Sri Lanka’s home ODI record since the wreckage of the 2023 World Cup has been a study in quiet efficiency. Ninth place in India and an early Champions Trophy exit could have sent the wheels spinning, but instead the hosts have responded by turning their backyard into a fortress. Since then, Sri Lanka have played seven ODI series at home and won all of them. These are not against minnows, but against the heavyweights, including World Cup finalists Australia and India. Beat England again on Saturday and within the space of 18 months, the so-called Big Three would have been ticked off one by one.

Much of this good work has been done at the R. Premadasa Stadium, a venue that has become Sri Lanka’s tactical sweet spot. There are murmurs, as always, about doctored pitches handing the hosts an unfair edge, but that argument doesn’t quite stand. The current England series has been played on honest strips and in any case, this is no longer the Sri Lankan line-up of old, blessed with nimble feet and wrists made for slow bowling. Apart from Kusal Mendis, the current batting group struggles badly against spin, particularly wrist spin, which explains why Pakistan doubled up with leg-spinners recently and why England rolled out Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed in the opening ODI.

The RPS blueprint is fairly straightforward: bat first, post something in the region of 275, then squeeze. Patience is the currency here. After the 30th over of the chase, the surface begins to grip, the ball talks a little more and visiting sides often find themselves strangled by scoreboard pressure rather than outright turn.

The opening win against England, however, didn’t quite follow the script. Sri Lanka’s seamers sprayed it around towards the end, struggling for line and control, perhaps guilty of overcooking the wide yorker. That is where solid coaching support becomes priceless, brains in the dugout to complement Sanath Jayasuriya, not attention-seekers chasing social media applause.

The old saying goes that the ends don’t justify the means, but winning has a way of papering over cracks. The public may forget the flaws, but coaches can’t afford to. Margins at this level are wafer-thin and what slips by on one day can bite hard on another.

One major positive was Kusal Mendis finally embracing the anchor’s role. Without him, Sri Lanka might well have been bowled out inside the 50 overs. Too often Mendis has dazzled with a rapid 30 before gifting his wicket with a low-percentage stroke. This time, it was a back-to-the-wall innings – cramps, pressure and all – and he refused to throw in the towel.

The maturity was evident in the final over. Sitting on 92, Mendis resisted the temptation to hog the strike in search of a hundred, instead backing Dunith Wellalage. The youngster repaid the faith in style, clouting three boundaries and a six as 23 runs came off the over – the decisive burst in a 19-run victory.

Mendis also effected two sharp stumpings and many in the press box had him pencilled in as Player of the Match. But the nod went to Wellalage and rightly so. His all-round contribution tilted the contest Sri Lanka’s way and that stunning catch to dismiss Rehan Ahmed was pure athleticism and good presence of mind.

Off the field, the British tourists outnumbered locals in the stands and beer sales reportedly went through the roof on Thursday. Colombo’s leading hotels are full, a timely shot in the arm for the economy. Now the hosts must play their part off the pitch as well – clear signboards, directions to washrooms and basic facilities go a long way.

by Rex Clementine ✍️