Pathirana and Theeksheena lay the platform for a sensational Sri Lanka triumph over Bangladesh – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (Elanka Sports Editor)
If early indications count for anything, Sri Lanka showed pride and poise of it’s symbolic Lion as they cruised past Bangladesh with a clinical five- wicket victory at Pallekelle.
Hamstrung with a number of injuries, and perhaps resting some players for the upcoming World Cup, Sri Lanka showed some promise with available stocks, particularly Matheesha Pathirana who teamed up with Maheesh Theeksheena to rip through a respected Bangladesh batting line-up and bowl them out for 164 in 42.4 overs making the task for the batters a relatively easy task .
Sri Lanka strolled to the target in 39 overs losing five wickets thanks to fighting knocks from Sadeera Samarawickrema 54 off 77 balls, and Charith Asalanka 62 off 92 balls after a top order stutter.
Sri Lanka’s fortunes in this tournament has been widely documented with some saying the won’t beat any of the Asian nations, all of whom have qualified for the World Cup in October.
But home ground advantage did give them belief and something to dwell on in the games ahead.
Pathirana showed plenty of pace, variation and movement to have the Bangladesh batters prodding and probing to no avail as he jubilantly struck lethal blows to destroy any chance of a recovery.
But it was the masterful Maheesh Theeksheena who fashioned Bangladesh’s death knell by striking eay to remove the openers. Theeksheena has now established himself as a trump card in the Sri Lankan attack and will be key for many years.
Bangladesh was rocked early when Theeksheena and skipper Dasun Shanaka reduced them to 3 for 36.
But a fighting partnership by Najmul Hossain Shanto, 89 off 122 balls, and Trwhid Hriday 20, stalled the Sri Lanka advance. But regular wickets thereafter saw them fold in uncharacteristic fashion.
Sri Lanka’s chase was similar as Bangladesh removed the top three for 43.
Sadeera Samarawickrema and Charith Asalanka combined to stop the rot adding 78 for the fourth wicket laying the platform for Asalanka and skipper Dasun Shanaka to put the finishing touches to what is now a campaign that throws up some hope in the games ahead.
Sri Lanka will hope their seasoned batters will find form or their hopes of an acceptable challenge to powerhouses India and Pakistan will show them up for where they belong in the bigger picture
