Despite a seven-wicket defeat to Australia, Sri Lanka head coach Chris Silverwood remains optimistic that his team can make a semi-final push, even as their cursed injury run continued with quick Binura Fernando suffering a hamstring injury.
A quickfire half-century by all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and his 69-run partnership with skipper Aaron Finch helped defending champions Australia to register a crucial seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their Group 1, Super 12 match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup at Perth on Tuesday. Sri Lanka succumbed to a fierce assault from Marcus Stoinis, who hit Australia’s fastest T20I half-century to finish with a match-winning 59 off 18 balls.
“We knew Australia had to come hard at us because of their net run rate. The way he [Stoinis] came back at us and struck the ball was exceptional,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Silverwood as saying.
It leaves both teams with one win in Group 1, with Sri Lanka facing New Zealand at the SCG on Saturday in a must-win game.
“I truly believe that we can not only challenge this group, but come out victorious. I think we’ve shown we have the capabilities and the skills within the group,” Silverwood said.
“I can’t fault the way the guys at the top of the order played. The ball did move around early on. Life was difficult for us. We’re not used to that sort of bounce that we get here in Perth. The way they went about their business to set that platform…they did very well,” said the Sri Lanka head coach.