Lacklustre batting send Lankans hurtling to another thrashing – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports Editor)
One more batting collapse and a familiar scenario re-emerged putting Sri Lanka back to where they belonged, as the Kiwis bounced back to hand out a nine wicket thrashing to the struggling tourists while levelling the T20 series.
Buoyed by their first win on tour, Sri Lanka went in with renewed confidence but were rudely awoken the reality that the Kiwis are not easy beats at home.
They carved up New Zealand’s attack in the first game. But New Zealand’s superior strategy of leading the attack with Adam Milne was testament of their bowling depth. And, Sri Lanka found another weapon they couldn’t defend against.
Milne cut a swathe through a now established Sri Lankan inconsistent batting line-up to pick up 5 wickets for only 26 runss from his four overs, and with Ben Lister 2 for 26 combined with the rest to bundle out the Lankans for an under par 141 in 19 overs.
Sri Lanka looked pretty at 91 for 2 in 11.1 overs then folded in comical fashion losing the next 8 wickets for 50 and couldn’t bat through their allotted overs which is now commonplace.
Only three batters were able to make average starts before being dismissed as they returned to the familiar pattern of listless stroke play. They surrendered meekly in a lacklustre manner that should ring alarm bells within the coaching department.
Dhananjaya De Silva scored 37 off 26 balls Kusal Janith Perera 35 off 32 balls and Charith Asalanka 24 off 19 while the others were bystanders in a forgettable effort.
It would be fair to say that the New Zealanders are a better equipped side in world cricket and Sri Lanka have yet to establish genuine super stars in their desperate search from the emerging talent over the past less than a decade.
They continue their struggle to unearth genuine skill from the existing group after the exits of legendary Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, and a few others who ruled world cricket in a Sri Lankan cap.
New Zealand made short work of the target as their top order rode them home with 32 balls to spare. The win takes it to a decider in Queenstown in three days time.
Tim Siefert then scattered the hapless Sri Lankan attack redeeming himself for a first game duck with 79 not out off 43 deliveries with 6 sixers and 3 fours, and with Chad Bowes 31 off 15, made the Sri Lankan target look what it was, sub par.
While it’s been all doom and gloom, there’s still that flicker of hope for a series win if they can get their batters into the first game headspace.
The bowling has been pretty average too as gun inclusions Wanindu Hasarsnga De Silva and Maheesh Theeksheena struggled for reward and success in very unresponsive conditions.
Being the format that is most unpredictable, Sri Lanka will be dreaming of a repeat of the first game.
It will give them something to hang their hat on as they dwell on the future, and ponder the ‘What if’s’.
