Rain restricted Pallekelle no deterrent to cock-a-hoop England as they grab T20 game one. Sri Lanka’s batters flatter then flop in futile run chase.BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor)
England once again found a way to beat Sri Lanka amidst the rain affected first T20 game in Pallekelle for a narrow but convincing team effort in game one.
The game was restricted to 17 overs a side as a heavy deluge continued to rain down on the already devasted hill country that suffered cyclone Dithwa which brought with it landslides and flooding that caused death and destruction.
England were led by some classic power hitting by Phil Salt 46 off 35 balls and later Tom Banton 29 off 15 scampered to 125 for 4 as they chased down the revised target of 115 off 15 overs under the DLS with consumate ease.
Earlier, their accomplished bowling attack led by Sam Curran 3 for 38, evergreen Adil Rashid 3 for 19, Jamie Overton 2 for 17 and Liam Dawson 2 for 31, put the brakes on a explosive start by Sri Lanka’s top order led by Pathum Nissanka as they raced to 75 for one wicket, then crumbled to 133 all out in 16.2 overs.
Nissanka, 23 off 29 and Kusal Mendis 37 off 20 were the mainstays and Skipper Dasun Shanaka 20 off 19 played with some authority as Sri Lanka’s worrying trend with the bat showed little signs of the expected potential.
Curran, who was subjected to heavy punishment early, turned things around as he sensationally grabbed 3 for 38 including a hat-trick as Sri Lanka’s tail end batters floundered without a properly structured plan on the task ahead.
Confusion reigned as Sri Lanka’s batters flailed wildly without a proper approach to what should have been a defendable target.
But the procession of batters returning in quick succession was an evident lack of understanding and proper counter plan against a disciplined and well composed England attack led by Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Jamie Overton and Sam Curran.
Sri Lanka coach Sanath Jayasuriya was tentative in his post match comments about Sri Lanka’s inability to provide a superior structured approach against an England team who seem to have all the answers to thwart the home team in their own backyard.
What has been clear about Sri Lanka’s performances to date is the wrong composition and combinations, and a skipper bereft of ideas to turn potential opportunities into winnable situations.
The selection of Dasun Shanaka to lead thr team after Charith Asalanka was relieved of the leadership role, clearly appears to have fractured the team and its mindset, adding to the confusion within.
What has been disappointing is Sri Lanka’s lack of a game plan to outwit the Englishmen with three consecutive losses after the solitary win in the first one-dayer.
Jayasuriya admitted that more tinkering needs to be done with the squad during this series, and in the bigger plan for the T20 World Cup that follows.
He echoed my earlier sentiments about including more experienced players to the squad that would offer stability and cool headed handling under pressure when the World Cup begins in India and Sri Lanka.
It’s not all doom and gloom whatever happens in the next two games. But getting the squad right and the right combinations against the opposition on the day in the T20 World Cup can reverse Sri Lanka’s poor performance against England.
