Dav Whatmore looks back on Sharjah
Sri Lanka may have lost in the final in Sharjah but coach Dav Whatmore is far from downbeat, believing that the team was doing the basics well
Charlie Austin
08-Nov-2001
Sri Lanka may have lost in the final in Sharjah but coach Dav Whatmore is
far from downbeat, believing that the team was doing the basics well.
"Unfortunately we could not win it, but I was pleased by the fact that the
team was functioning well as a unit," he said. "I thought the bowling was
generally disciplined and the batsmen were getting runs."
Sri Lanka were gunning for their third successive Sharjah title but were
defeated by five-wickets by a resurgent Pakistan side. It was first time in
18 months that they had slipped up in triangular tournament since Pakistan
beat them in the Asia Cup in May 2000.
"We can't win every final," said Whatmore, mirroring the sentiments of
captain Sanath Jayasuriya. "Nevertheless, we could have put more pressure on
them if we had been tougher when we batted."
Looking back Whatmore believes the turning point may have been their final
group game when, against the odds, Pakistan chased a large Sri Lankan score
thanks to centuries from Naveed Latif and Inzamann-ul-Haq.
"To score 270 in that match, and for them to lose only three wickets chasing
it, was certainly hard to take," he admitted. "We dropped a couple of
chances and didn't field particularly well."
"The win gave them confidence and they might have got the feeling that the
momentum had turned their way.
"I am not overly concerned by our loss though. One of our objectives is to
win the final, but we did achieve other objectives set.
"We were playing the kind of one-day cricket that wins you one-day games.
The basic principles were adhered to well and I was generally pleased."
Sri Lanka blooded two young fast bowlers in the tournament, Charitha
Buddhika Fernando and Prabath Nissanka, and when Dilhara Fernando was ruled
because of a stress fracture in his back, they were forced to burden
additional responsibility.
"The two youngsters did a pretty good job," Whatmore said. "Charitha was
more consistent. His pace was deceptive, his variation was good and, most of
all, I was impressed by how he seemed to be `in control.' He looked
comfortable under the pressure."
"We saw enough of Nissanka to know that he can be an asset. He now needs to
learn the mental side of fast bowling and a work a bit on his run-up. We
need to manage him well during the next 12 months.
"The two youngsters were well led by Chaminda Vaas, who played the role of
senior pro well, showing great economy and leadership."
Whatmore was happy to see Russel Arnold back in the runs: "Russel hardly put
a foot wrong throughout the tournament. Mahela (Jayawardene) was also
exceptional."