Sri Lanka learn their lessons the hard way

 Dinesh Chandimal (right) will replace Avishka Fernando for today’s game

Kamindu Mendis bats at nets

Bangladesh’s Senior Assistant Coach Mohammad Salahuddin (extreme right) with Spin Bowling Coach Mushtaq Ahmed, all-rounder Mehidy Hasan and fast bowler Shoriful Islam during practice 

• Strengthen batting with Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis for decisive 3rd T20I

It needed a right royal thrashing by 83 runs in the second T20I against Bangladesh at Dambulla, for Sri Lanka to realise that the batting combination they went with for that game was lop-sided.

Sri Lanka went with only five specialist batsmen and paid the price when they were shot out for their lowest total on home soil – 94.

Realising where they went wrong Sri Lanka has strengthened their batting for the third and final T20I at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium today by including Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis. They replace the out of form Avishka Fernando and all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne.

Chandimal who will return to T20I cricket after a 3-year break will bat at no. 4, and Kamindu Mendis at either 6 or 7. Their presence will strengthen the batting line up which failed to chase down 178 at Dambulla.

Chandimal played his last T20I for Sri Lanka in February 2022 against India at Dharamsala, but has been playing T20 franchise cricket for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League scoring 17, 48* and 22 in the final. Kamindu Mendis’ last T20I appearance was against New Zealand last December, but he also figured in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

With rain forecast sometime during the day, Sri Lanka will leave their bowling options open till the last minute. Uncapped fast bowler Eshan Malinga could replace leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay.

“We talked a lot about our batting line-up. If we are batting first what we are going to do, what kind of line-up we need and if we are chasing what kind of line-up we need. The combination we have to get it right going in for the next game,” said Sri Lanka head coach Sanath Jayasuriya. “From pitch to pitch, the situation changes. The last two games Charith (Asalanka) didn’t bowl. Charith can bowl as well. So can Kamindu. That strengthens our batting line up.”

On Chandimal and Avishka Fernando, Jayasuriya said, “Chandi is someone who can do any job for the team. For example, when we told him to play at three in Test cricket, he readily accepted and worked with us. It is good that we have a player like him in the team. As for Avishka, we chatted with him. We need to look at not his cricket side but mentally to support him. Personally, the batting coach and I have spoken to him and given him confidence. Now we need to help him to deliver his talent in match situations.”

By losing the second T20I and allowing Bangladesh to level the series 1-all, Sri Lanka will be under pressure to deliver today to win the series.

“No one wants to be under pressure like this. It’s a challenge. It’s part of cricket. We did mistakes in the last game. We need to bounce back and it’s simple. Players know where we went wrong. Lots of people will be out here to see the game. The cricket loving public is trusting us and that’s the key. Everyone knows what to do and hopefully they will handle the pressure,” said Jayasuriya.

“We have won the Test and ODI series and we need to finish off the T-20Is well. Players want to do well and we are working hard. One of the top three guys has got to bat through to 15 overs. That didn’t happen. Overall, I think we need more consistency from the batting unit. That is what we have told the boys. We need to do well in all three departments. Players know what their expectations are.”

Bangladesh are going into the decisive match with their tails up following their emphatic win in the second T20I.

“I feel the way we played the last match has given the boys good momentum and confidence. I hope we can finish well here, and Insha’Allah, we will try to play good cricket,” said Bangladesh’s Senior Assistant Coach Mohammad Salahuddin. ”Motivation comes when you play well and win. I believe the way we played and won the last match will give us great motivation. What has happened is history, it doesn’t matter much. As a coach, I never think about what happened in the past, because if we play poorly tomorrow, we will hear criticism again. So, we will try to play well in all aspects – batting, bowling, and fielding.”

“As for the opponent, the series is already near its end. More important than thinking about the opponent is focusing on how we play the last match. We need to go in with a strategy to beat them tomorrow, and that’s the priority. We will take whatever tools we need to execute that plan.”