Matheesha Pathirana Is Trickier Than Malinga: Sikandar Raza

image-lhrxc29cSikandar Raza in action | Source: Twitter 

Chennai Super Kings have struck gold with Matheesha Pathirana, a game-changer whose lethal yorkers have sent shivers down the spines of the opposition batters. His exceptional performances have drawn parallels to the renowned Sri Lankan speedster, Lasith Malinga. 

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings all-rounder Sikandar Raza has heaped praise on the Sri Lankan young pacer, stating that Matheesha Pathirana is more deceptive and trickier than the legendary fast bowler Lasith Malinga as his bowling action comes lower. 

During a conversation with ESPNCricinfo, here is what Sikandar Raza said: 

"Pathirana is a quality talent. I remember that Malinga was hard enough to face but Pathirana is just a bit trickier. His arm comes lower. Malinga was side on, I remember,”

"On that wicket, with those cutters and his 145 kph pace, you just didn't know what's coming. I was just trying to find a boundary so I was lucky to get those three runs,"  

In his 12 appearances for Chennai Super Kings, Pathirana has managed to secure nine wickets with an economy rate of 7.81. 

Enjoyed the atmosphere at Chepauk: Raza

Raza, the standout performer in the nail-biting 200 plus run chase against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk, attributed their victory to the electric atmosphere created by the roaring crowd, whose loud support inspired them to clinch the win. 

"I give credit to their supporters. It wasn't the biggest stadium I have played at, but certainly the noisiest stadium. The CSK fans were cheering their team from the first to the last ball. They were really noisy but in a good way. It was a great vibe,” 

"I know they were supporting the home team but I enjoyed that atmosphere. Most importantly, we became the first team to successfully chase 200-plus in Chennai. It hasn't been done before." 

Although Sikandar Raza has not been consistently included in Punjab Kings' playing XI, he has undeniably left a lasting impression whenever given the chance. 

With a strike rate of around 141, Raza has scored 139 runs in just seven matches. Furthermore, his bowling skills have not gone unnoticed, as he has managed to snare three wickets across six innings at an economy rate of around 9.92.