Angry awoken Lion’s savage Afgan intrusion. Sri Lanka annihilate Afghanistan in one day duel. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE
Afganistan stepped on the tail of a sleeping Lion and paid the price of a savage mauling at its awakening in the one day series in Hambantota.
Game one saw the visiting Afgans jump the locals in a surprising turnaround. Don’t get me wrong, they are a force in world cricket at the moment. Sri Lanka isn’t.
Stung by the humiliation, Sri Lanka returned fire to annihilate the invaders in games two and three to clinch the three game one day series in emphatic fashion.
It would be fair to say the home team was depleted with the absence of key bowlers Dushmantha Chameera Maheesh Theeksheena and Wanindu Hasarsnga De Silva in game one.
But the demoralising defeat in that encounter demanded action stations, and the selectors reacted swiftly to redress the lack of penetration in the bowling department. Afganistan was awakened to the true potential of a proud cricketing nation.
Sri Lanka are focussed on success and a boost to a sagging morale having to qualify for the upcoming World Cup. So losing at home to a lesser qualifier was not the ideal preparation. Not at home anyway.
The trouncing in the first game signalled disaster if they could not turn things around. They proved they could, without a doubt, by mercilessly annihilating the Afgans in the next two games to set the record straight.
The batters hit top gear and the bowlers led by returning guns Chameera and Hasarsnga De Silva completely destroyed Afghanistan’s strong batting line-up to complete the rout.
Chameera grabbed six wickets for 83 in two games, Hasaranga six wickets for at a better average 6 for 49 in two games, while Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis and Sadeera jelled to throw out a challenge to the rest in world cricket that they are still an unknown quantity.
In two games, Chameera was named man-of-the-series.
Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne scored two half centuries after a first game duck, then reminded the selectors that he is not a stereotyped Test cricketer only.
The qualifiers will remain under question after the omission of experienced Angelo Matthews. Their performances in the lead up to playing in the tournament proper will hinge on the crucial team selection.
