By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka’s centrally let down batting woes continued on tour of Pakistan from the 3-0 ODI loss by a pathetic 7 wicket loss to the host country yesterday in a Tri Series contest exposed by reckless stroke play and lack of verve by the three batsmen No 2 Ksmil Mishara 22, No 4, Kusal Janith Perera 25 and No 5 Janith Liyanage 41 off 38 whose failure to convert their innings to desired measure for the country cause as the rest perished in an overall debacle, was an apparent hint of lack of intent in what turned out to be a 5 for 78 and 6 for 86 tripping up in a final score of 128 off 20 overs which was gobbling fodder for Pakistan showcased on a high of 131 for 3 off 15.3 overs in beating down a Dushmantha Chameera hat-trick scare clean bowling Babar Azam and next ball to trapping the skipper Ali Agar in a stabilising contrastingly professional show on a brilliant authoritative Sehibzada Farhan innings of 80 off 45 balls with 5 sixes and 6 boundaries at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The Lankan loss factor followed defeat to less fancied Zimbabwe.
The Lankan batting department at sea against Pakistan’s spin bowler Mohammad Nawaz who claimed 3 wickets for 16 runs.
Another let down factor in the Lankan camp was Kusal Mendis’ bizarre suicidal run out in an immature act of rushing for a second run without watching the fielder which is inexcusable in big show cricket.

Another bad loss must be seriously viewed by the Lankan think tanks as to nipping the mainly fly in the ointment batting set up which throws up a serious question as to whether enough is enough in respect of certain ageing batsmen who have continued to threaten briefly and perished suggesting they have lost the flair and skill they once reigned in to today becoming vulnerable.

Pakistan 131 for 3 (Farhan 80, Chameera 2-29, Shanaka 1-14) beat Sri Lanka 128 for 7 (Liyanage 41, Nawaz 3-16, Mirza 1-26) by seven wickets