Malinga shocks and rocks the Pakistanis and confounds his critics

Slinger Lasith Malinga the silent assassin sent the stumps, if they know what stumps are, of his critics cart-wheeling and in the process spelt doom for Pakistan when he bowled a lethal spell to lead Sri Lanka to a nail-biting 12-run win in the Asia Cup opener in Bangladesh on Tuesday.

First things first. The Lankans were put on Victory Street, first by stylish left hander Lahiru Thirimanne, who coming back from an injury he sustained in desert country, played an eye catching century which was his second in one-day internationals.

Better late than never it is said but to comment on Thirimnne's injury he brought on himself in desert country that should not have been. In an important tour, Thirimanne should have been more cautious when warming up and not indulging in games that could injure him which would certainly have upset team strategy and plans.

However that is the past and it was pleasing to watch him in full bloom as he took on the best the Pakistani bowlers could offer to notch up a three figure score, which energized the Sri Lankan batting, with Kumar Sangakkara 67 and Angelo Mathews 55 contributing to make a formidable 296 for 6 in 50 overs.

Then when Captain Misbah Ul Haq 73 and Umar Akmal 74 seemed poised to take Pakistan to victory which did not seem possible when they were tottering at 4 for 121, with a stand of 121, that Malinga the silent assassin struck.

Malinga shocks and rocks the champs

Coming on after bowling a first spell that did not bring him any wickets, he shocked and rocked the defending champions with a frightening burst that demolished their batting. Before the carnage created by Malinga, it was amazing to watch Misbah who is nearing 40 playing a classic innings. He does not seem to have slowed down, but on the contrary seems to be rejuvenating.

When a game or a series is lost, his critics are daggers drawn baying for his blood. But instead of talking the talk and taking on his critics, he hits hard at them by letting his bat do the talking and poking fun at them. His 73 was a gem.

In recent times Malinga who came into big time cricket with no cricketing back ground credentials, has been marked for unjust criticism, with his slot in the team being questioned. But the criticism would not have mattered to him, because he is aware that it was coming from quarters that know nothing from what bowling, batting or fielding is. On the contrary the criticism seems to have got the demon out of him and he has struck back with a vengeance bowling toe crushing yorkers and life threatening bouncers since to show that he has a lot more to offer game and country before quitting.

Indian franchise sticks with Malinga

The Indian Premier League Mumbai Indians, aware of his potential and his ability to keep cricket alive and keep turnstiles creaking for more oil and bringing spectators flooding to the game, did not think twice in retaining him for the 2014 IPL series along with all rounder Thisara Perera.

Also points to skipper Mathews who after playing a devastating innings, handled the pressure situations admirably and especially his handling of Malinga and bringing him on when defeat was looming. And did not Malinga strike terror.

Also praise should be showered on that consistent willow wielder the left-handed Sobers like Sangakkara for maintaining his rich run scoring vein. No batsmen in recent times has made bag full of runs like Sangakkara is doing.

But what is inexplicable his sudden loss of concentration when set to dominate the bowling and throwing away his precious wicket. His idea must be to stay at the wicket till the end and direct and show the incoming batsmen how to keep going.

Sri Lanka who have won the Asia Cup before and who are challenging strongly for the Cup this year, should not feel complacent with their efforts in the first game although they managed to win it.

More important Twenty20 World Cup soon

With the more important Twenty20 World Cup to follow, coaches must be aware of their grey areas and plug them, so that when Twenty20 WC time comes around the team will be rarin' to go and bring home the trophy they gifted West Indies in 2012 in Sri Lanka.

Left-arm spinning all rounder Chaturanga de Silva who made his debut in one-day cricket, although failing to get among the runs - he was run out for no fault of his - when Mathews called him for a single and froze- and wickets it must be said he had a good first fling in the cauldron of big time cricket.

He was slotted in because of the absence of the regular Rangana Herath. Once Herath returns, De Silva will be benched. But he need not be disappointed because that is how cruel the game could be at times.

The selectors would want to persist with De Silva. But when Herath returns they have to make a call. And they too will be in a cruel world, what with having the unpleasant task of benching the left-armer. Trying too hard he tended to bowl some wide balls, but could be excused When this column is being read, Sri Lanka would have played their second game in the tournament against India and if they had not been overawed, should have beaten the Indians who seem to be out of depth in the absence of regular skipper, the irrepressible Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The big run making right hander Virat Kholi is wanting when it comes to leadership. But these are early days and who knows could be better than Dhoni when he takes over the job permanently.

Australian victory flash in the pan?

The thrashing the Australian cricketers took in the Second Test at St.George's Park in Port Elizabeth from South Africa who slapped a 231-run defeat on them after their convincing win in First Test has left cricketers and cricket fans pondering the question whether the First Test win was a flash in the pan?

After rubbishing the Brits in the Ashes series 5-nil and cropping the Proteas in the First Test by 291 runs and with more than a day to spare, just capitulated to the homesters timidly which was unbelievable and unacceptable.

After allowing the home team to make 423 in the first innings and then collapsing for 246, they played themselves out of the Test and the South Africans grabbing the luck, rattled up another 270 and declared leaving the Aussies to score a massive 446 for victory.

That the Aussie batting crumbled after the blazing 126 run stand by openers David Warner and Chris Rodgers in their quest for victory, collapsed in a heap to be bundled out for 216 which was horrible and spoke ill of their mighty batting.

Third Test should be a teaser

The final Test which began yesterday with the teams even should be a teaser with South Africa determined to continue the winning streak and remain the number one Test team and Australia attempting to redeem themselves.

The Australians will be hoping that all-rounder Shane Watson will be fit to take his place and bat one drop or in the middle. How the tall right-hander Alex Doolan found a place in their batting line-up is questionable.

He seems to be a strokeless wonder. In any team the one drop batter must be one who could play strokes taking on the opposing attack and scoring big runs. But Doolan seems to be an utter misfit. He just stands at the wicket, pokes his bat out with absolutely no

footwork and is easy prey to the movement of South African pacemen Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Mornie Morkel.

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