Sri Lanka head to Pallekele for Wednesday’s T20 World Cup fixture against Oman with one sizeable headache: no Wanindu Hasaranga. The leg-spinning all-rounder’s tournament ended after that 3 for 25 against Ireland, a post-match scan confirming the hamstring damage everyone feared.
Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, the senior man in the attack, has been trying to keep things simple for the dressing-room.
“Yes, not having Wanindu is a big loss for the team,” he said. “Because we all know his talent. I think the entire bowling unit gets the responsibility. So I think we all have a big responsibility to fill that gap.”
The selectors have flown in Dushan Hemantha as cover. He bowls leg-spin too, but Chameera was quick to temper expectations. “When compared to Wanindu, I think he has a different way of bowling. He can bat as well, so he can play as an allrounder.” In other words, same skill-set on paper, different rhythm in practice.
Key facts first
• Hasaranga ruled out after Ireland match
• Hemantha added to the 15-man squad
• Oman game starts 11 am local, day conditions expected
• Sri Lanka pace trio unchanged – Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Pramod Madushan
Better for batting – on paper
Pallekele generally offers truer bounce than the R. Premadasa in Colombo, and the numbers back that up. Scores above 170 are routine in night games here; with an 11 am start, anything could happen, but Chameera is braced for runs.
“Compared to Khettarama, I think in here, there is a support for batting. So we hope there will be a high-scoring game.”
That is coach Chris Silverwood’s headache, but the side are at least aware of the rotating-strike issue that plagued them against Ireland. They managed only 55 singles and twos in 20 overs – low by modern standards – and Chameera reckons illness played a part.
“We discussed that we could have got more ones and twos in runs,” Chameera revealed, before noting that Kusal Mendis was “a little unwell” and therefore short of his usual zip in the field and with the bat. “He played until the end of the powerplay. So, I think that was also a reason for missing on the runs as in ones and twos.”
Pace trio still central
Silverwood still has three 140 kph-plus options, and Chameera believes the variety is enough, even without Hasaranga’s overs at the death.
“I think we have a good combination in the fast bowling,” he said. “Especially Matheesha, who has not [bowled] in powerplay before. Now there is a big advantage for the team as he bowls in the powerplay. And also Pramod, he has a lot of experience, he bowls really well with the new ball and at the death.”
Early morning damp may aid them, at least for a few overs. “We mostly play night matches in T20 tournaments. But in Zimbabwe [last year] we played day matches as well. I think in the morning, with the mist on the pitch, there will be a little support for the fast bowlers. And then when it’s getting late, it will be easier to bat.”
What next
Beat Oman, and Sri Lanka keep their quarter-final path straight; slip up, and they carry an injury-hit attack into a must-win tie with Australia on 16 February. Chameera insists the group are calm, pointing out the team had to qualify the hard way last year and managed just fine.
Hasaranga’s loss hurts, no doubt, but the wider squad has spent the past fortnight working with spin-consultant Rangana Herath on the simple stuff: hitting lengths, bowling to long boundaries, and fielding as 11 rather than three or four. Friday will show whether the message has stuck.
