T20 World Cup 2022: Sri Lanka's report card
Sri Lanka name Asitha Fernando as Binura Fernando's injury replacement
T20 World Cup 2022: Binura Fernando to replace an injured Dilshan Madushanka in Sri Lanka's squad
AUS vs SL | Hasaranga-less Sri Lanka in a precarious position in 3rd T20I
Sri Lanka all rounder and one of the most expensive overseas buys in the recently hosted Indian Premier League mega Auction - Wanindu Hasaranga did not feature in the third T20I between Australia and Sri Lanka. It was reported in the early hours of Canberra T20I that Hasranga had tested positive for the virus on Rapid Antigen Test and has since been in isolation. He is the third positive test result in the Sri Lanka camp at the moment after Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando. With a seven day isolation period set for all Covid cases, Hasaranga is in line to miss the entire T20I series which still have two matches to be played and gets wrapped up on 20 February in Melbourne. Alongside him Fernando will be also be missing the fourth game, but might return to play the last one in Melbourne. Kusal Mendis though, was available for selection in today’s game but scored only four runs off 11 deliveries, before chipping one to Ashton Agar who was bowling from the other end. Sri Lanka found it very difficult to score against the likes of Josh Hazlewood and Kane Richardson who kept maintaining the off stump line throughout their bowling spell. Richardson reaped the rewards of Hazlewood's pressure in his very first over edging back Charith Asalanka. He has picked up two more since then. At the time of writing, Sri Lanka are in a precarious position having scored 69 runs or the loss of four wickets in 14 overs. Sri Lanka are down by 0-2 in the T20I series at the moment.
T20 World Cup | SL vs BAN: Pacer Binura Fernando in for Theekshana, Bangladesh play spinner Nasum for Taskin
It was a totally contrasting approach by Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as they revealed their playing XI in their first-ever Super 12 game at Sharjah. Dasun Shanaka, the skipper of Sri Lanka after winning the toss, chose to bowl first and said that Maheesh Theekshana, the mystery spinner was out of the playing XI due to a side niggle. In place of Theekshana, the Sri Lankan side played a tall left-arm pacer Binusra Fernando, who would be playing his first game in the World Cup. While Sri Lanka have previously played at the venue, but on the other hand, Bangladesh, who are coming in from Oman, which had lively wickets and helped their pacers, decided to omit their prime pacer Taskin Ahmed for a left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed, who would be playing his first World Cup game. The decisions show that both the teams have gone into the game with totally different approaches as Bangladesh are banking on their spin to come good and were happy to bat first, Sri Lanka chose to bat second, meaning they are trusting their pace bowlers to restrict Bangladesh under a low total. This game is also a heavy clash because two South African coaches in Sri Lanka’s Micky Arthur and Bangladesh’s Russell Domingo are up against each other in a tactical battle.
SL vs IND | Kusal Perera ruled out of entire series, Binura Fernando out of ODIs
Sri Lanka ODI skipper Kusal Perera has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI and T20 series against India after suffering a shoulder sprain in the training, Sri Lanka Cricket said in its media release. Perea was appointed the skipper of the side earlier this year before the tour of Bangladesh and he has not been able to guide the side to any success in the format. In the recently-concluded series against England, Perera failed miserably with the bat and so did the side against an all-strength home side. There were speculations about his sacking from the post of captain as well before the series against India because of his leadership of players in a tussle against the board. Apart from Perera, fast bowler Binura Fernando has also been ruled out of the ODI series against India due to an ankle injury. As per the SLC media release, the pacer suffered a lateral ligament sprain. As per media reports, all-rounder Dashun Sanaka were to be the skipper of Sri Lanka for the series against India in case Perera had to face the ire of the board. However, the team for the series against India has not been announced yet by the SLC.
ENG vs SL | 1st ODI: Steady Joe Root denies exciting Lankan fast bowling to take England 1-0 up
The only bright spot in an otherwise dull game for Sri Lanka was the fast bowling by the trio of Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne. The three of them got the five wickets among them in the match and presented Sri Lanka with a chance to get themselves into the game. However, it was not enough as Joe Root’s unbeaten 79 from 87 balls and a partnership of 91 along with Moeen Ali was enough to prevent any conversion of that chance by Kusla Perera’s men. England started their chase of 186 in quite a hurry as if both the openers Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone wanted to finish the job as soon as possible and make their way to TV screens, to watch their football team face Germany. But that hurried approach didn’t last long as Bairstow chopped one from left-arm pacer Fernando. This was the second wicket as Karunaratne had already removed Livingstone. Soon the situation got tense as England were 80-4 after being 54-0. It could have been 80-5, had skipper Perera not dropped a regulation catch off Moeen Ali off the bowling of Chameera, who had already dismissed opposition skipper Eoin Morgan and Sam Billings and was spitting fire in Durham. Another chance went begging when Root was dropped on the third-man when he was at 36 and the England total at 110. But those were the last two chances as after them, both Moeen and Root made sure that their team reached home easily. Earlier in the day, after being forced to bat first, Sri Lanka deprived of their first choice batters were hit hard by England bowlers. Apart from skipper Perera’s 81 balls 73 and Wanindu Hasaranga’s 65 balls 54, none of the batters got going and only some late hits from Karunaratne managed to get the team to 185. Their collapse in particular was painful for any Sri Lankan cricket fan as, after recovery from 46-3, the team reached 145-3. But suddenly Hasaranga decided to play a no shot of a bouncer and was caught at square leg. Soon, from 145-3, it was 170-9 and within 25 runs, the Lankan team had lost six wickets. And thus came their downfall. Chris Woakes was the chief wrecker with four wickets and was awarded Man of the Match. The two teams would now move to The Oval in London for the second ODI.