ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2021

October 30, 2021

Bhanuka Rajapaksa

Sharjah Stadium

Sri Lanka

Post Match Media Conference

South Africa 146/6, Sri Lanka 142

Q. If you could speak a little bit about Pathum Nissanka's innings. That was very crucial on a pitch that was not offering much to the batters. There was very low bounds, also.

BHANUKA RAJAPAKSA: Yeah, we knew when we came to Sharjah, we knew that from the past few games Sharjah was not that great to bat except for the game that we played against Bangladesh that was a very true wicket.

You know, the effort was 100 per cent from Pathum Nissanka. He was fearless, and he knew what he had to do, and he had to bat until the last over. Hats off to Pathum Nissanka for holding on the inning as batting was not up to standard, but the wicket wasn't helping the batsmen, as well.

It's a great effort that Pathum Nissanka batted until the 18th, 17th over and scored 72 runs. Very crucial knock for us.

Q. Tell about T20 cricket, how hurtful it is to play 38, 39 overs well and losing a game because of one or two bad overs. Explain that those emotions being a T20 player and also what went wrong about the batting?

BHANUKA RAJAPAKSA: Yeah, it's really emotional as a team because we are a very young team. I think we have the most inexperienced side taking part in the tournament. As a team who was not doing that well in the past few months, we have grown so well together.

It's very emotional, again, but hats off and credit goes to Miller, you know. He's a world-class finisher, and we knew what he could do.

I think the match cost us in the last few balls, and no hard feelings. It's just Lahiru was trying his level best to get those yorkers in, but it's a lot of pressure bowling to a world-class player. But I think it's a learning curve for us, and we will come back strong.

Q. Just some words on the way Hasaranga has been bowling.

BHANUKA RAJAPAKSA: Being No. 2 in the ICC rankings, he shows what sort of class he had been carrying for the past few years, and he's a very important part of the team, especially with the ball, but he could be a proper batsman. He's a proper allrounder.

Wanindu's inclusion in the past two years has made a big difference to the side because being a wrist spinner, going against Shamsi, who's No. 1 playing in the opposition side, it's never easy. The rival was always there for both of them, and Wanindu has been extremely, extremely great for Sri Lanka cricket. He's a proper ambassador for Sri Lanka cricket.

I think we could see something better, and he will be very valid in the future, as well, for Sri Lanka again.