Sri Lanka eclipsed in pulsating thriller. New Zealand complete clean sweep – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor)
Beaten but unbowed, Sri Lanka engaged New Zealand in an epic decider which ended in a heart stopping Kiwi win with a ball to spare. The Islanders left New Zealand shores with a semblance of their reputation restored.
After a torrid tour in the Tests and one-dayers, the Lankans redeemed some pride going down 2-1 but after a much better effort where the home team had to work hard for their success.
New Zealand had a clean sweep in all formats indicating their steady rise in the world rankings and the revelation there is no lack of talent in both batting and bowling as some regulars were missing making big money in the IPL.
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A final analysis will suggest the Lankans were comprehensively outclassed by a stronger opponent.
The Queenstown wicket showed little assistance to the bowlers and the game was a free scoring affair.
The casualties from it was Sri Lanka spin twins Wanindu Hasarsnga De Silva and Maheesh Theeksheena who were totally ineffective in New Zealand conditions.
Sri Lanka will rue a poor batting effort in the final five overs where proper application would have given them a target beyond reach. They managed 32 runs off the last 3.3 overs at 8 runs after a blistering start.
In fact they allowed Matt Henry a maiden in the last over, which was downright ridiculous in this format. Compounding it all was the other lapses where crucial dropped chances off Chad Bowes and Tim Siefert when New Zealand were motoring at express pace in pursuit of a challenging target.
In all fairness, the Sri Lanka batting hit top gear once more, similar to game one, but as skipper Dasun Shanaka summed up post match, they were 10 or 15 runs short of a par score. They set New Zealand a challenging score of 182
Jack-in-the-box Kusal Mendis hit his straps to belt the New Zealand attack racing to 73 off 48 balls with 5 sixers and 6 fours. With useful contributions from Pathum Nissanka 25 off 25, Kusal Janith Perera 33 off 21 and Dhananjaya De Silva 20 off 9 balls, they looked set to knock the Kiwis overafter posting 182 for 6.
But they reckoned without Tim Siefert who followed his heroics in the second game with another blistering knock of 88 off 48 balls to put paid to any Sri Lanka dreams of a series win. Siefert’s efforts earned him the man-of-the-series.
New Zealand’s run chase began in emphatic fashion as they raced at nearly ten runs an over in the power play and beyond looking comfortable for a win before Sri Lanka launched an unforgettable fightback, sadly without reward.
Lahiru Kumara put his hand up to bowl the crucial last over with the Kiwis needing 10 runs, and the game took a dramatic turn when New Zealand lost three consecutive wickets after Chapman belted Kumara for six off his first delivery. Kumara then fumbled a chance for a fourth wicket run out and with it went Sri Lanka’s chances of a sensational upset.
The Lankans were suddenly in the game, but a calm headed Rachin Ravindra steered New Zealand to victory with a ball to spare.
Sri Lanka for their part have got some serious dissecting to do to work out where and what they need to do to achieve consistency. There’s no doubt about the available talent in Sri Lanka’s ranks but how they gain repeated performances mainly in the batting is of grave concern.
Questions must be asked of their mental application because the ‘heroes today and villains tomorrow’, sequence is extremely concerning.
Chris Silverwood and the Sri Lanka brains thrust have plenty to do with the mental psyche of a team not bereft of talent, but in urgent need of the right professional conditioning.
That analysis and the answer as to how it is addressed cannot come fast enough with the upcoming World Cup and whether they qualify for the main event.
