Sri Lanka’s inability to pick wickets in middle overs was one of the main reasons for their downfall in recent times. Lakshan Sandakan proved on Sunday that having a wicket-taking wrist spinner in any international team is an invaluable asset.
Sri Lanka crush Zimbabwe to level the series
Flu-hit Sri Lanka put up a dominant all round display on Sunday in Galle as they defeated..
Sandakan returned best figures of 4 for 51 off his 10 overs in the 2nd ODI against Zimbabwe which paved the way for the hosts in Galle to level the series, “I played an ODI after two or three months. So when you are playing after a long break, you need confidence. I was given lot of confidence by everyone. We had a few plans against their batters. We carried them out very well I thought. We changed the field a bit today and bowled it slower through the air. The line and length was also discussed after the first match so I think that’s what we did today.” Sandakan said after the match.
Sandakan was a part of the ICC Champions Trophy squad but did not get a game due to reasons known only to the selectors and team management. He was recognized as the ‘Trump’ card before the Champions Trophy but remained a bench warmer throughout the tournament.
After a shameful defeat on Friday where Amila Aponso and Akila Dananjaya were taken apart by the Zimbabweans on their way towards a historic win, the selectors axed both Aponso and Dananjaya for this game and turned their way to Sandakan who is definitely the way forward for Sri Lanka as the main limited-overs spinner, “I fell ill and couldn’t even train. I was sent home as I was not feeling well. Each and every game I get is a new opportunity for me so, I try to do my best and get as many wickets as possible for the team.“ He told.
Before the match, Cricket Manager Asanka Gurusinha walked towards Sandakan and gave plenty of advice and confidence to the young wrist-spinner, “He (Gurusinha) told me to play my natural game, just like a club match, I was given the freedom to try out all my deliveries because it’s been a while since I last played an international game. He told not to put too much of pressure on myself.” Sandakan shared the contents of that conversation.
The visitors had pre-plans to counter the Lankan spinners, which was to bring out the sweep and reverse-sweep as much as possible, they succeeded tremendously in the first ODI but it back-fired today with at least three players falling by playing either the sweep or the reverse-sweep on a pitch which did not had any demons at all.
“The pitch was not that helpful to any bowler so we tried to bowl wicket-to-wicket as much as possible. We badly needed to change how they used the sweep and reverse-sweep. All spinners in our team had one plan, to bowl slowly wicket-to-wicket and keep our discipline. I think they struggled to pick me off the hand.” Sandakan mentioned.
Photos: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe| 2nd ODI
Photos of the Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe 2nd ODI at Galle 2017
After Sandakan finished off his spell, another wrist spinner in debutant, 19-year old Wanindu Hasaranga wrapped up the innings with a hat-trick in the 34th over to become the first Sri Lankan to take a hat-trick in his ODI debut.
“As a spinner, Wanindu has all the variations to succeed so I think he bowled really well today. When someone is debuting he is under pressure. He managed the pressure well and bowled his googlies, flippers and leg-spin well.” Sandakan told about his new partner-in-crime.
The main part of playing quality wrist-spin is picking them off their hand, not off the surface and play with the spin. Sandakan who has about 3 variations, the slider, the regulation leg-spin and the googly bamboozled the Zimbabweans who faced the former De Mazenod College footballer turned chinaman for the very first time.
“The guys didn’t actually pick him that well. He’s a lot different to what we used to so he was a bit of a mystery to us. Our batsmen took enough runs off him but he bowled a few wicket-taking balls and gave away soft wickets in that middle period. We need to watch out for him in the next few games.” Zimbabwe skipper Graeme Cremer shared his thoughts on Lakshan Sandakan.
