Sports

Onus on Sri Lankan batsmen to lend a helping hand to bowling unit

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/1

It would not be a surprise if, at times during this tour of England, Sri Lanka’s bowlers had cast suspicious glances across the dressing room at their batsmen. After all, in three of the four white-ball matches so far, Sri Lanka’s bowlers have had periods of play when they have been on top of England’s much-heralded batting line-up. All of those matches ended in defeat, of course, but had Sri Lanka’s batsmen been able to contribute more, a different result may have been possible. It has been a one-sided tour so far but at least half of Sri Lanka’s team has been operating well.

In the second T20I in Cardiff, for instance, England were reduced to 36 for 4 but were only chasing a paltry 111 which meant they had time to sit in and recover, take the sting out of Sri Lanka’s bowlers and ease their way to the target. Even another 30 runs would have tested them far more. In the opening ODI in Durham, it was a similar story.

After Jonny Bairstow’s initial blitz, Sri Lanka took four wickets for 26 runs and were back in the game. England, however, were never in any real danger because they were only chasing 185. Again, another 50 runs might have made things interesting. In the final T20I, Sri Lanka bowled first and claimed five for 19 at the back end of the innings to keep England’s total within reach. Then they were bundled out for just 91.

Dushmantha Chameera has been the standout bowler for Sri Lanka. He took six wickets in the T20I series, including four in the final game at the Ageas Bowl with a superb collection of slower balls that bamboozled England’s middle order. In between times, he has bowled with real pace. He picked up three more wickets in Durham, having Eoin Morgan caught behind from one that zipped through quicker than the England captain was expecting and then Sam Billings caught at backward point shortly after. Chameera also got rid of Moeen Ali, for 28, but should have had him first ball. Unfortunately, Kusal Perera behind the stumps dropped a crucial edge.

Tall left-armer Binura Fernando has been quietly impressive too, proving difficult for England’s batsmen to get on top of. He conceded just over six runs an over in the T20I series and picked up Bairstow in game one of the ODIs with a ball that cramped him from round the wicket. It was a vital wicket at a vital stage. Fernando remains inexperienced – he has played just six international matches – but appears to have a cool head. Wanindu Hasaranga has not taken that many wickets with his skiddy leg-spin but he has consistently troubled England’s batsmen while seamer Chamika Karunaratne, in just his second ODI, bustled in well during the first 50-over game and has a fantastic domestic record.

Even considering the players England are missing for this series, their batting line-up remains strong and Sri Lanka’s bowlers have done a good job against them. It is a young and inexperienced group. Chameera is 29 but the rest of Sri Lanka’s attack in the opening ODI were 25 or younger. Hasaranga has 22 ODI caps to his name but Fernando and Karunaratne are making their way in international cricket while so too is Praveen Jayawickrama, a promising left-arm spinner who took 11 wickets on his Test debut against Bangladesh earlier this year. He only bowled one over in Durham, his ODI debut, but should get more opportunities to show what he can do in the rest of the series.

Mickey Arthur has spent much of this tour shaking his head at the performances of his batsmen, on and off the field, but he will be pleased with the displays of Sri Lanka’s bowlers. They have done a good job in difficult circumstances and proved they can mix it with England’s batting line-up. They have held up their end of the bargain. Now it is the turn of Sri Lanka’s batsmen to step up in the remaining two matches of the ODI series. If they don’t, there may be more accusing glances heading their way from their bowling counterparts.

The Oval surface is one of the best for batting in the country which should at least give Sri Lanka’s beleaguered batsmen some cause for optimism today. They could not ask for a better pitch to find their form again. The forecast for the game is good, with sun and temperatures in the mid-20s expected although whoever wins the toss will probably want to field first. Of the last eight completed day-night games at The Oval, seven have been won by the side batting second.

Sri Lanka’s options are limited given three players have been sent home for a breach of the COVID-19 protocols in place for this series. For that reason, they may stick with the batting order that played the opening match of the series with the old adage ringing in their ears of ‘you got us into this mess, you can get us out of it’. If a change to the batting is considered, Oshada Fernando is the most experienced option.

Sri Lanka:

(Probable XI) Kusal Perera (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Praveen Jayawickrama

England:

(Probable XI) Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (Captain), Sam Billings, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Tom Curran, Adil Rashid.

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Yashasvi Jaiswal powers Royals past Mumbai Indians in 11-over thrash

Published

10 hours ago

2026/04/8

Priyan

Yashasvi Jaiswal was all smiles at the end of the match [Cricinfo]

Heavy rain in Guwahati delayed the start of the match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Mumbai Indians (MI) by more than two and a half hours. And when play finally began at 10.10 pm, there was another storm awaiting MI.

