Angelo Mathews hadn바카라t bowled a ball in an ODI for 18 months, and hadn바카라t even bowled in the nets all-tournament for Sri Lanka. But when the moment came he answered the call for his country and, with his very first ball, removed Nicholas Pooran in the 48th over to set up a dramatic win over the West Indies.
In an enthralling ICC Men바카라s Cricket World Cup clash in Durham, the 32-year-old former all-rounder rolled back the years to quell a West Indies fightback. Pooran was on 118 and leading what looked like being a record World Cup run chase before Mathews struck 바카라 much to his surprise and delight.
바카라I haven바카라t had a bowl for a good eight months and that was the first ball. But we knew we had to make up two overs,바카라 he said.
바카라Pooran was batting beautifully so I said to the captain, 바카라look I have a bit of experience바카라.
바카라He was the man we needed to get and I was quite fortunate to get him with the first ball before he clubbed me for a few sixes!
바카라I바카라m a guy who wants to take up a challenge at any given time. I have played quite a number of ODIs before this and have got a bit of experience, playing all three formats and bowling in all three formats and in different situations. I knew what I wanted to do and I am glad I was able to do it.바카라
Injuries have plagued Mathews in recent years and prevented him from filling the all-rounder role he had made his own in this team across all three formats. The former skipper remains a key cog in the middle order with the bat, he made 85 not out in their win over England in Leeds, but the veteran admits he would love to get back to bowling more often as well.
바카라I haven바카라t been bowling in the nets at all. That was the first ball after eight months,바카라 he added. If I got injured at that time, I wouldn바카라t have regretted it because we had the game in our hands.
바카라Unfortunately I didn바카라t have the time to build the body up. I need a bit of time, the body needs to adapt.
바카라I didn바카라t have enough time before the World Cup, but I바카라m glad that I was able to help the team out and I am looking forward to bowling more moving forward.바카라
Youngster Avishka Fernando smashed 104 for Sri Lanka in their best effort with the bat of this tournament at Chester-le-Street.
Their total of 338 looked like more than enough before Pooran바카라s late fireworks, but Mathews admits it is case of what might have been overall.
England바카라s win over India 바카라 who are Sri Lanka바카라s final opponents on Saturday - had ended their knockout hopes before this match.
바카라We are disappointed, we had our chances throughout the tournament,바카라 he added.
바카라The Australia game the middle order didn바카라t fire, we had that game in our hands after a brilliant start.
바카라The South African game we didn바카라t bat well. We had our opportunities but unfortunately we couldn바카라t reach the semi-finals. If we can finish off well (against India) that will be a good thing.바카라
(Inputs from ICC)
