Sri Lanka stutter in warm up games but may still provide some fireworks. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) Sri Lanka made an inauspicious start to the World Cup losing both warm-up games to Bangladesh and Afghanistan and the writing on the wall about their chances of success seems dismal to say the least. Just recently they overcame both these teams in the Asia Cup before making the final against India. But the preparation since has see both Asian neighbours step up their campaigns while Sri Lanka’s course appears at this stage to be heading backwards. Both losses were convincing, by seven wickets to Bangladesh and six wickets to Afghanistan, and throws up concerns about the composition of the team that has failed to deliver with and without Skipper Dasun Shanaka who seems to be the focus of attention rather than the team’s overall performance. Apart from ...
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Ton happy Sri Lanka reduce Ireland to first Test horror – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor) Four centuries, and timely form reversal piloted Sri Lanka to a convincing innings win against Ireland in the first Test, giving the home team some welcome recuperation after a painful and forgettable tour to New Zealand. Bullied and humiliated by a half strength Kiwi side in all formats, Sri Lanka returned home to let the visiting Irish know what it feels like to be at the receiving end of superior opposition. Sri Lanka’s batting dilemmas were firmly put behind them for once, and with spinning sensation Prabath Jayasuriya and Vishwa Fernando exploiting the treacherous track, they bamboozled the Irish batting to win in a canter as the tourists plummeted to a embarrassing innings defeat. Ireland, on their maiden Test tour to the Island, were smashed to all parts of the Galle ...
Sri Lanka’s downward spiral continues unabated – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor) Sri Lanka is continuing to prove they have no game plan for the one day format anymore as their batters struggle to cope with New Zealand’s bowlers in seaming conditions. With the Cricket World Cup fast approaching, it is concerning if Sri Lanka will fail to qualify to the top tier for the first time in a long time having to get through the qualifiers with the lesser nations. Winning in 1996 under Arjuna Ranatunge and making two finals thereafter, has made this country a mainstay in World Cup history and it would be sad indeed if they are unable to make it to the top. Their downward spiral towards the cellar of the world game is disturbing and downright embarrassing to their fans and team management as they stumble from one defeat to another ...
Sri Lanka crash out of T20 World Cup taking Australia with them – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. Sri Lanka flattered, then flopped, to exit the T20 World Cup with a bitter sweet taste in their mouth and the realisation that winning the Asia Cup and competing with the best in the world was two completely different leagues. Playing a game that was crucial to Australia’s chance to make the semi finals, Sri Lanka’s batting showed early promise then folded like a deck of cards as the middle order continued their dismal form with the bat to give England easy access to the semis. Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis started like a house on fire smashing the feared England attack for 39 runs off the first three and a half overs before England stemmed the tide by removing Mendis and the steady procession continued thereafter. Nissanka, 67 with ...
