Sri Lanka in search of a consolation win
Sri Lanka, having already lost the One Day International series to
Pakistan, could only look forward to a consolation win when they meet
the tourists in the fifth and final ODI to be played at Mahinda
Rajapaksa International Stadium in Sooriyawewa today.
Pakistan team is enjoying a highly successful tour, winning both the
Test and ODI series against Sri Lanka, that too after a lapse of nine
years! But Pakistan started both the Test and ODI series with a bang.
Both the Test series and ODI series were tied one-all after the
respective first two games.
But Pakistan came out with some stunning performances towards the end
of both the series to inflict Sri Lanka one of its worst home series
defeats in recent times. Having won the three-Test series 2-1, Pakistan
have already taken a winning 3-1 lead in the five-match ODI series.
There is only an academic interest in today's fifth ODI but Sri Lanka
will make every effort to pull off a consolation victory and reduce
Pakistan's victory margin to 3-2. But that would not be good enough to
cover Sri Lanka's pathetic performance.
Sri Lanka's poor batting had mainly led to the home team's downfall
both in the Test and ODI series. In the three Test matches against
Pakistan, Sri Lanka could put up totals of only 300 all out and 206 all
out in Galle, 315 all out and 153 for 3 at Premadasa Staium, 278 all out
and 313 all out in Pallekele. Out of all six Test innings, Sri Lanka has
failed to put up a total of over 315.
The Lankan batsmen have been off colour in the first four ODIs too,
managing to score only 255 for 8, 288 for 8, 181 all out and 256 for 9.
Despite getting some batsmen-friendly tracks, the Lankans have failed to
total more than 288 runs in any of the four ODIs they have played so
far. That shows how badly the batsmen had let down their side down.
Although Kumar Sangakkara played in the first two Tests, he was not
at his brilliant best with a top score of only 50 runs in the four
innings he had played. The absence of Sanga and Mahela Jayawardene was
felt badly both in the Test and ODI series.
A few bright spots
There had been a few bright spots in a couple of Lankan innings but
those were not good enough. For an example, opener Kusal Perera's
explosive 68 off 25 balls in the second ODI and the 109-run second
wicket partnership between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Lahiru Thirimanne in
the fourth ODI were treats to watch. But the Lankans must make that a
habit.
It looked as if Sri Lanka were going to win the fourth ODI to level
the series and make today's last game the series decider. Electing to
bat first, Sri Lanka were strongly placed at 109 for one after 22.2
overs before Pakistan came back strongly to restrict the home team to
256 for 9 in 50 overs in the fourth ODI.
But skipper Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chadimal could not maintain the
same rhythm as Pakistan bowlers gradually took control to restrict Sri
Lanka to a modest total. Sri Lanka entered the last 20 overs with seven
wickets intact but they could produce only 113 runs off the last 116
balls as wickets tumbled at regular intervals.
This was Pakistan's first series win in Sri Lanka in nine years as
the visitors moved closer towards Champions Trophy qualification. Sharp
ground fielding of Pakistan players added salt to Lanka's wounds ever
since left-arm spinner Imad Wasim, playing only his second ODI, combined
an arm ball with low bounce to dismiss Dilshan for 50 with the total on
109 in the 23rd over.
Pakistan fielders and the spinners circled around Lankan batsmen
since then to exert pressure with six men inside the circle more often.
Pakistan spinners ran through their overs quickly with plenty of dot
balls, thus building pressure on the home team batsmen. The manner in
which Yasir Shah, Wasim and Shoaib Malik bowled, conceding only 108 runs
in 24 overs they jointly bowled, shows the dominance Pakistan bowlers
have had after they had broken the Dilshan-Thirimanne alliance.
It was pity that skipper Mathews failed to handle pressure with all
his experience. He found it tough to face Wasim and Malik and even
singles were hard to come. That forced Mathews to take a risk, hitting
Rahat Ali straight to Yasir Shah at mid-off.
When Pakistan batsmen were in full cry, Mathew cut a sorry figure as
he ran out of options. There were regular instructions coming from the
dressing room but none of those could stop Pakistan's victorious forward
march. Mathews kept continuous faith on Suranga Lakmal and Sachith
Pathirana though Pakistan batsmen had a rich harvest against their
bowling.
Sri Lanka has gradually lost its dominance in ODIs after taking
command during the first half of last year during which they won all of
their limited-overs tournaments, including an Asia Cup, ICC World T20
title and an ODI series in England. In contrast, they have cut a sorry
figure during the corresponding period this year - since January, losing
ODI series to New Zealand and Pakistan. Sri Lanka also made a
quarter-final exit at the ICC World Cup.
Marvan's explanations
Sri Lanka's strategy to keep more faith in all-rounders instead of
specialist bowlers has not paid rich dividends. In short, Sri Lanka has
many issues to address if they are to regain their lost prestige. But
coach Marvan Atapattu does not seem understand the alarming situation.
"I don't think there's a hell of a lot of issues with our planning
and what we want to do with the ball. Executing under pressure is
something that concerns us. We have played on really good tracks since
January in New Zealand," Atapattu was quoted as saying.
Atapattu has said that the team hasn't got the wickets quite
regularly as they had expected from Lasith Malinga. "That's something
that we have missed. That's one of the reasons we've lost the series,"
Atapattu adds.
But it is not fair for Atapattu to put the blame on Malinga for his
team's debacle. If Malinga has been off colour, they should have
explored other options rather than persisting with the key paceman.
As Atapattu had pointed out, missing Sanga and Mahela is going to be
"a bit difficult" at the start. But emerging young players must take
responsibility, grab the chances that come their way. It is a learning
curve in terms of tactics, strategy and endurance.
Sri Lanka's failures in Test and ODI series have prompted the
national selectors to bring five uncapped players to the T20 squad for
the two games against Pakistan to be played at Premadasa Stadium on July
30 and August 1.
It is difficult to understand the logic behind the recall of Chamara
Kapugedara who figured last of his 21 T20 internationals more than three
years ago. Despite figuring in 92 ODIs, he has failed to justify the
chances he had got, averaging just 22.04.
The selectors must justify their decision to recall Kapugedara while
dropping Dinesh Chandimal and Thirimanne after they have regained form.
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