Photo Credit: ICC
Only three Sri Lankans have produced bigger knocks in ICC Men’s T20 World Cups than the unbeaten 80 compiled by Charith Asalanka against Bangladesh and their identity shows the scale of the void the 24-year-old is tasked with filling.
Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya were stalwarts at the top of the Lions order for a generation and the first two were part of the squad who brought the trophy back to Colombo in 2014.
Seven years on, Sri Lanka had to come through a qualifying group to take their place in the Super 12s but having done so, they announced their arrival among the elite in style with a convincing five-wicket win over Bangladesh which had Asalanka at its heart.
Filling the number three position in the shortest format has not been easy for Sri Lanka in recent years and the latest incumbent was thrown straight into the heat of the run chase in Sharjah, with Kusal Perera falling to Nasum Ahmed from the fourth ball of the reply.
Asalanka had no such problems against the spinner, twice clearing the ropes in his next over to set the tone for a masterful knock.
Timing a chase is a crucial skill in the armoury of all number threes and when Asalanka was joined by an equally inspired Bhanuka Rajapaksa, he was happy to take singles and let the birthday boy run riot.
When it was time to put his own foot on the accelerator, however, that’s just what he did.
Mahmudullah disappeared into the stands twice in the space of three balls in the 14th over and Asalanka treated Shakib Al Hasan with similar disdain, depositing the Tigers talisman over long-off to take his side to the verge of victory.
He did survive a let-off in between those big hits when Liton Das put down a presentable chance at deep extra-cover but quickly regathered his composure and crucially ensured he was there at the end, flicking the winning runs through third-man with seven balls to spare.
It was his side’s highest ever successful run chase in ICC Men’s T20 World Cups – not the only record to fall in a match which also saw Shakib become the tournament’s highest-ever wicket-taker – and will give the Lions plenty of confidence as they prepare to take on the rest of the Group 1 big guns, starting with Australia on Thursday.
Rajapaksa was full of praise for his partner in their decisive 86-run stand, hailing a ‘phenomenal job’, and added: “He has a bright future for Sri Lanka and I hope he’ll be performing like this throughout the tournament.”
He is one of 22 million making that particular wish and if the pair stay in this form, they will give the Lions every chance of roaring on the big stage once more.
