Sri Lanka loss wake-up call for India, say former players
Sri Lanka created history on Thursday as they chased down a mammoth 322-run target set by India to register the most successful run chase in Champions Trophy since its inception, besides throwing the Group B wide open. All four sides are now tied on two points each with a game in hand.
At the end of the match, skipper Angelo Matthews hailed his team’s effort and said that he knew no one had thought they would be able to pull off a victory over the defending champions.
“It doesn’t matter if the opposition respects you or not,” Matthews told at the post-match press conference. “We just knew underneath that we had the talent to back ourselves and had the opportunity to beat a fantastic team.”
Sri Lanka had lost their first game against South Africa and a loss on Thursday would have virtually ended all their hopes of qualifying for the semifinal stages.
Sri Lanka’s fantastic display impressed former England skipper Michael Vaughan as well. Hailing the effort, Vaughan tweeted: “I think you would have got the same odds for a Pakistan /Sri Lanka double this last 2 days as you would have got for Trump & Brexit ... !!”
Earlier, Pakistan had beaten South Africa via Duckworth-Lewis method on Wednesday after rain played spoilsport. India will now take on South Africa in the last group game on Sunday in a knock-off tie. Former India spinner Bishen Singh Bedi, too, lauded Sri Lanka’s effort and said the loss was a wake-up call for the defending champions.
The victory impressed former Sri Lankan middle-order batsman Russell Arnold as well. Admitting that the odds were stacked against them, Arnold tweeted: “What a Chase... what a win ... @OfficialSLC #CT17 Well done fellows !!! Incredible stuff... against all odds showed a lot of character!!!
Kumar Sangakkara, who Matthews said was an inspiration behind the historic victory, also congratulated the players. The former cricketer-turnedcommentator had apparently visited the players at the nets and spoke to them before the match against India. Matthews even admitted that Kusal Mendis had received some valuable batting tips from the Sri Lanka great.