Ruthless Sri Lanka RIP the heart out of UAE – by BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor)
Pathum Nissanka set the stage to put Sri Lanka in a position of strength, then Dushmantha Chameera, and later Wanindu Hasarsnga and Maheesh Theeksheena ripped the heart out of UAE to propell the pre tournament popular team back to a chance to make the Super 12 of the T20 World Cup.
After Nissanka restored Sri Lanka’s innings to a position of respectability, Chameera wrought havoc on the UAE top order terrorising them with sheer pace and venom to snuff out any chance of a challenge.
The partisan mostly Sri Lankan fans that camped and stayed loyal at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong, were treated to a ruthless display by the Lankans who kept a promise from skipper Dasun Shanaka that they would bounce back from their early hiccup.
Sri Lanka made a brisk start and appeared on course for an insurmountable total. But their progress was rudely interrupted mid-stride, when unsung spinner Karthik Meiyappan interrupted their mission to recuperate from the hiccup of the Namibia shock, grabbing a hat-trick to etch his memory in World Cup history albeit, in a losing effort.
The young spinner will long remember his heroic effort removing Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka in successive deliveries to give UAE a slim hope of being competitive. But it was never to be against a lethal Sri Lankan reply.
Nissanka steadied the ship with a calculated knock that helped Sri Lanka to a near par total on a wicket that was slower and more conducive to spin, also with movement and assistance to raw pace. There certainly was significant movement off the deck in the second dig.
The well balanced Sri Lanka attack used the conditions to a maximum against a lesser experienced side who found no answers to a team bent on redeeming themselves from their early debacle. It was a tale of two stories.
The wake up call has spurred the Lankans back on course. But a worrying factor was when Dushmantha Chameera limped off a ball from the end of his spell with a suspected ankle injury. Sri Lanka will sweat on the outcome as they prepare for the more important assignment ahead of them.
Sri Lanka was the team everyone expected in this game, ruthless and focussed on a demolition job in order to qualify for the Super 12’s. They delivered on that expectation tonight.
The win puts the UAE out of the equation for qualifying and the focus turns to who can secure top two spots on the net run rate in the final encounters.
Sri Lanka progressed to a point of merely needing to beat Netherlands to sneak in while Namibia and Netherlands will battle to secure first or second spot.
Pathum Nissanka’s effort early, earned him man of the match.
