“When Pathum and Kusal have been batting, the pitch appeared a bit sluggish they usually did very well,” Samarawickrama mentioned. “If they’d taken dangers at that time and received out, possibly I’d have gotten out cheaply too. However as a result of they took the sport slightly deeper and gave us some momentum, I discovered it simpler too.
“After I noticed the pitch, we talked about how this wasn’t a 320 pitch – it is a 250 floor. Even that you simply simply must get within the final eight overs or so. If we had gone too exhausting early, we would have been out for 220. So what I attempted to do after getting a begin was to get the staff to 250.”
Samarawickrama, who made his Sri Lanka debut in Assessments in 2017, has clearly labored on his white-ball batting since then. On Saturday, he incessantly shuffled in the direction of off stump to entry the leg aspect, and backed away to leg to hit by off – typically behind level.
“Transferring across the crease is one thing that I began within the LPL final yr – taking part in with the bowler’s thoughts and determining find out how to put stress on him,” Samarawickrama mentioned. “Nevertheless the pitch performs, I’ve to again my strengths, certainly one of which is to again away and hit. It is one thing I discovered with plenty of exhausting work, so I again myself to try this.”
Sri Lanka have now additionally gained 13 ODIs consecutively, second solely to Australia, who had gained 21 in a row.
“Whenever you play as a staff, your personal performances are lifted,” Samarawickrama mentioned. “If we had misplaced, my efficiency immediately would not be highlighted both. If the highest order is not doing nicely, the center order will get it completed. If the center order cannot do it, the highest order has scored runs. We’re taking part in as a staff.”
