Bangladesh winners Sri Lanka in 2018 – By Trevine Rodrigo (Melbourne)
Sri Lanka’s stunning turnaround in Bangladesh has restored some confidence in their fans and if the ensuing T20 triangular involving India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Sri Lanka goes by the script a second place to India will attest their steady incline.
Realistically, the Sri Lankans riding the crest of a wave after their clean sweep in Bangladesh, could have made the world sit up and take notice if they won this home Nidahas T20 tri- series after a comfortable win over arch rival India in the first game. But their new expectations received a jarring reminder that none of their opponents are easy beats as Bangladesh went on to prove by humbling the hosts in their own back yard.
This was followed by a loss to India in the second game and Sri Lanka now have their fate in their own hands needing to beat the Bangladeshis in the final Round Robin game to make the final against the Indians who clinically dispatched the Bangladesh side in their two encounters.
What has been heartening for the Lankans is the form of Kusal Janith Perera and Kusal Mendis who have been the backbone of their revival.
Under new coach Chandiika Hathurusinghe the Lankans have also learned to believe in themselves, an important ingredient in finding success. The bowling which by the best world standards is ordinary to say the least has however found a balance that can restrict teams to gettable totals depending on the conditions and the tracks laid out.
Sri Lanka were dealt an unkind blow in the series with the two-game suspension handed out to skipper Dinesh Chandimal for a slow over rate. But his absence may yet prove to be a blessing in disguise as it opens the door to another in-form batsman or all-rounder due to Chandimal’s recent returns been mediocre to say the least.
With the Champions Trophy, Asia Cup and World Cup tournaments looming, Sri Lanka needs a hurry up to re-establish their status as a team to reckon with rather than making up the numbers alongside the minnows of the game.
Time will tell if they are able to climb back up to that level that made them once an irresistible focus on the world stage wherever they played.
Trevine-Rodrigo
