As Sri Lanka arrive on the doorstep of another World Cup, there is the usual attendant instability. The captain has been switched out but the team is still losing against good opposition. The top order is being rejigged frequently, and yet consistent scores are not forthcoming. There are strong elements in the attack – such as the bowling of Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga – but there is fragility elsewhere. It might not take much to turn them around though. The raw materials of a decent T20 side are there.

Pakistan, meanwhile, have no serious work-ons from Wednesday, save for the catching and ground fielding. Head coach Mike Hesson described their big win in the first T20I as “very clinical”, praising not only the bowling that decked Sri Lanka for 128, but the top order batters who aced the chase as well.

That they are putting up such performances while key players – such as Babar Azam – are away in the Big Bash League, is especially impressive. If they are to put together a good campaign in the forthcoming World Cup, Wednesday’s win might have been the day they planted their flag in Sri Lanka. So far, they seem at ease in these conditions.

In the T20I tri-series in Pakistan last month, Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan had topped the run list, hitting 191 runs at a strike rate of 147. He has now made a bright start in Sri Lanka, hitting 51 off 36 in his first innings on the island. Farhan was especially good at taking down the round-arm seam of Nuwan Thushara, which caused significant problems for Sri Lanka, who require early wickets from Thushara. Farhan’s dominance will make Sri Lanka think twice about playing Thushara in this match.

Second on that run chart from the tri-series last month was Kamil Mishara with 169 runs at a strike rate of 139. He couldn’t get going on Wednesday, registering a three-ball duck after he spooned a catch to mid off. But he has shown glimpses of serious talent at the top level. Impactful innings in this series and the one to come against England will likely seal his spot at the top of the order.

The Dambulla surface for the first ODI was conducive to spin. At this time of year, showers are possible, but are unlikely to last long enough to wash out the match.

Pakistan may see no need to change their XI while Sri Lanka may consider bringing in Matheesha Pathirana for Thushara, which will mean Dasun Shanaka is required to bowl with the new ball.

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan,  Saim Ayub,  Fakhar Zaman,  Salman Agha (capt.),  Usman Khan (wk),  Mohammad Nawaz,  Shadab Khan,  Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim,  Salman Mirza,  Abrar Ahmed

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka,  Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk),  Dhananjaya de Silva,  Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Janith Liyanage,  Wanindu Hasaranga,  Dushmantha Chameera,  Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana/Nuwan Thushara

The first T20 International against Pakistan in Dambulla underlined, yet again, how heavily Sri Lanka lean on their talismanic opener Pathum Nissanka. When he gets going, Sri Lanka can push into the 180 plus scores that win you games. When he fails, the innings tends to unravel like a loose sweater. On Wednesday night, they were skittled with four balls to spare.

Ranked third in the world in T20Is, Nissanka has been a model of consistency over the past 24 months, scripting more than his share of Sri Lanka’s recent successes. But cricket’s law of averages is an unforgiving umpire. When he departs cheaply, the rest of the batting order too often looks short of ideas and shorter on intent.

That brings the debate around Kusal Janith Perera into sharp focus. If the selectors believe KJP belongs in the squad, then he must be in the playing XI. He remains one of the few in the current set-up who can clear the ropes against both pace and spin, a necessity in T20 cricket. Leaving that firepower unused doesn’t make sense.

Charith Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis offer adequate part-time spin options and with the bat both are better suited to the demands of T20 cricket than Dhananjaya de Silva. The Test captain was previously cast in a similar role ahead of the last T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA, a move that failed to deliver dividends and was quietly shelved after the tournament. Curiously, the same experiment has resurfaced, funnily enough, on the eve of another World Cup.

Sri Lanka may well be the only international side juggling three different captains across formats, with all three turning up in the T20 XI. How can that be?

A top order of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, followed by Kusal Perera at number three, gives the batting unit a far more settled look. Crucially, that trio has the ability to maximise the six overs of Powerplay, when the field is up.

Further down the order, Dunith Wellalage at number eight could provide a safety net if there is a collapse. At present, the top order is overly dependent on Nissanka and without Wellalage, the lower order offers precious little resistance once the chips are down.

With a home World Cup around the corner, Sri Lanka need to finalise their combinations rather than shuffle the pack. Experimentation is part of the process, but doing so this close to a global event is a gamble with long odds.

While Sri Lanka have made reasonable strides in Tests and ODIs, the T20 format continues to throw up worrying signs. There was at least a sense of gradual progress under Charith Asalanka and Upul Tharanga, slow, perhaps, but forward. What is unfolding now feels like a return to square one, dusting off old plans that previously backfired and hoping, against evidence, for a different result.

Rex Clementine  ✍️
in Dambulla

Under 19 Cricket

Tissa Central, Kalutara produced a stunning nine wicket victory over Zahira College, Maradana as spinner and skipper Malindu Dilshan led the way with a six wicket haul to rattle the visitors for 39 runs in the second innings in the Under 19 Division II Tier ‘A’ match at Kalutara on Thursday.

‎Both schools topped 200 runs in their first innings and a draw was the likely result before Dilshan came up with a stunning spell to restrict Zahira.

‎They knocked off the win need of 86 runs in just 18 overs.

‎Tissa stun Zahira at Kalutara

‎Scores

‎Zahira 261 all out in 68.5 overs (Tharusha Nawodya 83; Viswa Naduranga 5/45, Tharuka Samanjith 4/58) and 39 all out in 26.5 overs (Malindu Dilshan 6/16, Ishara de Silva 2/06)

‎Tissa

215 all out in 56.1 overs (Nethsara Yasmitha 66, Mindew Hansana 45; Tharusha Nawodya 7/95) and 86 for 1 in 18 overs (Sadew Dilshan 33n.o., Ishara Silva 30n.o.)

‎Division I Tier B Cricket

‎Sanjana century powers Moratu Vidyalaya,

‎‎A 152 runs stand for the second wicket between Deneth Sithumina (54) and Sanjana Senevirathne (111)‎and an unbeaten 39 (in 32 balls) inclusive of three fours and three sixes from number ten batsman Menuka Kothalawala powered Moratu Vidyalaya to 288 runs against St. Anne’s at Moratuwa.

‎Moratu MV 288, St. Anne’s 57/4 at Moratuwa

‎Scores

‎Moratu MV

288 all out in 77.4 overs (Deneth Sithumina 54, Sanjana Senevirathne 111, Menuka Kothalawala 39n.o.; Sanuja Dissanayake 5/85, Yashmith Jayasundara 2/28, Nesad Weerasekara 2/93)

‎St. Anne’s 57 for 4 in 15 overs (Ishan Khan 24n.o.; Menuka Kothalawala 2/27, Vihanga Nethsara 2/21)

‎St. Sebastians’ 145, Isipatana 81/6 at Kanuneriya

‎Scores

‎St. Sebastians’ 145 all out in 35.1 overs (Dinindu Dilan 48, Maheesha Sithum 25; Thrindu Naveen 2/39, Menula Dambakumbura 5/40, Dimuthu Tharuka 2/13)

‎Isipatana

81 for 6 in 24 overs (Dewshan Deneth 24; Maheesha Sithum 3/19, Sachintha Sandeep 2/13)