RR’s openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooriyavanshi ransacked 80 runs in five overs. Sooryavanshi was eventually dismissed for 39 off 14, but Jaiswal rampaged unbeaten through the 11-over innings, scoring 77 off 32 to power RR to 150 for 3.

In reply, MI lost three wickets inside the powerplay, which was reduced to 3.2 overs, and were eventually restricted to 123 for 9. Jofra Archer had provided the first breakthrough, and Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger and Ravi Bishnoi picked up two wickets apiece. RR moved to the top of the points table with three wins in three games, while MI suffered their second successive defeat.

Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal don’t need to be told to be aggressive, and that natural instinct was heightened in a rain-shortened contest. If there was any moisture in the pitch due to the weather, there was no evidence of it in the powerplay. MI chose to give the first over not to Trent Boult but to Deepak Chahar and Jaiswal tore into him: 4, 6, 4, 0, 4, 4.

Then came the highly-anticipated battle: 15-year old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi facing Jasprit Bumrah for the first time in his fledgling career. How would he approach one of the greatest bowlers in the game? Bumrah’s first ball was a slot ball. Sooryavanshi played the delivery and not the deliverer, and smashed it over the long-on boundary. The strike rotated back to him over the next two balls, and when Bumrah tested him with an off-pace delivery, Sooryavanshi swivelled and pulled him for another six over deep backward square leg. Round one – 13 off 5 balls – to Sooryavanshi.

Boult came on for the third over and Jaiswal cleared the deep square leg boundary twice and Sooryavanshi once, and by the time the 20-ball powerplay was finished, RR were 59 for 0.

Jaiswal is usually boom or bust against MI. Before this match, he had two centuries and five scores of less than 15 in eight innings against them. On Tuesday, he went boom again, smashing four fours and three sixes in his first nine deliveries. He got to fifty off 23 balls by cracking Hardik Pandya through point.

Sooryavanshi fell to the golden arm of Shardul Thakur, Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag fell to the mystery spin of AM Ghazanfar, but Jaiswal didn’t stop. He clobbered Bumrah for a straight six and picked three fours off Shardul in the final over to take RR to 150.

Like they had with the ball, MI suffered 20 balls of powerplay mayhem with the bat. Facing an asking rate of nearly 14, Ryan Rickelton swung Jofra Archer for six over deep midwicket but then top-edged another pull and was caught by Jurel running back. Suryakumar Yadav paddled Nandre Burger for the flattest of sixes over fine leg but was deceived by a hard-length offcutter and caught at deep backward square a ball later. Rohit was pinned lbw for the sixth time in 13 IPL innings by Sandeep. While RR’s powerplay score was 59 for 0; MI responded with 29 for 3.

The pitch had become a little tacky as the match progressed and the RR quicks adapted by using their cutters to good effect. Legspinner Ravi Bishnoi extended his lead at the top of the Purple Cap charts by dismissing Hardik and Tilak Varma in his first over, reducing MI to 46 for 5 after five overs. He should have had a third in his next over, when Sherfane Rutherford miscued to long-on but Jaiswal dropped the chance.

With the required rate soaring to past 17 an over, Naman Dhir and Rutherford tried to revive the chase with a partnership of 47 in 17 balls. But any slim hope MI may have had was extinguished when Sandeep dived forward at short third to take a low catch to end Rutherford’s innings. Burger, Sandeep and Archer closed out the innings to seal RR’s victory by 27 runs.

Brief scores: [11 overs per team]
Rajasthan Royals 150 for 3 in 11 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 77*, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 39, Riyan Parag 20; Shardul Thakur 1-36, AM Ghazanfar 2-21) beat Mumbai Indians 123 for 9 in 11 overs (Tilak Varma 14, Sherfane Rutherford 25, Naman Dhir 25; Jofra Archer 1-17, Nandre Burger 2-21, Sandeep Sharma 2-26, Tushar Deshpande 1-29, Ravi Bishnoi 2-25) by 27 runs

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Sri Lanka women eye giant-killing act under Siddons

Published

15 hours ago

2026/04/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Jamie Siddons

Sri Lanka have turned to seasoned Australian campaigner Jammie Siddons to steady the ship and sharpen their edge, with the new women’s head coach making it clear that toppling heavyweights, not merely making up the numbers, will be the name of the game.

Siddons, a well-travelled coach with miles on the clock, has set his sights firmly on the upcoming Women’s World Cup in England, where Sri Lanka will open proceedings against the hosts at Edgbaston in June. It’s a baptism by fire, England in their own backyard, but the message from the dressing room is simple: try and beat top teams regularly.

