During the post match press conference conducted after yesterday’s 102-run loss to South Africa, Sri Lanka batter Sadeera Samarawickrama was questioned on the Sri Lankan players readiness for playing in flat batting wickets in the World Cup being played in India.
“Yes it was a big impact for us as we were playing in turning wickets in Sri Lanka and there was no opportunity to chase big targets and also didn’t score big totals when batting first” Sadeera said responding to the question.
“If we had got such good wickets in Sri Lanka, I don’t think our bowlers would be surprised coming here. I hope we get good tracks in Sri Lanka in the future” he further said.
Having been put on to bat by Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka, South Africa put on a massive 428 for 5, on a placid batting wicket at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Kolkata.
Even through the Proteas were circumspect in the beginning, scoring just 48/1 in their fist 10 overs, they accelerated alarmingly in the next 40 overs to score 380 more runs at a blistering run rate of 9.5 runs per over.
It was quite evident that Sri Lankan bowlers looked at sea during this onslaught by the South Africans, not knowing exactly what needs to be done to stop the flow of runs with absolutely no help from the pitch to the bowlers.
Slow and sluggish pitches prepared during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) and also in the Asia cup 2023 held in Sri Lanka were questioned by many cricket experts on how it will help prepare the players for the upcoming flat wickets anticipated at the World Cup played in India. (NewsWire)