Sports
Tharanga vows overhaul as Sri Lanka seek T-20 revival ahead of World Cup
Sri Lanka’s Chairman of Selectors Upul Tharanga has vowed to fix the team’s chronic batting failures in T20 cricket, after their humiliating series defeat to Bangladesh – their first ever against that opposition in the shortest format.
Tharanga, a former skipper himself, has overseen steady progress in Tests and ODIs since taking the reins as chief selector. But in T20 Internationals, Sri Lanka remain a work in progress – and time is ticking fast, with the island set to co-host the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup alongside India in early 2026.
The scars from last week’s debacle still sting. After cruising in the series opener, Sri Lanka suffered a calamitous collapse in Dambulla, shot out for just 94 – their lowest total at home – before limping to 132 in the Colombo decider, surrendering the series 2-1.
“Our batting unit has been far too inconsistent,” Tharanga told Telecom Asia Sport. “We’ve tried various combinations, but it’s time to inject fresh blood. Players like Nuwanidu Fernando and Pawan Rathnayake have been banging on the selection door and deserve a look-in.”
Another player in the spotlight is Janith Liyanage, a dependable presence in ODIs at number six, now being considered for a similar role in the T20 setup.
“He’s someone who takes a bit of time to settle, but once he’s in, he adds real value – not just with the bat but as a top-class fielder,” Tharanga added. “We might tweak a few things, but he’s got the temperament to do the job in T-20 cricket.”
While Sri Lanka boasts a pool of seamers, selection headaches persist with only two pacers likely to feature in the playing XI which means bowlers with extra pace like Matheesha Pathirana and Dushmantha Chameera have to sit out. Tharanga hinted at a rotation policy to manage workloads and maintain variety.
But the elephant in the room remains power-hitting – or rather, the lack of it.
“Even in our title-winning campaign in 2014, we didn’t rely on big hitters,” Tharanga said. “What we had was smart cricket – finding the gaps, rotating strike, reading the situation. Unfortunately, our current middle order has lost that plot.”
To plug that gap, Sri Lanka has enlisted the services of English power-hitting coach Julian Wood on a short-term deal. Wood, a former Hampshire player, has worked with IPL franchises and international teams on improving strike rates and clearing the ropes.
“That’s a step in the right direction,” Tharanga said. “I hope the boys make the most of his expertise.”
Sri Lanka’s lead-up to the World Cup includes T20 series against England, Pakistan and Zimbabwe, with the Asia Cup also pencilled in. There’s also a potential home series against India next month – a golden chance to test combinations and iron out creases.
(Telecom Asia Sport)
Oman made a couple of changes in the last two fixtures without success. Shakeel Ahmed went in and out of the side in the three games, but picked three wickets against Ireland and should keep his place. Jatinder might look at giving top-order batter Karan Sonavale another go.
[Cricbuzz]
Zimbabwe marched into the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup with the swagger of a side that refuses to read the script, completing the group phase unbeaten after a polished six-wicket win over co-hosts Sri Lanka at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.
Ranked 11th in the world, the African side have been the tournament’s disruptors-in-chief. Having already sent former champions Australia packing last week, they now added 2014 winners Sri Lanka to their growing list of scalps, underlining that this is no flash in the pan but a team riding a serious wave of momentum.
Chasing 179 on a surface that demanded both muscle and method, Zimbabwe found themselves at crossroads when 65 were needed off the last 36 balls. Enter Sikandar Raza, sleeves rolled up and eyes locked in.
The all-rounder flipped the contest on its head in one decisive over from Dushan Hemantha, plundering 20 runs with two towering sixes and a rasping boundary. In the blink of an eye, the asking rate dipped and Sri Lanka’s shoulders sagged.
Raza and Brian Bennett stitched together a match-defining 69 off 40 deliveries for the third wicket, mixing clean ball-striking with smart running between the wickets. Zimbabwe crossed the line with three balls to spare.
While Raza provided the late fireworks with 45 off 26 balls, peppered with two fours and four sixes, opener Bennett was the glue that held the innings together. His composed 63 off 48 deliveries, studded with eight fours, ensured Zimbabwe never lost sight of the target.
Even when Raza departed with 13 still required from two overs, Sri Lanka sensed a sniff. But Tony Munyonga calmly clubbed Maheesh Theekshana’s first delivery of the final over into the stands, draining the tension from the contest. Fittingly, Bennett sealed the deal with the winning boundary. Raza was named Man of the Match.
It was Zimbabwe’s second-highest successful run chase in T20Is.
Earlier, after opting to bat, Sri Lanka were once again anchored by Pathum Nissanka. Fresh from becoming the tournament’s first centurion earlier in the week, Nissanka produced a polished 62 off 47 balls, bringing up his seventh T20 World Cup half-century, equalling Mahela Jayawardene’s record for the most by a Sri Lankan.
He and Kusal Perera gave the innings early impetus with a brisk 54 off 30 balls for the opening stand before Nissanka added a further 46 in 43 deliveries alongside Kusal Mendis.
Pavan Rathnayake provided the late thrust, clearing the ropes twice in a 44 off 25 balls as Sri Lanka posted a competitive 178.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers, however, ensured it was a chaseable target rather than a daunting one. Veteran leg-spinner Graeme Cremer led the way with 2-27, applying the squeeze in the middle overs, while the towering Blessing Muzarabani struck twice to finish with 2-38.
Sri Lanka now turn their attention to a Super Eight showdown against England in Kandy on Sunday, a contest that promises high stakes and little margin for error. Zimbabwe, brimming with belief, head to Bombay to face the West Indies on Monday, no longer the underdogs but a side that has earned its place at the top table.
Yuhansa Peiris is set to meet Aaraa Aasaal Azim of Maldives in the girls’ singles final after emerging victorious in the semi finals of the J30 ITF Junior Week 4 tournament continued in Colombo on Thursday.
She was the only Sri Lankan player reaching the finals as Ganuka Fernando was eliminated in the boys’ semi final.
Semi Final results
Girls
Yuhansa Peiris beat Aarioda of Japan 6-4, 6-1.
Aaraa Aasaal Azim of Maldives beat Chiu Kwan Nina Wang of Hong Kong 4-6, 6-2, 7-6
Asahi Yamazaki of Japan beat Ganuka Fernando 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
Kenshin Sato of Japan beat Eunho Park of Korea 6-3, 6-1
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