Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore was optimistic that his team could still make the Cricket World Cup semi-finals despite a massive 183 run loss to India at the Wanderers on Monday.
It was the second big defeat in two Super Six matches for the Sri Lankans, following the 96 run loss to Australia in their first Super Six match on Friday. ”We weren’t in the same park today as India, but we can definitely still make the semi-finals,” said Whatmore at the post-match press conference.
He admitted though that the 1996 World Champions were not playing to their true ability at the moment. ”We are not playing well at all and need our bowlers to put the ball in the right place,” he said. ”It wasn’t that long ago that we were bowled out for 60-odd against Australia A and then three days later scored 340 against Australia. That is the nature of the (Sri Lankan cricket) beast,” he pointed out.
”It’s up to the players now. They know it’s in their hands,” said Whatmore.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers, apart from Chaminda Vaas, got blasted to all corners of the Wanderers Stadium as India posted a mammoth 292 for six wickets. Once again it was the ”Master Blaster”, Sachin Tendulkar, who spearheaded the assault with a superb 97, falling short of a deserved ton for the second time in three matches.
”Sachin is playing as well and as consistently as I’ve ever seen him,” said Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly. ”There is only one word to describe him right now and that is superb,” gushed Ganguly.
However, it was not Tendulkar who was voted man of the match, but veteran bowler Javigal Srinath who ripped the heart out of the Lankan top order to finish with figures of 9-1-35-4.
Sri Lanka capitulated in the face of some tight bowling to be bundled out for 109 in only 23 overs. ”Stats mean little to me and as long as my performance does a job for the team then I am happy,” said Srinath.
He dedicated his performance to a close friend who passed away last week. ”He was 38, which is young, so this is for him,” added Srinath.
On a lighter note, he said it was his line and length which helped him capture four wickets. ”Don’t know about (me) bowling fast, that’s more for Ashish (Nehra) and Zaheer (Kahn) — I just concentrate on getting the ball in the right place.”
At the end of the day that was the difference between the two teams. India are now assured of a place in the semi-finals along with Australia. – Sapa