Winning toss, Bumrah’s no-ball ‘massive moments’: Nic Pothas
DHARAMSALA: Sri Lanka’s sevenwicket win against India came at an opportune time for the side. It ended a 12-ODI losing streak for the visitors and that too against an in-form side. The fast bowlers wreaked havoc in the Indian batting line-up, skittling them out for 112. Sri Lanka coach Nic Pothas said winning the toss was a crucial factor in the win as well as Jasprit Bumrah’s no-ball that gave Upul Tharanga a life.
“I firmly believe there were two massive moments in the game. Toss was one and the no-ball to Upul Tharanga. If we would have lost another one, we are suddenly 15 for three and it would have been a hugely different situation. We’ve looked at two situations where for me they sort of defined the day,” Pothas said.
Bumrah had got Tharanga caught by Dinesh Karthik at gully in the sixth over, but the India pacer had overstepped. Tharanga, then on 11, went on to topscore with 49 as Sri Lanka reached 114/3. Pothas said Sri Lanka were at an advantage once they got the chance to bowl first. “I don’t think it was rocket science reading that pitch. It had to be said that the toss was massive in the game. Thisara Perera is my Man of the Match for calling it right,” he said.
The Sri Lanka coach added that the way four-wicket hero Suranga Lakmal and Angelo Mathews bowled gave extra boost. “Suranga is a world class bowler. If you give him the conditions that suit him, it doesn’t matter to whom he bowls, he is always going to make life difficult. In his career so far, he has had to bowl on flat, dry wickets. You give him some greenery, he will be brilliant.
Lakmal had struggled in Delhi’s air pollution during the final Test at the Ferozeshah Kotla, but was rejuvenated in the mountain air. “In SA at the start of this year, he was superb again. He is a class performer and a gutsy individual and a great guy to have in the team.
“Angelo looked great. He has got his workload in. The physio has done some great work with him. He is not to full capacity yet. Angelo is a world-class player and the way he handled that situation with the bat showed how important he is for us.”