2017 ICC Champions Trophy: Target Was Quite Chaseable And To Beat India Was One Of The Best Wins – Angelo Mathews

Nov 2, 2023 at 3:44 PM

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2017 ICC Champions Trophy: Target Was Quite Chaseable And To Beat India Was One Of The Best Wins – Angelo Mathews

After Sri Lanka, in their all-important clash, outplayed India at The Oval by chasing down the target of 322 in 48.4 overs for the loss of three wickets in the ongoing of 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, saw skipper Angelo Mathews revealing it was one of the best performances from the young side after going through the rebuilding phase.

“Wasn’t easy for [Danushka] Gunathilaka to walk straight into the side and bat like how he did. Kusal [Mendis] is a great player, and Kusal Perera also batted really well. Those partnerships were crucial,” Mathews said at the post-match presentation on Gunathilaka, who struct 72-ball 76.

Mathews, who returned as a skipper in the side after nursing calf injury played a significant knock with the bat as he remained unbeaten on 52 off 45 deliveries.

The right-handed batsman Mathews, who revealed he was able to bat for his side after stand-in skipper Upul Tharanga was banned for two matches following series slow-over rate offence.

After scripting the history to become first team — to chase down the highest run-chase in the ICC Champions Trophy, Mathews said it was a great win against the best side.

“It’s one of the top wins. To beat India is quite fantastic,” Mathews asserted.

Mathews in his interview also praised his bowlers by restricting formidable India to 321 after they had a rollicking start at the top between Shikhar Dhawan, who smashed a splendid century and ever-reliable Rohit Sharma.

“Good effort from the bowlers, they restricted India to 321. We know this is a good batting wicket and 300 is quite chaseable,” Mathews revealed.

Mathews further praised the significant start from Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka after Niroshan Dickwella was dismissed cheaply on 7 off 18 balls, as Sri Lanka lost their first wicket at the score of 11 in 4.4 overs.

The 30-year-old Colombo-born Mathews revealed he was working on his basics as he was further working on his fitness.

“You try and hit as many balls in the net and try and keep yourself fit. As long as you keep fit, it works,” Mathews revealed.

While talking about the turning point of the match, Mathews stated it was top-order batsmen, who were among the runs which further saw second-wicket partnership of 159 setting the tone for the batsman to express themselves as India pulled two remarkable run-outs which weren’t that enough to stop Lions from Chasing the stiff target.

“It’s a must-win game for all of us in the group. Not many people expected us to win and that took a lot of pressure off us,” Mathews concluded.

Gunathilaka trudged off the ground after MS Dhoni and Umesh Yadav pulled a remarkable run-out as the former’s throw on to the stumps saw gloveman dislodging the zing bails in the blink of an eye. He posted 76 off 72 balls.

The 22-year-old Kusal Mendis, who looked solid with the bat, was the top-scorer for Sri Lanka, scoring 89 off 93 balls which were laced with 11 boundaries and a six.

India used seven bowlers, in which Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed a wicket after conceding 54 runs, in his quota of 10 overs.

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