Drawn alongside England, West Indies, New Zealand, Ireland and Scotland in a six-team group, Sri Lanka know there’s little room for passengers. It’s sink or swim.

“The World Cup is our big focus and we’ve got some tough games coming up,” Siddons told reporters on the sidelines of a floodlit training session at the CCC. “England at home will be a hard nut to crack. West Indies and New Zealand are quality sides as well.”

Before the main event, Sri Lanka will have a dress rehearsal in Bangladesh, a chance to blood fresh faces.

“We’re heading to Bangladesh before the World Cup and that gives us an opportunity to look at some of the new players coming through,” Siddons added, casting an eye on the next crop.

Sri Lanka’s women have made steady strides over the past two years under Rumesh Rathnayake, but as any seasoned observer will tell you, fine margins often decide games at this level and there are still a few loose ends to tie up.

Fielding, particularly in the deep, has been their Achilles’ heel. Dropped catches have cost them dear, while a lack of firepower with the bat has meant they’ve often been caught playing catch-up against the game’s heavyweights; Australia, England and India.

“From a bowling perspective, we need a few more tricks in the bag. The girls have to develop variations, slower balls, cutters and cut down the boundaries. That’s something we’ve been working on,” he said, underlining the need to outthink rather than outmuscle opponents.

For years, Sri Lanka have leaned heavily on the broad shoulders of Chamari Atapattu, their talisman, their match-winner, their go-to player when the chips are down. Siddons knows that while Chamari remains the crown jewel, cricket is no one-woman show.

“She’s our major player and we’ve depended a lot on her,” he admitted. “But we need a few more to put their hands up. Chamari still has plenty to offer.”

Encouragingly, Siddons has already spotted bright talents in the pace department, a rare commodity in the women’s game in Sri Lanka.

“I’ve seen a couple of very exciting fast bowling talents who haven’t played much yet. They could be key for us,” he said, hinting at new-ball options that could ruffle a few feathers.

Off the field, Sri Lanka Cricket has invested heavily over the last five years, the board has cast the net wide taking the game to schools, strengthening domestic competitions and ensuring a steady pipeline of talent.

There has been no shortage of cricket either, with bilateral series home and away giving players valuable time in the middle. The Under-19 side is currently cutting its teeth in Australia, while development squads are being kept busy with regular tours and fixtures.

Central contracts and match fees are now part of the furniture, a far cry from the hand-to-mouth existence of yesteryear, though there remains room for improvement.

https://www.telecomasia.net/

Sports

Deemantha’s unbeaten century sets up thrilling final-day finish

Published

15 hours ago

2026/04/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Thusindu Deemantha

An absorbing contest is on the cards during the morning session on the final day as the next 28 overs are likely to decide the finalist from the first semi final of the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ tournament between St. Joseph’s College and Prince of Wales College at the D.H.H. Ground, Madampella today.

‎The semi-final moved towards a tense first innings finish after Prince of Wales reached 242 for five at stumps on the second day in reply to St. Joseph’s commanding first innings total of 354.

‎Open batsman Thusindu Deemantha played a remarkable innings of patience and determination, remaining unbeaten on 102 to keep the Cambrians’ hopes alive. His knock clearly reflected Prince of Wales’ strategy of batting for first innings points against the strong Darley Road outfit.

‎Deemantha displayed admirable grit to anchor the innings, facing as many as 248 deliveries during his stay at the crease. His unbeaten century included eight boundaries and he is set to resume his innings for a third consecutive day today after having first walked in to bat on Monday evening.

‎From the outset it was evident that Prince of Wales were aiming to stretch their innings as long as possible in pursuit of first innings advantage. According to tournament regulations, the first innings is restricted to 120 overs and the Cambrians now have 28 overs remaining to surpass the Josephian total.

‎St. Joseph’s bowlers will be eager to make early breakthroughs and expose the lower order to their formidable spin trio of Vigneswaran Akash, Vishwa Peiris and Nushan Perera. The three spinners dominated proceedings on the second day, accounting for 76 of the 92 overs bowled to Prince of Wales.

‎While Nushan Perera and Vishwa Peiris maintained tight control with economy rates below 2.5 runs per over, Akash bowled his 20 overs for just over three runs an over. Peiris was the most successful among them with two wickets.

‎For Prince of Wales, Oshan Maneesha contributed a valuable 38 runs while Gavesha Fernando played an important supporting role. Fernando joined Deemantha in a crucial 108-run fourth wicket partnership that steadied the innings and carried the Cambrians closer to the Josephian total.

‎With Deemantha firmly set at the crease and the Cambrians still needing to close the gap, the opening session today promises a gripping battle as both teams fight for a place in the final. (RF)