Win over Zimbabwe a morale booster for Lanka (24 May 1999)

24 May 1999

Win over Zimbabwe a morale booster for Lanka

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

LEEDS, Sunday - The four-wicket win over Zimbabwe at Worcester on Saturday, could probably be the morale-booster world champions Sri Lanka were looking for to propel themselves towards reaching the Super Six of the World Cup.

"We are working very hard towards retaining the World Cup. I am really happy at the way the boys are working, but we've got to have a little patience to go through with it. Unfortunately, we lost the first two games. You can't wait for long, to get things right on the track," said Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga.

"We can't take any game lightly now, we have to win the next two, because if we lose we are out. The game against India will be a tough one. We will take it one by one and see how it goes," said Ranatunga.

Sri Lanka meet India at Taunton on Wednesday.

Speaking on the victory over Zimbabwe, Ranatunga said: "It was a very crucial game for us. We had to win it. We started well with our bowling and fielding, a couple of batsmen got runs, but still, we have worries with the top order".

"When you play seven batsmen you need three or four of them to get big runs. Otherwise, it is very difficult to defend a total or chase any runs. The wicket was two-paced and 230-240 runs would have been a very good score on it," said Ranatunga.

"We have been playing a lot of rash shots in the last two games. It was much disciplined today. Our ability to get quick runs earlier on has not disappeared. Unfortunately, due to the white ball and the present conditions most of the top order batsmen are struggling. The wickets are not helpful for most of the sides. They are quite damp and the top order has been struggling, especially if you have good bowlers. It is very difficult out there for batsmen who are used to getting runs playing shots off the top," he said.

'Man of the Match' Marvan Atapattu described his knock of 54 off 90 balls as better than the unbeaten 132 he scored in the Emirates trophy final against England at Lord's last year.

"At that time we were playing really well and everything was coming to us so easily, but not this time. This innings the team needed it most," said Atapattu.

Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell expects Sri Lanka to bounce back after this victory.

"You know how just winning a game perks up all departments of your game. It's nothing like success to get your morale up and get your guys playing well again. They have got a good batting side and most sides realise that they will struggle a bit in these conditions with the ball seaming around. They are very good on the subcontinent but the conditions here have I think proved its point," said Campbell.

"They will be worried that (Aravinda) de Silva has not got many in this tournament. He is saving himself for the last couple of games. He is a great player, I am sure he will come good," he said.

Speaking of Zimbabwe's chances of entering the Super Sixes, Campbell said: "We came here to win three games. The first three were very important to us. We beat Kenya and India, but we failed today. So we have two tough games to win against England and South Africa. We are very positive we can do that".

Campbell admitted that Zimbabwe's total of 197, although a competitive total was not a match-winning one.

"When Sri Lanka were 150 for 6, I thought we had a big chance. But (Henry) Olonga bowled without much luck. He got Aravinda out with a no-ball and had Atapattu dropped behind. He was bit unlucky today although he bowled well," said Campbell.

Source :: The Daily News