KJP not expected to play today

by Rex Clementine

Although he’s part of the bubble for the current limited-overs series against South Africa, the team’s most experienced player Kusal Janith Perera is not expected to feature in today’s series decider at RPS.

The series is levelled at 1-1 with the hosts winning the opener on Thursday by 14 runs while the Proteas bounced back by winning on Saturday. KJP seems to be not match-fit having spent several weeks on the mend after sustaining a shoulder injury. Then he also tested positive for COVID and had to be in isolation.

Dinesh Chandimal is a reserve batsman in the squad and he’s expected to play at the expense of Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who is getting the chop following his back-to-back ducks.

Question marks have been also raised on Akila Dananjaya, who failed to pick up a wicket in the last game. The indications initially were when he made a comeback after remodeling his action that he will be only considered for T20. However, the selectors have given him a go in ODIs as well and the experiment is not working.

The South Africans have executed the sweep shot so well throughout the series and Sri Lanka will have to think of some way to stop them.

Top-order batsman Janneman Malan has been a real find for the Proteas. At the age of 25, he has only played in eight games but already has got three centuries and two fifties. His stunning hundred in the second game set up South Africa’s victory. You don’t find many young South Africans playing spin so well but Malan looks a different beast.

Charith Asalanka has been the find for the Sri Lankans with back to back half-centuries.

From the time Asalanka was a schoolboy it was clear that he will go on to play for Sri Lanka. A lot of people expected him to be drafted into the side last year but that was delayed by knee surgery. Now he has arrived and grabbed the opportunity from both hands. His fielding, however, needs a lot of polishing up.

There was some superb fast bowling on display on Saturday as Kagiso Rabada hurled down some thunderbolts making the Sri Lankans hop around. He returned to the pavilion halfway through the innings with a sprained ankle having bowled just one spell. But he had done the damage in that spell. The six-over burst on the trot produced two for 12. Sri Lanka never recovered. He was receiving treatment and he’s expected to play today.