Sri Lanka stamp authority with big win, but rain a concern

Rex Clementine in Geelong

American writer William Arthur Ward once wrote, ‘adversity causes some men to break, others to break records.’ That’s how Sri Lanka played their Group ‘A’ qualifying round game of the ICC T-20 World Cup in Geelong yesterday as they secured a huge 79 run win that gave them much needed momentum and a healthier Net Run Rate. Sri Lanka’s Net Run Rate had taken a severe beating (-2.75) after their humiliating 55 run defeat in the curtain-raiser to Namibia. Now having improved it (+0.60) they don’t have much to worry about and a win over Netherlands on Thursday should take them through.

Not that the former champions can completely leave aside all worries. Rain is predicted for Thursday and if their last group game is washed out, they will travel home while the Dutch and Namibia will go through.

There’s also injury concern as Dushmantha Chameera limped off the field after blasting the top order with his pace and bounce having claimed three wickets for 15 runs. He (calf) and Danushka Gunathilaka (hamstring) will go through scans today morning to assess how bad the injuries are. If Chameera is ruled out, that will be a massive blow to Sri Lanka’s campaign.

After Chameera gave his side the edge with three early wickets, leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga ran through the middle order claiming three more wickets and was denied a fourth as substitute Jeffrey Vandersay spilled a chance. Hasaranga’s four overs cost just eight runs and included a maiden.

After a below part effort with the bat in the first game, Sri Lanka’s batting clicked with Kusal Mendis adding 42 runs for the first wicket with Pathum Nissanka in 28 deliveries. Nissanka was then involved in a 50-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva off 39 deliveries for the second wicket as Sri Lanka reached 92 for one in 11 overs.

A mix-up saw de Silva being run out and then leggie Karthik Meiyapan claimed UAE’s first ever hat-trick. A finance graduate, Meiyappan is originally from Madras and had moved to Dubai due to his father’s work. He bowled a googly to Dasun Shanaka to claim the hat-trick as the captain was bowled neck and crop. Soon Sri Lanka were 120 for six and it needed some improvisation from Nissanka to help Sri Lanka to 152.

The opener batted superbly improvising and picking up much needed boundaries for his team. He finished on 74 off 60 balls with six fours and two sixes.