Pallekele, February 17: After scoring a magnificent unbeaten century that propelled Sri Lanka into the Super 8 stage, ‘Player of the Match’ Pathum Nissanka expressed his delight at being able to play his natural game on a good batting pitch. He shared his happiness about leading his team to victory with his century.
Nissanka scored a stunning 100 runs off 52 balls, hitting 15 boundaries. His innings helped Sri Lanka secure a historic 8-wicket victory against Australia in the 30th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup held at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Chasing a target of 182 runs, the team completed the match in just 18 overs.
Discussing his approach during the run chase, Nissanka stated, “The wicket was very good today, allowing me to play my natural game. I am very happy to score a century and help my team win. We needed a good power-play. There was a great partnership between Kusal Mendis and me in the middle, and from there, we just had to continue our innings and secure the win for our team.”
On the conditions, he noted, “Generally, batting in the second innings at Pallekele is a bit easier, and as the game progressed, the wicket got better. There wasn’t much dew here.”
Regarding his form, Nissanka mentioned, “I was just waiting for the balls to come into my zone. I was happy to get several deliveries that suited my strengths.”
Sri Lanka had previously defeated Ireland by 20 runs in their first match and then crushed Oman by 105 runs. With three consecutive wins, the Sri Lankan team sits at the top of Group B with a net run rate of +2.462.
Meanwhile, Australia, having lost 1 of their 3 matches, is in second place on the points table with a net run rate of +0.414. Currently, Zimbabwe is in second place after winning their first two matches, while Ireland is also in the race for a spot in the Super 8 alongside Australia.
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