Ford: We have done quite nicely against Gayle

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Cricket365
March 22, 2016

Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford is banking on the fact that his team have had success against Chris Gayle in the past to keep the big opener quiet when the Asian side take on the West Indies in the World T20 on Sunday.

Gayle was in devastating form as he struck an unbeaten hundred as the Windies opened their World T20 campaign with a six-wicket victory against England in Mumbai.

Sri Lanka however have not been the burly Jamaican's favorite opponents in recent times, with the left-hander only scoring five, two, three and two in his last four innings against the Asian side.

However, Sri Lanka will be missing ace paceman Lasith Malinga who has been ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury, which could throw Ford's plans into disarray.

Ford said: "We have put a few things in place against Gayle in the past. In 2012 we did quite nicely against him. Whether that still works – we'll find out.

"We're certainly not going to be telling everybody what we did in those two games to keep him quiet. It's something that we are aware of in our group. It's certainly something we'll be trying to do again in this game.

"The loss of Lasith makes a huge impact. One has got to be realistic. The management and selectors are aware that it's a different side at the moment.

"With Lasith it's not just his experience, but also his brilliant execution of skill. For so long he's done that death-bowling role. For so long he's been able to strike up front and then finish the innings off so well.

"Finishing the innings is so important for momentum, etc. Now we've got to find somebody to do that."