Using the DLS technique, Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand by 45 runs on Wednesday, with Kusal Mendis taking home the post-match awards for his career-best 143. But if it weren’t for the bowlers’ outstanding performance, it may have all been for nothing.
With an opening partnership of 88 runs off 80 deliveries, Tim Robinson and Will Young of New Zealand had given the visitors a perfect start as they attempted to reach an altered target of 221 in 27 overs. Only Asitha Fernando was able to contain the damage while Young and Robinson were singing. His first three overs only yielded 13 runs.
“Asitha bowled a good line in the first couple of overs, but after that, they scored a few runs off Dilshan [Madushanka],” Kusal remarked following the match.
Due to heavy rain after an extended innings break, Sri Lanka had to contend with a wet ball, a wet outfield, and a considerably slicker surface as New Zealand’s openers were attacking. As the innings approached the midway mark, they may have been preparing for the worst.
“When we were batting, there didn’t really seem to be much difficulty for the bowlers; there was no dew or drizzle to deal with,” Kusal said. However, we must acknowledge our bowlers. The ball becomes fairly moist after the rain and dew. Therefore, I believe that the ball hit the bat more effectively for them [New Zealand] on the wicket than it did for us.
Charith Asalanka, who once again helped with the ball and had figures of 2 for 15 in three overs, greatly supported this approach. Asalanka joined the attack after Theekshana’s hits and hit in back-to-back overs as New Zealand fell from 88 for 0 to 100 for 4.
Regarding his captain’s bowling prowess, Kusal remarked, “Honestly, he’s bowling fairly well.” Since playing for the Under-19 team, he has bowled quite a bit. However, you would frequently have five frontline bowlers once he joined the national team. Therefore, using a bowler on a part-time basis would be less usual.
Asalanka has taken nine wickets while bowling in each of Sri Lanka’s last nine ODIs. However, he has had the most success on home fields, especially during the series against India earlier this year on a Khettarama turner.
His efforts on Wednesday, however, were the first in circumstances that might not have been as favorable for spin bowling, and they demonstrate Sri Lanka’s increasing faith in Asalanka as a bowler.
Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, and Janith Liyanage appear to be meeting the fifth-bowler need at this time.
Given that true batting all-rounders Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Dunith Wellalage are no longer in the starting lineup, the long-term viability of such a scheme is in doubt. Wickramasinghe can clear the ropes in addition to being a more practical seam alternative than Liyanage, even if Wellalage has superior bowling and can improve his batting.
Additionally, Sri Lanka rules off the possibility of having a frontline fifth bowler by choosing to use Kamindu and Liyanage, two part-time bowlers, although skipper Asalanka is still certain to start absent injury or rest. They appear happy to continue experimenting with their current mix for the time being, though.
“Janith, Charith and Mendis – all three are bowling well,” Kamindu stated. “A seam bowler, like Janith, is necessary in situations like these where the ball is more difficult to grasp. If the wicket is spinning, the other two are present. Both hands are capable of bowling for Kamindu Mendis.
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