Sports

A knock for ages

Published

3 years ago

2022/07/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dinesh Chandimal scored the first double hundred by a Sri Lankan against Australia during the second Test in Galle.

by Rex Clementine

Late-night outs, multiple affairs, recreational drugs, tattoos, weird hairstyles, and social media campaigning are stuff that you associate with cricket these days.

There are of course a few exceptions. The guys who mind their business and have a life beyond cricket. Angelo Mathews is one such and Dinesh Chandimal is another. Sidelined by peers for not moving with the current, you wondered whether the end is near for Chandimal. Not that he had done badly. He had scored a match-winning hundred in Sri Lanka’s last series in Bangladesh. But all it takes is one failure and a defeat for people to speculate who should come in place of Chandimal.

All that questioning has been put to rest in Galle this week as he played a stunning knock, one of the best in the history of our cricket. Chandimal finished with his career-best score, Sri Lanka’s first ever double hundred against Australia which in fact paved the way for their first-ever innings defeat of Australia, the world’s number one ranked team.

Having won a series against Pakistan in March this year and having in their ranks Nathan Lyon, one of the best spinners in the world, the Aussies were favourites to win the series. They looked to have almost done that when they posted 364 in the first innings. Chandimal stood in their way.

The sweep was Sri Lanka’s undoing in the first Test. Chandimal kept the sweep as a backup option and played to his strengths. His defence was tight and he looked at the gaps to pick up singles to rotate the strike and used the drive heavily. Then once he was set and when loose balls were on offer he went for the sweep.

Chandimal was involved in four crucial partnerships. The 83-run stand with Angelo Mathews for the third wicket ensured Sri Lanka didn’t suffer another collapse. The 133-run partnership with Kamindu Mendis gave them the lead. A 68-run stand followed with Ramesh Mendis for the seventh wicket to ensure that the team’s lead was over 100, important given that they had to bat last. The 49-run partnership for the last wicket with Kasun Rajitha took the game away from the Aussies.

Not just the runs during that last wicket partnership but the manner in which Chandimal did that deflated the Aussies. That too he was targeting their premier bowler Mitchell Starc. Those sixes out of the ground were unreal. It reminded of Chris Gayle during his whirlwind 333 at this ground. Chandimal had scored 42 in 18 deliveries as he marched towards his maiden double hundred.

A couple of years ago he parted ways with NCC, the club he joined as a school kid as he wanted to begin a career in the army. With nothing much going right in cricket, Chandimal was even looking at opportunities in County Cricket to look after his family. But this year has seen a remarkable turnaround. He averages over 100 in Test cricket and he’s the only guy in the world to have a three-figure average in 2022. Hopefully, he goes on to achieve much more and lives up to the expectations people had when he first came onto the scene.

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Sports

Mendis ton lifts Sri Lanka to 285 in series decider

Published

7 hours ago

2025/07/9

Sahan Weerasooriya

Kusal Mendis posted his sixth ODI century to help Sri Lanka post a competitive 285 for seven in the deciding third ODI at Pallekele on Tuesday.

Kusal Mendis answered his critics in style with a sublime century as Sri Lanka posted a competitive 285 for seven in their allotted 50 overs in the third and final ODI against Bangladesh on Tuesday at Pallekele.

With the three-match series deadlocked at 1-1, the hosts needed their top order to come good after a stuttering display in Colombo. Mendis, who had faced the heat after a reckless dismissal in the previous game, rose to the occasion with a polished 124 off 114 balls.

The wicketkeeper-batter, under fire from both media and his own camp, including batting coach Thilina Kandamby, who publicly questioned the value of flashy fifties — dug deep to register his sixth ODI hundred and anchor the innings.

Coming to bat in the fourth over of the innings, Mendis played with a mix of caution and controlled aggression. He shared a crucial 124-run stand with skipper Charith Asalanka (58) for the fourth wicket, steadying the ship and setting the stage for a late flourish.

Having thrown away his wicket in Colombo after a whirlwind 20-ball fifty, Mendis showed far more application at Pallekele. His innings, laced with 18 boundaries, was a blend of crisp strokeplay and street-smart batting.

Importantly, Sri Lanka rectified their spin woes from the last outing. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam, who had bamboozled the batters with a five-for in the second ODI, was tackled with positive intent. The hosts employed the sweep to good effect, used their feet wisely and played with soft hands to negate the turn. Tanvir finished with unflattering figures of one for 61 off his ten overs.

Mendis eventually perished in the 46th over, top-edging a pull off part-time spinner Shamim Hossain, who ran back to complete a sharp catch off his own bowling.

By Rex Clementine

Latest News

Kusal 124 forms the centrepiece of Sri Lanka’s series victory

Published

7 hours ago

2025/07/9

Priyan

Kusal Mendis recorded his sixth ODI century [Cricinfo]

Kusal Mendis crashed 124 off 114, Sri Lanka ‘s seamers took three wickets apiece, and Sri Lanka surged to a series win, defeating Bangladesh by 99 runs in the deciding ODI.

The centrepiece of Sri Lanka’s batting was the 124-run partnership between Kusal and Charith Asalanka who made 58 off 68. Bangladesh’s bowlers did well either side of that partnership, particularly at the death, conceding only 62 off the last 10 overs.

But Sri Lanka’s 285 for 7 was too much, and Sri Lanka’s bowlers too penetrative. Bangladesh never really seemed to be on top of the chase, 20 for 2 in the fourth over, then 62 for 3 in the 14th. Towhid Hridoy made a half-century, but the required rate kept climbing, and Bangladesh could not mount a substantial enough partnership. They were all out for 186 in the 40th over.

