SL loses even the dead rubber!

Dilshan’s 75 and SL's 150 not enough as Lanka limp out of Asia Cup

Madushka Balasuriya reporting from Dhaka, Bangladesh

In a tournament that has been defined by bowlers as a reversion to type of sorts as this, Asia Cup dead rubber between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was settled by the batsmen. After a calculated 75 from Tillekeratne Dilshan - in which he carried his bat through the innings - helped Sri Lanka to a competitive 150/4 in their 20 overs, knocks by Sharjeel Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed and Umar Akmal saw Pakistan complete a controlled chase and a six wicket win.

Akmal’s innings was a timely bookend to the Pakistan innings after an ideal start by Sharjeel and Sarfraz. Sharjeel set the early tone for the chase by wristily flicking a Thisara Perera delivery from leg stump over the square leg boundary. Sharjeel’s opening partner Mohammad Hafeez soon joined in, crashing the spin of Shehan Jayasuriya for two consecutive fours; Jayasuriya’s revenge was swift though as he took an easy return catch to dismiss Hafeez the very next ball.

Sharjeel upped the ante against the pace of Dushmantha Chameera flaying him for four consecutive boundaries, but the innings which promised much was cut short as Sharjeel mistimed a pull off Dilshan to give Chamara Kapugedera the easiest of catches at long-on. 

Sarfraz then took the initiative dispatching Rangana Herath and Thisara Perera for two boundaries each, as he occupied the lion’s share of the strike in a 36 run partnership with Umar Akmal. Milinda Siriwardene though trapped him LBW just as his innings was picking up pace.

But Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik once again displayed their credentials as finishers; the duo mixed boundaries in with quick running between the wickets as they put on match-clinching 56 run partnership for the fourth wicket. Akmal was unable to see the game through, as Thisara Perera took a spectacular catch at long-off to dismiss him but it was too little too late for the Lankans.

Earlier, Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal put on 110 for the first wicket - the highest opening partnership of this year’s Asia Cup - as the 39 year-old Tillekeratne Dilshan proved that he is still Sri Lanka’s most destructive batsman. Yes, his innings was at times fortuitous - he was dropped twice by the walking basketball hoop that is Mohammed Irfan - but luck aside Dilshan provided a masterclass in how to hit the gaps and work the boundaries once you’ve got your eye in.

It was not by any means a nerveless affair though, as he played and missed several deliveries off the impressive Mohammed’s Amir and Irfan, top-edged a sweep off Shahid Afridi (that was subsequently dropped by Irfan) and then edged the very next delivery past the keeper for four. However having ridden that early luck he mangled the left-arm off spin of Mohammed Nawaz,  taking him for 18 in his first over with a string of boundaries, the pick of which was sumptuous loft over long-on for six.

Alongside him Chandimal played probably his most risk-free knock of his career, knocking around smart singles while taking the boundary opportunities when they arose. Highlighting his confidence and form was a moment when he danced down the track to Nawaz, and despite failing to reach the pitch of the ball, creamed him for six towards the sight screen. However, as he is wont to do, Chandimal gifted his wicket away cheaply shortly after reaching his half century, pulling a short one straight to midwicket.

At 110/1 after 14.1 overs Sri Lanka would have been forgiven for thinking that at least 160 was on the cards, however a disastrous four overs followed where they lost 3 wickets for just 22 runs. Shehan Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedera and Dasun Shanaka came and went unable to carry on the momentum. This meant that Dilshan, who looked set to let loose in the final five overs, had to settle just for the final two. He managed 21 runs from them but it wasn't enough.

Dickwella faces bemused press

As Graham Ford was announced Sri Lanka head coach in January, SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala had another announcement to make: Sri Lanka would be the first team in world cricket to have three captains, or leaders as he put it. While Angelo Mathews was set be captain of the ODI and Test sides, for the T20 format he would be Vice Captain, while Lasith Malinga would be Captain. It was also announced that Dinesh Chandimal would be a third leader in the T20 team.

It was therefore conspicuous that following Sri Lanka’s defeat to Pakistan in the Asia Cup last night, none of them saw it fit to make it to the post-match press briefing.

“They wanted me to come to the press conference so I came,” said Niroshan Dickwella by way of explanation as to why he was sent to the briefing instead of Dinesh Chandimal, who was stand-in captain in the absence of the injured Angelo Mathews (calf strain) and Lasith Malinga (knee).

Dickwella, to be clear, had been parachuted in to the starting eleven due to Angelo Mathews’ injury and had not faced a single ball in the Asia Cup.

“We had a good start and we couldn't capitalise at the end of the innings,” was his expert analysis when asked to rate Sri Lanka’s batting performance. 

When did Mathews’ injury happen? “I really don’t know. I think a practice session.”

“We were targeting 150,” he added when queried as to what score Sri Lanka were targeting having been put into bat, this despite Dilshan saying after the first session that he felt they were 10-15 runs short. The whole press briefing last less than four minutes, with the most damning answer arriving when he was asked why Thisara wasn’t pushed up the order. “I have no idea about that. The coach and the captains made the decision.”

If the coach and the captains made the decision then why is it Niroshan Dickwella that is sent out to face the press? This by no means is a criticism of Niroshan Dickwella, but if Sri Lanka Cricket is to improve, accountability is needed at all levels, and cowering when the going gets tough is a recipe for failure.