By Srian Obeyesekere
Tomorrow’s Sri Lanka-England February 22 face off for its all crucial significance to either going through to the semi-finals of Cricket’s most action gripping showpiece for its fast paced short format that has come to reign in at short notice over the historically two longer test and ODI versions since its arrival in 2007, that sees its 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup roar in the thunder of the second stage Super Eight of the teams that went through in two groups, boiling down to a tooth and nail showdown at its best at co-hosts, Sri Lanka’s hill capital’s Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium.
It does see a remeet insulation of Harry Brook’s men from a very recent 3-0 series shot in the arm bleeding of the Lankans in their own backyard, but which on the overall thus far world cup big picture has seen a reversing nose dive of England’s close calls against lowly minnows Italy and Nepal pushed to second place of Group C does put Dasun Shanaka’s charges on a threatening keel of reversing fortunes.
Therein, it is literally D day as to who would reign in that slugging out whether the English on extending their last time out success over the Lankans or stuttering of limping through to the last eight is a decimating chink in their armour for the Lankans to fire at brimming from a rousing start of three straight wins on the trot, most significant bringing Australia to their knees by a 105 margin. Defeat to Zimbabwe was a dampening of their clout to ending second in Group B to Zimbabwe, but the Lankans were minus key pace bowler Dushmantha Hemantha rested for the big contests.
A plus point Sri Lanka enjoys is the 21 wickets high by the spinners despite losing lynchpin Wanindu Hasaranga by injury, but his replacement Dushan Hemantha leading a three pronged attack of Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage.
Man to man Sri Lanka does score on the twosome of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, the latter boasting of 199 runs from his last four innings with strike rate of 156.69 including a lightning century off 52 balls against the Australians while Mendis has played mainstay half century roles in their three triumphs aggregating 182 runs.
Sri Lanka’s search for an able ally to pair with Nissanka has been fishy with the once famous record ton up slayer Kusal Janith Perera of South Africa in a historical test series triumph in Protea land scraping for form in a long time brought back in place of a patchy Kamil Mishara, scoring a quockfire 22 in the game against Zimbabwe. Kusal Janith’s presence up there as the going gets tough is yet a boost to the batting order given his credentials of the explosive he signifies.
A measurable 30 could well be the turning point the left-hander could be to giving Sri Lanka the ideal start.
The advent of 23-year old right-hander Pavan Rathnayake has beefed up the batting that was a long worrying factor which the youngster has plugged by his recent arrival, a 28 ball half century vs Oman to go with.
England’s batting has not found the piston of the type of their shoot over Sri Lanka recently.
Their openers led by Phil Salt has not found the desired salt the attacking batsman is known for in their cup campaign.
ENGLAND’S NEW GUARD KID IN TOWN
But overly, England cannot certainly be written off as the bookmakers have done in giving Sri Lanka the odds on edge. They do possess a dangerous outfit capable of cutting loose, young skipper Brooks a lusty timer of the ball who did put the Lankan bowlers to the sword by two masterly knocks including a record whirlwind century in fittingly anointing himself as England’s new kid in town discovery of the young guard tipped to take overall charge of England from incumbent test captain Ben Stokes.
LESSON FROM ZIMBABWE DEFEAT
Sri Lanka, in the final analysis, will have to pull their socks up from the defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe where the batting was a major let down factor. It must serve as a warning against meek footed batting which Shanaka and his batters cannot afford to repeat against a professional England.
The batting will have to be bulls eye spick snd span in the dictates of a well oiled opposition while beating the English at spin will be key to coming on top where last time out Sri Lanka was beaten at their own game. Adil Rashid. Liam Lawson and Will Jacks do form a potential spin attack the Lankans will have to tackle.
Courtesy Sri Lanka Cricket