Batters hit top gear as Sri Lanka smash Afganistan to a series win – Same team but different mindset appears to be selectors master-stroke – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor) Sri Lanka shed their ‘inconsistency’ tag thrashing Afganistan by 155 runs while lightning up the hills of Pallekelle to the dawning of a welcome form turnaround, and silencing their critics in the process. Teetering on the edge of being written off in all formats, Sri Lanka appear to have discovered the correct horses for courses strategy from the available talent, and Coach Chris Silverwood can breathe easy as the new selection committee goes about putting together the pieces and the right squads for the different formats. There’s no disputing the talent in Sri Lanka cricket, but issues off field has derailed the games administration creating an unwanted distraction to their performances on the field. The new look ...
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Sri Lanka get a mauling from South Africa but show a bit of pulse. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) Photo Courtesy of ICC. © ICC 2023 (media contact; Trevine Rodrigo – ICC approved media partner) Sri Lanka’s bowlers took a battering from South Africa but fought back to save face despite a 102 -run rout in their opener of the Cricket World Cup in Delhi. Missing most of their front-line bowlers, Sri Lanka’s stand in troops had no answer to a ruthless South African batting onslaught that broke several records including the fastest century in only 49 balls by Aiden Makram. Three centuries, from Quinton De Kock, 100 off 84 balls, Rassie Van der Dussen 108 off 110 and Makram with further contributions from almost all the batters, made this a bizarre chapter in Sri Lanka Cricket. South Africa recovered from the early exit of skipper ...
No swansong for Matthews as Sri Lanka opt for youth at World Cup – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) Sri Lanka Cricket have done away with emotional sentiment and ruled out a swansong for former Skipper Angelo Matthews and perhaps Dinesh Chandimal, opting for youth, at the upcoming World Cup in India. It was rumoured earlier that Matthews was a consideration for his experience and 40 plus percent batting average. He doubles up as a handy all-rounder with the ball. Matthews is expected to bring the curtain down on a memorable career which has given Sri Lanka’s fans and Cricket fans around the world many reasons to cheer when he was on top of his game. Sri Lanka have also ruled out strike weapons Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasarsnga De Silva who have not shown improvement to their injuries. It opens the door for youngsters Dinuth Wellelage and ...
Pumped up Sri Lanka burst Dutch bubble. Shanaka’s men annihilate Netherlands in emphatic fashion in qualifying final. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE Dasun Shanaka and Sri Lanka basked in the glory of a complete whitewash of the qualifiers with a comprehensive thrashing of the Netherlands in the final at Harare. The Sri Lankans showed remarkable fight when their backs were against the wall as the went on to remain unbeaten and throwing out a warning that they are up for the fight against the best. Maheesh Theeksheena and Dilshan Madushanka ensured that Sri Lanka’s modest total of 233 all out in 47.5 overs was defendable, when they routed the Dutch for 105 in only 23.3 overs making the decider a cakewalk. Theeksheena followed his four wicket haul against Zimbabwe with another similar effort and Madushanka grabbed another three and with Wanindu Hasarsnga De Silva two more to his remarkable ...
Angry awoken Lion’s savage Afgan intrusion. Sri Lanka annihilate Afghanistan in one day duel. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE Afganistan stepped on the tail of a sleeping Lion and paid the price of a savage mauling at its awakening in the one day series in Hambantota. Game one saw the visiting Afgans jump the locals in a surprising turnaround. Don’t get me wrong, they are a force in world cricket at the moment. Sri Lanka isn’t. Stung by the humiliation, Sri Lanka returned fire to annihilate the invaders in games two and three to clinch the three game one day series in emphatic fashion. It would be fair to say the home team was depleted with the absence of key bowlers Dushmantha Chameera Maheesh Theeksheena and Wanindu Hasarsnga De Silva in game one. But the demoralising defeat in that encounter demanded action stations, and the selectors reacted swiftly to ...
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. A final analysis will suggest the Lankans were comprehensively outclassed by a stronger opponent. The Queenstown ...
Afganistan conquer the hills of Pallekelle – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor) Afganistan exposed Sri Lanka’s pathetic standing in world cricket with a ruthless annihilation of the home team at Pallekelle. The visitors showed no qualms about the opposition or the unfamiliarity of Sri Lankan conditions batting with authority and treating the Sri Lanka attack with disdain to post a imposing 294 for 8 in their allotment. They then clinically dissected and demolished the now established Sri Lanka batting inconsistency, mainly in the middle order, which has been a contentious issue for quite a while, to coast to a easy 60-run win. They bowled the hapless Lankans out in just 34 overs. Only Pathum Nissanka, 85 off 83 balls, and Wanindu Hasarsnga De Silva, 66 off 46 balls showed enough class and aggression to take the challenge to the visitors and save them of more embarrassment and blushes. On ...
Chris Silverwood will be key for Sri Lankan upset – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports Editor) Sri Lanka will bank on coach Chris Silverwood’s innermost knowledge of England’s batting weaknesses in a bid to upset the favourites at the SCG. Silverwood was the former England coach until the disastrous Ashes tour last summer in Australia, where he was relieved of his duties after returning home with very little happy stories to write about. At the helm of a younger, relatively inexperienced Sri Lanka side who are currently gaining a reputation as a dangerous proposition to anyone on their day, his direction could be crucial to a Lankan upset. From a personal perspective, he has a point to prove to his former employers that the hiccup against Australia was not the end all of his ability to handle the reins. Sri Lanka has a mathematical chance of qualifying for ...
Sri Lanka cruise past Afganistan and dare to dream – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka sports editor) Wanindu Hasarsnga De Silva and Dhananjaya De Silva gave Sri Lanka a Silver lining, and the daring hope of delivering Skipper Dasun Shanaka’s bold prediction that the Asia Cup champions can make the T20 World Cup semi finals. Not mission impossible, but still a realistic possibility, Shanaka’s dream has to align with beating one of the favourites England, in their final commitment which is a tough ask . But not impossible in this unpredictable format. Sri Lanka recovered from a New Zealand hiding to strangle Afghanistan’s batting before chasing down an under par 145 to cruise to a six wicket win with 9 balls to spare. Afganistan gave the Sri Lankans a worrying period when their batsmen appeared to be in control and heading to build a unbeatable run chase. But Sri Lanka ...
‘Hurricane’ Stonis wreaks havoc on hapless Sri Lanka – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE Marcus Stonis single handedly destroyed Sri Lanka’s aspirations with a brutal batting performance that catapulted Australia back in contention to defend their T20 World Cup title. The bouncy Perth track ince again proved to be Australia’s happy hunting ground against lesser teams unable to counter the speed and trajectory, but no issue for the Australian batsmen. Stonis was a man on a mission bludgeoning a hapless Sri lanka attack to all parts in a memorable knock of 59 off 18 balls with 6 sixers and 4 fours. Until he arrived at the crease, Sri Lanka appeared to be able to defend an under par total of 157 for 6 in their allotted overs. But his arrival spelt doom for Sri Lanka as he scattered the bowling with disdain to record the fastest half century while ...
