By Srian Obeyesekere
Indeed, Charith Aalanka once again rose to the now familiar main actor resurrecting role of the Titan who came to the wreck to wearing the big mantle that had fallen in a tattered void when his predecessor Wanindu Hasaranga abdicated it to leading from the front from the dumps of 3 for 29 to mounting a resilient brilliant century 106 off 123 balls in a tremendously magnificent repeat characteristic three figure show as he did against the Australians early this year in February by a run a ball 126 to routing Bangladesh last night by 67 runs – Sri Lanka 244 in 49.2 overs, Bangladesh 167 in 35.5 overs – under floodlights of the opening ODI at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in a dramatic turnaround that brought the home crowd to their feet by a 100 for 1 humpty dumpty tumbledown where all the kings men in the star studded Bangladesh playmaker Najmul Hossain Shanto, who had been sauntering on 23 off 26 in the company of Tanzid Hasan who eventually fell for an aggressive run a ball 62, could not save their side from losing 8 wickets for just 5 runs like a torpedoed ship to go 1 up in the 3-match series.
By and large the 28-year old left-hander held the show trapeze like in a highly praiseworthy display with the bat in the early peril of losing the usually reliable Pathum Nissanka for a duck to Tanzim Hasan Sakib who had him held behind by Litton Das, Nishan Madushka bowled by Taskin Ahmed for 6 and one drop Kamindu Mendis taken out for a duck by Taskin Ahmed to a catch by Mehidy Hasan Miraz in a poor batting display by the top three.
.But the Lankan skipper undaunted went after the Bangladesh bowlers so much so that into the 90s the Lankan skipper was had kept abreast with the scoring rate to a nearness of just 6 and 13 balls gap to his individual score.
Asalanka’s insulating lone show heroics have truly symbolized great character of singlemindedness to the country cause where one false stroke would be certain defeat. This was his third such herculean feat following a match winning 70 odd followed by the big hundred against Australia.
Of course, the Bangladeshi’s came apart to spin as the wicket wore off into the night with Wanindu Hasaranga emerging the champion with the ball amazing 4 for 10 with Kamindu Mendis, who was a disappointment with the bat falling for a duck, claiming 3 wickets alternatively bowling with both hands, the first two with the left in putting to play a reputation he was known to have brought to his game in his early career but showcased it on the big stage yesterday.
That the rot set in by the most prohibited manner of a batsman getting out by a run out in Bangladesh’s prince of batting having to lose his way and as resultantly his side did was the cruelest part of cricket where ultimately indiscretion between the two at the middle is unpardonable in top flight cricket on a surface that the day belonged to the Lankan skipper who held the Lankan batting together in a virtual lone crusade a watchfully aggressive innings to taking on the opposing attack executing 4 over the top and 6 to the ropes of a valiant leader in a tricky situation with moderate support from Kusal Mendis 45 off 43 (6×4, 1×6) who was fourth out with the score 89 into the 17th over, and Janith Liyanage 29 off 40 (4×4), Milan Rathnayake 22 off 31 (3×4) and Wanindu Hasaranga run a ball 22 (3×4).
Of the imaginative Hasaranga, it must be said whenever he ambles to the middle there is an air of gusto as he steps into the action rotating the strike and keeping the tempo up like a Flash Gordon who has come and gone in a whirl. A tremendous team man as he was to set in motin by his amazing 4 wicket scuttling of Bangladesh.
Chief Scores
Sri Lanka 244 (49.2 Overs)
(Charith Asalanka 106, Kusal Mendis 45, Jnith Liyanage 29, Milan Rathnayake 22, Wanindu Hasaranga 22, Taskin Ahmed 4/47, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 3/45, Najmul Hossain Shanto 1/32, Tanvir Islam 1/44)
Bangladesh 167 (35.5 Overs)
(Tanzid Hasan 62, Jaker Ali 51, Najmul Hossain Shanto 23, Wanindu Hasaranga 4/10, Kamindu Mendis 3/19, Asitha Fernando 1/38)
