Despite losing by seven wickets to Australia at Optus Stadium, Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood is optimistic that his underdog team can make a push for a semi-final berth.
However, their injury run continued with quick Binura Fernando suffering a hamstring injury, adding insult to injury for the underdog team.
In Unpredictable Situations Away from Home
Sri Lanka almost pulled off a major upset on the road when they saw Australia was in danger. In the 13th over, they were 89 for 3, still needing 158 to win.
Marcus Stoinis smashed Australia’s fastest T20I half-century to finish with a match-winning 59 off of 18 balls, which caused the shorthanded Sri Lanka attack to fall victim to a furious assault from Stoinis.
Fernando could not finish the first over of Sri Lanka’s innings after he limped off the field with an injury and had to be helped off the field.
Australia was expected to attack us aggressively due to their high net run rate, Silverwood remarked. It was clear that Australia would be coming at us aggressively. Amazingly, he returned home at us and struck the ball, the player said.
It means that both sides have one win each in Group 1, and Sri Lanka’s next match, against New Zealand at the SCG, is a crucial one that they need to win.
Silverwood said, “I honestly feel that we can challenge this group and come out on top,” and he added, “I truly believe that we can come out on top.” “I believe that we have shown that our organization has the necessary competencies and expertise.
“We demonstrated it in the Asia Cup, and as a result, the group’s confidence is continuing to rise. The most essential thing that can be done with what happened today is to gather one’s thoughts and be ready for the next match.”
Silverwood was especially pleased by Sri Lanka’s courageous hitters, who were able to generally resist Australia’s elite quicks on a fast Optus Stadium track, which resembles the legendary neighboring WACA in terms of its pace.
I Can’t Fault the Top-Order Players
If what he said is accurate, “I can’t blame the way the guys at the leadoff spot played.” “ There was some early ball movement. Our lives were filled with struggle.
We aren’t accustomed to the kind of bounce that we get here in Perth, and it’s something that we like. How they conducted their company to establish that platform was very effective on their part.”
However, Fernando is in a race against time to play against New Zealand after clutching at his right hamstring just five deliveries into Australia’s innings. This continues Sri Lanka’s wretched injury run, which has already claimed the lives of Danushka Gunathilaka, Dushmantha Chameera, and Dilshan Madushanka.
Silverwood said that the physiotherapists are now working with Fernando, and that “we’ll examine him.” We are going to get more information about the severity of the damage, and based on that, we are going to have to make some judgments.
Finishing Line
After playing Ireland in Hobart on Sunday and then making the long journey through the Nullarbor to Perth, Sri Lanka will begin the tournament with the first round in Geelong. The team has endured difficult travel to get to this point.
According to Silverwood, “it’s been stressful at times, something it’s you’ve simply had to get accustomed to.” “You have got to do your best to schedule the training and allow folks time to relax as much as you possibly can.”