Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews has backed Thisara Perera to come up with match winning contributions despite the all-rounder’s lack of form. The supremely talented Perera has bailed out Sri Lanka in the past with his big hitting and disciplined bowling, but in recent months he hasn’t been that effective.
Perera was a huge disappointment during Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign early this year. He bowled poorly throughout the tournament and failed to make a half-century in the competition.
In ODIs in 2015, after 12 visits to the crease, Perera is yet to make a half-century and his best bowling effort in 16 ODIs has been two for 87 against Australia in Sydney.
In this series, he has managed scores of 1, 15 and 12 and has picked up just one wicket having conceded 108 runs and his pace has dropped significantly.
“I actually expect a lot more from him. He hasn’t been consistent enough for us,” Mathews said of Perera. “We just believe in him as we all know that he wins us games. But consistency also matters. We have had a few chats with him.”
“I thought he bowled pretty well today (third ODI), but we need him to contribute with his batting as well. Hopefully he can contribute with bat and ball in the next game,” Mathews further said after his side lost the third ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium by a massive 135 runs.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first and made most of the conditions as there was lot of assistance for spin bowlers later in the evening. “In the second innings the ball started turning and it was pretty hard to score. We never really got going with our batting. I think the bowlers couldn’t have done anything different. They were cruising through and were on course for about 350, but we stopped them for 316. The bowlers couldn’t have done anything different. It was playing really well for the batters in the first half and then it started turning in the second half,” he added.
Highlights – 3rd ODI at Pallekele – Sri Lanka v Pakistan
Pakistan scored 21 runs off Lasith Malinga’s last over as the strike bowler conceded 80 runs in his ten overs. “They have been handling Malinga quite well in the last few games. Hopefully he can do a lot better in the coming games.”
Sri Lanka need to win Wednesday’s fourth ODI also at R. Premadasa to stay alive in the series. The fifth and final ODI will take place at Suriyawewa on Sunday. Then, the teams will return to Colombo for the two match T-20 series.
