you will ensure it won’t happen again. For us to bowl out a team like the West Indies for 189 is creditable.”
“We played to our strengths which is spin and to the West Indies’ weakness against spin. We know that the West Indies have batsmen who can score quickly and go for the big shots. But our wily spinners were able to achieve a good win.”
Expressing his thoughts on Charith Asalanka’s captaincy, Hasaranga said, “Charith has been my captain since the Under-13 side (at Richmond College, Galle) until I finished school. I know what he can do and how good a captain he is. When I played for the Sri Lanka Under-19 also he was my captain. I know what types of decisions he makes, most of them are on the positive side. He has all the qualities of a captain. As a team we have to give him our full backing. Only then can we win. That’s what we are carrying forward.”
