By Srian Obeyesekere

Pakistan clean swept Sri Lanka 3-0 winning the third and by a comprehensive six wickets stamping a clear superiority in all three departments of the game at Rawalpindi yesterday that must serve as an eye opener for the Lankan coaching think tank expertise of Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya of the need to get back to the drawing board and rebuild an ideal winning combination to getting even in big stage cricket from the current debilitation that sees a hitherto knee jerk Pakistan that had been the whipping boys at the hands of most other sides rear their head in one mighty heave at the expense of the Lankans to going ahead of Charith Asalanka and his charges in the ICC Team Rankings.

Yesterday’s loss on a score of 211 off 45.1 overs after being put into bat overrun by Pakistan’s consummately easing 215 for 4 wickets off 44.4 overs marked a gloomy end for the Lankans with skipper Charith Asalanka indisposed passing the reins to Kusal Mendis whose second highest 34 after Sadeera Samatawickrama top scoring with 48 while debutant Pawan Rathnayake’s third highest 32 a statement for recognition to the big fold of the left hand mould that did breathe an air of promise to stabilizing a knee jerk batting department that has more of than not been a key area of concern to Sri Lanka’s ODI fortunes.

Sri Lanka was also without the imaginative all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga due to his troubling hamstring handicap in a series his batting and bowling by a cameo half century and 3 wickets in the tour opener and unbeaten 32 in the next did put him right up as Sri Lanka’s top playmaker.

His replacement Jeffrey Vandersay performed a pleasing 3 wicket part given the offload fits and starts few opportunities coming his way while lacking the cohesiveg side support as Pakistan’d two recent looked down on stalwarts ex captains Mohammad Rizwan by an unbeaten 61 and Babar Azam 34 saw the side through with Talat Hassan as well on the job to the finish on 42.