Embarrassed Sri Lanka answers critics in merciless fashion- Hasarsnga and Matthews lead Zimbabwe rout in decider- BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor)
Sri Lanka responded like a team stung by embarrassment smashing Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the T20 decider in Colombo.
After two nail biters in the first two encounters, Sri Lanka hit their straps to set the record straight humiliating the Zimbabwean’s in a one-sided game that didn’t go the distance anticipated.
New skipper Wannindu Hasarsnga De Silva underlined his liking to the new role leading from the front with a bamboozling performance with the ball to reduce Zimbabwe to rubble making Sri Lanka’s batting woes with less pressure to deal with.
Hasarsnga mesmerised Zimbabwe’s batters to claim 4 fir 15 off 4 overs, Matthews 2 for 15and Maheesh Theeksheena 2 fir14 to destroy Zimbabwe to 82 all out.
Angelo Matthews rectified his bowling embarrassment in the second game which made the difference between a clean sweep and a 2-1 result by turning in a decisive allround performance that contributed to final outcome.
Matthews, the proven veteran has now underlined and justified why experience counts for everything in a Sri Lanka side struggling fir consistency.
The mystery of his omission over the years will remain a question unanswered, backed by proper and acceptable logic. So will his man- of- the- series award which is as puzzling as Sri Lanka’s rollercoaster performances at home and away.
Sri Lanka’s openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis found form to smash 64 for the first wicket before Mendis departed, but the win was at a canter in under 12 overs.
So two series victories over a team struggling to overcome Uganda and Ireland has got Sri Lanka fans excited, but the purists are unconvinced they have shown any indication of improvement that backs that belief.
They have many hurdles to negotiate, particularly against their next opponents Afganistan at home who could bring their castle crumbling.
As much as I sound like a doomsayer, the innermost expectation is that they can extricate themselves from their dire current predicament.
