23 August,2010 08:45 AM IST | | Agencies
Thisara Perera's maiden five-wicket haul against India here yesterday was hailed by his skipper Kumar Sangakkara.
"He (Perera) had a fantastic game today and really won us the match," saidu00a0 Sangakkara.
"We would also have batted first had we won the toss. But our bowlers bowled a great line and length right from the start. We have got a varied attack."
Wednesday date
Thanks to their eight-wicket win, Sri Lanka are now in the triangular final. India will have to beat New Zealand on Wednesday to make the final.
Twenty one-year-old Perera, playing his first match of the tournament, finished with 5-28 off 7.4 tight overs as India were shot out for 103 in 33.4 overs ufffd their third-lowest total against Sri Lanka in one-day internationals.
"I really enjoyed this match. These are my best figures. Hopefully, I can carry on from this performance. I also work hard on batting and hard-hitting too," said Perera.
Unlucky Yuvi
Yuvraj Singh earlier top-scored with 38 in a disappointing Indian batting performance. Opener Virender Sehwag (12), Rohit Sharma (11) and Dhoni (10) were the others to reach double figures. Yuvraj was unlucky to be given out leg-before off paceman Lasith Malinga (2-21) as TV replays suggested the ball would have missed the stumps.
He was the ninth man out after hitting one six and five fours in his 64-ball knock. Sangakkara was delighted that the move to send Mahela Jayawardene as opener paid off. "He is wasted in the middle order. If he bats that well, we can let him bat freely at the top," said Sangakkara.
