Sports
Sri Lanka exit after quite a show
Rex Clementine
in St. Lucia
The press has been ruthless demanding curators back home to give good pitches. The reason being that if you play on doctored pitches and beat strong opponents at home, when you go for ICC events you have nowhere to hide. But it was the other way around this time. It was so disappointing to see the tracks on which the World Cup of the United States leg was played on. They were two paced and not batting friendly at all.
Sri Lanka were found wanting on these dodgy tracks. By the time they came to the West Indies where the wicket was flat, their campaign was over. Their game against Netherlands on Sunday was a dead rubber.
There’s no point in blaming the pitch and all. A batting line up as experienced as this should have seen the team through. Two hours of madness in New York and Dallas has seen Sri Lanka make an early exit.
In St. Lucia, although Pathum Nissanka fell early and not many runs came in the Power Play, Kusal Mendis gave Sri Lanka a good platform. Dhananjaya de Silva at number three ensured there was no collapse during their 45-run partnership. Then Charith Asalanka provided the acceleration with 46 off 21 balls that included five sixes.
The vice-captain fell with the score on 166 and 15 deliveries remaining. Former captain Dasun Shanaka fell for a first ball duck as his wretched run in the series continued.
Sri Lanka could have got bowled out again as they were down to the tail. But Angelo Mathews (30) and Wanindu Hasaranga (20) ensured that the total went beyond 200.
There was plenty of big hitting no doubt, but more importantly, Sri Lanka ran the twos and threes well. Something that they have failed to do in the competition. Not that they put the pressure on fielders sufficiently, but Sunday’s show was far better than the sloppy cricket they have showcased so far in the tournament.
The run chase went well for the Scots as the openers added 45 runs. But soon, the scoreboard pressure took to them. Kusal Mendis was clever behind the stumps effecting two stumpings and a run out. Catching in the outfield too was superb as Sri Lanka bowled out the Dutch for 118 in 16.4 overs to complete an 83-run win.
Nuwan Thushara was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets while Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana picked up two wickets apiece.
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by Rex Clementine
Sri Lanka were fighting hard to avoid the follow on when rain brought an early end to play on day three of the second Test against India, with the hosts on 265 for eight at SSC yesterday.
Sri Lanka still need a further 39 runs to avoid being asked to bat again, while India remain comfortably placed with a first innings lead of 238 runs.
Of the 98 overs scheduled for the day, only 80.4 were possible due to rain.
Sri Lanka were staring down the barrel at 173 for seven when wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella was dismissed for a third ball duck, leaving India eyeing the prospect of enforcing the follow on.
However, Sonal Dinusha added 57 runs for the eighth wicket with Keshara Nuwantha (18) to frustrate the tourists. India made the breakthrough after tea, but Dinusha found another able ally in fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, who batted for over an hour as the pair added an unbroken 35 runs for the ninth wicket.
The pitch was still good for batting, as Sri Lanka’s lower order showed with their stubborn resistance, and a little more application from the top order could have left the hosts in a far healthier position.
Dinusha, Sri Lanka’s standout performer in the first Test, continued to impress. The all-rounder had scored 100 and 84 last week in Galle and was rarely troubled yesterday, top scoring with an unbeaten 85 after coming in with the team in trouble.
Dinusha faced 137 balls during his knock and hit six fours and two sixes.
Sri Lanka, who resumed on their overnight score of eight for two, lost two wickets in the morning session before India made further inroads after lunch, picking up three more wickets.
Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who had replaced Dinesh Chandimal as a concussion substitute in the second innings of the Galle Test, was handed his Test cap in the lead up to the second Test in Colombo and marked the occasion with a fine 80.
Sooriyabandara looked organized and used nimble footwork to take on India’s spinners, striking nine fours during an impressive knock.
Prasidh Krishna was the pick of India’s bowlers, claiming three wickets. The fast bowler generated decent pace and troubled the batters with extra bounce.
India lead the two match series 1-0, having won the opening Test in Galle by 165 runs.
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