Sri Lanka batted well to ensure that they posted 240/9 which was quite competitive on the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo in the 150th ODI at the venue courtesy of the 72 runs that were added by Dunith Wellalage and Kamindu Mendis. Batting at Nos. 7 and 8, Wellalage who scored 44 and Mendis who made 30, put together a good fight back reducing the total to 136/6 when the spin-duo was on singing on a slow, low track as Sundar took a worthy 3 for 30.
Sri Lanka got off to a bad start in the match and opening batsman Pathum Nissanka was cleaned bowled by an out of recession by Mohammed Siraj. However, Avishka Fernando (40) and Kusal Mendis (30) awakened the Sri Lankan batsmen and the two forged 74 runs partnership for the second wicket. Both of them were important in the annoying bowling of the dangerous five-over opening spell of Siraj which made the Sri Lankan batsmen unfold their skills.
Such was the case with the Fernando-Mendis combination, but this looked like a partnership that was always in a hurry, for the pitch was/was suited for the spinners from both ends. Washington Sundar, who came into the attack early, dispelled the stand only nine balls later. Fernando was declared out by a leading edge that came back to the spinner. Sundar struck back in his next over by getting the scalp of the dangerous batter Kusal Mendis, which left Sri Lanka again in deep trouble thanks to two new faces in the middle.
Seeking against the Indian spinners, the openers Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka failed to perform well and got out. Samarawickrama was out for an airborne heave against Axar Patel, while Asalanka was squared up by a turning, bouncing ball, to give an easy catch to short third man Kuldeep Yadav bowled extremely tight until the 20th over and was rewarded in his sixth over when Janith Liyanage was caught.
Looking at the scorecard and staring at 136/6 after 35 overs Sri Lanka was in deep waters – so it seemed. But for the direct education of Dunith Wellalage (39) and Kamindu Mendis (40) who clawed their way back into the game. Both of them annoyed the Indian bowlers and took the Sri Lankan score beyond 200, which put them in the game. Shivam Dube spilled a fairly regular catch when Mendis was on 11 and immediately he got a good start out of it.
Axar Patel conceded 44 runs in the 44th over where Wellalage played four and six to ease the pressure that was mounted on him by Siraj via a wide ball and a bouncer. He was well-captured by Dube at short third man but had done major havoc to the Indian bowling line-up. Kamindu Mendis too came lower down the order and kept on accelerating and was run out to the last over’s second delivery, Shreyas Iyer doing well to spring forward and effect the breakthrough.
However, in the death overs, Mendis and Akila Dananjaya were able to get some fours and Sri Lankan made 79/100 in the last 10 overs. Hailing from the seamers, the bowling department ensured they bowled their 19 overs on 111/1 which could be seen as a fair balancing of the bowling with the spinners bowling their 31 overs on 112/6.
Thus, even though the spinners were superb, India failed to accelerate when they were asked to chase 231 in the previous game and now they were asked to do so again, but on a pitch that was slower and demanded a more cautious approach in addition to ten extra runs. This match will also not go down in history as a debacle for Sri Lankan cricket as the fighting spirit displayed by Wellalage and Mendis.
Key Highlights:
- Critical 72-Run Stand: The seventh wicket partnership between Dunith Wellalage and Kamindu Mendis got Sri Lanka back into the game.
- Washington Sundar’s Bowling Excellence: Early breakthroughs by Sundar meant Sri Lanka was put in a spot of twos and threes for 30.
- Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis’s Efforts: They had a 74 74-run partnership for the second wicket which was useful in stabilizing the inning.
- Kuldeep Yadav’s Impact: They noticed that his introduction was low and took the big wicket of Janith Liyanage.
- Sri Lanka’s Late Surge: Some useful contributions were seen by Wellalage and Mendis through which Sri Lanka was able to set up a competitive target.
- The Sri Lankan cricket team is now adding to such spectacular performance in the forthcoming games, people can expect more great contests and breathtaking chases. This match was quite an interesting snapshot to watch because the team demonstrated a lot of fighting as a team.
Conclusion
This match played at the R Premadasa Stadium will always be associated with a tremendous comeback organized by Dunith Wellalage and Kamindu Mendis. It was a pretty good game though their ability to endure pressure and establish a vital connection was the high point of the match. When Sri Lanka plays later on the LOC will give them inspiration and confidence to perform well in the next matches.
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