Sri Lanka dare to dream with comfortable win over Bangladesh – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (Elanka Sports Editor)
Sadeera Samarawickrema smashed a whirlwind 93 off 72 balls with 2 sixers and 7 fours to steer Sri Lanka to a 23 run victory over Bangladesh.
The rising star in Sri Lanka’s batting line-up looks to be fine tuning his craft in preparation for the Cricket World Cup in India next month.
The win gives Sri Lanka vital points before facing Asian giants India and Pakistan and the hope of creating an upset to make it to the final.
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India and Pakistan have upto now had limited preparation due to inclement weather in Sri Lanka and may just be a little underdone for the crucial final stages of the tournament.
Sadeera’s heroics and Kusal Mendis 50 off 73 and and Pathum Nissanka 40 off 50 helped bolster Sri Lanka to a defendable 257 for 9.
Bangladesh in reply were derailed by clever bowling by Sri Lanka led by Skipper Dasun Shanaka 3 for 28 off nine overs, Matheesha Pathirana 3 for 69 and Dinuth Wellelage I for 26 which strangled and stifled any attempt at a challenge.
Shanaka’s stirling effort with the ball and a handy 24 with the bat will hopefully quell the growing division among Sri Lanka fans, many who demand his dropping, and a resultant fracture of a team riding the crest of a wave.
Hopefully the Sri Lanka administration will not succumb and become victim to ‘expert’ opinion that will put them back to their losing ways. Their unbeaten run in this format is exceptional at the moment. “Why fix something that ain’t broken”, say a wide majority.
India and Pakistan meet next, and the outcome depending on the continued forecast for unseasonal rain will impact heavily on who progreses before Sri Lanka pits themselves against both with a dream to make the final.
Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood can breathe easy for the moment.
