You could sense the disappointment in Scott Edwards' interview there. He felt 260 was a good total, and the bowling wasn't upto the mark as it was against South Africa the other day. There was plenty of help for the spinners, and Aryan Dutt was fantastic. But the rest of them, and the pacers, leaked too many freebies.
Mendis: Very happy today, winning our first match of the WC. Bowlers did well in the first 10 overs. Rajitha and DIlshan bowled really well. 280 would've been enough on this pitch maybe. It was turning at the end. Sadeera batted really well. Pacers had only three overs left so that's why I took him off.
Edwards: We obviously didn't start well. I thought we got ourselves to what was a pretty competitive total. Our first 30 overs - we just didn't get it right. Leaked too many boundary balls. Didn't field that well either. Our bowlers have been good for us throughout the tournament, but our top order and our bowlers let us down today.
Sadeera Samarawickrama | Player of the Match: Really happy to finish the game for my team. We needed a win, we haven't done well in the last 3 games, so I really wanted to win a game for my team and I am really happy. When I went to bat the wicket was not easy, the ball was spinning and the pacers were bowling good line and lengths, my plan was to bat deep and play maximum overs, I did my basics right and hence succeeded. I knew it would be hard in the later part because the wicket was turning and gripping, my plan for others was also to bat deep and told them we can't chase this total in 40 overs. Today it was hard (to bat) against the spinners, the wicket was slow and the ball was gripping.
18:28 Local Time, 12:58 GMT, 18:28 IST: Sadeera Samarawickrama's unbeaten 91 guides Sri Lanka to their first win of the tournament after three straight defeats.
48.2
Ackermann to Hemantha, FOUR, to long-on
48.1
Ackermann to Hemantha, no run, full outside off, Hemantha looks to drive but it rolls off a thick edge to point
47.6
van Beek to Samarawickrama, no run
Field is up with just 4 runs left
47.5
van Beek to Samarawickrama, no run, pitched up outside off, driven to cover
47.4
van Beek to Samarawickrama, no run, another diving stop from Vikram at mid-on. Overpitched, Samarawickrama dives sweetly but can't get it through
47.3
van Beek to Samarawickrama, no run
47.2
van Beek to Samarawickrama, 2 runs, oh direct hit from the deep, but a desperate dive from Samarawickrama should mean that he's safe. Yes, comfortably home. Full delivery on off, he looks to drive and drags it off a thick inside edge through midwicket. Call is for two but it's a bit risky with the fielder swooping in.
Oh direct hit from the deep, but a desperate dive from Samarawickrama should mean that he's safe.
47.1
van Beek to Samarawickrama, no run, pitched up on off, defended to cover