‘You don’t expect them to come and lie down’ – WI skipper Pollard not surprised by fierce Sri Lanka fightback

(SPORTSMAX) West Indies captain, Kieron Pollard, insists he is not surprised by a fierce response from Sri Lanka as the tourist levelled the T20 series at 1-1 following a 43-run win on Friday night.

After setting a fair target of 160 for 6, the Sri Lanka spinners, led by Lakshan Sandakan and Wanindu Hasaranga, spun a restrictive web that eventually had the Windies all out for 117.
On Tuesday, chasing a smaller target, the Windies had been able to smash through thanks in large part to a fierce 38 from Pollard. This time, however, it was the Sri Lanka spinners who took centre stage. Particularly Hasaranga, who accounted for Gayle and
Simmons, in his 3 for 17, Sandakan accounted for Pollard.

The captain, however, had special commendation for the bowling unit who restricted Sri Lanka late in the innings after a fast start. Danushka Gunathilaka, who top-scored with 56, partnered with Pathum Nissanka to put on a blistering 94 off the first 10 overs.

“If you told us we were going to bowl them out for 160 today, we would have taken that. I just know that we did not assess the situation quickly and we had a couple of soft dismissals,” Pollard said following the match.
“They got off to a flyer and scored 90 odd in the first 10 overs, but these things happen. You don’t expect them to come and lie down and just roll over. I thought the guys came back in the last 10 overs and really executed with the yorkers and slower balls, using the dimensions of the pitch and the ground,” he added.