Kusal Mendis fireworks ignite Sri Lanka’s remarkable fightback to level series. Sri Lanka skipper leads his team to a pulsating win over England.BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor)
A magnificent century by Kusal Mendis, 121 off 100 deliveries, led Sri Lanka out of the wilderness and to a pulsating 16- run victory over England at Leeds.
Returning from a hamstring strain which kept him out of the disastrous T20 series, Sri Lanka’s inspirational skipper led from the front in devastating fashion to break the stranglehold England enjoyed so far over the tourists.
What was more pleasing was that apart from Mendis’s sterling effort, the rest of the batters were inspired, as they were jolted into action at long last to give Sri Lanka an unassailable total of 321 for 6 which was a mountain too high for the hosts.
England refused to be overawed by Sri Lanka’s spirited revival and began the chase in commanding fashion as openers Tom Banton and Ben Duckett smashed their way to a 143-run opening stand throwing tremors through the Sri Lankan camp.
But the dismissal of Duckett trapped LBW, and Banton 10 runs later bowled, were both vital breakthroughs by young gun Dinuth Wellalage, saw Sri Lanka’s bowlers claw their way back to stem the chase and pull off a plucky victory.
In fact Wellalage went on to remove England skipper Harry Brook next before Colombage got rid of danger man Joe Root and Sri Lanka were half way to pulling off what seemed like an unlikely win
Losing Pathum Nissanka early, 45 for 1, trapped LBW by Gus Atkinson for 25, the Mendis Specials, Kusal and Kamindu, 54 off 65 balls, picked up the gauntlet and sprayed the normally accurate England attack to all parts in a sizzling 138-run stand for the second wicket off 120 balls, setting the stage for the rest to build a respectable total at long last.
As I mentioned earlier, there’s no lack of talent in the Sri Lanka squad, just the mental and technical advice on how to negotiate a winnable total. Upto now they looked all at sea and bereft of ideas on how to negotiate the conditions in England.
But some careful tinkering and mental preparation suggests there’s still a chance after this amazing turnaround that they can clinch this series.
Mendis is an instinctive stroke maker who is gifted with a natural ability to innovate in any conditions drawing parallels with the great Mahela Jayawardena who batted similarly.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Sri Lanka got off to a brisk start with Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis, the latter promoted up the order in a clever reshuffle, taking on England’s attack with aggressive intent.
They prospered for 9.1 overs before Nissanka fell to Atkinson for 25 off 33 balls.
Kamindu and Kusal then took control going after England’s attack in a fearless onslaught that proved decisive to Sri Lanka’s match winning effort.
Later, Pavan Rathnayake 48 off 39, Janith Liyanage 32 off 26 deliveries and Dunith Wellalage 16 off 15 made the major contributions to Sri Lanka’s total.
England to their credit, fought it to the end before finishing 305 for 9, beaten but not disgraced.
Banton was dismissed by Dunith Wellalage for 73 off 62 balls and Ben Duckett 69 off 49 before England lost regular contributors Joe Root and skipper Harry Brooks cheaply before Jos Buttler 69 off 49 balls and Will Jacks 52 off 61 revived the chase before they fell short.
After the early inslaught, Dinuth Wellalage 3 for 49, Eshan Malinga 2 for 50, and Dilshan Madushanka 2 for 51, spearheaded Sri Lanka’s fightback as fortunes fluctuated and with Asitha Fernando 1 for 68 and Sachindu Colombage 1 for 55 their work was completed.
Game three at the Oval should be a riveting contest.
