Former Sri Lanka cricketer Angelo Mathews said the team’s dominant victory over Oman has provided a crucial confidence boost ahead of key World Cup clashes against Australia and Zimbabwe.
Speaking after the win in Pallekele, Mathews described the performance as “very special,” noting that it came at the right time following a slightly unsettled outing in the previous match.
“I think this was a comprehensive win. It’s very important for our confidence going into the Australia and Zimbabwe games and also the second round,” Mathews said.
He praised the batting unit for showing maturity and adaptability, particularly highlighting the partnership between Kusal Mendis and Player of the Match Pavan Ratnayake.
Mathews noted that Mendis played an anchoring role, rotating the strike and building partnerships rather than going for early aggression.
“We’ve seen Kusal change his approach, he’s trying to bat through and build partnerships. That maturity is important in tournaments like this,” he said.
Ratnayake, who had faced questions about his strike rate in the format, responded strongly with a positive innings from the outset.
“He showed he can score in this format. He was positive from the first ball, hit the loose deliveries and ran hard between the wickets. That’s smart cricket,” Mathews added.
Mathews also praised Dasun Shanaka for his aggressive late flourish, saying the all-rounder’s fast fifty could prove vital for his confidence after a lean run in recent matches.
“He hasn’t been among the runs in previous games, but today he showed what he can do on the world stage. That confidence will help him in the big matches ahead,” Mathews said.
Reflecting on Sri Lanka’s 2014 T20 World Cup triumph, Mathews said smart cricket — rotating strike, exploiting gaps and minimizing risks — remains key in the middle overs.
On the bowling front, he acknowledged that Dushan Hemantha cannot be directly compared to injured leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga but backed him to grow into the role.
“It’s not easy to replace Wanindu. But Hemantha is a hardworking player who makes the most of his opportunities. One game doesn’t define him,” Mathews said.
With Australia next, Mathews urged the team to maintain a positive approach.
“If we play like this and think positively, we can beat Australia. It’s about backing ourselves and playing fearless cricket,” he said.
Sri Lanka will next face Australia in a crucial group-stage encounter that could shape their qualification hopes. (Newswire)