We should have swept the series, says Dickwella
HAVING been outclassed in the Test series, Sri Lanka fought back to win the T20 series 2-1, but Niroshan Dickwella feels his side could have won it 3-0.
Having lost the opener, which was reduced to ten overs a side due to bad weather, the tourists battled back to win by three wickets and five wickets in Johannesburg and Cape Town, chasing each time.
And Dickwella, who made more than double the runs of anyone else in the matches with 133, was left disappointed Sri Lanka lost that first clash.
Man of the series Dickwella said:“We could have won the series 3-0. It was in our hands in the first T20 but we lost it.
“In the other two matches we were cool and calm, we held our nerve and we played well.That was the main reason we won the other two games. The first one was a ten-over match because of the rain but I think we could have won the series 3-0.
“The wickets are better (for the T20 matches). In the Test series, the wickets were quite greenish and the ball swings a lot. In the T20 series, they prepared better batting wickets so the better batting team wins.
“In this series, the three wickets were pretty much batting wickets so that’s why it’s easier for us now.”
The teams now go into a five-match ODI series starting Saturday though Sri Lanka will do so without captain Angelo Mathews who suffered a sprained ankle during the second T20. Upul Tharanga will lead the side for this series.
Dickwella added:“It’s a big loss for us to have to play without our captain but we have done well without him so far.
“We will discuss how to handle the middle overs after the powerplay in one-day games and also the bowling. Bowlers will be bowling good length balls, rather than trying different things like in a T20.”