Jack-in-the-box Sri Lanka storm into World Cup contention – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor)
Sri Lanka overcame the embarrassment of possible elimination in emphatic fashion to seal a spot on the main stage of the upcoming World Cup in India in October.
Poor performances prior to this saw the struggling former World Cup champions and twice runners up relegated to the bottom tier and having to prove themselves worthy of rubbing shoulders with the best.
Dasun Shanaka’s men did just that, spurning the doubters and shoving it up the insensitive critics, as the team jelled when it mattered.
Just to set the record straight, it certainly wasn’t a cakewalk. They were stretched by Scotland and the Netherlands before making the cut, with six wins in as many games.
The last encounter against the shell shocked and demoralised departing West Indies is of academic interest. But if they let their guard down may face the wrath of the embarrassed Caribbean team who did not qualify for the first time in the history of the World Cup.
The former two time champions were eliminated on the back of stunning reversals to the Netherlands and Scotland making the world realise that there is a changing of the guard in world cricket.
There is some wonderful talent emerging from the former minnows who have shed that stereotyped perceptive tag, in no uncertain terms.
The Super Six stage will have the top two teams play in the World Cup proper and Sri Lanka’s qualification means that hosts Zimbabwe, who have only dropped a game, will hope the cards fall their way with Netherlands and Scotland nipping at their heels.
Sri Lanka’s success was built around a balanced performance from the team built around the fantastic batting of Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka and Sadeera Samarawickrema. While Wanindu Hasarsnga De Silva, Maheesh Theeksheena, Lahiru Kumara and Dhananjaya De Silva formed a formidable combination that destroyed any chance of the rest upsetting them.
Wanindu Hasarsnga, only recently acknowledged as a one-day player, and Theeksheena with Dhananjaya De Silva have been the architects of Sri Lanka’s success.
In sub continental conditions in India, they will be key to Sri Lanka’s surprise against the best. What coach Chris Silverwood will have to focus on will be consistency in batting which has recently been Sri Lanka’s bugbear.
There is every indication that Sri Lanka will not be a pushover in the World Cup. Thoughtful selection of the final squad will deliver where they end up.
Kumara’s subsequent side injury against Netherlands proved to be a blessing in disguise as standby Dilshan Madushanka seamlessly stepped in and ripped the heart out of hosts Zimbabwe’s top order in a game that offered a ticket to the winner in India.
Madushanka’s effort was supported by Maheesh Theeksheena, who took over control to wreck Zimbabwe’s dream of motoring home to success as they crashed to 165 all out. Theeksheena’s haul of four wickets earned him man-of-the-match and rocketed Sri Lanka to a place in the prestigious event in India against the best.
Chasing an under par target, prolific run getter Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne steered Sri Lanka within reach and the rest was academic as the Lankans romped to an easy 9 wicket win.
Zimbabwe, who were motoring on with great success, were derailed by Sri Lanka and now has to contend with winning their remaining game to keep ahead of the chasers.
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Sri Lanka’s success now opens the interesting scenario of team selection for the main event. Obviously there are areas that need to be addressed against the best in the world and the final composition will be crucial about their progress in India.
