A ‘must-win’game for the Lankans today
Having introduced some strategic changes, Sri Lanka had hoped for a change in fortunes in the new year when the team left to Bangladesh. A week later, however, they are back to the drawing board. It is imperative that they win today’s match against Zimbabwe to retain a place in the series also contested by the host nation.
Another one bites the dust
Sri Lanka lost their opener against Zimbabwe by 12-runs in a nail-biter, then conceded a heavy 163-run defeat to Bangladesh in their second match. This has put them in a must-win situation today. They have lost their last three matches against Zimbabwe and a fourth defeat will see them crashing out with a match to go from the tri-series.
Sri Lanka’s problems are numerous. There’s little venom in their bowling as oppositions have flayed them with ease, amassing scores of 290 and 320 in the two games so far. In batting they seem like a deer caught in the headlights, throwing their wickets even when victory was within sight. For instance, they had two wickets in hand to score 16 runs off the last 20 balls against Zimbabwe and still managed to loose by 12 runs. Their Achilles heel, however, is fielding. They dropped catches, missed run-outs and stumps.
Adding to their worries is injured Angelo Mathews. He returned to lead the side after a two-week injury break but is forced come home after the same hamstring injury resurfaced.
According to the Sri Lanka Cricket CEO, Ashley de Silva, Mathew’s who was initially expected to be fit for the fourth match, will return home on Monday. As Sri Lanka look to rebuild the team after a laborious 2017, his absence will be a major blow to the team and to him. He has been struggling to revive his career after several bouts of injuries during the last 18 months. The team will now be captained by Dinesh Chandimal once again.
In this backdrop, Sri Lanka’s task against Zimbabwe is of great importance today. Only a disciplined effort will put them in contention for a win against a team that has matured with the passage of time.
With two defeats on the trot, the team management would consider changes to the playing XI, possibly bringing in chinaman Lakshan Sandakan in place of leg-spinning all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga. Zimbabwe will not try any changes to the playing XI which gave them victory on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dinesh Chandimal (capt.) Asela Gunaratne, Thisara Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Suranga Lakmal, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep
Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza, Solomon Mire, Craig Ervine, Brendon Taylor (wk), Sikander Raza, Malcolm Waller, PJ Moor, Graeme Cremer (capt.), Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani