The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Samaraweera credits Mathews

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 09, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Samaraweera credits Mathews

Special Correspondent

Colombo: Thilan Samaraweera might have been adjudged the Man-of-the-Match, but the century-maker credited Angelo Mathews with turning the first ODI of the Compaq Cup on Tuesday.

“He scored his 51 in 60 balls, and I think that was the turning point because it took the pressure off me, and helped me play my natural game,” Samaraweera said after his maiden ODI century and his partnership of 127 with Mathews for the sixth wicket had helped Sri Lanka defeat New Zealand. “He also batted very well in the Power Play.”

What were his thoughts when he went out to bat? “There was a lot of pressure on me because people say I can’t play one-day cricket,” said Samaraweera.

“It was also a difficult wicket to bat on. But I had a clear mindset, and that helped. Once I passed 50, I knew I could play a few shots.”

Andy Moles, New Zealand’s coach, said his side played poorly. “We let them off the hook. We should have finished them off at 69 for five, but we didn’t. Samaraweera batted beautifully with Mathews.

“When we batted, it was a combination of some good bowling and us trying to play a little too square of the wicket early. Malinga then basically finished the match off. You can’t afford to make mistakes like that against a side as good as Sri Lanka.”

Moles clarified that Daryl Tuffey, not originally part of the squad for the tri-series, had played because Kyle Mills was ill.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport