Veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews on Tuesday mentioned Sri Lanka should be prepared for a determined England onslaught, and urged his teammates to combat fireplace with fireplace. Sri Lanka will face defending champions England right here on Thursday in a World Cup match that could be a must-win for each the perimeters. “We should play our A recreation to win in opposition to a powerful English group. Even although they have not performed to their potential, they’re a really harmful group. They can harm us badly.
“It’s a good wicket, small outfield, and we have to fight fire with fire because they’re going to come really hard at us and we are up for the challenge,” mentioned Mathews, who got here in as a alternative for injured pacer Matheesha Pathirana, in the course of the pre-match press convention.
Mathews was not included in Sri Lanka’s preliminary 15-member World Cup squad, and was first drafted in as a journey reserve after which ultimately joined the group as an harm alternative for Pathirana on Tuesday.
Offering commensurations to Pathirana, who returned house with a shoulder harm, Mathews mentioned he was maintaining himself mentally and bodily in form for any alternative which may come his means.
“I haven’t played a lot of white ball cricket over the last three years. But I’m hoping to use all my experience and give it all out in this World Cup. I wasn’t expecting this call. But I was training very hard with other boys if I get the opportunity,” mentioned Mathews.
The 36-year-old Colombo man was not notably bothered about his function throughout the group, and mentioned his focus was simply to contribute to the facet trigger.
“Our top-order is quite settled. So, it looks like I’ll bat in the middle-order. But the position doesn’t really matter, as long as I can contribute in whatever way possible towards a winning cause,” Mathews mentioned.
“I’m not really bothered about personal milestones, batting up the order and getting hundreds or fifties. I’d rather bat anywhere the team wants me to,” he added.
Mathews, who shall be enjoying in his fourth and closing World Cup for Sri Lanka, mentioned the first purpose is to attempt to take the group to the semifinals.
Sri Lanka must win all their remaining 5 matches to provide themselves an opportunity to enter the final 4 stage.
“This marks my fourth 50-over World Cup match. Our team and I are committed to giving our best performance, with the primary goal of reaching the semifinals. I’m fully prepared to put in the hard work necessary to achieve this,” Mathews mentioned.
The Lankan cricketer, with 221 ODIs below his belt, mentioned his focus shall be to steer clear of being emotional whereas enjoying his closing 50-over World Cup.
“We are people with emotions and then reacting to those emotions is going to damage you. So, I try to keep calm and then focus on what I have to do and then obviously I can do the right thing,” Mathews mentioned.
(This story has been edited by Mahaz News workers …)
Source web site: sports activities.ndtv.com
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