Sri Lanka break hoodoo at Rawalpindi, but are they Good enough to play the finals ?
By Brian Thomas
It was a better performance by Dasun Shanaka and his men , however like I mentioned in my earlier script , that a few seniors are under the radar of the selectors , it looked obvious with Kamindu Mendis being dropped from the playing eleven yesterday. Selectors gave preference to Pawan Ratnayaka, and bringing back Mahesh Theekshana, proved to be a good move. Guess the selection committee on tour must have cautioned him that he must bowl wicket to wicket , avoid trying to buy wickets, and use him in the Power play overs , because the spike marks on the worn out pitch at Rawalpindi was going to aid the spinners.
Smart move , no doubt. Theekshana prior to yesterday’s game kept bowling on the leg stump, hence a shake up not to take his position in the playing eleven for granted , hence by dropping him taught him a lesson, period.
The same medicine has been dished out to Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka’, so don’t be alarmed if Charith Asalanka’, Kamindu Mendis and Bhanuka Rajapaksa be excluded in World Cup T 20 squad.
Fresh legs with intent is a must. Kamindu Mendis is an excellent player in red ball cricket , but his approach in White ball is not upto par .
Zimbabwe decided to bat first , from a Sri Lankan perspective, they would have been in hindsight happy to lose the toss , because the surface in Rawalpindi is now worn out and the spike marks on the pitch from previous games , can relate to uneven bounce , but what’s more worrying to the Sri Lankan team was the cold wind and the weather. It’s not easy , I have experienced the weather at this time of the year it is not comfortable.
Zimbabwe will kick themselves since none of the batters like what happened to Sri Lanka in this series did not bat deep , but lost regular wickets purely playing too many unorthodox strokes , because they seem choked with dot balls to
Opener Marubani was undone by an excellent delivery that spun into him from Theekshana, which had his timber disturbed.
Brian Bennett too deep in his crease against Wanindu Hasaranga, only to hit his own wicket.
Sikandar Raza after dominating the Sri Lankan bowling, and after thumping Wanindu Hasaranga for a massive 6 over the bowlers head, gave into a rush of blood syndrome, in the very next ball trying to hike Hasaranga, for a delivery bowled outside his off stump and was caught a backward of point. With Brian Bennett gone for 34 in 26 balls , Sikandar for 37 in 29 balls , it was Ryan Burley to the fore.
The left handed continued his form from his last outing against Pakistan to remain unbeaten on 37 off 26 deliveries thumping 5 boundaries and a six , to help Zimbabwe to 146 for 5 wickets which looked a below par score.
Credit to Sri Lanka they bowled well. Hasaranga led the pack as envisaged, 2 for 23 , Theekshana 2 for 23 , Dasun Shanaka bowled his quota of 4 overs conceeding 33 runs with a scalp.
Dusmantha Chameera was exceptional, wicketless for 28 , but Eshan Malnga came off in patches wicketless for 33.
The target looked tricky, because Pathum Nissanka survived an LBW decision in the very first over , since Zimbabwe did not refer the appeal to the negative response from the umpire , after which he made an unbeaten 98 in 58 balls with 11 boundaries and 4 sixes. Zimbabwe bowlers were very uncharesteristic , surprisingly out of sorts , except Skipper Sikandar Raza, who conceded only 17 runs in his 4 overs.
Kamil Misra did not make use of the opportunity and was out for 12 , but Kusal Mendis for a change played sensible cricket , made 25 off 25 deliveries with boundary and a huge six a 96 meter thump , great to the eye.
Sri Lanka got to the target of 148 in 16.2 overs , but the equation will haunt them. Had Sri Lanka reached the target in 12.3 overs , they would have got ahead of Zimbabwe’ s net run rate and would have played in the finals even if they lost to Pakistan who have already qualified.
Feature
Now the equation is , if Sri Lanka lose to Pakistan they pack their bags and go home , Zimbabwe will qualify.
Main scores
Zimbabwe 147 for 5 in 20 overs
Ryan Burley 37 not out
Sikandar Raza 37
Brian Bennett 34
Hasaranga 2 for 23
Theekshana 2 for 23
Shanaka 1 for 38
Feature
Dusmantha Chameera was exceptional in his 4 over spell despite being wicketless by conceeding only 28 runs.
Sri Lanka 148 for 1 wicket in 16.2 overs
Pathum Nissanka 98 not out
Kusal Mendis 25 not out
Feature.
89 run unbroken run partnership between Nisanka and Kushal Mendis for the 2nd wicket.
Sri Lanka win by 9 wickets, Pathum Nissanka player of the match.
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