Lankan Pride
1. Openers took it easy in the powerplay
It’s fair to say Sri Lanka didn’t get off to the quickest of starts yesterday. While they did manage to get through the first 6 overs unscathed they only managed to accumulate 32 runs whereas the Indians lost 2 wickets in the powerplay, yet kept the momentum going and managed to score 46 runs within the same phase.
While Pathum Nissanka managed to score 14 from 15 balls in the powerplay, Danushka Gunathilaka scored the same amount of runs by playing more deliveries. Assuming the think tank expects Nissanka to play the anchor role he can be given some leeway but for Gunathilaka it was an inexcusable innings given how well he handles pace in the powerplay.
2. Sloppy fielding
Sanju Samson was 6 off 12 balls when his catch was spilled in the outfield off the skipper Shanaka’s bowling and many can agree his 39 of 25 was the catalyst behind India’s comeback in the middle overs. Samson is one of the best players of pace due to his ability to pick length with ease and those who have watched him in the IPL can agree.
3. Not playing a leg spinner in the XI
On a pitch like the one we saw last night, there is zero chance of a finger spinner getting turn off the surface and with the dew it becomes even more difficult. Praveen Jayawickrama went for 19 runs off 2 overs and didn’t complete his quota. The dropping of Jeffrey Vandersay was questionable as he was SL’s second best bowler in the first T20I in terms of economy rate and he managed to induce a false shot off Ishan Kishan in the 7th over but was spilled at mid wicket. Moreover both batters who took India to victory last night have struggles against leg spin. Iyer strikes at 118 against leg spinners since 2020 and Samson has a well known vulnerability against the googly.
I am only agreeing to the 2nd point – Leaking runs in the field and drops chances cost us the game up to 70%.
Other lack point I saw was by the captain, field setting and bowling changes – Our bowlers were attacking in the first 3-4 overs by swinging the ball where we should have placed at least two slips, we saw 2 to 3 edges goes in slip area. Also, Lahiru Kumara full overs should have been completed within the first 10 overs as we know he is not bowling well in the latter part of the innings.
Our Openers did well where we got through the ball swinging period and gathered more than 30 runs. Another day it could have been easily 20/3 in the powerplay.
Also, I believe the leg spinner will be not effection in the second half due to dew he will not able to control the ball better than finger spinners. Our selected bowling lineup was good but we gave more extras through wides, no balls
It was widely reported a Burgher political councillor arranged a meeting with the sports minister & Bhanuka. Do we want sport selections to be politicized? Today Callistus Davy of same ilk in Sunday Observer reports paying public vented their anger demonstrating in front of the SLC. Was it paying public or political goons set up by these political supporters , he better answer. The truth is obvious to the public.