16 October - Lucknow - Sri Lanka player Pathum Nissanka post-match press conference (Sinhalese)
[Reporter]
How disappointed are you as a batting group after starting with a strong 125 runs but getting all out for 209?
[Pathum Nissanka]
Despite our promising start, we deeply regret not being able to sustain it, resulting in us being limited to a score of 210 runs. On a wicket like this, I believe we should aim for a total closer to three hundred runs, and this was a contributing factor to our defeat.
[Reporter]
You have now scored back-to-back fifties, but you could not convert. Why do you think you could not convert that?
[Pathum Nissanka]
I believe I've given my best for the team. I'm hopeful that I can contribute significantly by scoring a substantial number of runs and playing substantial innings in the upcoming matches.
[Reporter]
In the two games leading up to this one, we successfully crossed the 300-point mark. What, in your opinion, do you think went wrong for us in this particular match?
[Pathum Nissanka]
That's the nature of cricket. We performed admirably in the previous two games, but such fluctuations can occur. Our focus now is to learn from our mistakes and strive for strong performances in the upcoming matches.
[Reporter]
Do you think about the remaining matches? So far, we have lost three matches in a row and we have six more matches left.
[Pathum Nissanka]
Our mental level is good. We hope to play well in these matches and win the remaining matches.
[Reporter]
Your opening innings today was quite impressive. You and Kusal Perera had a strong partnership. Do you think the pitch changed suddenly? Or did they find the right length in bowling? Can you tell me the exact reason for this collapse?
[Pathum Nissanka]
To be candid, the opposition's bowlers consistently hit good areas during the middle overs, which created a challenging situation for our batsmen. Unfortunately, we couldn't handle it as effectively as we would have liked. Had we managed to play better, we could have achieved a total of three hundred runs.
[Reporter]
Referring to Australia's innings, following the early loss of two wickets, they managed to establish a strong partnership. What do you believe contributed to this partnership? Was there a change in the pitch conditions, or can you pinpoint the specific reasons for this development?
[Pathum Nissanka]
To be frank, the pitch appeared to ease up somewhat once the lights came on. This played into their favour, enabling them to bat with their usual flow and a positive approach. Our bowlers, on the other hand, struggled to maintain lengths. If we had performed better, we could have set the stage for a competitive match.
[Reporter]
Why does the team keep experiencing collapses like this? Has there been no discussion within the group regarding this issue? It's not the first time this has occurred. We had promising beginnings in the competition and ample opportunities to secure victory in the previous two matches.
[Pathum Nissanka]
As a team, we play every game hoping to win. Unfortunately, we lost the last three matches. we had played well before that. And we hope to play well in the remaining matches.
[Reporter]
In the last three matches, you've had the chance to play on three different pitches. What's your assessment of this particular pitch? Even our batsmen have noted that these pitches differ from what we're accustomed to, suggesting they are conducive to high scoring. How do you feel about these three pitches, particularly considering today's match where we were restricted to 209 runs in Lucknow?
[Pathum Nissanka]
To be honest, India has good wickets. Anyone can understand that this is a batting wicket. we have played well in the previous two matches. We have scored about three hundred and 350 runs. It was today that we scored such a low number of runs, so it is difficult to compare Sri Lanka's wickets with India's. We have played well on good wickets. We had a few mistakes in this match.
