England outsmart Sri Lanka once again as the familiar batting procession sees home team slump to embarrassment. BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor)
Sri Lanka humiliated themselves at home against their known nemesis England, again, as the batters floundered in slow damp conditions which uncovered their technique, or lack of it, in Pallekelle.
Four from four convincing wins at this venue consectively, makes the Englishmen the reborn kings of Sri Lanka’s historic Hill capital, while leaving the locals red faced and dumbfounded about their inability to turn the tide in what should have been a winnable game.
The bowlers led by emerging young gun Dinuth Wellalage, 3 for 26, Maheesh Theekshana 2 for 21 and Dilshan Madushanka 2 for 25, paved the way for what looked like a Sri Lankan opportunity to finally get the monkey off their back against a team they were unable to overcome in their last eleven encounters.
Restricting England to just 146 for 9 in their allotment, Sri Lanka’s batters were woeful in pursuit as the were bundled out fo 95 in 16.4 overs raising plenty of questions about consistency and coaching strategy. Some even questioned whether there was off field connotations to the inexplicable effort.
It was not to be, as Joffa Archer removed danger man Pathum Nissanka early, Will Jacks got rid of the other mainstay in Sri Lanka’s batting, Kusal Mendis, and the ‘Kandy Perahera’, (the real one, a religious ceremony usually held in July), began in familiar fashion as the home team fell in a procession once again to lose by 52 runs.
England were in deep trouble losing 4 for 68 by the half way mark but rode on adventurous opener Phil Salt’s top score of the match, 62 off 40 balls with 2 sixers and 6 fours that proved to be the difference in the end.
What is concerning is Sri Lanka’s fragility in the middle order continues, creating a hole when the openers and tail fail to consolidate a decent total. The mindset and application to negotiate a score with the desired shot selection is worrying and explains why they are lingering among the bottom teams in world cricket.
The famous victory over Australia a few days before paled into insignificance and seemed like a distant dream as the same team were transformed into a bewildering mess.
Archer and Will Jacks combined to rip the guts out of Sri Lanka’s top order as they crumbled to 5 for 34 in just 5.4 overs. They never recovered from England’s clever bowling strategy that strangled any hope of Sri Lanka overhauling a modest target. Only four players reached double figures with skipper Dasun Shanaka leading the way with a futile 30 off 24 balls. The next best was a mere 13 off 11 by Kamindu Mendis.
Sri Lanka’s Indian fielding coach conceded after the game that on a slow low turning track Sri Lanka’s batters failed due to their poor shot selection. It raised the concern about what was discussed after England struggled while batting first and lumbered to 146 in their allotment.
Former Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara echoed these sentiments, pointing out the batters lack of understanding of the condition of the wicket, and improvising to make the chase gettable.
Did the Sri Lankan coaching staff rest in the belief that the bowling was the sole reason for restricting England’s strong batting, rather than what approach should be employed chasing down the target on a wicket that clearly was devoid of pace due to the dampness from an earlier downpour?
While those answers remain blowing in the wind, Sri Lanka now find themselves in a vulnerable state of facing elimination from the final if they are unable to overcome New Zealand and Pakistan in the games ahead.
Unusually inclement weather at this time of year has enveloped the Island nation, while in India it was the opposite giving them no excuse for their 72- run thrashing by South Africa who are now firming as a favourite to take out this edition.
It is clear that England has Sri Lanka’s measure as they make a bold effort to upset the subcontinental favourites in their home den.
South Africa’s dominance over India has also cleared any misapprehension about home ground advantage, opening up the tournament to the possibility of an unexpected final two teams in the decider.
So far the script is playing out the way I predicted before the T20 World Cup began, and if India and Sri Lanka doesn’t qualify, South Africa, England and possibly West Indies, Pakistan or Zimbabwe could emerge from the pack and go for glory.
A win for West Indies or Zimbabwe, the latter, who have been in the cricketing wilderness for a considerable period of time, would be ideal for the development of the game.
