HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka: South Africa skipper AB de Villiers said his batsmen will put Sri Lanka’s magician spinner Ajantha Mendis under pressure when the two teams meet in a group C match in Hambantota today.
Mendis, 27, sounded a warning to all batsmen by picking up 6-8 — the best figures in all Twenty20 cricket — to crush Zimbabwe in the opening match of the World Twenty20 on Tuesday and promises further destruction.
But de Villiers said his team will be ready for the mystery spinner.
“Mendis is a world class bowler,” said the South African captain on Friday. “When he’s going well he will always pick up wickets. But we’ve seen him perform under pressure and seen him break down under pressure as well.
“So, hopefully, we can get the upper hand against him and not let him bowl to us.” South Africa also thumped Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in their opening match on Thursday to qualify for the Super Eights round with Sri Lanka but de Villiers promised no let-ups.
“I don’t think there will be any drop in intensity. We’re in the beginning stages of a very, very big event, a tournament that we really want to win,” said de Villiers of South Africa, who are among the title favorites in the 12-team event.
The South African captain admitted his team were underdogs against the fancied hosts.
“We know we’re not a perfect team. Sri Lanka are the home team and we’re probably underdogs. We’ll try and gain more momentum out of the game,” said de Villiers, whose country has not won a major event since winning the 1998 ICC knock out event in Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene played down the hype around Mendis, who is often compared with world record holder countryman Muttiah Muralitharan.
“They’re big boots to fill. It’s going to be tough for anyone to fit into Murali’s shoes because of the quality of the player,” said Jayawardene of Murali, whose 800 Tests and 534 one-day wickets are the highest in the world.
“It’s going to be tough for these youngsters to say they’re going to be the next Murali. What we encourage them to be is the best they can be. If they can do good job for Sri Lanka over the next 10 years, then that will be great.” Jayawardene hoped his team keeps the winning momentum.
“It’s a big tournament. That itself is big motivation for the guys to make sure that intensity levels are up. We want to keep the momentum going into the next round,” said Jayawardene.
The Sri Lanka captain praised South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who recorded the best figures for his country in all Twenty20 with 4-15 against Zimbabwe.
“I don’t think anyone would disagree that Jacques would be the best all-rounder in our generation in all forms of the game. He’s improving everyday and that’s because of the hunger that he has and the competitive edge,” he added.
South Africa out to tame Sri Lanka’s Mendis
South Africa out to tame Sri Lanka’s Mendis
Perth Scorchers win sixth BBL title after trouncing Sydney Sixers
- The Australia squad will fly to Pakistan to play three 20-over matches
- It will prepare Australia for opening T20 World Cup fixture against Ireland
PERTH: Perth Scorchers raced to their sixth Big Bash League title on Sunday with an emphatic six-wicket victory over Sydney Sixers in the final at Perth Stadium.
Earning hosting rights after crushing the Sixers in a qualifier last week, the Scorchers bowled first and bowled their six-time Grand Final rivals out for a paltry 132 in 20 overs as pacemen David Payne and Jhye Richardson combined for six wickets.
With 15 balls remaining in their reply, the hosts reached 133-4 anchored by a 43-ball 44 from Mitch Marsh.
“It feels like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders, we have high expectations, and to be able to deliver on those expectations is really satisfying,” said Scorchers captain Ashton Turner.
The table-topping Scorchers started their chase in audacious fashion when Marsh, Australia’s T20 captain, pulled the first ball for six.
His opening partner Finn Allen, the season’s top run-scorer with 466, got the better of quick Mitchell Starc in a 19-run fourth over, bringing the crowd to their feet with a scooped six into the second tier.
With rain threatening, the Scorchers powered ahead at nearly 10 an over until a spectacular one-handed catch by Jack Edwards off Starc dismissed Allen for 36.
Seamer Sean Abbott accounted for Aaron Hardie (five) and Marsh, but Josh Inglis (29 not out) saw the Scorchers over the line with a majestic six over long-off.
Earlier, the Perth crowd of 55,018 roared in delight when Sixers’ drawcard Steve Smith, who averaged 60 in the tournament at a strike rate of 168 yet finds himself out of T20 World Cup reckoning, dejectedly departed for 24 when all-rounder Hardie reviewed for lbw.
Fortunate to survive three missed run outs in the space of five balls, skipper Moises Henriques was caught for 24 off the medium pace of Payne, who ended with 3-18.
Fast bowler Mahli Beardman, on the cusp of international selection, closed out the innings with two wickets and a run out in the final over.
The Australia squad will fly to Pakistan for three 20-over matches in preparation for their first T20 World Cup fixture against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.
