Shanaka heaps praise on ‘world class’ Chameera
Batter Charith Asalanka was named the Man-of-the-Match for his near run-a-ball 52 off 56, but it was seamer Dushmantha Chameera who set the tone for Sri Lanka’s crushing win over Zimbabwe on Friday, taking two wickets off successive balls in the third over in a run-chase of 255.
Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Regis Chakabva gave Zimbabwe an excellent foundation, scoring 80 and 59 for the first wicket in the first two games, neutralising the seam and spin threat from the Sri Lankan bowlers. But in the series-decider, Chameera was on fire as he led Sri Lanka to a 184-run win.
The six-footer, who was named in the ICC’s ODI team of the year for being a magnificent performer with the ball, had Chakava caught at first slip by Charith Asalanka when a back-of-a-length ball took an outside edge. The opening partnership, on which Zimbabwe had built on the two previous games, was thus broken.
Zimbabwe was reduced to 3 for 2 when Chameera, with a beauty across the left-hander found the edge of Craig Ervine, engineered their collapse. They were bowled out for a ground record score of 70 inside 25 overs.
Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka valued Chameera’s services, saying, “He has always done that for us.”
“The ball seams around when the lights are on and he used that to his advantage,” he pointed out at the post-match press conference.
Chameera took 290 wickets in 14 games in 2021, probably the best year of his seven-year international career. But his first game this year was of no effect, conceding 47 runs off nine overs in the second ODI against Zimbabwe. He skipped the first ODI on medical advice as he was recovering from COVID-19.
“He is one of the best bowlers in world cricket today,” Shanaka said, heaping accolades on his senior bowler.
“He has matured really well over the last several months. He has always done this for the team.”
Apart from Chameera, leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who was brought back to the side in place of injured Wanindu Hasaranga, played a key role in Sri Lanka’s 2-1 triumph in the series. His 4 for 10 on Friday was the best bowling effort in his 15-match ODI career. He was the highest wicket-taker with nine wickets in the series.
But Shanaka believes their batters should have done better at the start, to score big. Charith Asalanka and Pathum Nissanka were in top form, scoring 146 runs each in three games including two half-centuries apiece. The captain feels they should have scored big hundreds.
“We would have done better, had our top order gone on to score big hundreds. I was expecting them to do so,” he said. “Having said that, I must admit that they (Zimbabwe) gave us a good fight. They have analysed our players well as they did not allow us to score freely.”
Apart from Asalanka and Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal also scored a half-century but it was Shanaka who made the solitary century of the series for Sri Lanka. His 102, the maiden ODI ton, came off in a losing cause.