Sri Lanka return home after win over Netherlands and plenty of soul searching to do. Fans disappointed at poor showing. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor).
Redemption was small yet ineffectual from a Sri Lankan fan perspective, as the disappointment of another botched T20 World Cup campaign came to an end in the Caribbean.
Sri Lanka set the record straight with the Netherlands who beat them in the warm up by crushing them by 88 runs in their final outing which also elevated them to third spot in the five nation group. It did nothing to avoid elimination.
The furious backlash from Sri Lankan fans worldwide was deafening in the media, social media and all other communication platforms. But the response from the administrators at home was all excuses and refusal to accept accountability.
Blaming others for the team’s dismal showing and deflecting the lack of preparation for the unforeseen is weak and pathetic say cricket fans here.
There is an universal acknowledgement that several in the team is guilty of arrogance and focussed on self interest rather than national pride.
Perhaps the answer to address this issue and pull their heads in, should be a structure of specific performance based contracts which would extract the best outcomes and eliminate complacency and a need to lift the country’s profile.
A thorough investigation into what went down in America and a better plan on how to counter the unknown will be the responsibility of the game’s brains thrust as there’s no doubting the available talent in the country. Harnessing it to its true potential is the challenge ahead.
Sri Lanka batted first and were immediately in trouble losing two quick wickets suggesting another boilover by the feisty Dutch. Batting mainstay Pathum Nissanka departed for a duck. But the suggestion of another batting debacle soon dissipated as Sri Lanka’s middle order found long lost form to steer them to a respectable 201 fir 6 wickets in their allotment.
Kusal Mendis, 46 off29 balls, Charith Asalanka 46 off 21 with 5 sixers and a four, powered the Lankans out of trouble before Angelo Matthews 30 off 15 and skipper Wanindu Hasarsnga 20 off 6 joined the party.
Asalanka’s knock earned him man of the match.
Sri Lanka’s slinging speedsters Nuwan Thushara 3 for 24 of 3.4 overs and Matheesha Pathirana 2 for 12 and Wanindu Hasarsnga 2 for 25 destroyed any aspirations the Dutch had bowling them out for 113 in 16.4 overs.
The soul searching should be intense when they arrive home.
