except captaining SL team against India!
Mahela speaks ...
"That [delaying the Powerplay] was a decision because I wanted to bowl my spinner but they were going at nine an over, and I couldn't just take the Powerplay then," Jayawardene said. India were 2 for 118 at the end of the 15th over, the time they would usually take the Powerplay. The last five overs had brought them just 21 overs. So it wasn't like India were in top gear then.
"I wanted to take the Powerplay around the 20th or the 22nd over, that was my idea," Jayawardene said. "Just delay it by five overs. They still went at eight-nine an over. Then I just had to delay it, thinking I could get a wicket or maybe they'll still have to take the risk, and with the field being back I could get more wickets. That was the idea.
"I was going to delay it just for few overs, just to settle things down, slow it down a bit more, but it didn't work today. They batted really well throughout. They had momentum. They knew they could take risk, and they took. And paid off for them." Jayawardene usually wouldn't have done that. Shows pressure gets to the best of them.
In 40 overs, I had six of Malinga's left. Once the ball gets a little older, that's when he gets more effective. A bit more reverse, and make it harder. I don't know. That's the thing. Lots of ifs and buts. So easy to say, 'I could have done this, I could have done that.' Mahela Jayawardene
It didn't help that they lost Farveez Maharoof to an injury. About the use of Malinga, Jayawardene said he wanted the ball to get older before bringing his best bowler back. "In 40 overs, I had six of him left," Jayawardene said. "Once the ball gets a little older, that's when he gets more effective. A bit more reverse, and make it harder. I don't know. That's the thing. Lots of ifs and buts. So easy to say, 'I could have done this, I could have done that.' That's the way the game goes."
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