Maheesh Theekshana delivered a match-winning effort to assist Sri Lanka to defeat South Africa by 78 runs in the third ODI. Theekshana was outstanding on his ODI debut, taking four wickets and surrendering 37 runs in ten overs. Here is Dasun Shanaka About Maheesh Theekshana.
Dasun Shanaka About Maheesh Theekshana
Captain of the Sri Lankan team, Dasun Shanaka has also praised Theekshana. Shanaka said that he welcomed Theekshana into the team for playing the T20Is versus South Africa.
Shanaka further stated that he chose Theekshana for the 3rd ODI because the South African batters would find it tough to analyze Theekshana on the 3rd rubber’s track. Shanaka also mentioned that he took a risk and that rewarded for the side.
“I actually brought Maheesh Theekshana into the team to play T20s. But I knew that on a track like this where it turns a lot, it’s going to be hard for South Africa to read someone like Theekshana out of the hand. I took that risk as a captain and the selectors and coaches supported me. And that became a big advantage for us,” said Shanaka after the third ODI.
Dasun Shanaka went on to say that Theekshana has featured in the Lanka Premier League previously and that batters were felt it really difficult to read him since he has so many variations under his belt. Shanaka further said that he thinks Theekshana is a good bowler.
We also need to figure out our death bowling a little more: Shanaka
“He’s played a little bit at the higher levels – not internationals – but he’s played league tournaments like the T10 and the LPL. It’s not easy to read him because he’s now got the googly, and the carrom ball, and his off-spin as well”.
“Because he’s got several variations, I don’t think it’ll be easy for any team to read him. But it’s because he has some skills that we used him. It’s not just how difficult to read him, we also know that he’s a skillful bowler,” said Shanaka.
Speaking about the Sri Lankan batting lineup, Shanaka stated that there is a need to improve the batting side because the Lankan batsman does not consistently perform the sweep and reverse sweep versus spinners. Shanaka ended by saying that Sri Lankan bowling attack too has to be improved.
“Batting is where we have a weakness still. We don’t play enough sweeps or reverse sweeps against spin, and we’ve got to do that in the future. We might win the series, but we have to focus on how we’re going to score 300 or chase 300 going forward. We also need to figure out our death bowling a little more. Those are the big areas for improvement,” concluded Shanaka.
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