Former Sri Lanka national cricket team captain Kumar Sangakkara has expressed his astonishment over current captain Dhananjaya de Silva’s plan to dismiss Ollie Pope in the second innings of the ongoing Test match against the England national cricket team. The match between the teams is being held at Old Trafford in Manchester.
England’s national cricket team were steadily chasing 205 runs and were well placed at 50/1. However, it was then that Dhananjaya de Silva came up with an original plan and his move paid off as stand-in captain Ollie Pope fell for it.
Bowler Prabath Jayasuriya was bowling over the wicket and captain Dhananjaya de Silva placed one fielder at first slip and another at leg slip. The bowler was bowling to launch the ball outside the leg stump and at that angle, lbw dismissal was almost out of the equation.
Prabath Jayasuriya was forcing the batsmen to do something different. Opening batsman Dan Lawrence took a single and allowed Ollie Pope to take the strike. The England National Cricket Team stand-in captain then fell into Dhananjaya de Silva’s trap when he returned to the hut.
On the third ball of the over, Ollie Pope attempted a reverse sweep. Then on the next ball, he adjusted the delivery but his struggle ended on the fifth ball of the over when Prabath Jayasuriya removed him and sent him packing.
Ollie Pope attempted a reverse drive from the defensive line again but failed to hit the ball with the toe of his bat and it reached De Silva at first slip. The Sri Lankan captain was elated after his move paid off.
Ollie Pope’s wicket brought the England national cricket team back into the game. The hosts lost their second wicket for 56 runs. Dan Lawrence was also out and the team was left reeling at 70/3. Jayasuriya has been the best of the bowlers so far with his two wickets.
Kumar Sangakkara on Ollie Pope’s sacking: ‘Let’s give credit to Dhananjaya de Silva as captain’
When Ollie Pope walked out, Kumar Sangakkara, who was commentating, was amazed at the way the Sri Lanka national cricket team worked out the plan. He highlighted how the visiting captain thought something different. While praising the captain, he explained:
“Well, I think we should all shut up and give Dhanajaya de Silva credit as captain. They thought of something different, something completely different, and Jayasuriya has pulled it off, of course with a little help from Ollie Pope. The bat has hit the ball a couple of times. Dhananjaya de Silva said, ‘I told you so.'”
Coming into the game, England, after losing wickets quickly, took control of the match, Joe Root along with Jamie Smith put the Sri Lankan bowlers under pressure and the hosts now look favourites to win the game.
