Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana took a dig at England following their unexpected eight-wicket loss in the Cricket World Cup 2023. Theekshana suggested that the defending champions had underestimated the Sri Lankan team, resulting in their defeat and jeopardizing their chances of reaching the semifinals.
In a remarkable display, Sri Lankan bowlers excelled on a challenging wicket, limiting England to a total of 156 runs. Theekshana credited their victory to the team’s belief in their strengths and a straightforward game plan.
He acknowledged that Sri Lankan bowlers had struggled in their first four matches, leading to losses, but they improved significantly in this game. Practice sessions and hard work by the fast bowlers were instrumental in their improved performance.
Theekshana also noted a change in the pitch’s characteristics at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where bowlers found more assistance with turn, pace, and bounce compared to a previous IPL match. He emphasized that while it wasn’t overly challenging to score runs in this match, Sri Lanka managed to accumulate 150 runs with just two wickets down.
The mystery spinner praised pacers Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Kumara for taking important wickets during the game. He explained that after an initial period where they conceded some runs due to incorrect length, Angelo Mathews’ experience helped them regain their bowling discipline, and Lahiru Kumara continued to maintain it. This disciplined approach allowed them to take consistent wickets as England adopted a defensive stance.
The victory over England has significantly boosted Sri Lanka’s confidence, and Theekshana expressed their intent to perform well in the upcoming matches and aim for a spot in the semifinals.
