Pakistan take Sri Lanka to the cleaners and win by 7 wickets in a one-sided game

Pakistan take Sri Lanka to the cleaners and win by 7 wickets in a one-sided game.

 

By Brian Thomas

 

When Kusal Mendis tested the arm of Wasim Junior, risking the second run by turning blind , we all knew that this team captained by Dasun Shanaka not only lack skill and talent , they also lack common sense, and intent due internal politics.

 

I feel sorry for Sanath Jayasuriya, the coach he must be breaking his head , thinking is this the bunch of players we handed on the responsibility after making Sri Lanka known as a top cricket playing nation after winning the World cup and many tournaments after that achievement, and further being tagged as world class team , whilst being respected by top cricketing nations and associated nations including nations that do not play cricket.

 

Learn or depart is the message that the public of Sri Lanka would tell the players, and I have had indications that the host broadcasters , including the television rights obtained by the local channel will lose viewership, since nobody wants to watch a bunch of players who only pay for prestige with no intent.

 

IPL franchise holders , and many franchises hosting players from different countries to lay in their domestic tournaments will not invest in any Sri Lankan players , as stated by the English tabloids.

 

The article state that players from Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and even associate players from the middle Eastern teams will have a better demand than the current Sri Lankan players. Sad but let us face the truth.

 

Sri Lankan selectors on tour made a wise decision by including Janith Liyanage at the expense of Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Viyaskanth in place of Mahesh Theekshana and the extra batter Kamil Misra in place of Nuwan Thushara. This indicates the 6 batters with 4 specialist bowlers option , with remaining 4 overs to be bowled by Janith , Kamindu and Dasun.

 

All 3 replacement players justified their selection.

 

Janith Liyanage remained unbeaten on 41 , Kamil Misra made 22 off 12 deliveries giving Sri Lanka a bit of impetus in the Power play overs.

 

Viyaskanth leaked only 28 runs in his 4 over spell , despite being wicketless, but these figures look better than what Mahesh Theekshana would have delivered. Remember that Viyaskanth is also a much better fielder , because we carried some baggage on the field during the last game against Zimbabwe. By the way for Hasaranga to go wicketless against Pakistan indicated Sri Lanka”s story at Rawalpindi.

 

Sri Lankan batting was poor , especially against quality spin. Unlike the yester year , Sri Lanka lacks quality batters against spin , who have the prerequisite to milk the singles , by pushing the bowling into gaps , thereby scoring heavily in the middle overs.

 

Today’s batters like Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Kamindu Mendis and Dasun Shanaka struggle with feet moving in space against quality spin.

 

128 in 20 overs at Rawalpindi is a below par score. Misra got Sri Lanka off to a good start but , threw his wicket, Pathum Nissanka seems an overrated opener ,in the eyes of the Pakistani bowlers. Kusal Mendis, runs off his bat is a bonus ,as mentioned by me earlier , Kamindu l Mendis will definitely be in the selectors radar , another overrated player . Dasun Shanaka and spin don’t see eye to eye.

 

The only batter who played sensible cricket was Janith Liyanage.

 

Pakistan got to the target , with ease . 130 in 15.3 overs for the loss of 3 wickets tells you the story of the excellent batting conditions.

 

Shadabad Farhan made 80 in 45 balls , with a strike rate of 171 , with 5 sixes and 5 boundaries.

 

Credit to Dusmantha Chameera, 2 for 28 , he was on a hatrick, comprehensively up rooted Babar Azzam’ s stumps , and had Ali Agar the Pakistani captain trapped LBW in the very next ball he faced.

 

In all honesty, Zimbabwe is playing better cricket, than Sri Lanka. Drawing board after this tour is a must for Sri Lanka to avoid more embarrassment during the World cup. Loss to top quality teams like India , Australia, England, South Africa , New Zealand and now Pakistan looks inevitable. Guess the under dogs tag might help.