ODI series won, SL ring changes for final match today

Second ODI Player of the Match Kusal Mendis receives his award

• “Strong bench strength has made competition for places healthy” – Theekshana
• Prideful New Zealand has a lot to play for to avoid series sweep

Sa’adi Thawfeeq reporting from Pallekele 

With the ODI series already won by an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series against New Zealand, Sri Lanka cricket selectors have rung the changes for the third and final match beginning at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium today by pulling out four key players who also belong to the Test squad and replacing them with three others.

With an important two-Test series commencing in South Africa later this month, batsmen Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, and Kamindu Mendis and fast bowler Asitha Fernando have been released from the ODI squad and replaced by batsmen Nuwanidu Fernando and Lahiru Udara and fast bowler Eshan Malinga.

The four players rested are all match winners on their day, notably Kusal Mendis, whose back-to-back Player of the Match awards in the first two ODIs have contributed to Sri Lanka clinching the ODI series with a game to play. Mendis has been in outstanding form this year, scoring a career best 143 in the first ODI, which Sri Lanka won by 45 runs (DLS method), and an unbeaten 74 in the second on a difficult pitch to guide his team to victory by three wickets. 

In the calendar year, Sri Lanka has been invincible at home in ODIs, winning against Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, India, West Indies, and now New Zealand. The victory over New Zealand tied them on the ratings at 98 each in the ICC ODI team rankings. A win in the third and final ODI at Pallekele today will see them displace New Zealand from fifth position.

But with some of the key players missing, Sri Lanka’s bench strength will be tested. It also offers New Zealand a chance to bounce back and leave the shores of Sri Lanka with a victory under their belt.

Mark Chapman, who top scored for New Zealand with a compact 74, described how important it was for them to win the final ODI.

“Every game is important. It was disappointing to go down today again and lose the series. We take a lot of pride in putting on performances consistently for our country. There are a lot of guys who are pushing for experience for different positions and for different places. For us, there is a lot to play for.”

On a turning pitch, Sri Lanka rode on the back of Kusal Mendis’ half-century to pull off a win, after being 93-5 at one stage chasing 210. 

“Kusal is one player that uses the sweep shot but more, it’s just the temperament and the way he has gone about his innings,” said Chapman. “Particularly today, for someone coming off a big score to really have the patience to bat through an innings, there is a lot to be learnt from that. It was really a mature innings from Kusal. I guess it was the difference at the end of the day.”

The win showed that Sri Lanka has once again become a fighting unit and made winning a habit, even if the odds are heavily stacked against them.

Maheesh Theekshana, who displayed his skills first with the ball (capturing three wickets for 31 to dismiss New Zealand for 209), and then with the bat, partnering Mendis in a valuable 47-run partnership scoring 27* to see Sri Lanka home, put down the change that has taken place in the team to playing according to their strength under home conditions. 

“Despite the wicket-assisting spinners, the batsmen never made that an excuse not to score runs but completed the job for us,” said Theekshana. “As a team on the bench, we have four spinners who can at any time come and play a match. The bench strength has increased. In batting, Nishan Madushka cannot find a place after scoring 69 and 38. When Wanindu [Hasaranga] got injured, Dushan Hemantha came in after performing well with the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team.”

“Compared to the last three years, I see today there is healthy competition amongst the players for a place in the team. If we do not perform well, we can get dropped. So, everyone tries to put their hand up to remain in the team. The player understands that if he goes out, it is not easy for him to return to the team. So, we always try to play to win. That is the biggest change I see that has taken place this year compared to the past three years.”