By Dhammika Ratnaweera
Done with a huge victory against Bangladesh aided by a superb bowling taking 3 for 38, Sri Lanka’s retiring bowling legend Lasith Malinga said that he was very happy to finish my one day carrier with a good victory but he is not yet done with cricket in his life and intends yet to play T20 cricket until he feels fit to do so.
“We had a plan to get two wickets in the first ten overs and that worked out well in this match and that makes it easy always easy to win a game.” said a bowing out Malinga who started his farewell match with a yorker wicket to remove Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal.
Malinga stated that he was very lucky to play with the legends like Mahela Jayawardena, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara and Chaminda Vaas in the same team while thanking bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake, who dragged him to the national side spotting his extra-ordinary talent.
Always being a fighter for himself, Malinga, who retired from Test cricket as early as 2011 when he was only 28 years of age then retired from ODIs two days before turning 35 years, seemed to have not given up hopes on his place in the T20 team and its captaincy. “I have to discuss with my plan for T20s, actually we have only 19 matches before the world cup in Australia next year. First of all, we need to select a good team for this format, for this, I had given my plan and we still need to discuss it” said an imposing Malinga.
He also said that Sri Lanka has got many and upcoming talented bowlers in their army and it is a matter of showing them the right direction. “I am always ready to help and advice anyone and I did so today also to Lahiru Kumara and I am happy he was able to take a wicket” explained Malinga.
Malinga’s farewell feast was well set by Kusal Janith Perera’s hundred in Sri Lanka’s innings as the home side compiled 314 runs for 8 wickets in their 50 overs. Bangladesh who had a very good run in the recently concluded ICC world cup in England were then humbled by Sri Lanka bowling them out for 223 in 42 overs. Unfortunately, when the two sides met in the world cup, the matched was washed out due to rain.
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