Sports
In defense of Hasaranga and co
Sri Lanka failed to enter the prestigious Super 8 in the T20 World Cup being hosted by the United States of America and the West Indies. This outcome is particularly heartbreaking for Sri Lankan fans, who are struggling to come to terms with the early exit. The stakeholders of Sri Lankan cricket, including the selectors, coaches, and other individuals involved in the game, along with the team under the versatile leadership of Hasaranga De Silva, are undergoing severe mental strain. They unfortunately run the risk of being unfairly criticized, putting their reputation and integrity at stake. This scenario is not uncommon in world sporting events, particularly in cricket, a game famously known for its ‘glorious uncertainties.’
The manner in which former national team skipper and highly respected cricketer Angelo Mathews expressed his apology to the country reflects the mental anguish and the challenges the team faced. These included the difficulty of adapting to unfamiliar wickets in the USA and tactical mistakes made during the games. Mathews is neither alone nor isolated in his unconditional apology to the nation, sharing the burden of disappointment with his teammates and expressing a collective sense of accountability.
As ardent fans of Sri Lankan cricket, it is our responsibility to thoroughly analyze this episode. The last group match, played early in the morning on 17 June (SL time), justified the selection of the team. Despite losing the toss under early seaming conditions, the team managed to score a mammoth 201 runs, thanks to contributions from almost all the batters in quick time. This impressive performance, which led to a victory over the Netherlands, should not be overlooked. There are many questions being asked in the media rightly or wrongly. Full test playing countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand faced the unfortunate ignominy of exiting early from the prestigious event. Great players like Virat Kohli, De Cock, Williamson, even the most celebrated T20 player Russel could not make any impact on the under-prepared pitches of the USA. It has been observed that the pitches in USA were tough for batters.
The maxim “success has many parents, but failure is an orphan” aptly applies to the team’s disappointing performance. The cartoons in popular English newspapers and the unkind, cruel comments on social media provide ample evidence that the criticism is often misdirected. Criticism has spared no one, targeting the SLC top management, selectors, coaches, supporting staff, and the Sports Minister, as well as slow wickets in Sri Lanka. This tendency to blame overlooks the historical achievements of Sri Lankan cricket. For instance, Sidath Wettimuny’s remarkable 190+ score in the inaugural Test at Lord’s, Duleep Mendis’s near-centuries in the same match, and Amal Silva’s century are often forgotten. The performance of the pacers and spinners during that period was superb, as attested by the renowned commentator Tony Lewis. These cricketers emerged from the same first-class setup in Sri Lanka, demonstrating the potential and talent within the system.
Sri Lanka’s past cricketing pride is inexhaustible, marked by world-class cricketers across all ranks. So, what is the issue? The cricket landscape has evolved. The emergence of teams like the USA and other second-tier nations, and Afghanistan’s recent show of strength as a white-ball cricketing team, illustrate this change. The second stage of the world event, the Super League, highlights how batting conditions have shifted. A good example is the English players, who successfully chased the total set by the West Indies but struggled on the USA wickets during group matches.
While the selection committee is also under fire, it is not proper to make harsh criticisms. The selection committee, under Upul Tharanga, has done excellent work in a short period. Although there are no significant numbers to justify their efforts, Sri Lankan fans can take a cue from the cricket boards of New Zealand and Pakistan, who are in a similar position and are working hard to set things right. Unconstructive criticism is not helpful in making amends. A final word to the Chairman of Selectors, Upul Tharanga: Please continue your dedicated responsibility. Fans will soon witness the revival of the Sri Lankan brand of cricket.
Ayampillai Dharmakulasingham,
Retired Sri Lankan Diplomat
On Sunday, Afghanistan beat West Indies at the Under-19 World Cup in Windhoek. On Monday, the senior side followed suit, producing a similarly clinical performance against West Indies ahead of the T20 World Cup next month.
On a Dubai pitch that assisted the slower bowlers, Ibrahim Zadran’s unbeaten 87 off 56 balls and Darwish Rasooli’s 84 powered Afghanistan to an imposing 181 for 3. Zadran revealed at the innings break that the total was around 20 runs more than what the team had targeted after the powerplay.
The score proved more than sufficient as West Indies struggled for timing against Afghanistan’s spin attack. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad shared six wickets between them, squeezing the chase and ensuring a comfortable 38-run victory.
Afghanistan found themselves in early trouble after losing two wickets in quick succession. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was run out off the first ball, beaten by Gukesh Motie’s direct hit as he fell short of his ground at the non-striker’s end. Sediqullah Atal departed soon after, punching a short ball straight to Brandon King, who pulled off a superb one-handed catch at first slip.
When Rasooli joined Zadran, Afghanistan were 19 for 2. The pair, however, settled quickly and went blow for blow through the middle overs. Zadran brought up his fourth consecutive T20I half-century, scoring largely with a straight bat to anything full and on the stumps, and using the pace on the ball to swing cleanly through the line.
Rasooli, by contrast, was more industrious, favouring cross-batted strokes to keep the scoreboard moving. He took a particular liking to Khary Pierre, striking him for 4, 6 and 4 in the 15th over to swing momentum back Afghanistan’s way after the pair had gone 18 deliveries without a boundary.
The duo put up a 162-run partnership for the third wicket to lift Afghanistan to a competitive total.
