New Zealand book a berth in semis with clinical dissection of clueless Sri Lanka – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor)
Sri Lanka stayed on their charted course of exiting the World Cup winless in four consecutive games as New Zealand clinically disected and rolled them by 5 wickets without too much effort in Bengaluru.
The worst campaign by Sri Lanka in a World Cup since 1999, calls for a serious revamp of its coaching and administrative staff if this once proud nation is to save face and re-establish itself to the respected team it used to be. This was a team that never jelled from the outset raising serious questions about its composition.
The clash of cultures in the coaching department, particularly appointing a Consultant Coach to the structure definitely derailed establishing a mutually acceptable game plan.
Some will argue that making the final of the Asia Cup at home will challenge this belief. But their performances since that disastrous final against India in Colombo, will readily attest to a lopsided team selection and strategy against the best in the world.
Winning just two games in the entire campaign including the warm-up matches is not a statistic that can be defended.
Put in by New Zealand, they began disastrously against New Zealand’s pacemen Tim Southee and Trent Boult who bamboozled them with clever change of pace and variation.
The wicket held few terrors and certainly was not an unplayable surface, but Sri Lanka’s batting woes mainly through inconsistency, continued to be a concern.
Rash shot selection and a consequent well under par total, saw the Kiwis put them out of their misery and the World Cup for another edition.
On what pitch experts described as a ‘dream deck’, Sri Lanka, thanks to a last wicket partnership of 42 by Maheesh Theeksheena and Dilshan Madushanka struggled to a pathetic 171 all out in 46. 2 overs.
Nissanka was the first to go edging Southee to Darryl Mitchell with the total on 3 putting Sri Lanka on the back foot.
It didn’t get any better as wickets fell in quick succession as Skipper Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrema, Charith Asalanka all departed with not much added to the total playing uncharacteristic strokes as if they were in a hurry to catch the next flight back home. At 5 fo70 in the sixth over, the writing was on the wall.
Mendis, who was in brilliant form with the bat at the beginning of the tournament soon found that the burden of captaincy brought with it more than one responsibility making just one big score then failing miserably thereafter.
All the while Perera, riding his early let off, smashed New Zealand’s attack to all parts, his 50 coming off 22 balls with 2 sixers and 9 fours.
Trent Boult grabbed 3 for 37 , Ferguson 2 for 35, Mitchell Santner 2 for 22 and Rachin Ravindra two for 21 had the Sri Lankan batters in a pace, spin web.
A nine run per over start with Perera in full flight soon dissipated to 4.5 per over in 25 overs as Sri Lanka’s batters clung on grimly to consume as many overs as possible at 115 for 8.
His one man show was all Sri Lanka had to cheer about in another now familiar batting debacle.
Angelo Matthews looked like he could stem the rot but perished to a clever Mitchell Santner delivery leaving the bat and was snapped up by Mitchell at first slip for 16. At 5 for 70, the game was all but over as they then slumped to 7 for 113.
When all seemed lost at 128 for 9, a gallant 11th wicket stand between Maheesh Theeksheena 38 not out, and Dilshan Madushanka 19 lifted Sri Lanka from embarrassment to 171 all out with a fighting 42 run partnership that was the highest in the innings.
Both bowlers showed more fight and and composure than the rest of Sri Lanka’s batters, Perera being the exception.
The Vultures hovering above and circling the ground, appeared to be waiting for a feed on a dying Sri Lanka Cricket carcass said one English commentator. He wasn’t sure they were Vultures, sure looked like them.
Earlier, New Zealand were so dominant, they employed a Test match field as they encircled the batsmen daring them to go over the top.
They were never in this contest.
New Zealand’s attack refused to release their stranglehold as pace and spin combined to choke the life out of a winnable fightback.
In fact Sri Lanka should have been 1 for 0 when wicket-keeper Tom Latham dropped a regulation catch behind off Kusal Perera.
He took full advantage of the lapse to make the only worthy contribution in the Sri Lankan batting racing to 51 off 28 balls before holing out.
No one gave them a chance anyway, as they began their campaign with heavy thrashings by South Africa, Pakistan and Australia then produced two unconvincing wins over England and the Netherlands which raised some hope.
But they were soon given emphatic reminders of where they belong by India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand in the games that followed to be sent packing from a disappointing campaign.
New Zealand’s run chase began in brisk fashion as Devon Conway and in-form Rachin Ravindra raced through to the target with little worries unlike Sri Lanka’s batters.
Conway smacked 45 off 42 balls, Ravindra 42 off 34 and Daryl Mitchell finished the job with 43 off 31 proving the earlier theory of what a great batting track it was.
New Zealand enhanced their quest for a Semi-Final berth by reeling in the target in just 23.2 overs.
As they return home to reflect on a badly thought out campaign, Sri Lanka will first have bigger hurdles to overcome as it’s current administration defiantly refuse to be replaced backed by politicians overriding a Sports Minister’s directive.
This has been one of the reasons that Sri Lanka Cricket cannot function with transparency, as those with self interest cling on for personal benefit with no accountability for their continued failures. It is widely reported that some have already resigned when the writing was on the wall, hoping to return with no acceptance of responsibility.
There is plenty of evidence that the current young squad has plenty to offer for the next World Cup as they mature. Angelo Matthews was a firm advocate of the fact, while saying they need experienced players around them to nurture their progress.
Emphasis on batting and bowling consistency will need to be addressed as was their sloppy fielding that let a few games slip through their grasp.
Where to from here for Sri Lanka Cricket is anyone’s guess.
