The Sports Desk
Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka conceded that his side needs to “get combinations right” as they find themselves in a tangle after suffering successive losses in the Asia Cup Super Four stage. Decoding a pivotal turning point playing Pakistan, Asalanka said, “We have to take more responsibility,” indicating towards himself and Dasun Shanaka as they both fell on successive balls in the eighth over.
Sri Lanka were 58 for three in 7.1 overs when Asalanka was caught at deep square-leg off Hussain Talat. Dasun Shanaka departed two balls later, lunging at one and nicking behind. The team were suddenly five down, more than 60 per cent of the innings to go, on their way to only 133 for 8.
“Asalanka and I didn’t take the big shots when we got out. I was looking to hit the ball into a gap and unfortunately top-edged it. Dasun played a regular shot too. We have to take the blame for that,” Asalanka said. Even though the initial blows left Sri Lanka at 58 for five, Kamindu Mendis played a valiant knock of 50 off 44 balls to be supported by Wanindu Hasaranga and Chamika Karunaratne and help their side reach a competitive total on board.
“In the first 10 overs we lost five wickets and against teams like this it is very difficult to come back. Kamindu and the boys fought well but Wanindu got out at a crucial moment and I felt that we could have made 150,” he further said.
Sri Lanka’s battle to come up with a balanced team has been thrown into sharp relief once more. The side made a change by replacing Kamil Mishara with Chamika Karunaratne to beef up the bowling but Asalanka admitted that combination management is still an issue. “We have to try and find a way that we can consistently get scores of 180, 190, 200 and then use our part-time bowlers like Dasun there’s Kamin (Kamindu) Mendis me to bowl a bit more effectively. This are the places we need to work on before the T20 Worldc Cup,” he said.
Two crushing losses at the Super Four stage means, Sri Lanka are a defeat away from home, and underlines the need to figure out their team balance months ahead of the global event.
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