Thursday Nov 12, 2026
Thursday Nov 12, 2026
Thursday, 29 October 2026 03:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka will prime up for Saturday’s final against Pakistan when they take on England in the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore today in a game which will not have any bearing on the standings. It is the final match of the league round.
Sri Lanka’s emphatic eight-wicket win over the host country Pakistan on Tuesday has resulted in this match being reduced to a dead rubber. England, without a win after three matches – losing the last two of them after being in winning positions, will try to return home at least with a consolation win.
Following their loss to Pakistan in the curtain-raiser match of the Tri-Series, Sri Lanka has fought back magnificently to be within touching distance of laying their hands on a silverware, after back-to-back wins against England and Pakistan.
If the win against England was orchestrated by their batsmen who chased down a record score of 430, victory against Pakistan belonged to their bowlers who ran through the host’s batting for 110.
Spearheading the bowling was left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka who finished with career best figures of 5/34.
Sri Lanka’s fast bowling coach South African-born Ryan van Niekerk was all-excited about the progress Madushanka has made as a fast bowler in white ball cricket.
“Dilshan is a highly talented young bowler. He has all the skill sets, he swings the ball and he’s got a great bouncer. That’s been a big part of his progression in how to use his aggressive deliveries to make his other deliveries more of a weapon,” said van Niekerk.
“It’s just hoping how our bowlers understand their wicket taking deliveries and when to use them. You saw tonight when he bowls his bouncer really well, it makes his front foot ball really dangerous. At the moment he is getting wickets with his bouncer but he is able to swing the ball and he is really accurate.”
“We only bowled one wide in 25 overs today as a group of bowlers. That discipline mixed with aggression and a wicket-taking mentality has certainly helped him and continues to develop. He is eager to bowl. He wants to bowl all the time so I had to get him to slow down a little bit with his loads, but in general love the way he has progressed.”
Van Niekerk said that the three fast bowlers Madushanka, Eshan Malinga and Asitha Fernando complimented each other really well in the game against Pakistan.
“Eshan got a four-fer in the first game in that losing cause. I think there is great development as a fast bowling group and it was capped off nicely by Dilshan. We had to bounce back. It wasn’t too long ago the same bowling unit went for 430,” pointed out Van Nierkerk.
“From our point of view, bowling with a different intentionality, mentality around taking wickets, and looking to be positive and aggressive around our bowling and, on top of that, just an execution process. A lot of the time we got good plans but not being able to execute them more consistently. When we are all taking wickets a little bit more regularly it does help with the momentum of the game. Our bowling group as a whole capitalized on that momentum and I thought the execution was up there.”
Speaking on the Tri-Series in its entirety, van Niekerk said, “If you’ve watched anything in this tournament so far it has been unbelievable cricket throughout. I wouldn’t worry about a shortened match like this. The cricket that’s been played and what’s been on offer in all the matches, I think fans would be crazy not to come in and celebrate at the grounds. Good cricket wickets and three good teams.”
Sri Lanka are likely to test their bench strength and may rest a few key players and give those who have not had a game in the Tri-Series so far an opportunity today. Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Dushmantha Chameera and Maheesh Theekshana have not played a single match, while Sachindu Colombage played only in the opening game against Pakistan.
