By Srian Obeyesekere
Kusal Mendis struck a brilliant back to the wall unbeaten Player of the Match 74 off 102 balls and Maheesh Theekshana a defiant 27 off 44 to batting Sri Lanka out of the jaws of defeat to a dramatic 3-wicket triumph by a compelling unfinished 47-run eighth-wicket bonding in a rain hit DLS 47-Over series clinching back to back ODI triumph last night at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium with one to go.
Kusal Mendis played a center piece playmaker role in staying to the very end to digging Sri Lanka from a 5 for 93 catastrophe as wickets fell around to what was a heroic last lap slog out ably supported by Theekshana who hung around admirably for his 27 hitting 2 boundaries and the only six of the Lankan innings.
Mendis proved to be all clinical in a brilliant workmanlike watch and play innings in a sparingly fronting to 6 boundaries in seeing his side through in the face of the cream falling to a concentrated Kiwi attack with Avishka Fernando gone for 5, the usually reliable Kamindu Mendis for a third ball duck to Michael Bracewell who had him edging to wicket-keeper Hay before Pathum Nissanka had for 28 with the score 41 also to Bracewell holing out to Mark Chapman. When skipper Charith Asalanka followed 25 deliveries later for 13 becoming Bracewell’s third victim Sri Lanka had hit calamity of 65 for 4 further rubbed in by the out of form Sadeera Samarawickrama whisked out for 8 off 17 by pacer Glenn Phillips. The advent of Janith Liyanage in a 39-ball 22 took Sri Lanka past hundred with the left-hander adding 39 precious runs in that groveling chase of 210 for victory as Sri Lanka reached 132 for 6 after 32 overs.
Young Dunith Wellalage rose to the cause with valor by a run a ball 17 piercing the boundary thrice in braving the challenge before becoming another Bracewell victim with Sodhi again figuring in the catching.
It was to bring Maheesh Theekshana in a scenario of the Lankans meeting the ultimate of stopping an ominous New Zealand series levelling charge ignited by Bracewell who took 4 wickets for 36.
But Nissanka and Theekshana stood too tall for the Kiwis as the pair batted out 59 deliveries to the priceless 47 winning partnership on a day New Zealand, opting to bat first on winning the toss had set up praiseworthy 209 off 45.1 overs that bordered around a 81-ball 76 by Mark Chapman who clouted 7 boundaries and 3 over the top being fifth out with the score 173 36.1 overs. But only two others Mitchell Hay 49 off 62 with 4 boundaries and opener Will Young 26 off 40 with 3 boundaries were there for New Zealand in a crumbling of 6 wickets to spinners Mheesh Theekshana 3 for 31 for affine all-round show, and Jeffrey Vandersay 3 for 46 with pacer Asitha Fernando consistent as ever with the ball for 2 for 37.
New Zealand 209 (45.1 Overs)
Mark Chapman 76, Mitchell Hay 49, Will Young 26, Glenn Phillips 15, Maheesh Theekshana 3/31, Jaffrey Vandersay 3/46, Asitha Fernando 2/37, Charith Asalanka 1/20, Dunith Wellalage 1/46)
Sri Lanka 210/7 (46 Overs)
Kusal Mendis n.o. 74, Pathum Nissanka 28,Maheesh Theekshana n.o. 27, Janith Liyanage 22, Dunith Wellalage 18, Charith Asalanka 13, Michael Bracewell 4/36, Nathan Smith 1/21, Mitchell Santner 1/33, Glenn Phillips 1/41.
