SL skipper Dasun Shanaka says team should have secured bigger win over UAE

SL players celebrate a wicket against UAE

The Sri Lanka team bounced back from their opening defeat to Namibia, by trouncing the UAE in their subsequent qualifying fixture. The Dasun Shanaka-led side registered a 79-run win over the UAE in Geelong, after batting first and piling up 152 on the board.

Senior spinner Wanindu Hasaranga claimed three wickets in the run-chase to dust out the UAE batters for just 73. Despite claiming an emphatic win, skipper Shanaka seems to be disappointed with the batting effort of his side, as he stated his team should have posed a bigger target upfront.

Dasun Shanaka expresses disappointment with team’s batting

During the post-match presentation, the Sri Lankan captain expressed his disappointment over team’s inability to capitalise on the solid start. He said that he expected his side to score in the range of 180 and 190, instead of managing just 152 off their 20 overs.

The Sri Lankan openers, Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, provided a blazing start at the top. The latter of the two even scored a half-century and top-scored in the innings with his 74-run knock.

However, the skipper himself and Bhanuka Rajapaksa failed to get going in the middle overs. The Lankan middle-order collapsed at the death overs and the side eventually had to crawl their way to 152-8.

“Really disappointed with the way we ended the innings (with the bat). We could have scored 180-190. The tone was set up front, but Bhanuka Rajapaksa and I didn’t click. It was important to tick with a win, we focused on a win only.”

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