Every moment I wanted to contribute, with the bat, ball or on the field: Tillakaratne Dilshan

The Sri Lanka vs Australia 3rd ODI was a big game. One of the best servants of Sri Lankan cricket Tillakaratne Dilshan was bidding good bye to One-Day International cricket. They would’ve wanted to win it for him and did well for most part of the game but Australia stole away the game to win the match by 2 runs. The Lankans couldn’t give him a winning farewell but he will always be remembered for his contribution to the game.

Following the game, Russell Arnold caught up with Dilshan for a brief talk after he was presented with a memento. Dilshan said, “I took the decision few days back. Really happy with the way I finished. Really happy with what I did for SL cricket. Just really happy. Same thing I did with Tests, got up one day and decided that this is the time. 25th I got up, decided it’s the right time. Discussed with my wife, and family. Have no cricket for next six months. So it’ll be good to let the youngsters train. This is the time to give them the chance. I can now enjoy at home while they do well. I started in 1999 as a youngster.”

Talking about his aspirations and objective each time he took the field he said, “Every moment I wanted to contribute. If I failed in batting, wanted to bowl well. If that didn’t work, wanted to do something in the field. Don’t think I’m old but it’s the right time. A 17-year career is not easy. Thanks to my wife for backing me. Even the fans for their support. Can’t go this long without them. Achieved a lot in cricket, really happy. 2008, selectors dropped me for Australia tour. I decided I can do more in the side than being in the middle order. Mahela was captaining the side then. I told him not to pick me as a middle order batsman and I tried opening. That is another decision I took. All decisions I’ve taken quickly. The DilScoop started in 2008 against Australia. After that shot, the keeper can’t stand up to the stumps. I went back to Sri Lanka, practiced the shot. Happy to have one shot in the book under my name.”

Mathews was disappointed that they couldn’t win the game for Dilshan and believed they were a few runs short. “We were about 20-30 runs short. We have so many bowlers who can bat but we didn’t have anyone partnering Chandimal. We could have dragged the game a bit towards 45 overs and build from there but our shot selection was poor. Hats off to our bowlers for bowling like that, they bowled their hearts out. Unfortunately we couldn’t win this for Dilshan. He has done great service to Sri Lankan cricket and I’d like to congratulate him for that career.” The Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews said in the post match presentation.

Also read – Twitter Reactions: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 2 wickets in a close finish

Bailey was awarded the Man of the Match for his performance. George Bailey said: “We lost a couple of early wickets but fortunately our bowlers had done a good job to restrict them. It was a lightening fast outfield. I’m certainly not stepping into Smith’s role and we all need to pull our weight a little bit more. We have to try something different here (sweeps and reverse sweeps), touch wood its going ok.”

Australian skipper won the first game of his interim assignment as the captain. David Warner said: “It’s always good to start on a winning note and go 2-1 up. I think our bowlers bowled really well in the middle overs – Zampa and Hastings. To be brutally honest, we should have won that five wickets down. Our top order hasn’t done as well as we would’ve liked and I also put my hand up for that.”

Also read – Sri Lanka v Australia, 3rd ODI Review: Australia clinch a close win to go 2-1 up