Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene revealed his team had a meeting after the debacle in Hobart.
“We decided to forget what happened in Hobart and wanted to focus on this game. I am glad we pulled it off,” he said.
The Sri Lankan captain also hoped his injured pace bowling all-rounder trio of Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera and Farveez Maharoof would be fit for the first final in Brisbane on March 4. “We cannot fly in anyone here at such short notice. Maharoof (back strain) is improving. We will look at the situation tomorrow and hopefully it will be better.”
Jayawardene said it was a wonderful game of cricket and gave credit to the Sri Lankan bowlers. “I thought Lasith (Malinga) fought back to bowl great in the match. We also fielded really well.”
The Sri Lankan captain applauded the batting contribution from Dinesh Chandimal, Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne.
Praise for Chandimal
He had words of appreciation in particular for Chandimal. “I think he has done tremendously well on this tour, shown a lot of character.”
Jayawardene also acknowledged the role of the crowd in Sri Lanka's performance. “The crowd was superb, it was like playing in Sri Lanka. I am sure they will follow us in the finals. Sri Lankan fans do that.”
He also said former captains in the team, Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan, had come up with good suggestions during the tense stages of the match.
Man-of-the-Match Chandimal said, “I had come on an ‘A' tour of Australia before and that has really helped me on this trip. I know what conditions to expect here.”
Escape of sorts
The right-handed Chandimal had an escape of sorts on 66 here on Friday when he was caught short of the crease, but Ben Hilfenhaus' foot had touched the ropes when the Aussie threw the ball from the point fence. Chandimal, though, was unhappy about missing a century.
“In this series, I could have scored a hundred on at least three occasions but have missed out.”
Shane Watson, who led Australia again in the absence of an injured Michael Clarke (hamstring), said it was a tremendous match.
“Till the end, you were never sure who was going to win. David Hussey batted beautifully. He's batted like that the entire summer.”
During the climactic stages, Hussey refused a single off the fifth delivery of the 49th over — sent down by Malinga — so that he could retain strike in the final over if Ben Hilfenhaus survived the last delivery.
Queried about Hussey's call, Watson said, “back his decision.”
