Ind v SL: Thisara Perera hails Rohit Sharma; remarks bowling wasn't up to the mark

The Sri Lankan skipper Thisara Perera revealed they have lacked in containing the Team India’s batsmen on a surface which has had the lot on offer.

Perera reiterated bowling did not go according to the plan for them while adding his counterpart Rohit Sharma has batted brilliantly to take away game from the Islanders early on.

“Unfortunately our bowling did not click. Rohit specially batted really well and this is just a game of cricket which we have to take in our stride,” Perera told during the post-match conference.

In the second One-day International match at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali after routed Sri Lanka by 141 runs – to level the three-match series 1-1 with the decider to be played in Vizag on Sunday (December 17).

After winning the toss, Perera opted to field, but that didn’t go their way, as hosts batsman made the mockery of the Islanders bowling – to post the staggering innings total of 392 for four.

In response, the Lions were able to post 251 for eight in 50 overs.

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The 28-year-old all-rounder Perera remarked all-rounder Angelo Mathews did his part, but that did not prove to be enough on the day.

“Angelo [Mathews] did brilliantly well for us but it wasn’t enough,” Perera asserted.

In his 129th ODI, for Sri Lanka, Mathews (111* off 132) brought up his ninth century, but that was not enough to come even close to the target.

Earlier, the stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma blasted his third double-hundred in 50-over cricket, and it was his first as a skipper of Team India.

(Read Further: Here is how Suresh Raina wished Rohit Sharma’s 3rd Double Hundred)

Moreover, Perera said they were supposed to set the decent start in a bid to chase down such daunting totals in the 50-over format, and he is looking forward to giving best in the remainder of the ODI.

“If you want to chase a score as big as this, you need starts and scores in the middle order as well. But none of it clicked for us,” Perera further added.

The right-handed batsman Rohit smashed 208 off 153 deliveries. In his brilliant knock, Rohit smashed 13 boundaries and 12 sixes to score at the strike-rate of 135.95.

The left-handed batsman Shikhar Dhawan struck 67-ball 68 as playing his second ODI of his career Shreyas Iyer registered 88 after facing 70 balls.

Before ending the conversation, Perera pointed out the loopholes while stating they have tried every play.

“We had a plan A, B and C but none of that clicked for us,” concluded.

So much so, Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep conceded 106 off ten overs, as Perera made use of seven bowlers which saw skipper himself claiming three wickets after giving away 80 runs in eight overs. The slow left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana bagged the solitary wicket of Dhawan.