SA vs SL: The three-match T20I series between South Africa and Sri Lanka has been a rollercoaster of excitement, with both teams showcasing their prowess in the shortest format of the game. As the series stands at 1-1, anticipation mounts for the thrilling decider set to unfold in the upcoming match.
Ahead of the crucial clash, speaking to Neha Shetty of Women’s CricInsight– players from both camps shared their insights and aspirations in a riveting pre-match press conference.
South Africa’s Tumi Sekhukhune Embraces Growth and Adaptation
South Africa’s bowling spearhead, Tumi Sekhukhune, emphasized her commitment to continual improvement and adaptation.
Reflecting on her approach to bowling in the series, Tumi Sekhukhune remarked, “There’s increased learning and you know, always growing as well. I’ve been actually focusing on falling in love with the game again and just hitting my lines and lengths. Also just going in there, playing the brand of cricket that I’ve always played before and played freely is the overarching aim.”
Tumi Shekhukhune further added, “I’ve always worked on, you know, getting to bowl to the lefties and I think it’s coming right now. But those are the few things that I’m actually working on.”
With the T20 World Cup looming on the horizon, Tumi Sekhukhune acknowledged the importance of honing skills suited to the conditions in Bangladesh. “We’ve always been struggling playing spin and now we are facing a lot of spin. We’ve been working on playing spin, which is vital in subcontinental conditions. The experience gained here will be invaluable for us at the World Cup.”
“We are also getting that help in terms of getting to play spin and also we have a batting coach who actually came in which is very nice for the girls. The girls can actually learn a lot from him and yeah I think we can take that to the World Cup,” Tumi Sekhukhune with determination.
Sri Lanka’s Hasini Perera Highlights Team Resilience and Preparation Ahead of the 3rd T20I
Hasini Perera, a pivotal figure in Sri Lanka’s batting lineup, exuded confidence in her team’s mindset and preparation. “Everyone is in a good mindset and our only focus is on the next game. We are determined to carry forward the momentum from our recent victory and put up a strong performance,” Perera affirmed.
Reflecting on the key takeaways from the previous encounter, Perera emphasized the importance of partnerships and resilience. “The partnership between Kavisha [Dilhari] and Vishmi [Gunaratne] was the best thing on that day. And also, we didn’t start well in the fielding for about eight overs. After that, everyone did well. We came back into the game after that and we boldly did everything well after that,” she emphasized.
When questioned about her batting approach and the challenges posed by South African conditions, Perera expressed her focus on positivity and adaptability. “We had a few training sessions and we had good preparation also. My mindset when batting is just focus one ball at a time and play positively,” she remarked.
Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup, Perera acknowledged the upcoming qualifiers and expressed eagerness for the global showcase. “We might have to play the qualifiers before that and it’s soon, it will happen soon after this tour. And we’re looking forward to playing the World Cup as well,” she concluded with optimism.
Anticipation Builds for Series Decider
With both teams brimming with confidence and determination, the stage is set for a captivating showdown in the series decider. As South Africa and Sri Lanka gear up to battle it out on the field, cricket enthusiasts worldwide await with bated breath to witness the culmination of a closely contested series.
Will South Africa’s adaptability prevail, or will Sri Lanka’s resilience shine through once again? The answer awaits in what promises to be an enthralling encounter.
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