Injury doubts Angelo Mathews and Rangana Herath are all set to play Sri Lanka’s ICC World Cup quarterfinal, giving the team’s chances a big boost.
Sri Lanka captain Mathews suffered an Achilles injury in the team’s last Pool A game against Scotland on Wednesday and after scoring a 22-ball 51 opted to sit out of its successful defence of 363 for 9.
“I’ve got a sore Achilles tendon, so management thought it would be wise for me to stay out of the field as a precautionary measure. I don’t think I will be out, but we will have to assess it over the next couple of days,” Mathews had said at the post-match presentation, fuelling speculation.
However, a report on cricket.com.au on Thursday put paid to any doubts regarding the fitness of the big-hitting allrounder. “A team spokesman told cricket.com.au, he was “100 per cent sure” Mathews would be fit for their quarter-final, adding the skipper had not been sent for scans, contrary to media reports,” the official Cricket Australia website said.
Also, 36-year-old left-arm spinner Herath has very much recovered from a finger injury that prevented him from playing against Australia and Scotland, if one believes Sri Lanka opener Lahiru Thirimanne. “I think he has about an 80 per cent chance of playing in the quarter-final. I feel he will be fit,” Thirimanne had said after the win over Scotland.
Sri Lanka are likely to play South Africa in the first quarterfinal at the Sydney Cricket Ground on March 18.
