Kusal Mendis the backbone; Heralds new order
His small made disposition that gives a boyish air being the baby of the side is so conspicuous in the action in the middle. The opposing big made Australians is comparatively dwarfing when you pitch the young Sri Lankan against them. But in a matter of minutes when he clicks as he swishes the ball around the connoisseur realizes just exactly why Kusal Mendis is in business, an expert in his chosen trade. Indeed, the 21-year old find from Moratuwa belies both age and size. The wonderment about him is the dexterous stroke play the lad reels out in consummate ease. The challenge ahead as he strolls to the crease more often than not looks enormous coming in at the demanding play maker No. 3, Mendis has, but in a handful of international outings, stamped his class as a next generation leader; a fact best echoed by his skipper Angelo Mathews in a celebratory post-match comment soon after Sri Lanka registered its biggest triumph in an ODI against Australia in the second ODI Wednesday at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Mendis’ 69-run top score contribution, like in the first game 60 odd top score, was the backbone to Sri Lanka’s cause in squaring it at 1-all. In a defining game that Angelo Mathews came tops in an all-round display of bat and ball of 57 in even time and 3 wickets, and the fiery assault by Kusal Janith Perera in a 103-run 6th wicket alliance, Mendis was the foundation setter to the victory. In at 1 for 12 and watching Tillekeratne Dilshan depart without any addition, Mendis was the trendsetter once again like in the first match to repairing the innings together with the vice captain Dinesh Chandimal (48) in adding 134 for the 3rd wicket. The Mendis-Chandimal effort saw continuity in the form of Mathews and Kusal Janith Perera after the early blemish of Dhananjaya de Silva. Chandimal did once again play the anchoring role in a sedate 67-ball 48 that was not without color going by heaving the first six for Sri Lanka, the other two hogging the limelight being the Perera’s – Kusal and Thisara.
Sri Lanka then put the skids on the Aussies with medium pacer Thisara Perera taking the initial breakthrough honors of the Aussie openers David Warner and Aaron Finch. That Thisara did return later to dismiss top scorer M. Wade did underwrite his all-round weight to the side given his lambasting late order batting. The triumph also marked the rollercoaster entry to international cricket with a fantastic 4 wicket burst for just 18. It was a new revelation of a left arm spinner in the wake of veteran Rangana Herath.
The day belonged to the skipper Mathews by way of match laurels. But Kusal Mendis’ workmanlike batting certainly shifted the gaze on the youngster; as the new find whose magic batting artistry has virtually consigned the exits of veterans Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara into a thing of the past.
By Srian Obeyesekere
-The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sri Lanka Cricket-
