Sri Lankan batter and hero of the historic match against England, Pavan Rathnayake, has said that the pitch at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium looked better in the second innings, helping his team achieve a historic run chase against England.
Speaking at a press conference after the match, Rathnayake said Sri Lanka’s batters approached the innings with a positive mindset and chased down the target. He added that the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch was good for ODI cricket.
Rathnayake said the entire Sri Lankan team was delighted to achieve the historic target against England. He scored an impressive 130 runs in the match.
Earlier, England captain Harry Brook said at a press conference that he always prioritised match-winning innings and that his double century meant nothing to him because England had lost.
It is worth noting that Brook completed his double century off 114 balls against Sri Lanka, hitting 21 fours and 10 sixes during his innings.
England set Sri Lanka a target of 430 runs, which the Sri Lankan team successfully chased down in the final over. Sri Lanka also became the first Asian team to chase a target of more than 400 runs in ODI cricket.
‘What’s the Point of 200 Without a Win?’ Harry Brook
England captain Harry Brook, who scored a double century against Sri Lanka, has said that his double century holds no significance for him because his team failed to win the match.
Speaking at a press conference in Rawalpindi, Brook said he always believed in playing match-winning innings. He added that he was not happy despite scoring a double century because England had lost the match.
“Sri Lanka hit boundaries and also took singles. They played outstanding cricket,” the England captain said.
Brook added that nearly 900 runs were scored on the pitch at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. In his view, the pitch was excellent.
He also noted that England flags were visible at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, adding that England fans were the best in the world.
Also Read: Sri Lanka Make History as First Asian Team to Chase 429
