Ton up Salman Agar theatrics spearheads Pakistan recovery as Sri Lanka fail with another batting collapse. BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor)
Contrasting stories don’t come better than Sri Lanka’s pathetic batting debacle against Pakistan in another sorry tale of their mental imbalance which saw them crash to a 37- run defeat in the first one-dayer in Rawalpindi.
The tri-series also featuring England, gave Pakistan a jump over the competition but left the Lankans ruing what might have been.
While Pakistan struggled initially against a penetrative Sri Lanka pace trio Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka and Eshan Malinga, they recovered from 5 for 215 in the 38th over to post 305 on the back of a brilliant knock from Salman Agar who smashed his country out of danger and to a defendable target.
Agar was in superb form as he powered to 107 off 90 balls with a six and ten fours.
Earlier Babar Azam 45 off 57, Saad Baig 39 off 40 and Hassan Nawaz 37 off 49 balls led the Pakistan revival as Sri Lanka’s bowlers tried to keep a tight rein on the scoring.
Sri Lanka’s pace Trio led by Eshan Malinga 4 for 46, Asitha Fernando 3 for 59 and Dilshan Madushanka 2 for 67 bowled tight lines but failed to contain Pakistan’s middle order which flourished under pressure.
Chasing a gettable 305 on a placid surface, Sri Lanka in contrast, were sitting pretty at 253 for five, then threw it away losing the last five wickets for a mere 15 runs. They crashed to 268 all out in 48.1overs.
Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi, 3 for 55, Naseem Shah 2 for 43 and Haris Rauf 2 for 48 reined in Sri Lanka’s chase with a clever tactical comeback when things looked bleak.
Obviously lesson’s don’t get learnt by this consistently underperforming Sri Lanka team who have driven coach Gary Kirstan to his wits end as TV replays revealed when experienced Dasun Shanaka got out to a rash stroke while looking in control, to begin the slide.
In fairness, Pavan Ratnayake, 79 off 74 balls, and Janith Liyanage, 60 off 74 deliveries before Shanaka looked to have the target within their sights but lost their wickets to shots they will reflect and regret.
I have said this as many times as the consistent batting failures of Sri Lanka’s batters, but no mental correction of forward planning in crucial situations is foreseeable about the clearly obvious.
Let’s not take anything away Pakistan’s remarkable effort to reverse the tide when all looked gloomy for them. It would be a distraction from how games can be won from a difficult situation.
What was unforgivable was, Sri Lanka for once looked in control to win a game despite reliable skipper Kusal Mendis’s failure with the bat.
But irresponsible batting by the lower order and tailenders, coupled with Shanaka’s inability to shepherd and guide the lower order to the target, showed immaturity for a team with a rich history of playing this game.
On the flip side of the doom and gloom of Sri Lanka cricket, there’s clear signs of improvement in the one-day squad going forward if the game plan, and most importantly the mindset is professionally addressed.
Avishka Fernando and Sahan Arachchige did little to warrant their inclusion despite possessing tremendous talent.
Their form in the games ahead will be crucial to Sri Lanka’s aspirations to claw their way back with a England- Pakistan final looking ominous at this stage unless Sri Lanka can spring an unlikely surprise.
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