Akila Dananjaya likely to debut against New Zealand – Cricket News Update
Sri Lanka’s budding off-spinner, Akila Dananjaya, is likely to make his T20 debut in the opening Super 8 encounter of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754.
Mahela Jayawardene and company, despite being beaten by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 at Hambantota.
Dananjaya, quite ironically, is yet to play a first-class game but was included in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 in practice as a net bowler.
The 18-year-old youngster did a good job in the recently concluded inaugural edition of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL), picking up nine victims in just six matches, with a reasonable average and economy rate.
Sri Lanka’s coach, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Graham-Xavier-Ford-c60657, expressed last evening that Dananjaya might have debuted earlier in the tournament if the game against South Africa was not shortened due to rain. However, the off-spinner is most certain to find a place in the playing-11,
with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BAW-Mendis-c1127 struggling with injury issues.
"Dananjaya is certainly very close to playing," said Ford. "He was probably going to play against South Africa and then the game got reduced and there was the chance he would've been bowling with a wet ball. He was going to get a game there and he's certainly
not here just to carry the drinks."
The Islanders played both their group fixtures at Hambantota, where the conditions are more in favour of the fast bowlers, as compared to Pallekele. The hosts were unable to hold a practice session yesterday due to the wet conditions, which has not pleased
the team’s mentor.
"Ideally we would have liked to have had a session down at Pallekele. I think we're the only team in the group that hasn't had a session down there, so that's a bit of a disadvantage," he added.
With http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 the other two teams in their group, the home team would love to grab crucial points against the Black Caps. The other two sides will be up against each other in the evening at the same venue.
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