Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood said he believes his players have the capacity to regroup and come together for the match against New Zealand in the Super 12 Stage of the T20 Cricket World Cup.Sri Lanka take on New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday and the team’s preparations were not the best on course following the hamstring injury to giant fast bowler Binura Fernando who bowled just five balls in the match against Australia on Tuesday and left the field.
Fernando will return home joining Dushmantha Chameera who was also put out of the World Cup due to injury.
“I truly believe that we can not only challenge this group, but come out victorious. We showed that in the Asia Cup and the confidence is growing within the group. The important thing from today is to regroup and get ready for the next game,” Silverwood said.
Sri Lanka suffered a terrible thrashing at the hands of Australia on Tuesday at the Perth stadium, a venue that has not gone down too well with Sri Lanka.
Silverwood acknowledged that Sri Lanka was at the receiving end and expected Australia to come back hard after losing their first match to New Zealand as Marcus Stoinis made a hurricane onslaught on the bowlers hammering six sixes and four fours and reaching a half century in just 17 balls, the fastest by an Australian in T20 cricket.
“We knew Australia had to come hard at us because of their net run rate. The way he (Stoinis) came back at us and struck the ball was exceptional,” said Silverwood.
For the record Sri Lanka was able to dismiss explosive Australia opener David Warner in a match on Australian soil for the first time in 10 years when he fell to a brilliant low catch taken by Dasun Shanaka off spinner Maheesh Theekshana.
Batting first after losing the toss Sri Lanka could not come to grips with the pace and bounce of the Perth wicket but Silverwood made no complaints and rather complimented the batting for taking the team to a 157 total.
“I can’t fault the way the guys at the top of the order played. The ball did move around early on. Life was difficult for us. We’re not used to that sort of bounce that we get here in Perth. The way they went about their business to set that platform, they did very well,” said Silverwood.
As cover for Fernando Sri Lanka has already sent Matheesha Pathirana and Asitha Fernando who are currently in Melbourne as replacements.