The pair was helped by a sequence of eight balls that saw three drops in the outfield during the 18th and 19th over. Seales and Joseph both were employing slower balls and cutters to great effect, but luck was not on their side. First, Gudakesh Motie dropped a sitter at long-on off Rasooli; in the same over, Evin Lewis ran in from deep midwicket to drop Zadran. Soon after, Zadran was dropped once again by Hetmeyer at long-off.
By the time Rasooli had finally holed out going for a pull off the last ball of the innings, the pair had piled on their 162-run partnership in the space of 17.4 overs.
Mujeeb ur Rahman had already spun one through Brandon King’s bat and pad in the opening over of the chase, signaling how useful accurate spin would be on the surface. West Indies were 22 for 1 at the end of the fourth over, but threatened to break free when Ziaur Ahmed was introduced. Johnson Charles took 16 runs off his first four deliveries, making use of width as well as height to free his arms.
Off the fifth ball, Ziaur got the ball to rise at him off middle stump. The top-edge was skied to Dawish Rasooli. He would return in the 15th over, despite giving 23 off his first two overs, to take out Quentin Sampson (30) and kill the chase.
By the time he bowled the final over, West Indies had been reduced to 139 for 8. He trapped Khary Pierr lbw plumb in front of the wicket, and completed his spell with figures of 3 for 36.
The most impactful bowler of the night, however, was introduced right after the powerplay. With the field spread, Rashid opted for a tight line outside off. He had Shimron Hetmyer dismissed off a slog sweep. Rashid’s quick trajectory through the air ensured – with this ball, and the rest of his spell – that no one could get under him for the big hits.
Amir Jangoo fell victim to another sweep in his next over, the ball skidding through to hit his pads. He bowled 15 dots during his spell, giving away just 19 runs for his two wickets.
Twelve of those runs came off Sampson’s bat in the 14th over: a six straight over his head, then another one pulled over deep midwicket. It was the highlight of Sampson’s power-hitting on T20I debut.
By then, however, West Indies still needed 89 off the final six overs. They never got close, with Afghanistan cramping the batters by bowling on the stumps and taking pace off the ball. Once Sampson fell in the next over – leaving them on 95 for 6 – the lower-order was left with too much to do.
Bref scores:
Afghanistan 181 for 3 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 87*, Darwish Rasooli 84; Jayden Seales 1-30, Maththew Forde 1-51) beat West Indies 143 for 9 in 20 overs (Johnson Charles 27, Quintein Sampson 30, Maththew Forde 25, Gudakesh Motie 28; Mujeeb Ur- Rahman 2-29, Ziaur Rahman 3-36, Rashid Khan 2-19, Noor Ahmed 2-34) by 38 runs
(Cricinfo)
In Windhoek, Sri Lanka strode to 267 for 5, with Vimath Dinsara hitting 95, and Chamika Heenatigala hitting 51. That pair put on a 100-run partnership for the fifth wicket, but there had also been a solid contribution from Kavija Gamage, who made 49. Ireland seamer Oliver Riley who took 2 for 51, dismissing top-scorer Dinsara and also Viran Chamuditha, who had made 192 in the last match.
But Ireland were timid in response. Behind the required rate from early in the piece, they also lost frequent wickets. They were struggling at 66 for 2 in the 19th over, but were soon 96 for 6 in the 27th over, the match essentially having slipped away. They were eventually dismissed for 161 in the 41st over. The right-arm seamers did the damage for Sri Lanka, Rasith Nimsara taking 3 for 29, and Dulnith Sigera claiming 4 for 19.
This victory puts Sri Lanka at the top of Group A, with a Net Run Rate of 3.090 – the best in the tournament so far.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Under 19s 267 for 5 in 50 overs (Vimath Dinsara 95, Kavija Gamage 49, Chamika Heenatigala 51*; Oliver Riley 2-51) beat Ireland Under 19s 161 in 40.1 overs (Callum Armstrong 39; Rasith Nimsara 3-29, Dulnith Sigera 4-19) by 106 runs
(Cricinfo)
South Africa monstered the Tanzania side over in Windhoek, Muhammed Bulbulia and Jason Rowles hitting hundreds to get South Africa to 397 for 5, before their bowlers blasted Tanzania out for 68.
Tanzania had begun encouragingly, although South Africa were always scoring quickly. They had taken two South Africa wickets inside the first 14 overs, and had South Africa at 93 for 2 at one stage. But then Bulbulia and Rowles came together, to take the game rapidly away from the opposition, with a 201-run partnership that came off 176 balls.
Rowles was the more aggressive of the pair in the end, clobbering five sixes and ten fours in his 125 not out off 101 deliveries. Bulbulia hit one six and ten fours in his run-a-ball 108. Paul James also produced a rollicking finishing knock, crashing five sixes and two fours in his 46 off 18.
Tanzania could not get off the blocks in the chase. South Africa took their first wicket in the second over, and just did not stop striking, the wickets spread between all five bowlers used.
Rowles added to his outstanding performance by claiming two wickets for 14 with his left-arm spin. Bayanda Majola also took two wickets, for six runs.
Brief scores:
South Africa Under-19s 397 for 5 in 50 overs (Jason Rowles 125, Muhammed Bulbulia 108, Jorich Van Schalkwyk 47, Paul James 46; Simba Mbaki 2-85) beat Tanzania Under-19s 68 in 32.2 overs (Simba Mbaki 17; Bayanda Majola 2-6, Jason Rowles 2-14) by 329 runs
(Cricibfo)
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