Kumara helps Sri Lanka wrap up second Test before lunch

There were many positives for Sri Lanka during the two match Test series against Bangladesh that concluded yesterday giving the tourists a 2-0 win. While the emergence of Kamindu Mendis is the biggest plus point for the Sri Lankans, the team management will be hugely impressed with the manner in which fast bowler Lahiru Kumara turned things around during the tour.

The injury prone Kumara has missed more cricket than he has played having first impressed during Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa in 2017 as a teenage sensation.

Kumara was hailed by commentators for the pace he was generating during the recent World Cup in India, however, after just playing two games, he was injured again and had to fly back home.

There were concerns when Chairman of Selectors Upul Tharanga picked him to play the two Test series in Bangladesh but not only did Kumara remain fit but he ended the series as the leading wicket taker too.

Kumara’s 11 wickets came at an outstanding 12:63. He is still not the finished product though as concerns remain about his fitness standards. However, cricket big shots were confident that we are yet to see the best of the 27-year-old.

All Sri Lanka’s seamers had a spectacular series. Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando and Kasun Rajitha shared 33 wickets between them while the spinners took only seven wickets. This is further proof that pace bowlers have made huge strides in recent years.

Sri Lanka needed only three wickets to wrap up the game and Kamindu Mendis struck early removing Taijul Islam as Nishan Madushka took yet another good close in catch.

Kumara then claimed the last two wickets in successive overs with his pace proving to be too much for the Bangladeshis.

Kamindu Mendis was named Man of the Match and Player of the Series. The middle order batter on a comeback trial posted 367 runs in four innings with two hundreds and a half-century. He averaged 122 with the bat. Into the bargain, he picked up three wickets as well having been called up to break partnerships.

Following the series win, Sri Lanka have now moved up to number four in the ICC World Test Championship. They are only behind India, Australia and New Zealand. Prior to the series, Sri Lanka were placed last, but from ninth position they have done well to move up five places.