Sri Lanka’s pace ace on brink of 100 Test wickets glory

The remarkable rise of fast bowler Lahiru Kumara this year has been nothing short of extraordinary, and he now stands on the cusp of a milestone – 100 Test wickets. The burly paceman, built like a freight train, rattled the South Africans early in Durban, leaving them on the back foot with incisive strikes. Sitting on 99 Test wickets, just one more scalp in the second Test will see him join the elite club of Sri Lankan quicks to reach the coveted three-figure mark, becoming only the fifth to do so.

Kumara burst onto the scene in 2017, making heads turn with his fiery pace, consistently clocking over 140 kmph. However, he struggled to rein in his wayward deliveries and was plagued by recurring hamstring injuries. This year, though, he has been a revelation, bagging 25 wickets in just six Tests. The secret to his newfound success? Staying injury-free and mastering control without sacrificing his raw speed – a fine balancing act that has finally clicked.

His exploits have been instrumental in Sri Lanka’s Test successes abroad. In Bangladesh, he was the spearhead, claiming 11 wickets in two matches to help secure a series win. Then came his moment of glory at The Oval, where his six-wicket haul was pivotal in ending a decade-long drought for Sri Lanka in England.

In Durban, Kumara was once again on the money, steaming in with unrelenting pace and unsettling the batters. His fiery spell not only hurried the South Africans but also ended Wiaan Mulder’s series with a fractured middle finger – a testament to his ability to intimidate and inflict damage.

Sri Lanka’s management deserves credit for deploying Kumara wisely, primarily in the Test arena, as they focused on making a mark in the World Test Championship. The results have spoken for themselves, with Kumara emerging as a vital cog in the team’s wheel.

The milestone of 100 Test wickets in Port Elizabeth seems more a matter of “when” than “if” for Kumara. And if he adds a bagful of wickets to his tally, Sri Lanka could be back in the hunt for a spot in the WTC final, brimming with confidence and belief. With Kumara firing on all cylinders, the road ahead for Sri Lanka’s Test cricket looks promising.

(RC)