Nissanka has redefined his game – Asalanka

Rex Clementine at Pallekele

Opening batter Pathum Nissanka is emerging as Sri Lanka’s leading batter in white ball cricket with consistent performances. Last year he was the team’s leading run scorer in ODIs with over 1000 runs and this year too he has remained the top run scorer. In T-20 cricket, he has lifted a new gear hitting at a strike rate of almost 160 in 2024. His fabulous batting display was on show on Saturday as he kept Sri Lanka interested chasing a huge target. His downfall triggered a sensational collapse.

Captain Charith Asalanka speaking after the first T-20 International said that she has seen a big improvement in Nissanka in recent months.

“Pathum Nissanka, we have seen a big improvement this year. He has changed his game in white ball cricket. He is making a conscious effort to improve his strike rate. That’s his natural game. I think we need to back him to play the same game.”

Asalanka this year became the first Sri Lankan to score a double hundred in ODIs and in the process broke Sanath Jayasuriya’s record for most runs in an innings in an ODI – 189. That record had stood for 24 years.

Pathum’s effort saw Sri Lanka reaching 140 for one chasing a target of 214. However, there was little contribution from rest of the batters. “Until the 16th over we were in the game, but from thereon we lost track. The middle order couldn’t click and that’s the reason why we lost.”

Asalanka also blamed the team’s fielding. Misfields cost Sri Lanka some 20 runs and there were a couple of dropped catches as well costing dearly.

“We were sloppy on the field. We need to improve our catching percentage. When you drop a crucial catch that proves costly.”

Sri Lanka have a tendency to keep fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana for the last. He did finish with four wickets on Saturday but should he come to bowl earlier than that before the batters are settled?

“I thought if I used him in the second half he could be handy. He did a good job. When the ball gets older it is hard to face him. That’s the reason we held him back.”

“We could have used him earlier. Wanindu bowled from the seventh over. He is our main wicket taking bowler. When he is bowling from one end, we thought we could hold back Matheesha.”