Callistus Davy reporting from Karachi
Indian captain Mahendra Dhoni said Sri Lankan bowling sensation Ajantha Mendis had left the Indian team in utter shock unable to face his bowling after he lost the Asia Cup cricket final by hundred runs at the National Stadium in Karachi on Sunday.
“We played for something else but he (Mendis) came out with something else. It was difficult to pick him up and he bowled really well”, said Dhoni.
Ajanthatook six wickets in the match taking his championship haul to 17 scalps as Sri Lanka successfully defended a 273 target thanks to an imposing 125 from veteran Sanath Jayasuriya.
Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardena who won his first major trophy as captain, said Mendis was brilliant and his team was lucky to have the mystery bowler in his side.
“Even we would have had problems trying to face him (Mendis), said Jayawardena who added that the innings by Jayasuriya decided the course of the contest.
“Sanath batted well up-front and it was the turning point. His innings was brilliant. Without him we would not have had a score to defend”, said Jayawardena.
India will be touring Sri Lanka beginning next week for a three-Test and five one-day match series that will see the contest between the Indians and Mendis developing further.
But Dhoni said the Test series would provide the ideal opportunity for his players to scrutinize their tormentor.
“Since we are playing the Test series before the one-dayers we would have the time to get used to him in the Tests in Sri Lanka”, said Dhoni.
But Jayawardena believes that Mendis has the potential to elude the Indians as he had shown in the concluded Asia Cup tournament.
“Ajantha will have to work hard and he has the capacity to work hard.
The batsmen will get used to him but he is a very confident bowler who wants more close-in fielders than I want and this is a good sign”, said Jayawardena.
The Sri Lankan team will be returning to the island today.
Indian captain Mahendra Dhoni said Sri Lankan bowling sensation Ajantha Mendis had left the Indian team in utter shock unable to face his bowling after he lost the Asia Cup cricket final by hundred runs at the National Stadium in Karachi on Sunday.
“We played for something else but he (Mendis) came out with something else. It was difficult to pick him up and he bowled really well”, said Dhoni.
Ajanthatook six wickets in the match taking his championship haul to 17 scalps as Sri Lanka successfully defended a 273 target thanks to an imposing 125 from veteran Sanath Jayasuriya.
Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardena who won his first major trophy as captain, said Mendis was brilliant and his team was lucky to have the mystery bowler in his side.
“Even we would have had problems trying to face him (Mendis), said Jayawardena who added that the innings by Jayasuriya decided the course of the contest.
“Sanath batted well up-front and it was the turning point. His innings was brilliant. Without him we would not have had a score to defend”, said Jayawardena.
India will be touring Sri Lanka beginning next week for a three-Test and five one-day match series that will see the contest between the Indians and Mendis developing further.
But Dhoni said the Test series would provide the ideal opportunity for his players to scrutinize their tormentor.
“Since we are playing the Test series before the one-dayers we would have the time to get used to him in the Tests in Sri Lanka”, said Dhoni.
But Jayawardena believes that Mendis has the potential to elude the Indians as he had shown in the concluded Asia Cup tournament.
“Ajantha will have to work hard and he has the capacity to work hard.
The batsmen will get used to him but he is a very confident bowler who wants more close-in fielders than I want and this is a good sign”, said Jayawardena.
The Sri Lankan team will be returning to the island today.
