Following his team’s eight-wicket defeat to South Africa on Sunday, Sri Lanka skipper Lasith Malinga admitted that his team needed to find a way out to tackle Imran Tahir.
Leg-spin was first introduced to the attack by Francois Du Plessis in the 17th over with Sri Lanka cruising along nicely. Oshada Fernando and Kusal Janith Perera had added 76 runs for the third wicket and the former in particular was treating the fast bowlers with disdain.
Tahir then deceived KJP with a googly as he was caught behind poking to defend. In his next over, Kusal Mendis had successfully reviewed after being given out leg before wicket. In the next ball, desperate to get off the strike, Mendis chanced the arm of one of South Africa’s best fielders in David Miller. Oshada responded hesitantly and was run out at the striker’s end as Miller threw the ball while airborne.
Du Plessis – De Kock guide South Africa to win after Tahir’s heroics
Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva then added 94 runs for the fifth wicket. At 195 for four and with 13 overs remaining, Sri Lanka looked set to post a total beyond 300. But the introduction of leg-spin again triggered a collapse.
Dhananjaya de Silva was stumped in the first over of Tahir’s second spell and two overs later Mendis drove one straight into the hands of cover fielder Rassie van der Dussen. Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for 36 to be bowled out for 231 with three overs to spare.
“After Tahir’s first two overs we decided that South Africa were using him as the wicket taking option. So the plan was to not to give him wickets. But he got a breakthrough every time he came in. We have to rethink how we are going to play him moving forward,” Malinga told journalist.
South Africa didn’t have much trouble chasing down the target. “After the start we got we lost too many wickets at certain stages. Had we got another 50 to 60 runs it could have been a good total. Once a batsman gets a start he should be able to finish it off. This team except for Oshada has got batters who have scored hundreds in Tests and ODIs up to number seven. So they are capable of doing the job. Mere 30s and 40s are not enough and someone should have gone onto finish it.”
Photos: Sri Lanka Vs South Africa -1st ODI
“Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva got a decent partnership and we were well set at that stage. But we lost both batsmen at the same time and that didn’t allow us to capitalize. I was in by the time the 38th over was on and that’s not the stage for a number nine to bat. This can’t happen in ODI cricket.”
Malinga, however, was full of praise for Osada, who scored run a ball 49. “He scored heaps of runs in domestic cricket and had a good Test series as well. As captain, what I want from the number four position is to have someone who plays positive and someone who can anchor the innings. Since the departure of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, I am glad we have got someone of the caliber of Oshada in that position. These are still early days for him. Once he plays more we will get to know where he stands. He is a remarkable find for Sri Lanka Cricket.”
