Dil wants to end on high note
SA vs SL 5th and final ODI
(Daminda Wijesuriya reporting from Kimberley)
Tillakaratne Dilshan wants to finish the ODI series 3- 2 by winning the fifth and final ODI against South Africa, to be played at Johannesburg today.
South Africa has already won the series and leading 4- 1 but Sri Lanka skipper wants to finish the tour on a high note.
" Everyone knows that there's a bouncy track at Johannesburg. I'm enjoying these bouncy tracks. Everyone is looking forward to finish the series strongly" Dilshan said.
South Africa's chances of forcing a 5- 0 whitewash on Sri Lanka were eliminated on Friday night in a brave effort by the Sri Lankans who pulled off a stunning five wickets win over South Africa.
The skipper says that sending Thisara Perera in to the middle during the batting power play was crucial in Sri Lanka's win at Kimberley.
"I thought sending Thisara ( a left hander) because left arm spinner ( Robin Petersen) might be bowling in the power play"
"I took the decision and all the other members of the team agreed on it. So we took a chance and send him in. That really worked for us" Dilshan said.
Sending Perera ahead of better known batters in the calibre of Angelo Matthews and Nuwan Kulasekera, the skipper asked him just to bat the way he is capable of.
"Even his mis-hit can clear the boundary. He's a strong guy and I definitely knew that Petersen would bowl in the power play and that's why we sent him ahead of Kulasekera"
" He grabbed that opportunity in both hands" Dilshan said at the post match press conference in Kimberley.
"This is a fantastic effort as a team after losing 3- 0. I think it's a great effort today. All credit should go to the team" Dilshan said.
On Friday, Dilshan was more confident after his trademark ' Dil's Scoop' went for six and the South African bowlers were struggling since then.
With Thisara Perera as an able pinch hitter during the power play, Sri Lanka has better options now.
"I'm basically a bowling allrounder. But I can bat little bit too"
" They sent me in the batting power play. I just played my own game" Thisara said of his match winning knock in Kimberley.
Dilshan is back in the runs while Sangakkara too in a fine touch despite getting out to two brilliant pieces of fielding in 3rd & 4th ODI matches. Sri Lanka has a better chance of securing a win at Johannesburg today.
Dilshan was quite positive of his men.
" Win the last ODI and to finish the series 3- 2 will be a fantastic effort after losing the first three.
We carry all the positives to Joburg and we have a feeling that we can do that. But we have to play well" Dilshan said.
South Africa has already rested three of their top players, Hasim Amla, Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn.
There is a possibility that even Morne Morkel could be rested for today's game since the tall fast bowler had been working too hard for hosts since the first test of the series.
Sri Lanka squad: TM Dilshan (captain), Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Matthews, Kosala Kulasekera, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Sachithra Senanayake and Dhammika Prasad
South Africa squad: AB de Villiers ( capt & wk), Johan Botha, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.