http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913 feels that toss was important in the opening match – Cricket News
Disappointed to have lost the opening match of the tri-nation series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 at Kingston, Jamaica, Sri Lanka’s captain, Angelo Mathews feels that the pitch was not easy to bat in the first half of the match and also
praised Chris Gayle’s brilliant century.
West Indies opted to bowl first after winning the toss and bowled the visitors out for merely 208 runs in the 49th over of the innings. Apart from Mathews and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397, who scored fighting half-centuries, none
of the Sri Lankan batsmen registered a noticable score on the board.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sunil-Philip-Narine-c91869 was the pick of the bowlers for the home team, as the mystery spinner claimed four crucial scalps.
The Caribbean men chased down the total in the 38th over of the innings, thanks to a stunning ton by Gayle, who smashed the Lankan bowlers to all parts of the ground, scoring 109 runs off just 100 balls with the help
of nine fours and seven sixes.
While talking in the post-match presentation ceremony,
Mathews said that the toss played a huge role in the outcome of the game, as the ball was not coming on to the bat in the first innings. The Lankan skipper admitted that his bowlers were completely helpless against Gayle, who took the game away
from them.
He said, "Important toss, it was two paced, holding up a bit, it got easier, but a special hundred by a special person. We had to adapt to the wicket but we lost wickets and could not get going, Mahela batted brilliantly but he
had no partners. We thought we had a chance, the wicket was two paced but it flattened out. When Gayle gets going, no attack is enough and no ground big enough."
West Indies got a bonus point for achieving the target in less than 40 overs and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DJ-Bravo-c1379, the home team’s captain, claimed it was a part of the plan.
“In the 29th over we sent a message to Chris to try and win it with a bonus point," the all-rounder mentioned.
The Caribbean men would love to continue with the same momentum and clinch the trophy at home soil.
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