Sadeera credits team effort for first World Cup win

After securing their first victory in the World Cup against the Netherlands in Lucknow on Saturday, Man of the Match, Sadeera Samarawickrama emphasised that, in the pursuit of a win, individual scores and centuries took a back seat as the team’s collective effort and winning mentality became the central focus.

Samarawickrama was pleased with his personal performance, scoring an unbeaten 91, just falling short of a century. He acknowledged the fierce competition for a place in the team.

His impressive batting displays in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) caught the selectors’ attention, and he had to contend with experienced Angelo Mathews and his outstanding form in recent matches, including a century against Pakistan, has cemented his position.

He also praised Mahela Jayawardene’s guidance, stating, “He is a legend, so we can seek any advice from him, especially in this type of tournament, where he knows how to handle high-pressure situations.”

“When we came for Netherlands game, it was particularly challenging in the middle part, because the ball was whipping at times. Myself and Charith recognised that the latter part wouldn’t be easy, so we knew we had to bat well in the middle overs. our strategy was to take the game deeper, accumulate singles and stick to our basics. It resulted in our victory, providing us with the much-needed exposure and confidence boost for the next game,” Sadeera said.

“I think the winning mentality is more important and, now we’re moved to Bangalore for the match against England,” said Sadeera.

“Over the past year, I’ve consistently trained and has maintained that commitment. This is a consistent practice for me, and it’s through this diligent effort that I’ve been able to achieve success in various situations like this. I’m thrilled about it,” said Sadeera.

“After we lost two early wickets, those of Kusal Perera and Mendis, it was a challenging batting situation. Their bowlers performed well, and the wicket was very supportive of them. So, I told every player who came that they could complete the match in 40 or 42 overs. Due to the wicket’s condition, it wasn’t easy for a new batsman to come in and set up. We took the game right down to the last one or two overs, assessing how to secure the victory under the given circumstances,” he said.

“I believe we put a lot of pressure on them, which allowed us to take six wickets. To give credit to their batsmen, they played well during the phase. They effectively survived our deliveries and established a strong partnership, but our bowlers bowled admirably, with Kasun Rajitha and Dilshan Madushanka delivering exceptional performances from the beginning. Aside from that crucial partnership, our bowlers maintained their excellence throughout the match,” said Sadeera.

“Our plan was focused on how to win a game after losing three matches. We needed to build momentum as a team. Now, we know that we’ll be facing strong teams. We don’t have time to make mistakes. It’s crucial for our team to come together, discuss our strategies, focus on fundamental aspects, and prepare for the upcoming matches. Going forward, we must give 100% effort. It’s only by doing that that we can maintain our presence in this tournament,” added Sadeera.

The post Sadeera credits team effort for first World Cup win appeared first on DailyNews.