KJP fails to justify batting first as Sri Lanka manage just 111 for seven

 

By Leonard Ratnayake in Cardiff, Wales

 

Picture courtesy – Sesatha UK

To the amusement of a disappointed crowd that gathered at Cardiff Stadium and for the special live broadcast on BBC, Sri Lankan made only runs for their innings stubbornly sticking to their decision to bat first at Cardiff Cricket Stadium, where they are yet make a formidable total on the board.

England need only 112 to win in 20 overs.

Much to the surprise of all cricket pundits, Skipper KJP once again chose to bat first stating that they hope to put up a formidable total on the board that their bowlers could defend. Sri Lanka dropped Dananjaya de Silva and Nuwan Pradeep for their dispirited performance in the first match and included Niroshan Dickwella and Binura Fernando in place.

Danushka Gunatillake was out cheaply going for a hasty run in the second over while Avishka Fernando was trying to find the form as the run scoreboard read 18 for 2 in the fourth with his departure trying to pull Sam Curran.

Captain Kusal Perera and his deputy Kusal Mendiis played cautiously to brake their team’s wicket falling spree but scoreboard read 47 for two at the end of 10 overs. Most of their runs were brilliantly curtailed by energetic English fielders who were placed cleverly by their captain.  The only exceptions was when Dawid Malan failed to reach out to catch at long mid-wicket off Chris Jordan.

Exactly, when the duo was freeing their arms to get some runs on the board, skipper KJP played an unnecessary reverse sweep to loft an easy catch to the cover fielder. He was out for 21, with the score was on 68 in the 13th over, while his deputy followed in the next over for 39. Niroshan Dickwella was out in the next bowl for three as Wanindu Hasaranga survived the hat-trick ball from Mark Wood thanks to a kismet.

English bowlers maintained their line and length with discipline while the Sri Lankan batters gifted their wickets skying the ball up with no power to finish onto the hands of the English fielders. Yesterday’s saviour Dasun Shanka could not do much today as he was out for 8 in 14 balls.

In a match expected to be a T20 spectacle, Sri Lanka waited till the 20th over to surpass the 100 runs to limit their total for 111 for seven, while Isuru Udana’s towering six off Chris Jordan to the woods was the only exception.

 

 

 

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