Sports
Asalanka and Bhanuka star in terrific run chase
by Rex Clementine
Quietly, Sri Lankan fans are sensing that their team is going to make an impact in the T-20 World Cup. Written off by experts and little momentum behind their campaign following the 3-0 drubbing at the hands of South Africa at home, Sri Lanka had to qualify. Having done that in style with three big wins, the former champions came up with a superb effort to chase a massive 172 run target with seven balls to spare against Bangladesh in Sharjah yesterday.
Sri Lanka’s bowling has been top class during the qualifiers but in their first Super 12 game, the bowlers conceded too many runs and the target looked beyond them. More so as the team’s two leading match winners Kusal Perera (1) and Avishka Fernando (0) departed cheaply. By half way mark, Sri Lanka were 79 for four and with Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan having got lots of overs at their disposal, Bangladesh were favourites.
Then came a brilliant counterattack by Charith Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa. They did not allow the run rate to climb up too high finding the boundary frequently and there was excellent running between the wickets to put pressure on Bangladesh.
Bangladesh were sloppy on the field with Liton Das grassing two catches and Sri Lanka weren’t going to miss out from thereon.
Captain in waiting Charith Asalanka was brilliant. Having replaced former captain Dinesh Chandimal in the side, he has added depth into batting occupying the crucial number three slot. Everyone knows that this Asalanka is a consistent batsman but he showcased a new skill to his game coming up with a few big hits. More importantly, his game sense was excellent. Once Sri Lanka had things under control, requiring run a ball, he was happy to pick up the singles.
There were five sixes and five fours in Asalanka’s innings as he finished unbeaten on 80 off 49 balls.
Providing him company was Bhanuka Rajapaksa. There have been a few questions asked about Bhankua’s temperament, fitness and even at times skill. But he silenced his critics with a half-century that was much needed for Sri Lanka.
Bhanuka’s ability to clear the ropes was in display as he finished with a strike rate of 170 finding the boundary when Sri Lanka desperately needed them. There were three sixes and three fours in his 53 that came off 31 balls. Is there a better way to celebrate your birthday?
Their 86 run stand is the highest for the fifth wicket for Sri Lanka.
There’s a feel good factor in the Sri Lankan camp. Kusal Perera and Avishka Fernando are yet to fire big and they will take the form of Bhanuka and Asalanka as a bonus.
The national cricket team has a habit of raising their performances in ICC events and their effort yesterday gave fans lot of hope. Asalanka has been an excellent find while Bhanuka is set to be ranked alongside the likes of Pollard and Maxwell.
Sharjah, 2pm local time
Sri Lanka broke a 12 match losing streak against New Zealand by posting their first-ever T20I win against the opponents last year. In the third T20I in Colombo in July 2023, Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama helped crush New Zealand by 10 wickets to seal a historic win. While Sri Lanka will be looking for a consolation win, New Zealand will want to win big to strengthen their semi-final chances and boost their net run rate.
New Zealand squad:
Sophie Devine (capt), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Isabella Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
Sri Lanka squad:
Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilshari, Nilakshika Silva, Hasini Perera, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sachini Nisansala, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Achini Kulasuriya, Inoka Ranaweera, Shashini Gimhani, Ama Kanchana, Sugandika Kumari
Tournament form guide:
After beating India comprehensively in their opener, New Zealand were handed a thrashing by defending champions Australia, crumbling to 88 all out in the 149 chase. Sri Lanka have lost all three matches they’ve played so far in the tournament, with the loss against India putting them out of semi-final contention.
Player to watch:
Legspinning-allrounder Amelia Kerr is one of the most reliable players for New Zealand. Against Australia, she waged a lone fight, taking four wickets and top-scoring with 29 in the chase. She took three wickets in five balls, with Australian batters struggling to read her googlies on the Sharjah pitch. She is once again expected to be key for New Zealand at the same venue against the shaky Sri Lankan batting order.
An Australian side struck by two injuries marched to a third massive win over a depleted Pakistan team, who slumped to the lowest total of the tournament so far. The result leaves Pakistan all but out of knockout contention while Australia are now almost certain to qualify into the final four.
Pakistan were without their captain Fatima Sana, after the passing of her father, and senior seamer Diana Baig, who has not recovered from the leg injury that saw her leave the field after bowling one ball in their tournament opener, and they missed the pair’s enthusiasm and experience. Only one of their batters, Aliya Riyaz scored more than 20, while there were five scores of single figures, two ducks and no partnerships worth more than 19.
All that happened after Australia lost their quickest bowler, Tayla Vlaeminck – who was playing her first T20 World Cup match since 2018 – before she had even bowled a ball Vlaemink dislocated her shoulder while tumbling at short third in the first over of the game trying to cut off a boundary, and there’s a cloud over her participation in the remainder of the tournament.
Her absence did not stop Australia from making run-scoring difficult for Pakistan. They found the other six bowlers tough to get away, only scored their first boundary of the innings in the ninth over, and hit just four fours in all. Australia had struck that many by the third over of their innings.Alyssa Healey was responsible for five of them and seemed set to take Australia to victory but retired hurt in the 10th over, as she hobbled to complete a second run off Aroob Shah. Healy gingerly headed to the dressing room with a foot injury.