Asitha Fernando was again the best of Sri Lanka’s bowlers, finding three wickets for 33 runs off seven overs, as he continued to target the stumps, as he has done all tour. Dushmantha Chameera attempted the shorter lengths, but found success with the fuller ones, bowling Hridoy with an especially memorable seaming delivery. He finished with 3 for 51 off eight overs. Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage took two apiece.

Bangladesh will be proud of their bowling to the top order – they had Sri Lanka 100 for 3 at the end of the 21st over. And they also claimed four wickets in the last 10. But in between, Kusal and Asalanka put serious meat on the bones of this Sri Lanka batting effort.

The highlight of Kusal’s innings was his severity on length. Anything short was punished, and though the seam bowlers tried repeatedly, they could not get their bouncers high enough to really test him. He used his short-arm-jab pull to devastating effect, hitting both spinners and quicks through square leg with spectacular timing. Seven of his 18 fours came behind square on the leg side. And all up 82 of his runs (66%) came on the legside. Sweeps of various description – the hard flat one, the paddle, and the slog sweep, were also productive shots for him.

There was never a time in the innings when Kusal seemed to be in discomfort. He eased through the powerplay, hitting 25 off 26 in that period, and though there was a little slowing down as he approached fifty, the same cannot be said of his getting to triple-figures. It took him six balls to scamper through the nineties. He got there off the 95th ball he faced.

Asalanka was not in such good touch by comparison, but nevertheless found ways to make runs. He manufactured sweeps against the spinners at times, and used his feet to find lengths that he could score off. He too was stronger on the legside, finding six of his nine boundaries in that direction.

Bangladesh’s bowlers hit back nicely after that partnership, though. It was Taskin Ahmed that separated them, even if not with an especially good ball. He sent down a low full toss, and Asalanka miscued his attempted six over wide long-on, sending it into the hands of Mehidy Hasan Miraz at mid-on instead. Kusal hit one more boundary, and was out playing a tired hoick off Shamim Hossain in the 46th over.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers hunted as a pack in the chase. Asitha had Tanzid Hasan caught behind in the third over, Chameera got Najmul Hossain Shanto playing on to his stumps with one that jagged in the fourth, and then the spinners imposed themselves. Wellalage and Hasaranga took two wickets apiece, making breakthroughs through the middle overs. Sri Lanka had Bangladesh 124 for 5 at the start of the 28th over.

The spinners having exposed the lower order, Sri Lanka’s quicks came back to wipe out the innings. Aside from Hridoy, no Bangladesh batter crossed 30.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 285 for 7 in 50 overs (Pathum Nissanka 35, Kusal Mendis 124, Charith Asalanka 58; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2-48, Taskin Ahmed 2-51) beat Bangladesh 186 in 39.4 overs (Parvez Hossain Emon 28, Towhid Hridoy 51, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 28, Jaker Ali 27; Asitha Fernando 3-33, Dushmantha Chameera 3-51, Dunith Wellalage 2-33, Wanidu Hasaranga 2-35) by 99 runs

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

Kusal 124, Asalanka half-century lift Sri Lanka to 285

Published

17 hours ago

2025/07/8

Priyan

Kusal Mendis recorded his 11th ODI century, Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, 3rd ODI, Pallekele, July 8, 2025 Kusal Mendis recorded his 11th ODI century [Cricinfo]

Kusal Mendis crashed 124 off 114 balls to continue his excellent form, and Charith Asalanka struck 58 as he joined Kusal for a dynamic fourth-wicket stand worth 124 off 117 balls.

Either side of that partnership, however, Bangladesh had strong showings. They had Sri Lanka 100 for 3 in the 21st over and conceded only 63 runs in the last ten overs. Though Sri Lanka’s 285 for 7 is a substantial total, they had been well-placed to push for a 300-plus score, given they’d been 222 for 3 after 40 overs, with two set batters at the crease.

But Bangladesh kept striking, varying speeds intelligently, as Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked two wickets, while Shamim Hossain took one at the death. Sri Lanka managed only five boundaries through the last ten overs.

Mehidy returned the best overall figures of 2 for 48, having dismissed Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage. Shamim got the prize wicket of Kusal in the 46th over. Had he survived till the end, Sri Lanka may have added at least 20 to their total.

The highlight of Kusal’s innings was his severity on length. Anything short was punished, and though the seam bowlers tried repeatedly, they could not get their bouncers high enough to really test him. He used his short-arm-jab pull to devastating effect, hitting both spinners and quicks through square leg with spectacular timing. Seven of his 18 fours came behind square on the leg side. And all up, 82 of his runs (66%) came on the legside. Sweeps of various descriptions – the hard flat one, the paddle, and the slog sweep – were also productive shots for him.

There was never a time in the innings when he seemed to be in discomfort. He eased through the powerplay, hitting 25 off 26 in that period, and though there was a little slowing down as he approached fifty, the same cannot be said of his getting to triple figures. It took him six balls to scamper through the nineties. He got there off the 95th ball he faced.

Asalanka was not in such good touch in comparison, but nevertheless found ways to make runs. He manufactured sweeps against the spinners at times and used his feet to find lengths that he could score off. He too was stronger on the legside, finding six of his nine boundaries in that direction.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 285 for 7 in 50 overs (Pathum Nissanka 35, Kusal Mendis 124, Charith Asalanka 58, Wanidu Hasaranga18*; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2-48, Taskin Ahmed 2-51) vs Bangladesh

[Cricinfo]