Sri Lankan right-arm fast bowler Separamadu Lasith Malinga overcame a man- of-the -match controversy yesterday to declare to the local and international media that he was happy with his record-breaking feat at the post-match press conference at the Providence stadium.
Malinga was earlier the centre of a man- of-the- match mix-up after it was declared that South African medium pacer, Charl Langeveldt had won the award.
An International Cricket Council (ICC) spokesman, Sami Hassan told Stabroek Sport after Malinga’s post-match media briefing that the winner of the man-of- the-match award was not communicated properly which caused the mix-up.
“The award was a joint man-of-the-match award that was not communicated properly,” Sami said, while declaring that both Malinga and Langeveldt will share the honour after both bowlers thought that they had won it individually.
Langeveldt subsequently did not attend the post match briefing. The right arm bowler took 5 -39 off 10 overs against Sri Lanka while Malinga blasted away South Africa’s tail taking four wickets in four balls.
Malinga, who has a slinging action, told the media that he was happy to be part of the historic feat at the World Cup’s inauguration of the Providence Stadium but was not excited because it did not help Sri Lanka win the match.
“I took four wickets in four balls but we needed one wicket to win the game. I am always playing my game I am not excited, I play my natural game. But despite the fact that I am not excited I am very happy and we could have preferably won the game,” he said with mixed emotions.
Malinga said that he could have bowled a better first spell; he was not happy with his first spell but was overjoyed when he found out that he was the first bowler to complete such a feat in a World Cup match.
“I am happy about my performance but unfortunately my team lost the game. My first spell was no good but my last spell
