The Sri Lanka skipper, Mahela Jayawardene, today exuded confidence in his team,
saying that they are ready for the big match.
"We are ready for the final showdown. We are ready to
beat the best. I would be quite happy to play whoever comes up in the final,"
a pumped up Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene said after the team's 81-run
win in the first semifinal here on Tuesday.
Jayawardene, who hit an unbeaten 115 for his maiden World
Cup hundred, admitted that he had "butterflies in the stomach"
before the match.
"I was pretty nervous before the start of the game. Those who had played
at this level before asked us to approach it as yet another game. It helped
but still there were butterflies in (my) stomach," he confessed.
The captain's magnificent knock compensated for the failures
of Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara.
"We lost a few wickets and after the stand with (Tillekaratne)
Dilshan took root, I decided to go after the bowling after the 45-46th over.
Fortunately it came off.
"This being a World Cup semi-final though, I would rate this innings at
the very top (of all my knocks)."
Jayawardene claimed that his team's batting was no longer dependent
on Jayasuriya alone.
"That's the impression everyone has since Sanath (Jayasuriya)
provides the thrust at the start of the innings. But in the last 12 months,
the rest of the batsmen have tried to ensure that there is no pressure on him.
Others have done a pretty good job in the last 12 months."
Jayawardene attributed his growth as captain and batsman to
his mental strength with significant contribution from coach Tom Moody.
"I've become mentally very strong. Tom (Moody) has pushed
me, he's not happy when I'm - or anyone - is cruising. It has made me push myself
and I am now tougher."
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