Elysse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner polished off the total in 11 overs, which has taken Australia’s net run-rate up to 2.786, leaving them almost assured of a final-four place. Their last group match is against India in Sharjah on Sunday. Pakistan face New Zealand on Monday.
Schutt shoots to the top
Megan Schutt had an exceptional first two matches in Sharjah, where she established herself as the most economical bowler of the tournament so far, but was also able to take wickets on a surface that offered very little assistance. She’d have been delighted to get to more helpful conditions in Dubai and started with two testing overs as she shaped the ball away from Muneeba Ali and into Sidra Amin. Schutt was given a third over in the powerplay, where she played with her lengths, and eventually drew Sadaf Shamas into a drive and Healy was convinced Shamas had hit it. She reviewed, successfully, to give Schutt her 144th T20I wicket – which took her to the top of the overall T20I wicket takers list. Schutt overtook one of the players in the opposition, Nida Dar, who had to come to the crease with Shamas’ dismissal. Pakistan were 18 for 2 after five overs and 23 for 2 at the end of six.
Awesome Ash Gardner
Pakistan were starting to rebuild – but only slightly – between the 10th and 16th over courtesy a 19-run stand between Iram Javed and Aliya Riaz though they always looked close to being separated. Gardner should have had Javed stumped on 10 when she came down the track and swung at a length delivery but Healy missed the chance.
It didn’t take too long for Gardner to get her own back. In her next over, she tossed one up and Iram could not resist going for a big one. She skied it towards deep mid-wicket where Georgia Wareham was completely unfussed by the ring of fire and took a good catch. Gardner’s final over was the innings’ penultimate and Pakistan had to go in search of runs. Off the second ball, Healy made no mistake when Tuba Hassan came down the track, swung, missed and was stumped. Aroob Shah hit Gardner’s second-last ball to Beth Mooney at mid-wicket and Nashra Sandhu was given out lbw off the last ball which turned past her inside-edge to hit her on the pad. Gardner finished with 4 for 21, her second-best figures in T20Is.
Healy, Mooney race away
Australia started their reply with eight runs off their first 11 balls, none of them boundaries. That was all they needed to see and began to cash in thereafter. Healy drove Dar through the covers to register Australia’s first boundary and the fours kept coming. Beth Mooney hit three off Sadia Iqbal’s opening over, demonstrating her strength through the offside and Healy followed up with two more off Sadaf Shamas. Australia were 36 without loss in the fifth over when Mooney hit Iqbal to Aliya Riaz on the edge of the inner ring at mid-off but the horse had bolted. They won with 54 balls remaining, and their excellent NRR means they’d have to lose by 61 or more runs against India to be displaced from No. 1.
Brief scores:
Australia Women 83 for 1 in 11 overs (Alyssa Healy 37, Ellyse Perry 22*; Sadia Iqbql 1-17) beat Pakistan Women 82 in 19.5 overs (Aliya Riaz 26; Megan Schutt 1-07, Sophie Molineux 1-19, Ashleigh Gardner 4-21, Annabel Sutherland 2-15, Georgia Wareham 2-16) by nine wickets
Police SC and CH & FC will lock horns in the inaugural match of the Sri Lanka Premier League Hockey Championship at 6.00 pm at the Astroturf at Reid Avenue today.
The inaugural match will be preceded by an opening ceremony attended by all participating teams.
The tournament is organised to provide the experience of a top-level competition and thereby pave the way for the next generation to be competitive at international level.
Eight local teams are taking part in this inaugural premier league tournament. They are Sri Lanka Army SC, Navy SC, Air Force SC, Police SC, BRC, Old Senanayaka SC, CR & FC and CH & FC.
The league is introduced by the ‘Next Generation Development Hockey Society’ inclusive of players who have represented Sri Lanka National team, Sri Lanka Junior National team and Sri Lanka Schools teams.
The event is conducted under the auspices of the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation.
Nearly 200 local players who have national and international exposure are expected to join a number of foreign players of international repute. They are inclusive of players who have led their national teams.
All matches of the tournament will be played at the Astroturf at Reid Avenue.
The winners of the tournament will receive a handsome cash award. The best player of the tournament, highest goal scorer and the best goalkeeper of the tournament will also be rewarded.
President holds virtual discussion with USAID Administrator on future cooperation
October 12 at the Women’s T20 World Cup: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka
Australia all but through to semis after Pakistan fold for 82
-
News6 days agoSajith top presidential election spender
-
Features6 days agoThe Economy, Executive Presidency, and the Parliamentary Election
-
News6 days agoRajeev Amarasuriya to run for BASL President 2025/26
-
Business4 days agoADB delegation meets President Dissanayake, pledges continued support for Sri Lanka’s economic development
-
Sports6 days agoHas Sri Lanka unearthed a special talent?
-
Features4 days agoNew start in international relations can be highlighted in Geneva
-
Editorial4 days agoEaster carnage probes and AKD’s call
-
Business6 days agoAviyana becomes main sponsor of Sri Lanka Trade Fair Dubai 2024