Sports
Playing five specialist batters, dangerous ploy
Rex Clementine at Pallekele
Successful Sri Lankan teams of 1990s and 2000s had a straightforward formula for ODI cricket; they played seven batsmen. That was the case even when we had terrific match winners like Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya in the 90s and a decade later in 2000s when we had the luxury of T.M. Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in the batting order. Sri Lanka are heading into the three match ODI series against Zimbabwe that gets underway today (Sunday) at Pallekele with just five specialist batters. That means, we will have two all-rounders – Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne at number six and seven respectively.
This is a dangerous ploy that could backfire after Avishka Fernando and Dhananjaya de Silva two of the team’s premier batsmen had to pull out from the series.
Shanaka told the media that he is ready to accept the challenge at number six. While Shanaka is an excellent leader and should be given the long rope to establish himself, entrusting him to occupy the number six slot is placing too much on his plate. The selectors would have been better off to beef up the batting department especially as batting has been their Achilles’ heel unable to bat out the quota of 50 overs. The team is also thin on experience and a struggling Dinesh Chandimal is their most experienced batter.
People can brush aside our concerns saying that after all it is Zimbabwe. Well, mind you that an unfancied Zimbabwe side humbled Sri Lanka five years ago and Angelo Mathews stepped down as skipper as the tourists recorded a come from behind win at Suriyawewa.
In modern day cricket, there are no dead rubbers and weak teams. Every game matters as qualification for ICC events are based on your performances in every game and if you are not in the safety zone, you will have to play qualifying rounds for premier events. Having already played a qualifying round last year, Sri Lanka will play another this year down under and looks like the trend is going to continue given the team’s poor standings in official ICC Rankings.
It is true that Dasun Shanaka has done wonders with limited resources. Making him to bat at six is not only asking too much but silly as well. There are already questions as to whether he merits a place in the ODI side. One good thing is that he’s got his priorities right. His primary focus remains cricket and not business.
Dasun is such a humble soul that even if a ground boy comes and gives him some ideas, he will listen, ponder and then take a decision.
Number six is a batting position occupied by some of the best finishers the game has seen like Michael Bevan of Australia or our own Hashan Tilakaratne and Russel Arnold. Those are the big shoes that Dasun has to fill apart from holding a young team together.
Slow over rates has been another issue that has haunted successive Sri Lankan teams in the last seven or eight years. Little has been done to address this issue. The other worrisome area is the reviews. Sri Lanka’s reviews have looked impulsive and imprudent in recent times and although our coaches have come up with various theories, very little progress has been made.
India capped off a dominant tri-series campaign in Colombo with a resounding win over Sri Lanka, posting their highest-ever women’s ODI total on Sri Lankan soil—344 for five —before bowling the hosts out for 245.
Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a superb 11th ODI hundred—her first against Sri Lanka—anchoring partnerships of 70 with Pratika Rawal and 120 with Harleen Deol.
Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues chipped in with brisk 40s, while India smashed 90 runs in the last 10 overs.
Despite a spirited effort, Sri Lanka’s daunting chase faltered. Chamari Atapattu’s 50 and a few half-century stands weren’t enough to close the gap. Seamer Amanjot Kaur struck early, removing two of the top three, while offspinner Sneh Rana starred with four for 38, finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.
India’s batting wasn’t without drama—Rawal survived an early chance, and Mandhana was twice let off before unleashing her full range of strokes. She was especially brutal on Atapattu, sweeping her repeatedly through square leg and cover en route to a 92-ball century.
Amanjot’s return in the middle overs derailed the chase further, bowling Gunaratne and setting up Rana’s match-turning spell. Atapattu, despite reaching her 19th ODI fifty, was undone by Rana, who later removed three more to slam the door shut.
Late resistance from Sanjeewani and Kumari delayed the inevitable, but a run-out and two quick Rana strikes wrapped up the win.
India’s comprehensive display sent a strong message ahead of the Women’s World Cup, reaffirming their title credentials.
Brief scores:
India
342 for seven (Mandhana 116, Rodrigues 44, Kumari 2-59) beat Sri Lanka 245 (Atapattu 51, Rana 4-38, Amanjot 3-54) by 97 runs.
Apna Perera and Dinara de Silvaemerged as the men’s and women’s singles champions respectively at the 110th Colombo Championships continued at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts.
In the men’s singles final, Apna beat Ashen Silva 7-6, 6-1. Dinara registered convincing 6-1, 6-2 win over Venuli Jayasinghe in the women’s final.
In the boys’ Under 18 semi-finals, Ashlin de Silva beat Nethmika Wickramasinghe 6-2, 6-1 while Mayooran Kubheran beat Aahil Kaleel 6-7, 7-6, 6-4.
National champion Chamod Yodasinghe secured a creditable second place rank for an impressive performace of 10.27 seconds as he out did a strong field in the 100 metres at the Dubai Grand Prix on Friday.
Yodasinghe who was entered only for the 4x100m relay received a golden opportunity in Dubai when his request to run the 100 metres there was granted by the organisers. The athlete trained by sprint coach Sanjeewa Weerakkody equalled his personal best (10.27 seconds) in winning his race.
Incidentally, his winning time was second only to the winner of the first race where top ranked athletes including Yupun Abeykoon competed.
Oman’s Ali Al Balooshi was the fastest as he clocked 10.19 seconds while Abeykoon finished fifth with a time of 10.39 seconds.
Abeykoon who was making his first 100 metres appearance of the year was ranked sixth overall.
In the 4×100 metres relay Sri Lanka’s quartet finished third in a time of 39.41 seconds.
Yodasinghe will next compete at the Asian Athletics Championships later this month.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s 4×400 metres mixed relay team finished last in their heat at the World Relays in China yesterday.
by Reemus Fernando
-
Business7 days agoAitken Spence Travels continues its leadership as the only Travelife-Certified DMC in Sri Lanka
-
Latest News5 days agoNPP win Maharagama Urban Council
-
Business7 days agoLinearSix and InsureMO® expand partnership
-
Features2 days agoSAITM Graduates Overcome Adversity, Excel Despite Challenges
-
Business5 days agoJohn Keells Properties and MullenLowe unveil “Minutes Away”
-
Sports2 days agoASBC Asian U22 and Youth Boxing Championships from Monday
-
News2 days agoDestined to be pope:Brother says Leo XIV always wanted to be a priest
-
Foreign News3 days agoMexico sues Google over ‘Gulf of America’ name change