T20 World Cup: Nawaz relieved DDS returning to runs

Sri Lanka’s assistant coach Naveed Nawaz was finally relieved that all-rounder Dhananjaya De Silva scored his first half-century after a lapse of two-years, winning a decisive encounter against Afghanistan on Tuesday at the Gabba, in Brisbane.

De Silva scored a match-winning and an unbeaten 66, in a sign of returning to form at a time that matters the most.

“Yes, I think it's a relief that Dhananjaya is coming into runs. He's always shown potential -- 30s, 40s, 20s all the time.,” Nawaz hailed him, speaking to reporters at the post-match presser.  

“But I think it's good to see him finishing a game and coming through that game over 60 not out, which is a good sign for us,”.

Speaking on the all-important semi-final hopes, he explained, “I think there's one more game to go, and I think in our minds we've got to go hard and we've got to win that game and see where the tournament ends up. I think we'll have to depend on how Australia goes in their next game to see if we have got any outside chance of making it to the semis”.

Former Bangladesh’s U19 Asia Cup-winning coach also hailed Wanindu Hasaranga, for claiming figures of three-for-13.

“He's always been one of our main bowlers and one of the top bowlers in the world. So that's why we back him to bowl in the last over of the game as well, and he handled it brilliantly, bowled really well. I think that was one of the reasons that we could keep the Afghans below 150”.